NCAA Tournament is one of the most popular collegiate sports tournament in the US. It is a single-elimination tournament featuring 64 of the best college basketball teams in the country. Each year, these teams compete for the national championship, with the lowest seeded team having a chance to become the national champion.
In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the lowest seeded team to ever win the NCAA Tournament. We’ll go into the background of the tournament, the teams that have won as the lowest seed, and the impact that these wins have had on the sport of basketball.
What is the NCAA Tournament?
The NCAA Tournament is an annual single-elimination tournament featuring the best college basketball teams in the United States. It is organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and it is one of the most popular sporting events in the world.
The tournament consists of four rounds, with the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, Final Four, and National Championship rounds. The teams that make it to the Final Four are known as the Finalists. The teams that make it to the National Championship game will compete against each other to become the National Champions.
History of the NCAA Tournament
The NCAA Tournament has been around since 1939. The tournament was initially known as the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) and was created to give college basketball teams from all over the country a chance to compete against each other for the national championship.
The tournament was rebranded as the NCAA Tournament in 1975, and since then it has grown to become one of the most popular sporting events in the world. The tournament has been held every year since, and it has become a huge part of college basketball culture.
Lowest Seeded Teams to Win the Tournament
The lowest seeded team to ever win the NCAA Tournament was the 1985 Villanova Wildcats. The Wildcats were seeded eighth in the tournament and went on to beat the heavily favored Georgetown Hoyas in the National Championship game. This win was considered to be one of the greatest upsets in college basketball history.
Since then, there have been several other teams that have won the tournament as the lowest seed. The list includes the 2006 George Mason Patriots (11th seed), the 2011 Connecticut Huskies (9th seed), the 2014 Connecticut Huskies (7th seed), and the 2018 Loyola-Chicago Ramblers (11th seed).
Impact of Low Seeded Teams Winning the Tournament
When a low seeded team wins the NCAA Tournament, it sends a message that anything is possible in college basketball. It shows that teams from lower-seeded conferences can compete with the top teams in the country, and that any team can make a run to the National Championship game.
This message has had a huge impact on the sport of basketball and has allowed teams from smaller conferences to get more recognition. It has also helped smaller schools to become more competitive in the recruiting process and has led to more parity in the college basketball landscape.
Notable Low Seeded Teams That Have Made a Run in the Tournament
While the lowest seeded teams to ever win the tournament are the 1985 Villanova Wildcats, the 2006 George Mason Patriots, the 2011 Connecticut Huskies, the 2014 Connecticut Huskies, and the 2018 Loyola-Chicago Ramblers, there have been several other teams that have made impressive runs in the tournament as a low seed.
1991 Richmond Spiders
The 1991 Richmond Spiders were a 14th-seeded team that made an impressive run to the Sweet Sixteen. The Spiders were led by head coach Dick Tarrant, who was able to lead the team to several impressive victories in the tournament.
2006 Bradley Braves
The 2006 Bradley Braves were a 13th-seeded team that made a run to the Sweet Sixteen. The Braves were led by head coach Jim Les, who was able to guide the team to several impressive victories in the tournament.
2008 Davidson Wildcats
The 2008 Davidson Wildcats were a 10th-seeded team that made a run to the Elite Eight. The Wildcats were led by head coach Bob McKillop, who was able to lead the team to several impressive victories in the tournament.
2013 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
The 2013 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles were a 15th-seeded team that made a run to the Sweet Sixteen. The Eagles were led by head coach Andy Enfield, who was able to lead the team to several impressive victories in the tournament.
2016 Syracuse Orange
The 2016 Syracuse Orange were a 10th-seeded team that made a run to the Final Four. The Orange were led by head coach Jim Boeheim, who was able to lead the team to several impressive victories in the tournament.
Conclusion
The lowest seeded team to ever win the NCAA Tournament was the 1985 Villanova Wildcats. Since then, there have been several other teams that have won the tournament as the lowest seed, including the 2006 George Mason Patriots, the 2011 Connecticut Huskies, the 2014 Connecticut Huskies, and the 2018 Loyola-Chicago Ramblers.
When a low seeded team wins the NCAA Tournament, it sends a message that anything is possible in college basketball. It has allowed teams from smaller conferences to get more recognition, and it has helped smaller schools to become more competitive in the recruiting process.
Finally, it’s worth noting that there have been several other teams that have made impressive runs in the tournament as a low seed, including the 1991 Richmond Spiders, the 2006 Bradley Braves, the 2008 Davidson Wildcats, the 2013 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles, and the 2016 Syracuse Orange.