With Selection Sunday complete, March Madness brackets are officially set and the anticipation of the NCAA Tournament has begun. Every year, fans across the country hope to witness a crazy run from an unknown school. Throughout tournament history, several teams have produced legendary Cinderella runs that continue to live up to the name of “March Madness.” These teams are what bring excitement and unexpected moments that go down in history forever. As the madness awaits to start, here is a list of the greatest Cinderella stories of all time.
Loyola Chicago(2018)- In 2018, the 11-seeded Loyola Chicago Ramblers out of the Missouri Valley Conference went through one of the most electric and memorable paths to the Final Four in March Madness history. Fueled by the passion of 98 year old Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the chaplain for the team, the Ramblers went on to string a series of last minute wins to advance them all the way to the Final Four. Their journey started against No. 6 Miami where they won with a dramatic 3-pointer to win 64-62 at the buzzer. They continued their run by hitting a game-winning jumper to skip past No. 3 Tennessee in the 2nd round. The Ramblers then continued the madness by knocking off Nevada by 1 by hitting, yet again, another 3 in the final minutes to secure the win. The Ramblers cruised past Kansas State in the Elite 8 to reach the Final Four where their run would eventually end to the Michigan Wolverines. Loyola’s run to the Final Four remains one of if not the most memorable Cinderella stories in NCAA history.
St. Peter’s(2022)- In 2022, the Saint Peter’s Peacocks created one of the most unlikely Cinderella runs in March Madness history. Coming into the tournament as a 15 seed, the Peacocks were expected to get blown out in the first round. Instead, the Peacocks stunned the country by upsetting the powerhouse Kentucky Wildcats in the first round. They continued their run into the 2nd round by defeating the Murray State Racers, and then knocked off the Purdue Boilermakers to leave the nation in shock. The Peacock’s run eventually ended in the Elite Eight when they fell to the North Carolina Tar Heels, but their legacy was cemented in history forever. They became the first ever 15 seed to reach the Elite Eight, and they forever hold a place as one of the greatest Cinderella teams of all time.
George Mason(2006)- The George Mason Patriots came into the tournament as an 11 seed and weren’t expected to go very far in the 2006 tournament. However, the Patriots quickly proved that they belonged by defeating powerhouse programs in the Michigan State Spartans and the North Carolina Tar Heels. They continued their insane run by upsetting the heavily favored UConn Huskies in the Elite Eight in an overtime win that came down to the wire. George Mason became just the second 11 seed in history to reach the Final Four, and they had never won a tournament game prior to 2006. Many critics believed that they did not deserve an at-large bid, and they silenced them by defeating three former national champions and advancing to the Final Four. The Patriots became the first team from the Colonial Athletic Association to reach the Final Four, proving that smaller programs could compete on the biggest stage.
Butler(2011)- In 2011, the Butler Bulldogs came out representing the state of Indiana as they created one of the most memorable runs of all time. Coming from the Horizon League, Butler entered the tournament as an 8-seed and fought its way all the way back to the national championship game for the second straight year after losing in heartbreaking fashion the previous year. Along the way, the Bulldogs defeated powerhouses such as the Wisconsin Badgers and Florida Gators. Butler’s discipline and underdog mentality led by coach Brad Stevens allowed them to compete with the nation’s best teams before eventually falling to the UConn Huskies in the National Championship game. Butler became the first mid-major school to make it to back-to-back National Title games, and they proved that their run to the title game from the year prior wasn’t a fluke.
VCU(2011)- The 2011 tournament was memorable as it produced another Cinderella story in the VCU Rams. After barely making the tournament as part of the First Four, VCU quickly silenced the critics. There was a lot of controversy around the team saying that they weren’t deserving of being in the tournament. The Rams quickly flipped this narrative. VCU went on to defeat USC, Georgetown, and Purdue to go to the Sweet 16. They then upset the Florida State Seminoles and then top-seeded Kansas to reach the Final Four. Their run ended when they lost to a fellow Cinderella team in the Butler Bulldogs, but they proved that they belonged and that mid-major teams can make deep runs in college basketball. VCU brought a fast-paced style and relentless defense, which made them one of the most electrifying teams of all time.
FAU(2023)- The 2023 NCAA Tournament was one of the most memorable to date. It brought us one of the most unique Final Fours and was filled with many clutch moments and upsets. The star of this tournament was the Florida Atlantic Owls. As a 9-seed, FAU advanced through a difficult bracket by defeating the Memphis Tigers, Tennessee Volunteers, and Kansas State Wildcats who were on a roll. The Owls went all the way to the Final Four, but fell just short losing to San Diego State by a single point on a heartbreaking jump shot at the buzzer. Before the season, FAU had never won a game in the NCAA tournament, and they became one of the lowest seeds to ever go to the Final Four. Their balanced scoring and strong defense powered by Coach Dusty May helped them reach the Final Four, proving once again that smaller schools can make deep runs in March.
FGCU(2013)- Another unforgettable Cinderella story came in 2013 when the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles shocked the nation and made a deep run in the tournament. As a 15-seed, FGCU became known as “Dunk City” because of their fast-paced play and one of the greatest montages of highlight-reel dunks that we have ever seen. The Eagles shocked the basketball world by upsetting 2-seed Georgetown and 7-seed San Diego State before reaching the Sweet Sixteen. Their run ended in the Sweet Sixteen to the Florida Gators, but their run is remembered as one of the most electrifying runs from a team in history. They became the first 15-seed in tournament history to ever reach the Sweet Sixteen, making their exciting run one of the most entertaining Cinderella stories ever.
