March Madness: 5 Double-Digit Seeds That Made Deep NCAA Tournament Runs

The Wolfpack went on an all-time run a season ago, and it started before the big dance began. NC State, which was on the bubble heading into the ACC tournament, won five games in five days to punch its NCAA Tournament ticket. Coach Kevin Keatts’ squad then upset No. 6-seed Texas Tech in the Round of 64 and sent No. 14 Oakland home in overtime to advance to the second weekend.

The legend of the Wolfpack — and big man DJ Burns — only grew with a victory over No. 2 Marquette in the Sweet 16. NC State then knocked off ACC rival No. 4 Duke in the Elite Eight to move on to the Final Four in Glendale, Arizona. No. 1 Purdue ended the Wolfpack’s winning streak at nine games in the national semifinal, marking NC State’s deepest run in four decades.

No. 11 UCLA (2022)

The Bruins were on a four-game losing streak when they headed to Dayton, Ohio, for a First Four game against fellow blue blood Michigan State. A Jaime Jacquez Jr. and-one took the game to overtime, where UCLA upended the Spartans and advanced to the Round of 64. The Bruins then blew out No. 6-seed BYU and No. 14 Abilene Christian to move on to the second weekend where tougher competition awaited.

In the Sweet 16, No. 2 Alabama forced overtime against the Bruins, but Jacquez and Co. once again survived in the extra period. Next up for coach Mick Cronin’s team was a matchup with top-seeded Michigan, which UCLA defeated in a tight, low-scoring affair. The Final Four in Indianapolis brought a second consecutive No. 1 seed in Gonzaga. In one of the all-time tournament finishes, Jalen Suggs hit a half-court buzzer beater to beat the Bruins in overtime and send the Bulldogs to the national championship game.

No. 11 Loyola Chicago (2018)

The Ramblers stormed into the NCAA Tournament on a 10-game winning streak, and they kept their momentum going during the big dance. Donte Ingram announced Loyola Chicago’s arrival to the world with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to down No. 6-seed Miami. Two days later, Clayton Custer’s winning jumper lifted the Ramblers past No. 2 Tennessee.

Loyola Chicago’s flair for the dramatic continued in the Sweet 16 against No. 7 Nevada when Marques Townes hit a dagger 3-pointer to keep the streak alive. In the Elite Eight, the Ramblers rolled past No. 9 Kansas State to advance to San Antonio. By this point, Loyola Chicago superfan and team chaplain “Sister Jean” had become a national sensation. No. 3 Michigan ended the Ramblers’ run in the Final Four, marking the end of a memorable mid-major success story. 

No. 11 VCU (2011)

The Rams had to play their way into the Round of 64 through the First Four in Dayton, where they easily dispatched USC. Next up was No. 6-seed Georgetown, which VCU also downed by double digits. And in the Round of 32, the Rams routed No. 3 Purdue to extend their dream season.

VCU was pushed for the first time in the Sweet 16 by No. 10 Florida State. The Seminoles took coach Shaka Smart’s team to overtime, but Bradford Burgess hit the winning layup in the final seconds. The Rams turned around and took down No. 1 Kansas in the Elite Eight to advance to their first Final Four. Ultimately, No. 8 Butler put an end to VCU’s banner year in Houston.

No. 11 George Mason (2006)

The Patriots blew past college basketball royalty on their march to the Final Four. George Mason’s run began with a double-digit win over No. 6-seed Michigan State in the Round of 64. Coach Jim Larranaga’s team then turned around and took down No. 3 North Carolina in the Round of 32 to keep the run alive.

In nearby Washington, D.C., GMU dispatched No. 7 Wichita State in the Sweet 16 to set up an Elite Eight matchup with No. 1 UConn. The Huskies forced overtime, but the Patriots pushed past in the extra period to advance to the Final Four in Indianapolis. George Mason’s miracle run ended there against eventual national champion No. 3 Florida. That was the Patriots’ first and only Final Four appearance.