Introduction to the NCAA Tournament
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men’s Basketball Tournament, commonly known as March Madness, is one of the biggest events in the college basketball season. Every year, 68 teams from Division 1 schools compete for the coveted championship trophy. The tournament is divided into four regions and the teams are seeded from one to sixteen in each region. The higher the seed, the better the team’s odds of advancing in the tournament. This begs the question, has a 3 seed ever won the NCAA tournament?
History of the NCAA Tournament
The NCAA Tournament began in 1939, with 8 teams competing in the East Regional. The tournament has grown exponentially since then, growing to its current size of 68 teams in 2011. The tournament has seen some legendary teams, players and moments, with the most recent being Virginia’s surprise run to the championship in 2019. Throughout its history, the tournament has seen its share of upsets, with lower seeded teams upsetting higher seeded teams on a regular basis.
3 Seed Teams in the NCAA Tournament
A team’s seed is determined by their regular season performance, with the top four teams in each region being seeded one through four. The seeds determine the team’s chances of advancing in the tournament, with the higher seeded teams having the advantage. Historically, teams seeded at three have had some success in the tournament, with five teams advancing to the Final Four and two winning the championship.
3 Seed Teams in the Final Four
- 1988 Kansas Jayhawks: The first 3 seed to make the Final Four, the Kansas Jayhawks made a Cinderella run to the Final Four, powered by future Hall of Famer Danny Manning. The Jayhawks ultimately fell to eventual champion Oklahoma.
- 1990 Duke Blue Devils: Led by freshman phenom Christian Laettner, the Blue Devils made a run to the Final Four in 1990, eventually falling to eventual champion UNLV.
- 1996 Massachusetts Minutemen: The Minutemen, led by future NBA star Marcus Camby, made a run to the Final Four in 1996, eventually falling to eventual champion Kentucky.
- 2003 Marquette Golden Eagles: Led by Dwyane Wade and Travis Diener, the Golden Eagles made a run to the Final Four in 2003, eventually falling to eventual champion Syracuse.
- 2006 George Mason Patriots: The Patriots made a remarkable run to the Final Four in 2006, becoming the first 11 seed to ever make the Final Four. The Patriots eventually fell to eventual champion Florida.
3 Seed Teams Winning the NCAA Tournament
Two 3 seed teams have won the NCAA Tournament, with the most recent being the Connecticut Huskies in 2014. The Huskies, led by future NBA stars Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright, made a remarkable run to the championship, defeating 8 seed Kentucky in the finals. The other 3 seed to win the championship was the 1983 North Carolina State Wolfpack, led by future NBA star Lorenzo Charles. The Wolfpack upset heavily favored Houston in the championship game.
Recent 3 Seed Teams in the NCAA Tournament
In recent years, 3 seed teams have had mixed success in the tournament. In 2019, 3 seed Purdue advanced to the Elite Eight before falling to eventual champion Virginia. In 2018, 3 seed Michigan made a run to the championship game before falling to Villanova. In 2017, 3 seed Oregon advanced to the Final Four before falling to eventual champion North Carolina. In 2016, 3 seed Texas A&M advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before falling to eventual champion Villanova.
Conclusion
In conclusion, 3 seed teams have had some success in the NCAA Tournament. They have advanced to the Final Four five times and have won the championship twice. While 3 seed teams have had some success in the tournament, they have not been able to win it in recent years. It remains to be seen if a 3 seed team will be able to win the tournament in the future.
References
- NCAA.com. (2019, March 28). NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. Retrieved from ncaa.com/history/basketball-men/d1
- ESPN. (2019, April 18). NCAA College Basketball Tournament History. Retrieved from espn.com/mens-college-basketball/history
- Sports-Reference. (2019, April 18). NCAA Tournament History. Retrieved from sports-reference.com/cbb/postseason/