The insanity has begun. Each March, followers all around the globe sit again and watch historical past unfold. There’s something magical about March Insanity, the place we see probably the most dominant groups elevate a trophy or go residence in shock. It is the Cinderella tales that pave the way in which for smaller colleges sooner or later. It is what makes the NCAA Event unforgettable. It isn’t simply who wins all of it, however the chaos created alongside the way in which.
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Males’s NCAA Event All-time Upsets
5. No. 14 Oakland Defeats No. 3 Kentucky (2024)
Whenever you have a look at latest historical past for upsets, the primary one which involves thoughts is when Jack Gohlke made a reputation for himself by lighting up Massive Blue. In an 80-76 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats, the Oakland Golden Grizzlies put the Horizon League on the map.
FINAL: Oakland 80, Kentucky 76.
Greg Kampe and Oakland stun the school basketball world with one of many biggest upsets in March Insanity historical past! 🏀🔥
Need his 1-1-3 Match-up Notes: https://t.co/RIWbQ7wfZK pic.twitter.com/m7IWRMiPG2
— Scott Peterman (@coachpeterman) December 31, 2024
Gohlke dropped 32 factors and hit 10 3-pointers, the second-most threes in an NCAA Event recreation. Within the victory over the Wildcats, the Golden Grizzlies shot 15-of-31 from three (48%), fully outgunning one of many extra gifted groups within the nation. The Golden Grizzlies got here out victorious, because of limiting turnovers, and scored 12 factors off the Wildcats‘ 11 turnovers.
4. No. 15 Oral Roberts Defeats No. 2 Ohio State (2021)
The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles got here in missed however left unforgettable. Led by Max Abmas, who scored 29 factors, Oral Roberts took down the Ohio State Buckeyes 75–72 in extra time.
IT’S MARCH!
15-SEED ORAL ROBERTS UPSETS OHIO STATE! 😱@ORUMBB | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/GyKqYYGhhm
— NCAA March Insanity (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2021
What makes this upset even crazier is that Abmas averaged 24.5 factors per recreation throughout the event. The Golden Eagles grew to become simply the second 15-seed ever to succeed in the Candy 16.
3. No. 15 FGCU Defeats No. 2 Georgetown (2013)
„Dunk Metropolis.” That’s all you should say. The Florida Gulf Coast Eagles didn’t simply beat the Georgetown Hoyas; they dominated with fashion.
March 22, 2013: Dunk Metropolis introduces itself to the nation, as 15-seed Florida Gulf Coast College (@FGCU_MBB) shocks 2-seed Georgetown 78-68 within the first spherical of the NCAA Event. pic.twitter.com/6OfyM69RO4
— This Day In Sports activities Clips (@TDISportsClips) March 22, 2020
The Eagles shot 43% from the sector and threw down dunks throughout their first two event video games. In a recreation led by Sherwood Brown and Bernard Thompson, this crew appeared unstoppable. With a 78-68 victory, the Eagles turned their event run right into a spotlight reel by turning into the primary 15-seed ever to succeed in the Candy 16.
2. No. 8 Villanova Defeats No. 1 Georgetown (1985)
With the way in which upsets occur now, we have now to understand what got here earlier than modern-day basketball. This wasn’t simply an upset, it was perfection. The Villanova Wildcats shot an unbelievable 78.6% from the sector (22-of-28) within the nationwide championship recreation to take down the Georgetown Hoyas.
40 years in the past right now, Villanova performed the proper recreation to beat mighty Georgetown within the 1985 Championship Recreation by capturing 79% from the sector (22-28 FGs). 🤯 pic.twitter.com/DayA6oDNRG
— School Sports activities Solely (@CSOonX) April 1, 2025
The Wildcats missed solely six pictures your entire recreation, a file of effectivity that also stands as one of many biggest performances ever. Whenever you have a look at this Georgetown crew, led by Patrick Ewing, with Reggie Williams additionally on the roster, it is laborious to consider they misplaced.
Going into this recreation, Villanova would fairly actually should play an ideal recreation to win. This reveals the great thing about March Insanity. There’s a purpose why this recreation is named „The Excellent Recreation.“
1. No. 16 UMBC Defeats No. 1 Virginia (2018)
Sooner or later, we must see the final No. 16 seed defeat the primary No. 1 seed. The phrase „U Should Be Cinderella“ was the slogan for the UMBC Retrievers. This wasn’t only a win—it was a blowout 74-54 victory.
On today in 2018, historical past was made as 16-seed @UMBC_MBB did the UNTHINKABLE by defeating 1-seed Virginia 😱#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/0CMAmlGODI
— NCAA March Insanity (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 16, 2025
The Retrievers shot 54.2% from the sector and outscored Virginia 53–33 within the second half. Earlier than this recreation, 16 seeds have been 0–135 all-time towards No. 1 seeds. That’s what makes this the best upset ever. It didn’t simply break the rule— it shattered it.
For a crew to fully stroll down their opponent with no concern, this „David and Goliath“ matchup will all the time be a historic basic.
Ladies’s NCAA Event All-time Upsets
5. No. 2 Iowa Defeats No. 1 South Carolina (2023)
Though this was a matchup between two top-seeded groups, South Carolina was on a 42-game win streak, in the course of an ideal season, and on the verge of going back-to-back. Nevertheless, Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes put an finish to the dominant Gamecocks.
„The Legendary Mastery of Caitlin Clark continues.“
Behind 41 from Clark, Iowa advances to the championship recreation towards LSU. South Carolina was the defending champion and had gained 42 straight. pic.twitter.com/1hBqgBq2ad
— Terrible Saying (@awfulannouncing) April 1, 2023
Throughout this time, nobody gave the Hawkeyes an opportunity to win, even with Clark having an incredible event. The dominance stemmed from the truth that this South Carolina crew completely ought to have been repeat champions. On paper, it is laborious to consider that Iowa might even sustain with Daybreak Staley’s crew, not to mention win the sport.
This was a staple recreation for Iowa, with Clark dropping 41 factors, eight assists, and 6 rebounds. This despatched the Hawkeyes to the Nationwide Championship recreation.
4. No. 2 Stanford Defeats No. 1 Notre Dame (2017)
As soon as once more, one other top-seed upset occurred. This time, the Cardinals got here again from 16 factors down towards this stacked Combating Irish crew.
Down at halftime, Stanford got here in on hearth offensively and with lockdown protection. This was already a rematch of the earlier 12 months’s Candy Sixteen, which one would suppose Notre Dame would have stored the foot on the gasoline.
📹 @StanfordWBB arms Notre Dame its first-ever #Elite8 loss to succeed in the #WFinalFour! pic.twitter.com/QoLFkHcy2J
— NCAA March Insanity (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 26, 2017
Whenever you have a look at who was on this Combating Irish crew as nicely, there’s a purpose why Notre Dame is „Guard College“ for ladies’s basketball. This was a roster that includes Marina Mabrey, Arike Ogunbowale, and lots of different notable WNBA gamers that misplaced! Ultimately, this squad would win a Nationwide Championship, however Stanford’s expertise cannot be missed both.
With a shot made by Alanna Smith with 23 seconds left, Stanford accomplished the comeback. Finally, this makes it a terrific upset final result.
3. No. 12 Ball State Defeats No. 5 Tennessee (2009)
The Ball State Cardinals shocked the basketball world by taking down the Tennessee Woman Volunteers. Though this Tennessee crew misplaced virtually its total roster from the earlier 12 months, it was nonetheless a Pat Summitt-led crew.
Ball State took full benefit of @Beyonce’s „Single Women“ topping the charts in 2009.
The Cardinals carried out the total dance routine earlier than each recreation, together with throughout the 2009 NCAA Event! #ncaaW | @BallStateWBB pic.twitter.com/wVWpqIBGIP
— NCAA March Insanity (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 21, 2020
Nevertheless, Ball State compelled 16 turnovers and held Tennessee to only 55 factors, fully disrupting one of the crucial legendary applications within the sport.
Tennessee had by no means misplaced within the first spherical in program historical past till Ball State got here and ended their streak.
2. No. 9 Mississippi State Defeats No. 1 UConn (2017)
The Mississippi State Bulldogs ended one of the crucial dominant runs in sports activities historical past. The UConn Huskies got here in on a 111-game successful streak, successful video games by a mean of practically 25+ factors.
March 31, 2017: Morgan William nails a jumper on the buzzer to elevate the Mississippi State Ladies over UConn 66-64 in OT within the Closing 4, snapping the Huskies’ 111-game win streak. pic.twitter.com/Gm5OCR1b5H
— This Day In Sports activities Clips (@TDISportsClips) March 31, 2022
Then it ended on a Morgan William buzzer-beater. Mississippi State gained 66–64 in extra time, ending the streak and surprising your entire sports activities world in a single shot.
1. No. 16 Harvard Defeats No. 1 Stanford (1998)
On the subject of upsets, it is already uncommon to see a 16-seed beat a 1-seed, so after all, it needs to be primary on this record.
28 years in the past right now, Harvard defeated Stanford 71-67 to turn out to be the primary ever 16-seed to defeat a 1-seed in NCAA Ladies’s or Males’s Basketball Event historical past: pic.twitter.com/rM51o9uKvE
— NIL 𝘯𝘰𝘵 NLI (@NILnotNLI) March 14, 2026
The Harvard Crimson girls’s basketball crew shocked the Stanford Cardinals, 71-67, turning into the primary 16-seed to beat a 1-seed in NCAA Event historical past.
Harvard gained by taking part in fearless basketball from begin to end. Led by Allison Feaster, who had 35 factors and 13 rebounds, Harvard put its identify within the historical past books.
Trying Onward
March Insanity isn’t only a event; it’s proof that numbers don’t all the time matter till they do. As a result of generally it’s 10 threes, generally it’s 78% capturing, and generally it’s breaking a 0–135 streak that no person thought would ever finish. It’s the place unknown gamers turn out to be legends, underdogs turn out to be icons, and giants fall while you least count on them. Yearly, we watch for that one shining second. Historical past isn’t simply remembered in March, it is created.
The true query going into this 12 months’s event is: Will we see one other Cinderella run? Will a high seed get shocked?
