March Madness: What’s the farthest 15 seed has gone in NCAA Tournament?

The Princeton Tigers are the latest No. 15 seed to make it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. How far has a No. 15 seed gone in March Madness?

The NCAA Tournament never disappoints when it comes to upsets. The 2023 men’s tourney may have been the most shocking in quite some time, as there were multiple favorites to get eliminated before the Sweet 16. One team that has gone on quit ethe run thus far has been the No. 15 Princeton Tigers.

After finishing the season as the winners of the Ivy League Tournament, Princeton picked up a shocking 59-55 victory over the No. 2 Arizona Wildcats. They then followed it up on Saturday with a convincing, 78-63 win over the No. 7 Missouri Tigers to earn a spot in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1967.

For those wondering what is the furthest a No. 15 seed has gone in the NCAA Tournament, you don’t have to look back too far in the history books.

What is the furthest a No. 15 seed has gone in the NCAA Tournament?

The No. 15 team that has gone the furthest in an NCAA Tournament is none other than the 2021-22 Saint Peter’s Peacocks, who made it all the way to the Elite Eight. That’s right, a fellow New Jersey program that Princeton can emulate this year.

Last year, the program out of Jersey City, N.J. shocked the world in the first round by eliminating John Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats with a 85-79 overtime victory. From there, the magic continued for Saint Peter’s.

In the second round, the Peacocks beat the No. 7 Murray State Racers 70-60 in the second round to advance to the Sweet 16. From there, they pulled off another upset over the No. 3 Purdue Boilermakers to become the first No. 15 seed to make it to the Elite Eight. Unfortunately for Saint Peter’s, they were outmatched against the No. 8 North Carolina Tar Heels, losing 69-49 to end their magical run.

Princeton will look to become the second No. 15 seed to make it to the Elite Eight. They await the winner of the No. 3 Baylor Bears vs. No. 6 Creighton Blue Jays matchup on Sunday, March 19 at 7:10 p.m. ET. Princeton will then travel to Louisville, Ky. for the Sweet 16.