Saoirse Downs
In the history of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, only two No. 16 seeds have ever defeated a No. 1 seed. The first instance occurred in 2018 when the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) Retrievers dominated the Virginia Cavaliers, winning by a score of 74-54. The second instance took place in 2023 when Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) shocked Purdue with a final score of 63-58. While there have been several near-upsets and close calls, the odds of a No. 16 seed defeating a No. 1 seed remain extremely slim, showcasing the talent gap and the underdog nature of lower-seeded teams.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Has a 16 seed ever won a second-round game? | No |
| Which teams are the only 16 seeds to reach the second round? | UMBC Retrievers in 2018, Fairleigh Dickinson Knights in 2023 |
| Which team was the first 16 seed to knock off a No. 1 seed? | UMBC in 2018 |
| Which team was the second 16 seed to knock off a No. 1 seed? | Fairleigh Dickinson Knights in 2023 |
| Which team was the No. 1 seed that UMBC knocked off? | Virginia Cavaliers |
| Which team was the No. 1 seed that Fairleigh Dickinson knocked off? | Purdue |
| What was the score when Fairleigh Dickinson knocked off Purdue? | 63-58 |
| What was the score when UMBC knocked off Virginia Cavaliers? | 74-54 |
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What You'll Learn
No. 16 seeds that have defeated No. 1 seeds
In the history of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, only two No. 16 seeds have ever defeated a No. 1 seed. The first instance occurred in 2018 when the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) Retrievers defeated the Virginia Cavaliers by a score of 74-54. This was a significant upset as the Cavaliers were not only a No. 1 seed but also the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament that year, known for their stifling defense.
The second instance took place in 2023 when Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) defeated Purdue with a final score of 63-58. This game was also notable as FDU was the shortest team in tournament history, while Purdue was led by the 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey and was one of the tallest teams in the nation. FDU's victory was even more impressive considering they were not expected to make the tournament, only securing a berth due to Merrimack's transitional period between Division II and Division I.
These upsets are considered magical moments in college basketball history, showcasing the underdog spirit and the unpredictable nature of the game. Despite the long odds, these No. 16 seeds rose to the challenge and etched their names in the annals of March Madness lore.
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The lowest seed to win a championship
In the history of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, no 16th seed has ever won the championship. In fact, only two No. 16 seeds have ever defeated a No. 1 seed.
The first instance occurred in 2018 when the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) Retrievers defeated the Virginia Cavaliers by 20 points (74-54). The Cavaliers were the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament that year and were known for their slow pace and stifling defense. The second instance took place in 2023 when Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) defeated Purdue 63-58. FDU was the shortest team in NCAA tournament history, with an average height of 6 feet 1 inch, while Purdue was one of the tallest teams, with an average height of 6 feet 6 inches and a 7-foot-4 center.
While no 16th seed has won the championship, lower-seeded teams have achieved this feat. The lowest seed to win a national championship in the men's tournament was a No. 8 seed, which has happened four times. The first occurred in 1985 when Villanova defeated Georgetown. The other three instances were in 2011 (Butler), 2014 (Kentucky), and 2022 (North Carolina). Villanova remains the only No. 8 seed to win the title.
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The highest seed to lose to a No. 16 seed
In the history of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, only two No. 16 seeds have defeated a No. 1 seed. This gives No. 16 seeds a 1.25% winning percentage against No. 1 seeds.
The first instance occurred in 2018 when the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) Retrievers defeated the Virginia Cavaliers by a score of 74-54. UMBC became the first No. 16 seed to upset a No. 1 seed and the first to beat the No. 1 team in the country.
The second instance took place in 2023 when Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) defeated Purdue 63-58. FDU, the shortest team in NCAA tournament history, faced a Purdue team that was one of the tallest in the nation, led by 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey. Despite being heavy underdogs, FDU executed a game plan focused on limiting the rest of Purdue's offense beyond Edey and forcing errant shots, and pulled off the upset.
These two victories by No. 16 seeds over No. 1 seeds are considered some of the most improbable feats in collegiate athletics and have etched their place in March Madness lore.
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The biggest point-spread upsets
In the history of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, a single-elimination tournament, only two No. 16 seeds have ever defeated a No. 1 seed. The first instance occurred in 2018 when the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) Retrievers defeated the Virginia Cavaliers by a score of 74-54. This victory was particularly notable as UMBC became the first No. 16 seed to upset a No. 1 seed, and they did so in dominant fashion, winning by 20 points.
The second instance of a No. 16 seed upsetting a No. 1 seed took place in 2023 when Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) defeated Purdue 63-58. This game was also significant as FDU was the shortest team in NCAA tournament history, with an average height of 6 feet 1 inch, while Purdue was one of the tallest teams, boasting an average height of 6 feet 6 inches and a 7-foot-4 center, Zach Edey. Despite being heavy underdogs, FDU executed a game plan focused on nullifying Purdue's offensive threats other than Edey, limiting the Boilermakers to only 36% shooting from the field.
These two upsets stand out as remarkable achievements in the context of the men's tournament, where No. 16 seeds have historically struggled against top-seeded teams. The combined record of No. 16 seeds against No. 1 seeds prior to these upsets was a paltry 2-272.
Now, let's take a closer look at the biggest point-spread upsets:
- Fairleigh Dickinson (+23.5) over Purdue, 63-58 in 2023: This game, already mentioned, stands out as one of the biggest point-spread upsets. Purdue was favored by nearly 25 points, but FDU rose to the challenge, pulling off the improbable victory.
- UMBC (+20) over Virginia, 74-54 in 2018: In this historic upset, UMBC dominated the top-seeded Virginia Cavaliers, winning by a margin of 20 points. This victory defied the talent gap between the two teams and showcased the magic of March Madness.
- Princeton (+1) over Arizona, 59-55 in 2023: While not as large of a point spread, Princeton's victory as a No. 15 seed over a No. 2 seed Arizona in the opening round of the 2023 tournament was notable. It marked the tenth time a No. 15 seed had won in the opening round since the expansion to 64 teams in 1985.
- Georgetown (+1) over Princeton, 50-49 in 1989: This game holds the distinction of being the lowest-scoring contest in a 1 vs. 16 matchup. Georgetown, a No. 1 seed, narrowly escaped with a one-point victory over Princeton, a No. 16 seed, in the opening round of the tournament.
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The lowest seed to make the Final Four
In the history of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, an 11 seed is the lowest to make the Final Four. This feat has been achieved six times: by LSU in 1986, George Mason in 2006, VCU in 2011, Loyola Chicago in 2018, UCLA in 2021, and NC State in 2024. Syracuse reached the Final Four as a No. 10 seed in 2016, making them one of only seven double-digit seeds to advance to the national semifinals.
The lowest seed to win a national championship is No. 8, which has happened four times: Villanova in 1985, Butler in 2011, Kentucky in 2014, and North Carolina in 2022. Villanova is the only one of these four teams to win the title.
In terms of upsets, or victories by underdog teams, only two No. 16 seeds have ever defeated a No. 1 seed in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. The first was in 2018 when the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) Retrievers defeated the Virginia Cavaliers by 20 points (74-54). The second was in 2023 when the Fairleigh Dickinson (FDU) Knights defeated Purdue 63-58. FDU was the shortest team in NCAA tournament history, with an average height of 6-foot-1, while Purdue was one of the tallest teams, with an average height of 6-foot-6 and a 7-foot-4 center.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, but it is rare. In 2018, UMBC became the first No. 16 seed to beat a No. 1 seed. In 2023, FDU became the second No. 16 seed to beat a No. 1 seed.
16 seeds have a 1.25% winning percentage against 1 seeds.
The University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) Retrievers defeated the Virginia Cavaliers 74-54.
Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) defeated Purdue 63-58.
