Top 10 March Madness Cinderella Runs since 2000

With March Madness only a few weeks away I believe it’s a good time to look back on some of the greatest Cinderella runs that have captivated College Basketball fans over the last 25 years. The way I measured the “greatness” of these runs were by how impressive these runs were mixed with how iconic the teams were. In the making of this list I tried to exclude teams such as the 2022 North Carolina team that made it to the championship as the 8 seed. Not to discredit this run, but UNC has been considered a blue blood for decades and don’t carry the same impact as the other teams on this list.

10. 2023 FDU Knights

Result: Round of 32 (Defeated 1 Seed Purdue)

I would like to preface this placement by stating that I do not typically consider one game as a Cinderella run, but this 2023 Fairleigh Dickinson team is the exception for this list. The anomaly that was this Knights team is even more shocking when considering that they did not win their conference tournament and only made it to the big dance because Merrimack (the team that won the NEC that year) was not yet tournament eligible under NCAA rules. Despite the tournament bid that many believed to be undeserving, the Knights took care of business in the First Four beating Texas Southern by 23. They went on to face 1 seed Purdue in the round of 64 who was coming off a win in the Big Ten Championship and boasted a 29-5 record. Purdue was headlined by the National Player of the Year in Zach Edey who stood at 7 foot 4 inches tall. This Purdue team was the tallest in the nation that year by average height while FDU has the shortest team in the nation. FDU entered the game ranked 298 in KenPom rankings out of the 363 teams in college basketball which made them one of the worst teams by ranking to ever make the tournament. None of these statistics mattered as they were able to pull out the 63-58 victory as 23.5 point underdog which is also the largest spread in March Madness history. The Knights run came to an end in the Round of 32 to another eventual Cinderella team in the 9 seeded FAU Owls. However, this FDU team became just the second 16 seed to upset a 1 seed in the tournament and were able to forever cement themselves in sports history.

9. 2013 FGCU

Result: Sweet 16 (Defeated 2 seed Georgetown, 7 seed San Diego st)

The famous “Dunk City” Florida Gulf Coast Eagles became instant March Madness legends after defeating 2 seed Georgetown in the Round of 32 with some of the most iconic dunk highlights in March Madness history. This Eagles team was only in their third year of NCAA tournament eligibility and to that point had not had a winning season in the Division 1. However, the 2012-2013 FGCU squad had won the Atlantic Sun conference and entered the tournament with a 24-10 record and a date with the Otto Porter Jr. led Georgetown Hoyas. Future NBA lottery pick Otto Porter Jr. was held to a measly 13 points on 5-17 shooting which led FGCU to a 78-68 victory. The Eagles then had a matchup against 7 seed San Diego St where they captured another double digit victory, winning 81-71 backed by a 17-0 second half run. FGCU became the first 15 seed to ever advance to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament. Since then, 3 other 15 seeds have been able to advance to the Sweet 16, but this Eagles team will always be first.

8. 2013 Wichita State

Results: Final Four (Defeated 8 seed Pittsburgh, 1 seed Gonzaga, 13 seed La Salle, 2 seed Ohio State)

In the same tournament as the FGCU team, the 9 seed Shockers stole the show becoming one of the lowest seeds to ever make the final four and upsetting both a 1 and 2 seed in the process. This Shockers team was led by Cleanthony Early who averaged 13.9 points per game along with two other future NBA players (Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker) despite playing in a mid-major conference. Wichita’s run came to an end in one of the greatest Final Four games of all time against eventual national champion Louisville Cardinals. This run set up the Shockers for their historic 2013-2014 season when they finished 35-1 and earned a 1 seed in the tournament. Even with this 2014 season, this 2013 team was the farthest Wichita has ever gotten in the tournament and remains as a legendary Cinderella run.

7. 2021 UCLA

Result: Final Four (Defeated 11 seed Michigan st, 6 seed BYU, 14 seed Albilene Christian, 2 seed Alabama, 1 seed Michigan)

This UCLA team is technically breaking the rule I initially prefaced about blue bloods being Cinderella teams, however this 2021 Bruins team had much different circumstances than most Cinderella teams did. The Bruins ended the regular season on a 3 game losing streak before losing in the first round of the Pac-12 tournament. Many believed this poor ending to the season would exclude the Bruins from the NCAA tournament as a whole. However, they were able to make it as a “Last 4 in” team where they would face Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans. In this back and forth game they were able to outlast the Spartans in overtime which brought them to the round of 64 as an 11 seed. Their next two games would be a breeze for the Bruins, defeating BYU and fellow Cinderella 14 seed Albilene Christian. Backed by stellar play from future NBA players Johnny Juzang and Jaime Jacquez they were able to take down 2 seed Alabama in overtime and upset 1 seed Michigan to make it to the final four. This UCLA team was just the second team to ever advance to the final four while making the tournament as a “Last 4 in” team. They would eventually lose in the final four to 1 seed Gonzaga in a game that included one of the greatest buzzer beaters in March Madness history via a Jalen Suggs half-court three. This UCLA team proved that they belonged in the tournament and could’ve even made the championship if not for Gonzaga’s late game heroics. 

6. 2011 Butler

Result: National Championship loss (Defeated 9 seed Old Dominion, 1 seed Pittsburgh, 4 seed Wisconsin, 2 seed Florida, 11 seed VCU)

The 2011 Butler Bulldogs run felt like deja vu for College Basketball fans at the time considering that this same team made the national championship in 2010. The 2010 Butler team was led by future NBA All-Star Gordon Hayward and was a 5 seed that made it all the way to the final and lost to a star studded Duke team. The 2011 Bulldogs had lost Gordon Hayward to the draft and were not predicted to follow up the stellar season they had put together the season prior. Butler silenced the doubters by winning the Horizon League again but this time they entered as an 8 seed. The first two games for the Bulldogs were decided on two game winners with less than 3 seconds to go including upsetting number 1 seed Pittsburgh. They went on to handle 4 seed Wisconsin and defeat 2 seed Florida in overtime. Shelvin Mack’s 27 points against Florida was one of his many performances that helped Butler reach the final four. In the Final Four they played a fellow Cinderella run in 11 seeded VCU which they would win 70-62. Unfortunately, they would lose in the championship for the second year in a row this time to UConn. This 2011 Butler team was tied with the lowest seed to ever make the national championship and proved that lightning could strike twice.

5. 2018 Loyola Chicago

Result: Final Four (Defeated 6 seed Miami, 3 seed Tennessee, 7 seed Nevada, 9 seed Kansas st)

The 2018 Loyola Chicago Ramblers are known for some of the most iconic shots in the history of March Madness. After dominating the MVC all year and entering the tournament with a 28-5 record they were given an 11 seed and were slated to play 6 seed Miami. They were able to defeat Miami on a buzzer beater 3 pointer from Donte Ingram to advance to the round of 32. The Ramblers would go on to win their next two games by a combined two points accompanied by more clutch shots to make it all the way to the elite eight. They dominated Kansas State in the elite eight which punched them a ticket to the final four. The magic would end here as they would be taken down by 3 seed Michigan, but the Ramblers and Sister Jean would remain icons in the sport.

4. 2006 George Mason

Result: Final Four (Defeated 6 seed Michigan st, 3 seed UNC, 7 seed Wichita st, 1 seed UConn)

2006 George Mason is the farthest back this list goes and that contributes to the high ranking of 4. The early 2000s didn’t have many big Cinderella runs which makes the Patriots of George Mason an even more compelling team. The Patriots entered the tournament with a 23-7 record and lost in their conference tournament. They were one of the final teams given an at-large bid and were an 11 seed in the big dance. Their first two games were against two of college basketball’s most historical teams in Michigan State and UNC and they were able to defeat both en route to the Sweet 16. In the Sweet 16 they defeated another mid-major in Wichita State which set up a meeting with 1 seed UConn.  This UConn team was ranked 2 in the country and contained 5 future NBA players. George Mason was able to outlast UConn in overtime in one of the biggest upsets in NCAA tournament history. The Patriots became the second 11 seed to ever reach the final four and ultimately fell to the national champion Florida Gators.

3. 2011 VCU

Result: Final Four (Defeated 11 USC, 6 Georgetown, 3 Purdue, 10 Florida St, 1 Kansas)

Although this VCU team fell short to another team mentioned on this list, their historic run felt too dominant to leave out of the top 3. The 2011 VCU Rams entered the tournament with a record of 23–11 after losing the CAA title game to end the season. They made it into the NCAA tournament as “Last 4 in” team and were underdogs against the 11 seed USC Trojans. This game marked the beginning of a historic March Madness run in which they won 4 of their first 5 games by double digits including knocking off 1 seed Kansas by 10 points in the elite eight. Their run came to an end in the Final Four against the aforementioned 8 seed Butler Bulldogs but their dominant run of games is what puts them higher on the list. They were also the first team to ever make it from “Last 4 in” to the Final Four which has since only been done once more (refer to #7). 2011 was the NCAA’s first rendition of the “First 4” games and VCU sure did not disappoint.

2. 2024 NC State

Result: Final Four (Defeated 6 seed Texas Tech, 14 seed Oakland, 2 seed Marquette, 4 seed Duke)

Now I can’t lie, I am slightly cheating by placing NC State at two on this list because a large portion of this placement has to do with NC State’s path to even getting into the NCAA Tournament. The Wolfpack entered the ACC tournament with a 17-14 record overall and a 9-11 record in conference play. It was mostly known that they would have to win the ACC tournament to make the NCAA tournament and had little to no chance to make it as an at-large. The Wolfpack proceeded to win 5 games in 5 days including the ACC championship game against in-state rival UNC while they were ranked 4 in the country. This improbable run gave the Wolfpack an 11 seed in March Madness and they were able to continue their magic defeating Texas Tech, Oakland, and Marquette to advance to the elite eight. In the Elite Eight they would match up against another in-state rival in Duke and defeat them despite being a heavy underdog. These 9 wins in a row cemented NC State in basketball history before their run came to an end against 1 seed Purdue. This 2024 team is reminiscent of the legendary 1983 NC State squad that was able to defy all odds and win the National Championship against the powerhouse that was Houston.

1. 2022 St.Peters

Result: Elite Eight (Defeated 2 seed Kentucky, 7 seed Murray st, 3 seed Purdue)

Finally, the team I believe to be the best Cinderella run since 2000 is the 2022 St.Peter's Peacocks. This St.Peter’s team finished the regular season with a record of 16-11 and went on to win the MAAC title. They entered the tournament as a 15 seed and were ranked 121 in KenPom. What makes this run so special is not only the subpar regular season stats such as the 263rd ranked offense in the nation, but the caliber of teams they beat en route to the Elite Eight appearance. They began their run against 2 seeded Kentucky which had National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe along with 3 other future NBA players. This Kentucky team entered the NCAA tournament both top 5 in KenPom and top 5 in odds to win the tournament. Despite being 18 point underdogs, the Peacocks were able to pull off one of the most improbable upsets in the March Madness history backed by 27 points from guard Daryl Banks. In the Round of 32 they met with Murray St, a team who had entered the game with a 31-2 record. Once again the Peacocks were able to knock off Murray St and advance to the Sweet 16. To this point only two other 15 seeds had ever gone to the sweet 16 and none had ever gone to the elite eight. The only thing separating the Peacocks from history was 3 seed Purdue which boasted two future NBA lottery picks in Jaden Ivey and Zach Edey. Somehow, the Peacocks were able to make the impossible happen again and defeated Purdue 67-64. After becoming the first ever 15 seed to make the elite eight, the run finally came to an end against 8 seed UNC in the elite eight which as I mentioned before, does not count as a Cinderella team (under my qualifications at least). Overall, this Peacocks team that ranked 343rd in attendance that year was able to put their school on the map and find themselves a forever place in March Madness history.