Top 10 March Madness upsets of all time
In light of this year's stunning upsets in the NCAA Tournament, it's clear that March Madness is as unpredictable and exciting as ever. Every year, fans of college basketball eagerly anticipate upsets where lower-seeded teams defy the odds and pull off victories against higher-ranked opponents. As we look back on the history of the tournament, there have been some truly incredible March Madness upsets that have become part of NCAA Tournament lore.
From shocking first-round upsets to Cinderella runs to the Final Four, these are the top ten March Madness upsets of all time. Let's relive the top 10 March Madness moments where underdogs rose to the occasion and made history in the greatest tournament in college basketball.
Greatest March Madness upsets
#10 - Santa Clara over Arizona (1993)
In the first round of the 1993 NCAA Tournament, 15-seed Santa Clara upset 2-seed Arizona 64-61. Santa Clara's upset was led by sophomore guard Steve Nash, who scored 10 points and had five assists.
#9 - Valparaiso over Ole Miss (1998)
In the first round of the 1998 NCAA Tournament, 13-seed Valparaiso upset 4-seed Ole Miss 70-69. The game-winning shot was a 3-pointer by Valparaiso's Bryce Drew, who was coached by his father Homer Drew.
#8 - Mercer over Duke (2014)
In the first round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament, 14-seed Mercer upset 3-seed Duke 78-71. Mercer's victory was fueled by a career-high 30 points from senior guard Langston Hall.
#7 - Loyola-Chicago over Miami (2018)
In the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament, 11-seed Loyola-Chicago upset 6-seed Miami 64-62. Loyola-Chicago went on to make a Cinderella run to the Final Four, winning over the hearts of fans everywhere.
#6 - Butler over Syracuse (2010)
In the Sweet 16, 5-seed Butler upset 1-seed Syracuse 63-59. Butler's defense held Syracuse to just 17 points in the second half, and the Bulldogs went on to make it to the championship game.
#5 - Davidson over Georgetown (2008)
Ten-seed Davidson upset 2-seed Georgetown in the second round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament. Davidson was led by star guard Stephen Curry, who scored 30 points and hit six 3-pointers.
#4 - George Mason over UConn (2006)
In the Elite Eight, 11-seed George Mason upset 1-seed UConn 86-84 in overtime. George Mason went on to become the first-ever double-digit seed to make it to the Final Four.
#3 - NC State over Houston (1983)
In one of the most memorable moments in NCAA Tournament history, 6-seed NC State upset 1-seed Houston in the championship game. With seconds left in the game, NC State's Lorenzo Charles dunked the ball to give the Wolfpack a 54-52 win.
#2 - Villanova over Georgetown (1985)
In the 1985 NCAA Championship game, 8-seed Villanova pulled off a shocking upset over the heavily favored 1-seed Georgetown Hoyas. Villanova shot an incredible 78.6% and won 66-64.
#1 - UMBC over Virginia (2018)
In what is arguably the greatest upset in college basketball history, 16-seed UMBC beat top-seeded Virginia 74-54. It was the first time a 16-seed had ever beaten a 1-seed in NCAA Tournament history.
And with how unpredictable March Madness has proven to be, it is no wonder that fans tune in to be shocked and surprised.