March Madness is known for its Cinderella stories, and there have been some truly remarkable runs by underdogs in NCAA tournament history. Here are five of the most memorable Cinderella teams:
2018 Loyola Chicago Ramblers: Led by Sister Jean and Clayton Custer, the 11th-seeded Ramblers made a magical run to the Final Four, upsetting Miami, Tennessee, Nevada, and Kansas State along the way.
2011 VCU Rams: Shaka Smart’s Rams became the first team to go from the First Four to the Final Four, dominating their opponents with their “havoc” defense and surprising offensive firepower.
2006 George Mason Patriots: The 11th-seeded Patriots pulled off a series of upsets, including victories over Michigan State, defending champion UConn, and top-seeded North Carolina, before falling to Florida in the Final Four.
1986 LSU Tigers: The 11th-seeded Tigers faced a gauntlet of tough opponents, including Georgia Tech and Kentucky, to become the first 11-seed to reach the Final Four.
2022 St. Peter’s Peacocks: The 15th-seeded Peacocks shocked the world by upsetting Kentucky, Murray State, and Purdue to become the first 15-seed to reach the Elite Eight.
These Cinderella runs are a testament to the unpredictable nature of the NCAA tournament and the magic of March Madness. They remind us that anything is possible in this single-elimination format, and they inspire hope for underdogs everywhere.
