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20 most shocking NCAA Tournament upsets that put the ‘madness’ in March

By Mike Phillips

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 16: K.J. Maura #11 and Jairus Lyles #10 of the UMBC Retrievers talk during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Virginia Cavaliers at the Spectrum Center on March 16, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Retrievers won 74-54. Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** K.J. Macura;Jairus Lyles
CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 16: K.J. Maura #11 and Jairus Lyles #10 of the UMBC Retrievers talk during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Virginia Cavaliers at the Spectrum Center on March 16, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Retrievers won 74-54. Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** K.J. Macura;Jairus Lyles /
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8. No. 15 Middle Tennessee State over No. 2 Michigan State – 2016

  • Middle Tennessee State wins 90-81

In terms of magnitude, this may be the most stunning 15-seed upset of them all. Not only was Michigan State a dominant 2-seed at the time, but many people were predicting the Spartans would win the national championship in 2016.

The Spartans had a loaded roster that returned nearly everyone from the previous year’s Final Four team, including star guard Denzel Valentine. After going 29-5 during the regular season and winning the Big Ten Tournament, many assumed the Spartans would be the final No. 1 seed.

The selection committee didn’t see it that way, giving the Spartans a two seed and this matchup with Middle Tennessee State. The Conference USA champions were a formidable opponent, but almost everyone assumed Michigan State would wipe the floor with the Blue Raiders.

That most certainly did not happen, with Middle Tennessee bombing Michigan State out of the gym, knocking down a ridiculous 11-of-19 from beyond the arc. There hasn’t been a shortage of upsets in March Madness, but this 15-over-2 triumph was particularly massive since the Spartans were one of the betting favorites to win the national championship.

At the time, some experts even claimed this would be the closest thing the sport would see to a 16 beating a 1, which had not happened yet. History would test that notion down the road.

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