George Mason in 2006, Saint Peter’s in 2022: Looking back

• Anthony Gharib, ESPNMar 19, 2024, 07:30 AM ET March Insanity is finally here, a 2 1/2 -week-long competitors that not just busts brackets but establishes heroes. Cinderella stories help give March Madness its unpredictable nature.Editor’s Picks

1 Related Last year, the men’s competition saw the unlikely run of the No. 15-seeded Princeton Tigers. They reached the Sugary food 16 after defeating the No. 2-seeded Arizona Wildcats and No. 7-seeded Missouri Tigers.Princeton is neither the first nor the last school with low expectations to make noise in March.Since the competition broadened to 64 teams in 1985, there have actually been six circumstances where a double-digit-seeded school reached the Final Four. None became nationwide champ– the most affordable seed to win it all was the No. 8 Villanova Wildcats in 1985. Here’s an appearance back at a few of the most remarkable Cinderella runs.

Teams defeated: No. 6 Michigan State Spartans, No. 3 North Carolina Tar Heels, No. 7

Wichita State Shockers, No. 1 UConn Huskies Complete: Final Four loss vs. No. 3 Florida Gators George Mason in 2006 ended up being the first double-digit seed to reach the Last 4 since LSU in 1986. (Picture by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

One of the very first major underdog stories from the previous twenty years of March Insanity, George Mason stunned college basketball in 2006.

The Patriots entered the tournament with a 23-7 record, losing against the Hofstra Pride in the final game of the routine season. Head coach Jim Larranaga led George Mason to 4 straight wins, 3 of which came while facing so-called blue-blood programs.The Patriots were the very first double-digit seed to reach the Final 4 given that the LSU Tigers in 1986. In their words:” We did

something tremendous for college basketball and for groups out there who saw us play,”George Mason guard Tony Skinn said.” We revealed them that all you need is opportunity and an opportunity.” Groups beat: No. 7 Gonzaga Bulldogs, No. 2

Georgetown Hoyas, No. 3 Wisconsin Badgers Finish: Elite Eight loss vs. No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks Davidson and Stephen Curry reached the Elite 8 as a No. 10 seed in 2008.(Image by David T. Foster III/Charlotte Observer/Tribune News Service through Getty Images )Before he ended up being a star for the Golden State Warriors, Stephen Curry led his university to its most remarkable March Madness run.The Wildcats went into the competition on a 22-game winning streak but were still simply the No. 10 seed.

It didn’t matter with the future two-time NBA MVP on the team. Curry revealed out in the preliminary with 40 points, 30 of which came in the very first half, and 8 3-pointers for a resurgence win.In 4 games, he averaged 32 points and shot 44.2% from deep. Curry ended up being the fourth player ever to score 30 points in his very first 4 tournament games. The Jayhawks directly beat the Wildcats 59-57 in the Elite Eight.In their words:”We made history for our school,”Curry stated.”Not a lot of people expected a lot from us, so I take pride in what we have achieved, however it injures a

lot to have actually been this near to the Last Four.” Teams defeated: No. 11 USC Trojans, No. 6 Georgetown

, No. 3 Purdue Boilermakers, No. 11 Florida State Seminoles, No. 1 Kansas Finish: Final 4 loss vs. No. 8 Butler Bulldogs Head coach Shaka Smart led VCU to an unlikely Final 4 run in 2011 as the No. 11 seed.(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images )In the inaugural edition of the “First Four “games, Virginia Commonwealth University ended up being the first string to go from the First 4 to the Last Four.VCU caught fire at the right time and won 5 games in a row– 4 of them by double digits– to reach the Last Four. Coach Shaka Smart’s energetic sideline shenanigans ended up being a remarkable part of the Cinderella run.Butler had actually reached the national championship as the No. 5 seed and developed its own Cinderella story the year prior.

The Bulldogs ended VCU’s season in the Final Four.In their words:”Naturally it’s not an once-in-a-lifetime run,”Smart said. “We’re going to try to do this every year.

It’s not easy, there’s no concern about it.” Teams beat: No. 2 Georgetown, No. 7 San Diego State Aztecs End up: Sweet 16 loss vs. No. 3 Florida

In 2013, the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles became the first No. 15 seed to reach the Sweet 16.(Picture by Rob Carr/Getty Images) Keep In Mind ‘Dunk City’? The high-flying Eagles ended up being the first

No. 15 seed to reach the Sugary food 16 in the tournament’s history.Florida Gulf Coast wasn’t even qualified for the competition till 2012– the very first trainee was confessed in 1997. Yet, it surprised Georgetown in the preliminary behind a 21-2 second-half run and high-flying dunks. The Eagles then originated from behind to beat San Diego State and remain dancing.Florida Gulf Coast’s run ultimately ended against Florida.In their words:”It boggled the mind to see the excitement and passion of not only our local neighborhood, the students, but likewise the national level, “head coach Andy Enfield stated after losing to Florida.”Our players thought, and they achieved something unique.” Teams defeated: No. 6 Miami Hurricanes, No. 3 Tennessee Volunteers, No. 7 Nevada Wolf Load, No. 9 Kansas State Wildcats Complete: Final Four loss vs. No. 3 Michigan Wolverines Sis Jean Dolores Schmidt celebrates with head coach Porter Moser of the Loyola Chicago Ramblers after reaching the Final Four.(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images )In a competition that consisted of the No. 16-seeded UMBC Retrievers upsetting the No. 1 Virginia Cavaliers, Sister Jean and Loyola Chicago became the story of that year’s March.The Ramblers ‘very first three wins of the competition all included a combined deficit of 5 points. They controlled the Wildcats by 16 points to become the 4th No. 11 seed to ever reach the Last Four– all with Sister Jean by their side.The then-98-year-old Catholic sibling and team’s chaplain turned into a family name throughout Loyola Chicago’s run. The Ramblers’ run disappointed the national

champion game.In their words:”It’s unique to see sort of what phase we were able to get to,”stated Loyola Chicago guard Ben Richardson.”In spite of going out in this manner, we’re going to always remember this. I think a lot of people will remember this run for a long time.” Groups defeated: No. 2 Kentucky Wildcats, No. 7 Murray State Racers, No. 3 Purdue Finish: Elite 8 loss vs. No. 8 North Carolina The Saint Peter’s Peacocks in 2022 are the only No. 15 seed to reach the

Elite 8 in tournament history.(Picture by Patrick Smith/Getty Images )Saint Peter’s had just 3 March Madness looks and no wins heading into its 2022 matchup

against Kentucky. However, with a 19-11 record, the Peacocks were coming off a MAAC Competition Champion and rode a seven-game win streak.The rest is history. Saint Peter’s surprised Kentucky in the preliminary then won 2 more to become the first No. 15 seed to reach the Elite Eight.In their words:”They surprised the world. You got guys that are going to be remembered for things they can inform they kids and grandkids,”stated head coach Shaheen Holloway.

“It’s a story within a story. So I’m extremely happy with these guys. They can be found in and made history. Point-blank, period.”