First Round Shockers in Past NCAA tourneys

[Grizbacker1]

First-Round Shockers
Teams seeded 13th or lower in the NCAA Tournament have been first-round "giant killers" 36 times in the past 20 years, or since the field was expanded to 64 teams. Of those surprises, 27 were decided by fewer than 6 points or in overtime.

Year Winner (Seed) Loser (Seed) Score
2005 Bucknell (14) Kansas (3) 64-53
2005 Vermont (13) Syracuse (4) 60-57
2003 Tulsa (13) Dayton (4) 84-71
2002 UNC-Wilmington (13) USC (4) 93-89 OT
2001 Kent State (13) Indiana (4) 77-73
2001 Hampton (15) Iowa State (2) 58-57
2001 Indiana State (13) Oklahoma (4) 70-68
1999 Weber State (14) North Carolina (3) 76-74
1999 Oklahoma (13) Arizona (4) 61-60
1998 Richmond (14) South Carolina (3) 62-61
1998 Valparaiso (13) Mississippi (4) 70-69
1998 SW Missouri State (13) Clemson (4) 65-60
1997 Coppin State (15) South Carolina (2) 78-65
1997 Tennessee-Chattanooga (14) Georgia (3) 73-70
1996 Princeton (13) UCLA (4) 43-41
1995 Weber State (14) Michigan State (3) 79-72
1995 Old Dominion (14) Villanova (3) 89-81 (3OT)
1995 Manhattan (13) Oklahoma (4) 77-67
1993 Santa Clara (15) Arizona (2) 64-61
1993 Southern (13) Georgia Tech (4) 93-78
1992 East Tennessee State (14) Arizona (3) 87-80
1992 SW Louisiana (13) Oklahoma (4) 87-83
1991 Richmond (15) Syracuse(2) 73-69
1991 Xavier (14) Nebraska (3) 89-84
1991 Penn State (13) UCLA (4) 74-69
1990 Northern Iowa (14) Missouri (3) 74-71
1989 Siena (14) Stanford (3) 80-78
1989 Middle Tennessee State (13) Florida State (4) 97-83
1988 Murray State (14) North Carolina St. (3) 78-75
1988 Richmond (13) Indiana (4) 72-69
1987 Austin Peay (14) Illinois (3) 68-67
1987 Xavier (13) Missouri (4) 70-69
1987 SW Missouri State (13) Clemson (4) 65-60
1986 Cleveland State (14) Indiana (3) 83-79
1986 Ark.-Little Rock (14) Notre Dame (3) 90-83
1985 Navy (13) Louisiana State (4) 78-55

 

[Mung]

Would it even be a giant slayed if we won?

I think 5s and 12s have about an even ecord over the past few years. And remember a certain 12 seeded UW-Milwaukee team got to the sweet sixteen just a year ago.

 

[THEUMGRIZ]

Off topic, but how many times has a Big Sky Conference team been seeded this low #12??? Just curious...

 

[Mung]

Weber in '03...?

The Idaho teams from way back. Dunno who else.

 

[pennstlbu]

Off topic, but how many times has a Big Sky Conference team been seeded this low #12??? Just curious...

Off the top of my head, I believe the Griz were a 12 when they played Florida St in '92. Also Weber St was a 12 when they ran the conference in 2003 and lost to Wisconsin.

 

[Montana Gym Rat]

Here is the history of the #12 seed. These numbers are based on all games since the tournament expanded to its modern 64/65 format.

1st Round Games:
W-L: 27-57
Winning %: 0.3214
Average Scoring Margin: -4.65

2nd Round Games:
W-L: 14-13
Winning %: 0.5185
Average Scoring Margin: -0.37

Sweet Sixteen:
W-L: 1-13
Average Scoring Margin: -11.64

Elite Eight:
W-L: 0-1


- 2000, 1997 and 1988 are the only years a 12 seed didn't win a game in the tournament.

- There have been 9 OT games for 12 seeds throughout the years. 7 of these overtime games came in the 1st round. Their record is 3-6 in OT, 2-5 in the first round.

- Here are the 14 teams that have made the Sweet Sixteen as a 12 seed: UW-Milwaukee (2005), Butler (2003), Missouri (2002), Gonzaga (2001), Southwest Missouri State (1999), Arkansas (1996), Tulsa (1994), George Washington (1993), New Mexico St (1992), Eastern Michigan (1991), Ball State (1990), Wyoming (1987), DePaul (1986) and Kentucky (1985).

 

[Montana Gym Rat]

Off topic, but how many times has a Big Sky Conference team been seeded this low #12??? Just curious...

Weber State is the only other team in 2003 to be seeded at a 12 since the tournament has gone to 64/65 teams in 1985.

Here are the lower seeds the Big Sky has seen since seeding began in 1979:

Nevada 11 (1984)
Weber State 9 (1983)
Idaho 3 (1982)
Idaho 7 (1981)
Weber State 7 (1980)
Weber State 7 (1979)

 

[pennstlbu]

Off topic, but how many times has a Big Sky Conference team been seeded this low #12??? Just curious...

Off the top of my head, I believe the Griz were a 12 when they played Florida St in '92. Also Weber St was a 12 when they ran the conference in 2003 and lost to Wisconsin.

Nevermind...The Griz were a 14 seed when they play Florida St.