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The Final Four is set, filled with three programs which have never made the final weekend. Miami, San Diego State and Florida Atlantic are first-timers. Four-time national champion UConn is the only school to have made NCAA basketball's biggest stage before.
Miami and San Diego State are No. 5 seeds. FAU is a No. 9 seed, while UConn is a No. 4 seed. Only six teams lower than a No. 9 seed have made the Final Four before.
The tournament field expanded to 64 teams in 1985 and birthed the current format that seeds teams 1-16 in each region. Let’s take a look at the lowest-seeded teams to make the Final Four and which ones were the best Cinderella stories which took over March.
No. 9 seed Florida Atlantic Owls (2023)
FAU pulled off upset after upset on its way to the Final Four this season. The Owls had previously never won an NCAA Tournament game. This team is no joke as it entered the tournament at 31-3. It has won its tournament games by one, eight, seven and three points. How far will this run go?
No. 9 seed Wichita State Shockers (2013)
Wichita State had a solid run of tournament success. It won a tournament game every year from 2012-2017. In 2013, the Shockers pulled off a stunner, beating No. 1 seed Gonzaga to advance to the Sweet 16. They lost to eventual champion, No. 1 seed Louisville.
No. 10 seed 2016 Syracuse Orange (2016)
Not so much a Cinderella, as Syracuse is a traditional basketball school with one of the winningest coaches of all time, Jim Boeheim. In 2016, it was one of the last teams to make the field. The Orange entered with a 19-13 record. They beat conference rival Virginia to make the Final Four before losing to North Carolina.
No. 11 seed LSU Tigers (1986)
The Tigers were the first No. 11 seed to make the Final Four. They beat the best possible seed in every game on their way to the final weekend. They took out No. 1 seed Kentucky in the Elite Eight. LSU had lost to Kentucky three times during that season.
No. 11 seed UCLA Bruins (2021)
Again, this is not so much a Cinderella story as UCLA is the most decorated basketball program of all time, having won the most national championships with 11. As one of the last bubble teams in the field, UCLA went from the First Four to the Final Four. It is only the second team to do so. It lost on an overtime buzzer-beater to Gonzaga in the Final Four.
No. 11 seed Loyola Chicago Ramblers (2018)
Led by Sister Jean on the sidelines, the Ramblers made a magical run to the Final Four. They won 17 of their last 18 games heading into the tournament. They played many dramatic games, winning their first three games by four points combined. They eventually lost to Michigan in the national semifinals.
No. 11 seed George Mason Patriots (2006)
George Mason got a surprising at-large bid coming from the small Colonial Athletic Association. The Patriots, led by coach Jim Larrañaga, beat powers Michigan State, UConn and North Carolina on their way to the Final Four. It was one of the most stunning runs in tournament history.
No. 11 seed Virginia Commonwealth Rams (2011)
VCU was the first team to go from the First Four to the Final Four. It came into the tourney cold, losing four of their last five games. Led by coach Shaka Smart and his Havoc defense, the Rams were a shock participant in the final weekend. They knocked off top seed Kansas to win their region.
