Highest Seed To Win The Ncaa Basketball Tournament
The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, also known as March Madness, is one of the most exciting sporting events in the United States. Every year, 68 teams from across the country compete in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion. While many people believe that the higher-seeded teams have a better chance of winning, history has shown that upsets can and do happen. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the highest seed to ever win the NCAA Basketball Tournament.
What is a Seed in the NCAA Tournament?
Before we dive into the highest seed to win the NCAA Tournament, it's important to understand what a seed is. In the NCAA Tournament, the selection committee assigns each of the 68 teams a seed based on their performance during the regular season and conference tournament. The top four teams in each region are given a seed of 1-4, while the rest of the teams are seeded 5-16. The seed determines the team's path to the championship, with the higher seeds playing lower-seeded teams in the early rounds.
The Highest Seed to Win the NCAA Tournament
The highest seed to ever win the NCAA Tournament is the Villanova Wildcats, who won the championship in 1985 as a #8 seed. The Wildcats, led by head coach Rollie Massimino, were not expected to make it past the first round of the tournament. However, they pulled off a string of upsets, including a victory over the top-ranked team in the country, Georgetown, in the championship game.
The 1985 NCAA Tournament is often referred to as one of the greatest Cinderella stories in sports history. Villanova's championship run was fueled by the outstanding play of guard Harold Jensen, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. The Wildcats' victory over Georgetown is considered one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history.
Other High Seed Upsets in NCAA Tournament History
While Villanova's championship run as an #8 seed is the highest seed to ever win the NCAA Tournament, there have been many other upsets throughout the tournament's history. Here are a few notable examples:
1983 - NC State as a #6 seed
The 1983 NCAA Tournament saw another Cinderella story, as the NC State Wolfpack won the championship as a #6 seed. The Wolfpack, coached by Jim Valvano, upset several higher-seeded teams on their way to the title, including a last-second victory over Houston in the championship game.
2006 - George Mason as a #11 seed
The George Mason Patriots made a surprising run to the Final Four in the 2006 NCAA Tournament as an #11 seed. The Patriots, coached by Jim Larranaga, upset several higher-seeded teams, including a victory over top-seeded Connecticut in the Elite Eight.
2018 - UMBC as a #16 seed
The UMBC Retrievers made history in the 2018 NCAA Tournament by becoming the first #16 seed to ever defeat a #1 seed. The Retrievers, coached by Ryan Odom, pulled off the upset against the top-ranked Virginia Cavaliers in the first round of the tournament.
Conclusion
While the higher-seeded teams are often seen as the favorites in the NCAA Tournament, upsets can and do happen. The Villanova Wildcats' championship run as an #8 seed in 1985 is a testament to the fact that anything can happen in March Madness. As we look forward to this year's tournament, we can only wonder which team will be the next Cinderella story.