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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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12. No. 15 Santa Clara over No. 2 Arizona – 1993

  • Santa Clara wins 64-61

Lute Olson was in the process of turning Arizona into a true blue blood, leading the Wildcats to the Final Four in 1988 and hoping to make a return trip with this group.

Arizona, led by future NBA point guard Damon Stoudamire, went 24-3 during the regular season to earn the no. 2 seed in the West Region. Their first-round draw was 115-seed Santa Clara, a small school out of the West Coast Conference making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1987.

Few gave the Broncos a chance to knock off the Wildcats, but even fewer knew at the time that Santa Clara was featuring a future NBA Hall of Famer. One of the key contributors off the bench for the Broncos was one Steve Nash, who played 30 minutes in this game and scored 10 crucial points.

Santa Clara kept it close early, trailing by just two points at the half, before outscoring Arizona by five after the break to steal a 64-61 win. The Wildcats’ last-ditch heave from Stoudamire bounced off the back rim, letting Santa Clara become the second 15-seed to ever beat a 2-seed.

Olson’s team didn’t let this defeat haunt them, however, reaching the Final Four the very next year and winning a national championship in 1997. Santa Clara made two more trips to the NCAA Tournament with Nash on the roster but they have not returned since he turned pro following the 1995-1996 season.

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