The “Cinderella Effect” and “Flutie Effect”: The Impact of Unexpected March Madness Runs and NCAA Men’s Basketball Achievement on School’s Application Pools

Abstract

This thesis investigates the Flutie and Cinderella effects in NCAA men's basketball programs, with a particular focus on their impact on college application pools. It explores how these effects vary across different time periods and between public and private institutions. Utilizing data from the 1989-1990 to the 2018-2019 NCAA Men's basketball regular seasons, the study reveals the presence of both the Flutie and Cinderella effects in college basketball. Furthermore, it demonstrates that the influence of these effects differs not only over time but also between public and private schools, suggesting nuanced dynamics in how athletic success shapes institutional appeal.