The best 1-seed vs 16-seed games of all time

If something, Weber State was pesky if nothing else. And that did not make issues snug for the No. 1-seeded Wildcats. Arizona trailed by eight inside the first six minutes of the sport, however regrouped and ultimately constructed a 21-point benefit. Nonetheless, maybe Arizona thought it had issues within the bag as Weber State stormed again to get inside single digits within the ultimate moments. Arizona prevailed within the wake-up name, and made all of it the best way to the regional finals.

As we’ll see, three of the 4 No. 1 seeds within the 1989 NCAA Match did not have a straightforward time profitable their opening-round video games. First up, the “Flyin’ Illini,” who did attain the Remaining 4 in ’89, however needed to work to beat McNeese State to kick issues off. The Cowboys had been aggressive in opposition to Lou Henson’s gifted squad, which went scoreless throughout a span of seven:44, and used a 14-2 spurt through the first half, and led 21-16. Nonetheless, the Illini discovered their kind, led by 5 at halftime and maintained an arms-length benefit the remainder of the best way.

Florida Gulf Coast has had some particular moments within the NCAA Match, and this is able to have been the best in program historical past. The Eagles began scorching, highlighted by a 20-3 surge, in opposition to the blue-blood Tar Heels within the 2016 Match opener. FGCU shot 60 % within the first half. Nonetheless, North Carolina regrouped to guide by one at halftime. The Tar Heels confirmed their dominance within the second half — particularly defensively, as FGCU missed 13 of its first 15 photographs out of the break — to take management.

Not one of many prettiest video games gained by a No. 1 seed within the NCAA Match. The Blue Devils shot simply 41 % general and trailed 14-12 early within the contest. Delaware State, which had gained 15-of-17 coming into this matchup, had been tied 23-23 with 5 minutes remaining within the first half. Duke, nonetheless, took management shortly after back-to-back 3-pointers from Daniel Ewing and Lee Melchionni. The scrappy Hornets made simply 36.5 % of their photographs, however its multi-guard lineup made the Blue Devils work more durable than anticipated to prevail and hand coach Mike Krzyzewski his 65th NCAA Tournament victory — tying Dean Smith for most at the time.

A lackluster first-half efficiency by the No. 1-seeded Jayhawks led to a one-point halftime benefit for a Western Kentucky squad that appeared poised to shock the school basketball world. The Hilltoppers’ defensive stress annoyed Kansas through the first half, however the favourite ultimately discovered its kind to guide by 10 within the second half. Nonetheless, WKU acquired inside 4 on Jamal Criminal’s 3-pointer with 25.4 seconds remaining in regulation. The Jayhawks, though,hit some key throws down the stretch to survive and advance.

Iona’s scorching capturing out of the gate actually awakened the No. 1-seeded Tar Heels. The Gaels led by as many as eight factors through the first half, and owned a 38-33 lead at halftime. Nonetheless, the break proved to revive North Carolina, which took the lead 39 seconds into the second half, and used an 18-4 spurt to take management of a contest that was nearer than many anticipated. Particularly North Carolina, which allowed Iona to make 15 3-pointers, however proved too powerful to take down.

This would possibly not be the final time we hear from ETSU on this listing. Taking part in as a No. 1 seed for the primary time, Pitt reached the regional finals in 2009, however the Buccaneers didn’t make things easy in this opening-round matchup. The Panthers struggled with ETSU’s stress, committing 18 turnovers. ETSU shot simply 30.7 %, went 4-of-22 from 3 and 12-of-24 from the free-throw line, however trailed simply 59-57 with 4:27 left in a sport that solely amplified the stress on the top-seeded Panthers. Pitt, although, did not enable the upstart Bucs to get nearer, and 6-foot-7, 265-pound star DeJuan Blair (27 factors, 16 rebounds) made certain with a following 3-point play that supplied some wanted respiratory room. 

Who would have guessed this was a little bit of foreshadowing for the Cavaliers, and never in a great way? Virginia trailed by 10 within the first half and 35-30 at halftime. Nonetheless, the Cavaliers performed like a No. 1 seed within the second half, once they shot 65 % and saved Coastal Carolina to 8-of-25 capturing within the ultimate 20 minutes. Virginia had a a lot simpler time with Memphis within the second spherical, however its Match run ended in opposition to Michigan State within the Candy 16.

Dean Smith’s 876th profession victory, tying Adolph Rupp’s file, wasn’t anticipated to be this troublesome. Nonetheless, pesky Fairfield shot 49 % and Greg Francis (26 factors) hit eight of the Stags’ 12 3-pointers to maintain the stress on Smith’s Tar Heels, who trailed 35-28 at halftime. Even a 63-percent second-half capturing effort by North Carolina could not preserve the Stags from hanging round. The sport was tied at 45-45 with roughly 14 1/2 minutes left, then UNC was capable of acquire management for good. Vince Carter completed with 22 factors to guide Carolina, which might attain the Remaining 4.

Duke reached the nationwide title sport in 1986, however its street to the ultimate began with a rather serious speed bump. Upstart Mississippi Valley State shot 52.3 % for the sport and its aggressive, trapping protection helped pressure 23 Duke turnovers. The Delta Devils led 40-37 at halftime, and stayed within the lead till just below 12 minutes remaining within the contest. Because of 27 factors from Johnny Dawkins and a double-double from freshman Danny Ferry, the Blue Devils, who shot practically 60 % for the sport, ultimately constructed a 10-point lead with just a little greater than 5 minutes to play.

The Zags’ keep within the 2012 NCAA Match can be a short one, and it virtually ended earlier than actually beginning, maybe an indication this is able to not be Gonzaga’s 12 months at the same time as a No. 1 seed, as its general poor capturing (41.8 %) allowed Southern to hold within the sport, due to 10 made 3-pointers. The Jaguars tied the sport at 56-56 with 3:45 remaining, however struggled to make baskets down the stretch. A pair of Kevin Pangos’ free throws helped the Zags prevail. Nonetheless, they could not keep away from a second-round upset to Wichita State two days later.

There was loads of expertise on this 1984-85 Michigan squad — Roy Tarpley, Gary Grant, Antoine Joubert. The Wolverines had been the Large Ten champs and the No. 2 crew within the nation. Nonetheless, when the NCAA Match rolled round, top-seeded Michigan could not discover its kind. Coach Invoice Frieder’s Wolverines trailed Fairleigh Dickinson (extra from them in a bit) 26-20 at halftime, and overcame 50.0-percent capturing effort by the Knights, regardless of making simply 40.7-percent of their photographs, however had been the higher second-half crew. Michigan, although, wasn’t as lucky within the second spherical, when it was upset by Cinderella and eventual nationwide champion Villanova, 59-55..

Western Carolina did not win its inaugural NCAA Match sport, but it surely stays one of the vital memorable video games in program historical past. The Catamounts hit half of their 56 field-goal makes an attempt, went 7-of-18 from 3-point vary and matched the closely favored Boilermakers on the boards. Ultimately, Purdue, which prevented issues from really getting out of hand by capturing 53.8 %, survived on the heels of Brandon Brantley’s bucket off an offensive rebounds with 1:29 remaining within the sport. Then a Roy Hairston block with lower than 20 seconds to play and two missed photographs by Western Carolina in ultimate 11 seconds to avoid an historic upset.    

Another close call from the 1989 Tournament. The Sooners had been led by two of the school sport’s greats in Stacey King (26 ppg, 10.1 rpg) and Mookie Blaylock (20 ppg, 6.7 apg). Nonetheless, that did not matter to ETSU, which led by eight at halftime and a lot of the second half. Regardless of capturing 30 % within the second half and totaling simply three factors within the ultimate 5:04 of regulation, ETSU remained in place to stun the closely favored Sooners. Nonetheless, it was Blaylock’s baseline drive with 1:21 remaining within the sport that put Oklahoma up by some extent, and ultimately assist his squad keep away from the upset. 

It might probably’t get a lot nearer than additional time to place the scare right into a No. 1 seed within the first spherical. In actual fact, that is the only 1-vs-16 matchup to be decided in overtime. Murray State star Popeye Jones had 37 factors and 11 rebounds, but it surely was teammate Greg Coble’s 3-pointer on the regulation buzzer that pressured additional time. Nonetheless, the Spartans had been simply ok to prevail due to a Kirk Manns tie-breaking, off-balanced shot with lower than a minute remaining within the further session, adopted by Dwayne Stephens’ fast-break bucket to clinch the victory.

Our ultimate close to 1-vs-16 upset of the 1989 NCAA Match stays one of the most memorable games in the history of the event. Coached by the legendary Pete Carril, Princeton and its methodical offense wore down the Hoyas, who trailed 29-21 at halftime. The sport remained shut within the second half, throughout which Georgetown did not take its first lead till there was 10:25 left to play. Hoyas star Alonzo Mourning (21 factors, 13 rebounds, seven blocks) hit two free throws to provide his crew a one-point lead, then recorded back-to-back blocks within the ultimate 15 seconds to protect the victory for a crew favored by 23 factors.

Virginia gained 31 video games and allowed 54 factors per contest coming into the 2018 NCAA Match, however ran right into a first-round buzzsaw within the College of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Led by 28 factors from Jairus Lyles, the Retrievers shot a ridiculous 54.2 %, highlighted by going 12-of-24 from 3-point vary, to blow out the Cavaliers to become the first No. 16 seed to beat a No. 1. UMBC additionally owned a formidable 33-22 benefit on the glass. Within the annals of the NCAA Match, it needs to be thought-about the best upset within the historical past of the occasion. Many, as we have seen on this listing, got here shut, however UMBC lastly proved it was very a lot doable.