March Madness 2014: Could this be the year a No. 16 seed beats a No. 1?
theGRIO REPORT - A No. 16 seed has never beaten a No. 1 seed in the history of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Could this be the year?...
A No. 16 seed has never beaten a No. 1 seed in the history of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
Could this be the year?
In 2013, No. 15 Florida Gulf Coast stunned No. 2 Georgetown. In 2012, two No. 15 seeds, Lehigh and Norfolk State, shocked No. 2 seeds Duke and Missouri, respectively.
Still – no No. 1 seed has fallen in the field of 64’s first contest.
“There’s so much parity in college basketball that maybe, for the first time, that will happen,” said Ed Pinckney, who led the ’85 Villanova Wildcats to a National Title.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski agrees, telling ESPN.com’s Dana O’Neil:
“I think it can happen anytime,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “Really, it’s just a matter of time.”
Pinckey’s Wildcats, who were a No. 8 seed, defeated Patrick Ewing and the heavily-favored No. 1 seed Georgetown Hoyas. The win remains among one of the greatest upsets in Tournament history.
Pinckney was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. He’s now an assistant with the Chicago Bulls and teaming up with BIGS Sunflower Seeds to get basketball fans excited and submit online votes to determine the greatest upset in NCAA Tournament history.
The ‘madness’ Pinckney experienced in ’85 stays with him to this day.
“I always get a chance to talk with my teammates about who they think will go to the Final Four, or we reminisce about old times and old games,” Pinckney said. “It’s the thing that’s kept us together.”
This year, Albany, Coastal Carolina, Cal Poly and Weber State represent the potential bracket-busting 16-seeds.
Follow theGrio.com’s Todd Johnson on Twitter @rantoddj
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