Review the most significant upsets in men’s NCAA competition history
Mar 19, 2024, 01:13 PM ET
Every year, millions of fans fill out an NCAA tournament bracket in hopes of predicting which groups will pull off an incredible upset and go on a Cinderella run. With March Insanity firing up, let’s review the biggest upsets in guys’s NCAA tournament history.16-OVER-1 UPSETS No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson
beats No. 1 Purdue, 2023 Prior to this game, Fairleigh Dickinson coach Tobin Anderson was caught on electronic camera telling his group,”The more I view Purdue, the more I believe we can beat them. “It ends up he was right. Fairleigh Dickinson beat Purdue 63-58 in just the second instance of a No. 16 seed beating a No. 1 seed in NCAA competition history.The Knights were led by Sean Moore (19 points, 4 helps and 4 rebounds), Demetre Roberts(12 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists), Grant Singleton (8 points, 6 rebounds, 5 helps and 3 takes) and Cameron Tweedy (10 points and 6 rebounds). Zach Edey, the National College Gamer of the Year, recorded 21 points and 15 rebounds for Purdue in the losing effort. Fairleigh Dickinson eventually lost to Florida Atlantic in the second round.No. 16 UMBC beats No. 1 Virginia, 2018 Virginia got in the 2018 NCAA competition with the second-best chances to win the championship game, and
their loaded roster would go on to win the title the list below year. Nevertheless, they were on the wrong side of history against UMBC, becoming the very first No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16 seed. And UMBC didn’t simply sneak past Virginia; they dominated this contest 74-54. UMBC did whatever they desired and Virginia couldn’t purchase a container. The Retrievers shot 54.2% from the field and 50%
from three-point variety, while the Cavaliers shot 41.1%from the field and just 18.2%from beyond the arc. UMBC was led by Jairus Lyles(28 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists), Arkel Lamar(12 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists )and Joe Sherburne (14 points, 6 rebounds). It took 33 years for an upset of this magnitude, however UMBC proved that a 16-seed might remove a top-seeded juggernaut.15-OVER-2 disturbs No. 15 Princeton beats No. 2 Arizona, 2023 The 2023 NCAA competition included a set of stunning upsets in the preliminary, as Princeton likewise handled to upset Arizona, 59-55. Only one Princeton player scored in double figures: Tosan Evbuomwan, who completed with 15 points, 7 rebounds, 4 helps, a steal and a block. However, seven of their eight rotation players scored a minimum of six points. This was a protective battle, as Princeton shot simply 40.6%from the field and 16%from 3, while Arizona shot 42.1%from the field and 18.8%from three. The Tigers held the Wildcats scoreless for the last 4:43 of the contest, going on a 9-0 run that sealed the win. Princeton advanced to the Sweet 16, where they lost to No. 6 Creighton.No. 15 Saint Peter’s beats No. 2 Kentucky, 2022 The Saint Peter’s Peacocks shocked the world when they beat the powerhouse Kentucky Wildcats, 85-79, in the 2022 NCAA competition. Saint Peter’s caught fire from three-point range, shooting 52.9%to Kentucky’s 26.7% from deep. The Peacocks
were led by Daryl Banks III(27 points, 5 3s and 4 rebounds )and Doug Edert(20 points and 4 rebounds). Oscar Tshiebwe had an impressive 30-point, 16-rebound, 2-block, 2-steal efficiency, but it wasn’t enough to raise the Wildcats to victory. Saint Peter’s Cinderella run continued to the Elite 8, where they lost to No. 8 North Carolina.No. 15 Oral Roberts beats No. 2 Ohio State, 2021 Oral Roberts went into the 2021 NCAA tournament with a 17-10 record, but everyone is 0-0 getting in March Insanity and Oral Roberts took advantage of their opportunity in the Huge Dance. The Golden Eagles defeated the Buckeyes, 75-72, in an
overtime thriller. Kevin Obanor(30 points, 11 rebounds and 5 threes)and Max Abmas (29 points, 5 rebounds, 5 threes, 3 assists and 2 steals )led the way for Oral Roberts, who advanced to the Sugary food 16 before getting eliminated by No. 3 Arkansas.No. 15 Middle Tennessee beats No. 2 Michigan State, 2016 In the 2016 NCAA tournament, Middle Tennessee managed the disturbed versus Michigan State, 90-81. All five of the Blue Raiders’beginners scored in double figures, with Reggie Upshaw (21 points, 4 rebounds, 4 helps and 3 blocks)and Giddy Potts (19 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals)leading the charge.
Middle Tennessee lost in the 2nd round to No. 10 Syracuse.No. 15 Florida Gulf Coast beats No. 2 Georgetown, 2013 In their March Madness launching, Florida Gulf Coast ended up being the talk of the competition. FGCU defeated Georgetown, 78-68, in the 2013 NCAA tournament, and “Dunk City” quickly became fan favorites thanks to their high-flying style of play. Sherwood Brown (24 points, 9 rebounds and 3 threes ), Bernard
Thompson(23 points, 7 rebounds and 3 threes)and Brett Comer(
12 points and 10 rebounds )brought FGCU past Otto Porter’s Hoyas. Florida Gulf Coast advanced to the Sugary food 16, where they lost to No. 3 Florida.No. 15 Norfolk State beats No. 2 Missouri, 2012 Norfolk State beat Missouri, 86-84, in the opening round of the 2012 NCAA tournament. The Spartans were led by Kyle O’Quinn (26 points, 14 rebounds and 2 blocks), Pendarvis Williams( 20 points, 4 rebounds and 4 3s )and Chris McEachin(20 points and 4 threes ). Norfolk State lost in the 2nd round to No. 7 Florida,
but O’Quinn’s excellent competition assisted him get drafted No. 49 total in the 2012 NBA Draft and he ‘d play 8 seasons in the league.No. 15 Lehigh beats No. 2 Duke, 2012 This was the coming-out party for C.J. McCollum, who put Lehigh on his back to take down a crammed Duke team that featured 8 future NBA players. McCollum posted 30 points, 6 helps, 6 rebounds and 2 takes, lifting the mid-major Lehigh past Duke 75-70. Gabe Knutson cracked in 17 points and 8 rebounds on an ideal 5-of-5 shooting from the field. After the following season, McCollum was picked No. 10 general in the NBA Draft.No. 15 Hampton beats
No. 2 Iowa State, 2001 Over the last few years, there have been quite a few huge upsets in the NCAA tournament, however it wasn’t almost as common back in the 1990s and 2000s. When Hampton beat Iowa State 58-57 in the 2001 NCAA competition, it was a shocker. Tarvis Williams controlled the Cyclones, completing with 16 points, 13 rebounds and 6 blocks. Marseilles Brown chipped in 14 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds in the win. Hampton lost in the 2nd round to No. 10 Georgetown.No.
15 Coppin State beats No. 2 South Carolina, 1997 In the 1997 NCAA competition, Coppin State distressed South Carolina in convincing style, 78-65. The HBCU program had actually never won a game in the NCAA tournament, but they ended up being just the 3rd No. 15 seed in history to disturb a No. 2 seed. The Eagles were led by Terquin Mott(11 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks), Danny Singletary (20 points and 5 takes)and Antoine Brockington (20 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals ).
While Coppin State lost in the second round to No. 10 Texas, the win was big for the school. ESPN released a documentary about Coppin State’s big upset called “On & Coppin” that’s readily available on ESPN+. No. 15 Santa Clara beats No. 2 Arizona, 1993 Arizona’s roster included 7 future NBA players, but Santa Clara managed to pull off the 64-61 upset thanks to Pete Eisenrich(19 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks), John Woolery (10 points, 6 takes, 5 rebounds, 3 helps)and DeWayne Lewis (13 points and 7 rebounds). They likewise got strong contributions from a certain freshman guard called Steve Nash, who cracked in 10 points, 7 rebounds and 4 helps off the bench(and later became a two-time
NBA MVP ). No. 15 Richmond beats No. 2 Syracuse, 1991 This marked the very first time that a 15-seed managed a first-round upset, as Richmond beat Syracuse, 73-69. The Spiders stunned the world a couple of years earlier when they defeated No. 4 Indiana as a No. 13 seed in the 1988 NCAA tournament, so they were no complete stranger to big upsets. Richmond, who never ever tracked in this game, was led by Curtis Blair (18 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds and 3 steals), Terry Connolly( 14 points, 7 rebounds and 5 helps )and Kenny Wood(12 points and 7 rebounds)
. Syracuse had four players score in double figures, including Billy Owens(22 points and 7 rebounds ), however it wasn’t enough to advance.Check out ESPN’s college basketball coverage, consisting of the latest rankings, extensive functions, hiring content, Bracketology and more.