Top 5 Cinderella Final Four Teams
In the spirit of this year’s NCAA Tournament, let’s remember the magical teams from years past who defied expectations and played their way to the main stage.
Cinderella teams are characterized to be teams that are traditionally seeded seven or higher. They are paired against teams who are seeded seven or lower. If a higher seeded team beats a lower seeded team they denoted as a Cinderella team throughout their run in the tournament.
For this list, teams from the past two decades were accounted for. The ranking of this list was coordinated based on strength of opponents they played against.
Honorable Mention:
UMBC 2018
In 2018, the University of Maryland- Baltimore County upset champion favorite University of Virginia in the first round of the tournament. It was the first time in NCAA tournament history that a 16-seeded team beat a number one-seeded team.
The reason they are an honorable mention is because they lost in the next round. But nevertheless, their win epitomized what makes the tournament so magical. What UMBC accomplished in their short stint will be forever cemented in NCAA tournament galore.
5. Virginia Commonwealth University 2011
The teams they played:
Group 64 : 6 Georgetown
Elite 32 : 3 Purdue
Sweet 16: 10 Florida State
Elite Eight : 1 Kansas
In 2011, the 11th-seeded Virginia Commonwealth didn’t only play “havoc” basketball, but also devastated the hearts and minds of fans of Kansas and Purdue. VCU head coach at the time, Shaka Smart, drew up a style of basketball that involved up-tempo and high intensity level of play. This style of play allowed them to go all the way to Final Four where they lost to Butler.
They are the only team to go from First Four to Final Four. Before they played their first game against Georgetown, VCU had to play a win-and-in game against USC.
4. Wichita State 2013
The team they played:
Group 64 : 8 University of Pittsburgh
Elite 32 : 1 Gonzaga
Sweet 16: 13 La Salle University
Elite Eight: 2 Ohio State
The ninth-seeded Shockers as they are known, shocked the tournament with big wins over number one-seeded Gonzaga and second-seeded Ohio State. Armed with talented point guards Ron Baker and Fred VanVeelt, Wichita was a team that sting opposing teams with their sharp shooting and sound defense.
Their tenacious run ended in the Final Four, where they lost to championship winners the University of Louisville Cardinals.
3. Loyola Chicago 2018
The teams they played:
Group 64 : 6 Miami FL
Elite 32 : 3 University of Tennessee
Sweet 16: 7 Nevada
Elite Eight: 9 Kansas State University
The 11th-seeded Loyola Chicago Ramblers, shook up the 2018 NCAA tournament the moment small forward Donte Ingram hit a game winner ending University of Miami hopes, and thus birthing a run for the Ramblers like no other.
With nail biting victories against Nevada and Kansas State, the Ramblers were looking formidable. But their magic ran out in the Final Four as they lost to University of Michigan.
2. George Mason 2006
The teams they played:
Group 64 : 6 Michigan State
Elite 32 : 3 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Sweet 16: 7 Wichita State
Elite Eight: 1 University of Connecticut
The 11th-seeded George Mason Patriots from the CAA conference were able to defeat college basketball titans Michigan State, UNC, and UConn. They were the first team from CAA conference to make it to the Final Four.
Their overtime win against the number one-seeded University of Connecticut who featured Rudy Gay, Hilton Armstrong, Marcus Williams, and Josh Boone (all of which who were drafted in the first-round of the NBA draft) is known to draw a kin to “David vs Goliath”.
1. Butler 2011
The teams they played:
Group 64 : 9 Old Dominion
Elite 32 : 1 University of Pittsburgh
Sweet 16: 4 Wisconsin
Elite Eight: 2 University of Florida
The 2011 Butler Bulldogs are the best “Cinderella” team of the past two decades. In the previous season Butler lost to the Duke Blue Devils in the Championship game. With Gordon Hayward being drafted to the NBA after the 2010 season, the 2011 Bulldogs lacked athleticism and talent.
But with the emergence of Shevlin Mack and the emerging coaching star that was head coach Brad Stevens, the eighth-seeded Bulldogs were able to burden the load and lead the 2011 team to victories over 3 lower seeded teams. Which put them in the Championship game one again. Which resulted them being defeated by the University of Connecticut.
