One of the best 1-seed vs 16-seed video 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 throughout the first six minutes of the sport, however regrouped and finally constructed a 21-point benefit. Nevertheless, maybe Arizona thought it had issues within the bag as Weber State stormed again to get inside single digits within the remaining moments. Arizona prevailed within the wake-up name, and made all of it the way in which to the regional finals.

As we’ll see, three of the 4 No. 1 seeds within the 1989 NCAA Event did not have a simple time profitable their opening-round video games. First up, the “Flyin’ Illini,” who did attain the Last 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 in the course of the first half, and led 21-16. Nevertheless, the Illini discovered their type, led by 5 at halftime and maintained an arms-length benefit the remainder of the way in which.

Florida Gulf Coast has had some particular moments within the NCAA Event, and this may 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 Event opener. FGCU shot 60 p.c within the first half. Nevertheless, North Carolina regrouped to steer by one at halftime. The Tar Heels confirmed their dominance within the second half — particularly defensively, as FGCU missed 13 of its first 15 pictures out of the break — to take management.

Not one of many prettiest video games received by a No. 1 seed within the NCAA Event. The Blue Devils shot simply 41 p.c general and trailed 14-12 early within the contest. Delaware State, which had received 15-of-17 getting into this matchup, had been tied 23-23 with 5 minutes remaining within the first half. Duke, nevertheless, took management shortly after back-to-back 3-pointers from Daniel Ewing and Lee Melchionni. The scrappy Hornets made simply 36.5 p.c of their pictures, however its multi-guard lineup made the Blue Devils work tougher than anticipated to prevail and hand coach Mike Krzyzewski his sixty fifth NCAA Event victory — tying Dean Smith for many on 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 faculty basketball world. The Hilltoppers’ defensive stress pissed off Kansas in the course of the first half, however the favourite finally discovered its type to steer by 10 within the second half. Nevertheless, WKU acquired inside 4 on Jamal Criminal’s 3-pointer with 25.4 seconds remaining in regulation. The Jayhawks, although,hit some key throws down the stretch to outlive and advance.

Iona’s scorching taking pictures out of the gate actually wakened the No. 1-seeded Tar Heels. The Gaels led by as many as eight factors in the course of the first half, and owned a 38-33 lead at halftime. Nevertheless, 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 may not be the final time we hear from ETSU on this checklist. Enjoying as a No. 1 seed for the primary time, Pitt reached the regional finals in 2009, however the Buccaneers did not make issues straightforward on this opening-round matchup. The Panthers struggled with ETSU’s stress, committing 18 turnovers. ETSU shot simply 30.7 p.c, 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 recreation that solely amplified the stress on the top-seeded Panthers. Pitt, although, did not permit the upstart Bucs to get nearer, and 6-foot-7, 265-pound star DeJuan Blair (27 factors, 16 rebounds) made positive with a following 3-point play that supplied some wanted respiration 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. Nevertheless, the Cavaliers performed like a No. 1 seed within the second half, after they shot 65 p.c and saved Coastal Carolina to 8-of-25 taking pictures within the remaining 20 minutes. Virginia had a a lot simpler time with Memphis within the second spherical, however its Event run ended in opposition to Michigan State within the Candy 16.

Dean Smith’s 876th profession victory, tying Adolph Rupp’s report, wasn’t anticipated to be this troublesome. Nevertheless, pesky Fairfield shot 49 p.c 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 taking pictures effort by North Carolina could not maintain 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 steer Carolina, which might attain the Last 4.

Duke reached the nationwide title recreation in 1986, however its highway to the ultimate started with a moderately critical pace bump. Upstart Mississippi Valley State shot 52.3 p.c for the sport and its aggressive, trapping protection helped drive 23 Duke turnovers. The Delta Devils led 40-37 at halftime, and stayed within the lead till slightly 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 p.c for the sport, finally constructed a 10-point lead with a bit greater than 5 minutes to play.

The Zags’ keep within the 2012 NCAA Event could be a quick one, and it nearly ended earlier than actually beginning, maybe an indication this may not be Gonzaga’s yr at the same time as a No. 1 seed, as its general poor taking pictures (41.8 p.c) allowed Southern to hold within the recreation, 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. Nevertheless, 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 Huge Ten champs and the No. 2 crew within the nation. Nevertheless, when the NCAA Event rolled round, top-seeded Michigan could not discover its type. Coach Invoice Frieder’s Wolverines trailed Fairleigh Dickinson (extra from them in a bit) 26-20 at halftime, and overcame 50.0-percent taking pictures effort by the Knights, regardless of making simply 40.7-percent of their pictures, 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 Event recreation, however it stays one of the crucial 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 taking pictures 53.8 p.c, survived on the heels of Brandon Brantley’s bucket off an offensive rebounds with 1:29 remaining within the recreation. Then a Roy Hairston block with lower than 20 seconds to play and two missed pictures by Western Carolina in remaining 11 seconds to keep away from an historic upset.    

One other shut name from the 1989 Event. The Sooners had been led by two of the faculty recreation’s greats in Stacey King (26 ppg, 10.1 rpg) and Mookie Blaylock (20 ppg, 6.7 apg). Nevertheless, that did not matter to ETSU, which led by eight at halftime and a lot of the second half. Regardless of taking pictures 30 p.c within the second half and totaling simply three factors within the remaining 5:04 of regulation, ETSU remained in place to stun the closely favored Sooners. Nevertheless, it was Blaylock’s baseline drive with 1:21 remaining within the recreation that put Oklahoma up by a degree, and finally assist his squad keep away from the upset. 

It may’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 one 1-vs-16 matchup to be determined in additional time. Murray State star Popeye Jones had 37 factors and 11 rebounds, however it was teammate Greg Coble’s 3-pointer on the regulation buzzer that compelled additional time. Nevertheless, 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 remaining close to 1-vs-16 upset of the 1989 NCAA Event stays one of the crucial memorable video games within the historical past of the occasion. 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 present his crew a one-point lead, then recorded back-to-back blocks within the remaining 15 seconds to protect the victory for a crew favored by 23 factors.

Virginia received 31 video games and allowed 54 factors per contest getting into the 2018 NCAA Event, 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 p.c, highlighted by going 12-of-24 from 3-point vary, to blow out the Cavaliers to grow to be the primary 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 Event, it needs to be thought-about the best upset within the historical past of the occasion. Many, as we have seen on this checklist, got here shut, however UMBC lastly proved it was very a lot doable.