9. Santa Clara over Arizona, 1993
No. 2 seed Arizona had superior talent with Damon Stoudamire and Khalid Reeves, but the Broncos, led by then-unknown Steve Nash, who made six straight late free throws, pulled out a 64-61 stunner and became the second 15th-seed to win a game in the NCAA tournament.
AP
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8. George Mason over UConn, 2006
The Patriots, seeded 11th, became the second double-digit seed to advance to the Final Four and the first mid-major team to do it. The Huskies were among the favorites to win it all, but George Mason’s overtime win made it the most popular team in America.
AP
4 of 10
7. Hampton over Iowa State, 2001
The second-seeded Cyclones, led by Jamaal Tinsley, were on their way to the second round until Tarvis Williams hit a shot with 6.9 seconds. Iowa State still had a chance, but Tinsley missed a layup with 1.2 seconds left, securing Hampton’s 58-57 upset on the first day of the tournament.
Associated Press
5 of 10
6. Princeton over UCLA, 1996
The Bruins had lost some pieces from the previous year, but were still the defending champions. As the No. 4 seed, UCLA got beat by a classic Princeton backdoor layup with 3.9 seconds left, giving the 13th-seeded Tigers a 43-41 win.
AP
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5. Texas Western over Kentucky 1966
Adolph Rupp and Kentucky were the standard of success in college basketball. Then, the all-white Wildcats met the first-ever title team to start five black players and the game was never the same.
ap
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4. Richmond over Syracuse, 1991
There once was a time when you could put every No. 2 seed into the second round without a second thought. And then, the Spiders became the first-ever No. 15 seed to knock off a No. 2 seed.
AP
8 of 10
3. Duke over UNLV, 1991
This Blue Devils team would go on to win back-to-back titles and still, this result is stunning 22 years later. UNLV had won the 1990 championship, defeating Duke by 30, and the Runnin’ Rebels were 34-0 heading into the Final Four, led by Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon and Greg Anthony. The game had 25 lead-changes, but Christian Laettner’s free throws with 12.7 seconds left ended UNLV’s historic run.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
9 of 10
2. Villanova over Georgetown, 1985
Though familiar foes, the Wildcats were heavy underdogs going up against Patrick Ewing and the defending-champion Hoyas. To beat Georgetown, Villanova would have to play perfect, and it just about did, shooting 78 percent from the floor, while missing one shot in the second half, to hold on for the title, 66-64.
AP
10 of 10
1. N.C. state over Houston, 1983
The Wolfpack almost didn’t even make the NCAA tournament, having to win the ACC Tournament, and had to face Akeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and Phi Slama Jama in the title game. When Derrick Whittenburg’s last-second shot fell short and into the hands of Lorenzo Charles, coach Jim Valvano ran around the floor looking for someone to hug, just as shocked by what he saw.
AP
