The FAU Owls and the ten Most Unimaginable Runs for the Males’s Closing 4

Jeff BorzelloESPN employees authorMarch 25, 20238 minute learn

NEW YORK — The 2023 Closing 4 is poised to be the land of the unknown. UConn is the one staff standing with a nationwide championship beneath their belt. Neither Creighton nor San Diego State have ever made a Closing 4. Previous to final Friday, Florida Atlantic had by no means even gained an NCAA Event as a program. Mark Few and Jim Larranaga made the Closing 4, however Greg McDermott is the one different Elite Eight coach to make it via the primary weekend of the NCAA Event previous to this season.

If anybody aside from UConn cuts the nets, three of the final 4 nationwide champions will probably be first-time winners.

Parity has hit faculty basketball in a significant method, with the appearance of the switch portal and the additional yr of eligibility as a result of pandemic among the many causes.

So, in a season and match stuffed with ties, how unlikely was it that FAU — the staff with probably the most wins in faculty basketball this season — may make the Closing 4? Solely six groups seeded decrease than the Owls have ever performed in a nationwide semi-final, so that they’re in fairly uncommon firm. FAU defeated the no. 3 Kansas State 79-76 Saturday at Madison Sq. Backyard.

Listed below are the ten unlikeliest Closing 4 runs because the NCAA Event’s growth in 1985. (On a fast word: 1985 Villanova was the unlikeliest Nationwide Champion, however this is not the unlikeliest NCAA Event run, it is probably the most unlikely Closing 4 run. most inconceivable Closing 4.)

10. 2017 South Carolina Gamecocks (7 seeds)

A 7-seed gained all of it earlier than, as Shabazz Napier led UConn’s run via the 2014 NCAA Event. However arguably probably the most stunning run of the Closing 4 got here from Frank Martin’s 2017 South Carolina staff, which entered within the NCAA Event by profitable three of their final 9 video games. However the Gamecocks outscored 10-seeded Marquette by 20 within the first spherical, then knocked out 2-seeded Duke, 3-seeded Baylor (additionally 20-seeded), and 4-seeded Florida within the Elite Eight. Sindarius Thornwell has quietly had among the finest NCAA match streaks of any participant prior to now decade.

9. 2011 Butler Bulldogs (8 seed)

You may be shocked to be taught that the 8 seeds have as many Closing 4 groups because the 6 and seven seeds mixed, with six. The truth is, 4 have superior to the nationwide championship, together with final yr’s North Carolina staff and one, the 1985 Villanova, has gained all of it. Whereas Villanova’s nationwide championship was probably the most stunning title win in match historical past, it wasn’t probably the most stunning Closing 4 in historical past, which doubtless goes to 2011 Butler.

It has been a yr because the Bulldogs went to the title sport and misplaced within the closing seconds to Duke. They have been sitting at 14-9 in early February, with a three-game shedding streak and have been hovering within the 60s at KenPom. They did not lose one other sport till the final Monday evening of the season, in opposition to UConn, beating 9-seeded Previous Dominion, 1-seeded Pitt, 4-seeded Wisconsin, and 2-seeded Florida to make it in Houston, the place they then beat the 2011 VCU staff.

8. 2023 Florida Atlantic Owls (9 fits)

On Draft Sunday, one of many largest speaking factors was how underseeded FAU seemed. The Owls entered the NCAA Event with a 31-3 document and a high 30 rating in most metrics. But they acquired a 9 seed because of their lack of top quality wins. However they got here out, silenced the doubters and backed up the supporters. It took a last-second shot by Nick Boyd to beat Memphis within the first spherical earlier than dealing with 16-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson within the second spherical. FDU seemed poised for a second straight stunner, however FAU pulled away late. In opposition to a bodily and defensive Tennessee staff within the Candy 16, FAU was capable of impose its will greater than most groups had all season – after which the Owls defeated NCAA Event star Markquis Nowell and Kansas State within the Elite Eight.

7. 2013 Wichita State Shockers (9 seeds)

By means of Saturday evening, the Shockers have been the one 9 seed to advance to the Closing 4, and it was a springboard for Gregg Marshall and Wichita State’s 35-0 run on the NCAA Event the next season. Not solely did Wichita State beat a 1 seed, 2 seed, and eight seed on its solution to the Closing 4, they beat three high 12 groups on the KenPom that season. The Shockers ousted Pittsburgh within the first spherical by 18 factors, then eradicated high seed Gonzaga to advance to the Candy 16. As soon as there, they defeated a fair greater Cinderella in 13 seed La Salle earlier than beating Ohio State within the ‘Elite Eight.

6. 2016 Syracuse Orange (10 seeds)

Just one 10 seed made the Closing 4, and it was the final Closing 4 of Jim Boeheim’s profession. The Orange returned to the NCAA Event, shedding 5 of their final six video games to make Sunday choice simply 19-13 total and 9-9 within the ACC. However the committee made them a suggestion and Boeheim’s well-known 2-3 zone got here to life, complicated everybody in his path. Syracuse knocked out 7-seeded Dayton within the first spherical for 19, had a fortunate tie in opposition to 15-seeded Center Tennessee within the second spherical (the Blue Raiders upset 2-seeded Michigan State), after which defeated Gonzaga and Virginia en path to the Closing 4.

5. 1986 LSU Tigers (11 seed)

LSU does not precisely scream Cinderella, however the Tigers are one among solely 5 11 seeds to make the Closing 4 — they usually’re the one ones to outrun the highest attainable seed in each spherical. They started by defeating 6-seeded Purdue, adopted by an 83-81 victory over 3-seeded Memphis, knocked out 2-seeded Georgia Tech, after which defeated top-seeded Kentucky to advance to the Finals. 4. The win over the Wildcats was particularly satisfying, as that they had confronted them 3 times earlier than the NCAA Event and misplaced all three.

4. 2021 UCLA Bruins (11 seeds)

Given their blue blood standing, the Bruins do not fairly slot in with the opposite candidates on the high of the desk. However they have been nonetheless an 11 seed and nonetheless solely the second First 4 staff ever to make the Closing 4. UCLA entered the NCAA Event on a four-game shedding streak, together with a Pac-12 Event loss in time beyond regulation to Oregon State that began the Beavers’ Elite Eight run. After beating Michigan State in time beyond regulation of the First 4, UCLA went on to beat BYU and Abilene Christian with 14 double-digit seeds, then knocked out 2-seeded Alabama in time beyond regulation, Michigan with 1 seed for 2 – and Gonzaga wanted a 40-foot Jalen Suggs to beat the Bruins within the Closing 4.

3. Loyola Chicago Ramblers 2018 (11 seeds)

Sister Jean! Loyola Chicago was truly one of many hottest groups within the nation coming into the NCAA Event, profitable 17 of their final 18 video games, however a troublesome first half of the marketing campaign resulted in an 11-seed end. As soon as there, the Ramblers had a few of the greatest close-game performances we have ever seen within the match. They beat 6-seed Miami for 2, 3-seed Tennessee for one, and 7-seeded Nevada for one, earlier than exploding in opposition to 9-seeded Kansas State within the Elite Eight, knocking out the Wildcats by 16 It wasn’t previous the area’s 1 seed to make it to the Closing 4, nevertheless it was additionally this system’s first NCAA Event since 1985, so No. 3 appears about proper.

2. 2006 George Mason Patriots (11 seed)

After shedding to Hofstra within the semifinals of the CAA Event, it seemed like George Mason may be barred from the NCAA Event. However the Patriots received a basic bid earlier than Satisfaction and made historical past afterward. Jim Larranaga led his staff to wins in three of the largest packages within the sport, defeating 6-seeded Michigan State within the first spherical, 3-seeded North Carolina within the second spherical, knocking out 7-seeded Wichita State within the Candy 16 — after which the largest blowout of all of them, an 86-84 win over 1-seeded UConn, arguably the match favourite.

1. Rams VCU 2011 (11 seed)

HORSE! The primary staff from First 4 to Closing 4, the Rams are tied with 4 different 11-seeds because the lowest seed to ever attain the Closing 4, however they’re the unlikeliest of the bunch. VCU misplaced 4 of their final 5 video games to wrap up the common season, misplaced within the CAA Event, and entered the NCAA Event ranked #84 at KenPom. However one thing modified for Shaka Sensible’s staff within the Dance, the place the Rams beat USC within the First 4, upset Georgetown by 18 within the first spherical, after which surprised Purdue with 3 seeds of 18 in Chicago. They’d a superb break when 10-seeded Florida State upset Notre Dame within the second spherical, however nonetheless needed to defeat top-seeded Kansas to make it to the Closing 4.