The NCAA Tournament is sort of right here, with convention event play already underway throughout Division-I.
With March Insanity upon us, it received us considering— which groups actually trigger the “insanity”? And what had been the most important underdogs to win from a degree unfold perspective? Utilizing our NCAA Event database, we had been capable of finding the ten largest underdogs to win a event sport since 1985— which is identical 12 months the massive dance expanded to 64 groups.
Each staff on the listing was no less than a 15-point underdog of their matchup, whereas some had been as excessive as 20+ level ‘canine regardless of successful outright. Let’s have a look:
10 largest underdogs to win an NCAA Event sport, since 1985
Beginning off the listing, the fifteenth seeded Golden Eagles took down 2-seed Ohio State within the Spherical of 64 regardless of being 15-point underdogs. The sport was an absolute thriller, with Oral Roberts squeaking out a 75-72 extra time win. On the time, they had been simply the ninth 15 seed ever to win a primary spherical sport. They had been led by Max Abmas and Kevin Obanor, who mixed for 59 factors within the upset. Oral Roberts would make all of it the way in which to the Candy 16, dropping by two factors to Arkansas in that spherical.
Simply three seasons in the past, Princeton started a magical run to the Candy 16 with an enormous win in opposition to Arizona in one other 15 vs 2 upset. It was the Tigers’ first event win since 1998, with Tosan Evbuomwan main the way in which with 15 factors in a 59-55 win. Arizona was recent off successful the Pac-12 Event, however Princeton was capable of maintain them scoreless for the ultimate 4:43 of the sport. On the time, it marked the third straight 12 months a No. 15 seed received within the first spherical.
The fifteenth seeded Blue Raiders solely lasted till the second spherical within the 2016 NCAA Event, however their 90-81 first spherical win in opposition to second-seeded Michigan State as 17-point underdogs was one to recollect. The Spartans had simply captured the Huge Ten Event title and entered the event with a 29-5 report. 4 Blue Raiders scored 15+ factors within the sport, with Reggie Upshaw Jr. main the way in which with 21. Center Tennessee was simply the eighth No. 15 seed to knock off a No. 2 seed for the reason that 64-team format started in 1985.
In simply the second 12 months of the 64-team format, Little Rock took down a 23-5 Notre Dame staff within the first spherical, changing into simply the second 14-seed ever to take down a 3-seed. Michael Clarke, Myron Jackson, and Pete Myers every scored over 20 factors for Little Rock in a 90-83 win. Coincidentally, the primary 14-seed to take action additionally got here within the 1986 NCAA Event— with Cleveland State taking down Indiana as 6.5-point underdogs. Little Rock would go on to lose to NC State in an extra time sport the next spherical.
Simply the fourth 15-seed ever to take down a 2-seed, Hampton was down 11 factors on this sport earlier than ending it on a 14-2 run. They held the Cyclones scoreless for the ultimate 7:01 of the sport, with Tarvis Williams main the way in which with 16 factors, 13 rebounds and 6 blocks. He additionally hit the shot to offer Hampton the lead with 6.9 seconds, which might find yourself being the game-winning bucket at 58-57. The Pirates would go on to lose to Georgetown within the following spherical.
Each sport up till this level was determined by single digits. However Coppin State’s first spherical win over South Carolina got here by a whopping 13 factors, making them the third 15-seed to take down a 2-seed and the primary to take action by double digits. Antoine Brockington and Danny Singletary mixed for 42 factors and eight steals for the Eagles. They’d go on to lose by one level to Texas within the Spherical of 32.
No staff on this listing made an additional run within the event than the 2022 Saint Peter’s squad, with Shaheen Holloway orchestrating a magical run to the Elite 8. That run began off with a win in opposition to blue-blood Kentucky in a sport that ended 85-79. The Peacocks grew to become the tenth 15-seed to win within the first spherical for the reason that growth to 64 groups in 1985, and in addition handed John Calipari’s his first loss within the opening spherical of the event as Kentucky’s head coach. Holloway & Co. would go on to lose to North Carolina within the Elite 8, and to today are the one 15-seed to make it that far within the event.
The primary 20-point underdog to win an NCAA Event sport since growth in 1985, 15-seed Santa Clara received a three-point victory over Arizona in a 64-61 barn-burner. Steve Nash was the face of Broncos, however was held to 1-of-7 taking pictures from the ground. Nonetheless, the long run two-time NBA MVP did sufficient to steer his staff to victory— ending with 10 factors, seven rebounds and 4 assists whereas taking pictures 8-for-10 on free throws. They grew to become simply the second 15-seed ever to win within the opening spherical, and would go on to lose to Temple within the Spherical of 32.
Some take into account this one of many best upsets in all of sports activities historical past, as UMBC grew to become the primary 16-seed to take down a 1-seed in NCAA Event historical past (since growth in 1985). To place it into additional context, coming into the sport— 16 seeds had been a whopping 0-135 in opposition to 1-seeds. And to additional illustrate how unbelievable this upset was, they’re 2-154 coming into the 2025 NCAA Event. What’s much more particular is that the sport wasn’t shut, as UMBC received 74-54. They’d go on to lose to Kansas State by seven factors within the following spherical. The 2018 version of the event was additionally the primary one ever to see every of the highest 4 seeds in a single area (South) not make the Candy 16.
The 2012 NCAA Event was a particular one, because it was the primary ever during which two 15 seeds received within the Spherical of 64 in the identical event. Lehigh took down Duke as 12-point underdogs, however the actual shocker got here from Norfolk State— as they took down Missouri regardless of being 21.5-point underdogs. Led by future NBA veteran Kyle O’Quinn, the Spartans pulled off an 86-84 victory in a thriller of a sport that noticed 22 lead adjustments in its entirety. The 5 starters for North Dakota State accounted for all 86 factors, and shot 10-of-19 from past the arc (52.6%). They’d go on to lose to Florida within the following sport.
Earlier we talked about that 16 seeds had been 2-154 in opposition to 1-seeds all-time within the event, and that UMBC was the primary staff to get such a win. So which staff received the second? In 2023, the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights did the unthinkable— taking down a 29-5 Purdue staff after barely making the event as a First 4 participant. The Boilermakers had been led by two-time Nationwide Participant of the 12 months and future first spherical choose Zach Edey, who completed that 12 months sixth in Division-I in scoring (22.3 factors per sport) and second in rebounding (12.9 rebounds per sport). Whereas he nonetheless completed with 21 factors and 15 rebounds within the sport, the shortest staff in all of Division-I that season was capable of pull off a 63-58 victory. The Knights did not even win their convention event that season, dropping to Merrimack by one level within the title sport. As a result of Merrimack couldn’t take part within the event as a consequence of an NCAA rule that bans schools from postseason play throughout a four-year transition from Division II, FDU was subsequently thrust into motion. Speak about benefiting from a possibility.
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