Relive the most shocking March Madness upsets ever, from UMBC’s historic win to Saint Peter’s Cinderella run. Here are five unforgettable NCAA tournament stunners.
On Sunday night, millions of people will be eagerly awaiting the release of the 68-team field for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Not all of them are avid college basketball fans. In fact, many likely don’t follow the sport year-round or even in the regular season. But every March, the NCAA tournament remains a staple on the sports calendar, in large part due to the popularity of bracket pools and the unpredictability that comes with a single-elimination event.
Through the years, there have been numerous upsets, where little-known programs defeat higher seeds and become part of the tournament’s lore. That’s what comes with the NCAA’s decision to include each of the 31 conference champions in the tournament, even those from the smallest leagues in Division 1. And that’s why the event is unofficially known as March Madness.
As the tournament begins with two games apiece on Tuesday and Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio, we take a look (in chronological order) at five of the biggest Cinderella teams in recent NCAA tournament history.2013 – Florida Gulf Coast
For Florida Gulf Coast, even making the NCAA tournament in 2013 was a major accomplishment. The school had begun transitioning to Division 1 in the 2007-08 season and wasn’t eligible to compete in the NCAA tournament until the 2011-12 season, when the Eagles went 15-17. A year later, they won the Atlantic Sun conference tournament title, clinching a spot in the NCAAs and a No. 15 seed in the South region.
Still, FGCU was a heavy underdog in its first round matchup in Philadelphia against No. 2 seed Georgetown, which had won the Big East regular season championship. But the Eagles went on a 21-2 run in the second half and hung on for a 78-68 victory. It was just the seventh time a No. 15 seed upset a No. 2 seed. Two days later, the Eagles defeated No. 7 seed San Diego State, 81-71, becoming the first No. 15 seed to advance to the Sweet 16. But FGCU’s season ended the next game when it lost, 62-50, to No. 3 seed Florida.
FGCU coach Andy Enfield left after the season for USC and led the Trojans to five NCAA tournaments before leaving for SMU after last season. Meanwhile, since 2013, FGCU has made the NCAA tournament twice, losing in the first round in 2016 and 2017.2018 – UMBC
Entering the 2018 NCAA tournament, few sports fans had ever heard of the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC). The Retrievers had only made one previous NCAA appearance, losing in the first round in 2008. Most expected a similar fate a decade later. Yes, UMBC was coming off a 65-62 victory over No. 1 seed Vermont in the America East tournament championship game.
