Cinderella Stories
March Madness is upon us. Every year, basketball fans around the world, even those who never watched a game all year, download brackets and try to imagine which unknowns might strike down Goliath and make it to the Final Four. Over the years, Cinderella teams have captured the imagination of fans who live vicariously through their phenomenal underdog success.
We looked back at the ten most exciting Cinderella stories of the NCAA. See if you agree.
Number 10 – North Carolina State
In 1983 NC State entered the tournament as Sixth Seeds and finished as National Champions. This was arguably Jim Valvano’s finest season, but it required a miracle to finish the job.
In the closing seconds against the Houston Cougars Dereck Whittenburg launched a desperation shot that Lorenzo Charles caught mid-air and dunk for the game-winning bucket. Pandemonium ensued, and Valvano’s frantic run around the court became an iconic symbol of the NCAA Tournament.
Number 9 – Loyola Marymount (1990)
The 1990 team finished in the Elite Eight after beginning as a number eleven seed.
After setting an NCAA record scoring 122.4 points per game, coach Paul Westhead’s fast-paced team entered the West Coast Conference Semifinal. Tragedy struck when Hank Gathers collapsed on the court and later died on March 4, 1990. Despite losing their teammate, the Lions went on to win against New Mexico State, Michigan and Alabama to make the Elite Eight.
Number 8 – Florida Gulf Coast
Seed: 15 – Finish: Sweet 16
The 2013 Florida Gulf Coast University from Fort Myers introduced the world to “Dunk City.” In the opening game of the 2013 tournament against No. 2-seed Georgetown, the Eagles pulled off an improbable win, 78-68. Two nights later, they’d beat San Diego State to advance to the Sweet 16.
Number 7 – Davidson
Beginning as a Tenth Seed in 2008, Steph Curry became a household name as he scored 40 points against the Gonzaga Bulldogs to give Davidson its first NCAA Tournament win since 1969. After starting the regular season with a 4-6 record, the Davidson Wildcats dominated as the undersized point guard led Davidson in scoring in 31 of their 36 games.
Number 6 – U-Penn
In 1979 nobody had heard of the Penn Quakers, but that year they turned out to be one of the greatest Cinderella stories in NCAA Tournament history. But that year, they were the team that everyone was talking about. They made to the Final Four by defeating the number 1 seed North Carolina, number 4 Syracuse, and number 10 St. Johns. Too bad for them, they had to face Magic Johnson and Michigan State in the finals.
Number 5 – George Mason
It is rare for any team from the Colonial Athletic Association conference to make it to the NCAA Tournament, but in 2006 the 11th seed George Mason Patriots overcame Michigan State, North Carolina and Wichita State to earn a spot in the finals against the UConn Huskies. They survived in overtime, but lost the next game of the Final Four to Florida.
Number 4 – Villanova
When the Villanova Wildcats defeated the Georgetown Hoyas in 1985, it was one of the largest upsets in sports history. The powerful Georgetown team had already beaten Villanova twice that season. In what’s been dubbed “The Perfect Game,” Villanova would outlast Georgetown, 66-64, to capture the school’s first national championship in its first appearance. Villanova basketball is on the map today thanks to this team, this game, and their incredible run.
Number 3 – Virginia Commonwealth
The Virginia Commonwealth Rams are the only team to win five NCAA Tournament games and NOT make the national championship game. In 2011 VCU beat the USC Trojans to even make the dance. They followed this with wins over Georgetown, Purdue, Florida State, and t Kansas to reach the Final Four. Rams would ultimately fall to another Cinderella story, Butler, in the national semifinal.
Number 2 – Butler
No team in college basketball history ever had a two-year run quite like the unknown Butler Bulldogs in the 2010 and 2011 NCAA Tournaments. The teams reached the national title game two-straight years, losing to the Duke Blue Devils and Connecticut Huskies. While the Bulldogs never brought a title home to Indianapolis, they put Butler basketball on the map like no team ever has before.
Number 1 – Kansas
The truest happily ever after Cinderella story happens for the one who is cemented in history as the one that takes their place on the throne. Kansas had a 12-8 record and were unranked in 1988 but made a run into the NCAA Tournament by beating Xavier, Murray State, Vanderbilt, Kansas State and Duke to reach the title game. The Jayhawks were an eight-point underdog going in, but they knocked off Oklahoma, 83-79 to win the national title. KU not only overcame the odds but is now looked upon each year as the one to beat by all of the other unknowns.
