The NCAA’s Most Infamous Bracket Busters

Sweet, sweet March. The sun is out later, the weather starts to get warmer and you will likely lose some, a lot, of money thanks to a wild upset in the NCAA tournament. It’s inevitable that it will happen. As much as you try to avoid it, it will come. To celebrate the highs and lows of March Madness, I have compiled a list, in no particular order, of some of my favorite bracket busters from the past. 

Taking it back to arguably one of my favorite moments in the tournament was the defeat of #2 Missouri by #15 Norfolk State. This 2012 first-round game was the first time since 2001 that a #15 seed upset a #2 seed. Thanks to a miss on a last-second three the final score was 86-84. Completely reshaping the West Region that year, Norfolk State proved that in one game, anyone can be beaten. 

In more recent years, I’d say that 2018’s first-round upset between UMBC and Virginia may top the cake. The upset was not just a last-minute hail mary shot but ended with a score of 74-54. UMBC became the first #16 seed to win in tournament history. 

This next upset is difficult for me to talk about, as a Blue Devils fan but I have to mention the 2012 upset of Lehigh over Duke. Led by current NBA player, CJ McCollum with 30 points, Lehigh helped bring Duke haters a smile. Though the Blue Devil’s roster was stacked with both Plumlee’s, Seth Curry, and Austin Rivers, the Mountain Hawks didn’t let up.

March 2016 did not care that Tom Izzo was one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time or that Michigan was seeded #2. March 2016 cared for #15 seed Middle Tennessee State, leading them to a nine-point win over the Spartans. Izzo after the game was just as shocked as the rest of the nation stating, “In my wildest dreams I didn’t think they’d hit some of the shots they hit.” 

In not just one upset but four, Loyola-Chicago introduced the world to their program in an unbelievable way. Defeating Miami, Tennessee, Nevada, and Kansas State, the program made it the farthest they had since 1963. Led by team nun, Sister Jean, the programs Cinderella run brought them all the way to the Final Four, where they lost to Michigan State.

My favorite bracket buster moment, however, is the great run from North Carolina State, led by the legendary coach and human, Jim Valvano. Racking up wins versus Pepperdine, UNLV, Utah, Virginia, and Georgina, the Wolfpack made it to the championship game and stunned Houston, bringing the program their first national championship since 1974.

While these are only some of the NCAA tournament’s great upsets, there will always be more to come. So, as you fill out your bracket or brackets, this year don’t get too confident. March is here to tear you down.