March Madness: List of double-digit seeds to make Final Four
By John Buhler
The No. 10 Miami Hurricanes and the No. 15 Saint Peter’s Peacocks could become the next double-digit seeds in March Madness to reach the Final Four.
It does not happen all the time, but it has happened a bit more recently in March Madness.
Though it is exceedingly rare for a double-digit seed to cut down the nets and make it to the Final Four, both the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes and the No. 15 Saint Peter’s Peacocks could potentially do that if they beat a college basketball blue-blood in the Elite Eight. No. 10 Miami is taking on No. 1 Kansas on Sunday afternoon, while No. 15 Saint Peters’ faces No. 8 North Carolina in primetime.
Should either Miami or Saint Peter’s cut down the nets, how many double-digit seeds have made it to the Final Four before?
How many double-digit seeds have made it to the Final Four?
Entering the 2022 NCAA Tournament, six teams have made it to the Final Four as double-digit seeds (No. 10 or worse). While the process of seeding teams first began in 1979, it took until 1986 for the No. 11 LSU Tigers to make history. Fate would have it, it would take 20 years for a second double-digit seed to cut down the nets. That second team was the 2006 George Mason Patriots.
The head coach of that 2006 George Mason team was none other than current Miami head coach Jim Larrañaga. Five years later, the 2011 VCU Rams got in as a No. 11 seed. Jim Boeheim’s Syracuse Orange got in as a No. 10 seed in 2016. Porter Moser’s No. 11 Loyola Ramblers cut down the nets in 2018. Last year saw Mick Cronin’s UCLA Bruins get to the Final Four as a No. 11 seed.
Double-digit seeds in the Final Four
- No. 11 LSU in 1986
- No. 11 George Mason in 2006
- No. 11 VCU in 2011
- No. 10 Syracuse in 2016
- No. 11 Loyola Chicago in 2018
- No. 11 UCLA in 2021
To date, no team seeded below No. 11 has ever cut down the nets. Of the six double-digit seeds to reach the national semifinals, none of them were ever able to play in the national championship game. This is why teams like Miami and Saint Peter’s have so much to play for in their Elite Eight games. They are not only a part of history but have a chance to make their own.
This is happening more frequently is because of the one-and-done nature of college basketball.
Next. Zion and the 20 best one-and-done's. dark
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