Highest Seeded Team To Win Ncaa Basketball Tournament
The NCAA basketball tournament is one of the most exciting events in sports. Every year, 68 teams compete for the chance to be crowned the national champion. While every team has a chance to win the tournament, some teams are more likely to win than others based on their seed.
What is a Seed?
A seed is a ranking given to each team in the NCAA basketball tournament based on their performance during the regular season. The tournament is divided into four regions, with 16 teams in each region. Each team is given a seed number from 1 to 16, with the top team in each region being the number one seed.
The History of the NCAA Basketball Tournament
The NCAA basketball tournament began in 1939 and has been held every year since then, except for 2020 when it was canceled due to COVID-19. The tournament has evolved over the years, with the number of teams increasing from 8 to 68 and the format changing to accommodate the larger number of teams.
The Highest Seeded Team to Win the NCAA Basketball Tournament
Throughout the history of the NCAA basketball tournament, there have been several teams that have won the tournament as a low seed. However, the highest seeded team to ever win the tournament was the 1985 Villanova Wildcats, who won as an eighth seed.
The Wildcats entered the tournament with a record of 19-10 and were not expected to make a deep run. However, they pulled off several upsets, including a win over the number one seeded Georgetown Hoyas in the championship game. The Wildcats shot an incredible 78.6% from the field in the championship game, which remains a tournament record.
Other Low Seeds to Win the NCAA Basketball Tournament
While the 1985 Villanova Wildcats are the highest seeded team to win the NCAA basketball tournament, there have been several other low seeded teams to win the tournament. Here are a few examples:
- 1983 North Carolina State Wolfpack - Won as a sixth seed
- 1988 Kansas Jayhawks - Won as a sixth seed
- 2011 Connecticut Huskies - Won as a third seed
- 2014 Connecticut Huskies - Won as a seventh seed
Conclusion
The NCAA basketball tournament is one of the most exciting events in sports, with every team having the chance to make a deep run and win the national championship. While the odds are stacked against low seeded teams, there have been several teams throughout history that have defied the odds and won the tournament as a low seed. Whether it's the 1985 Villanova Wildcats or the 2014 Connecticut Huskies, these teams serve as a reminder that anything is possible in March Madness.