There are a handful of events in sports that transcend into pop culture phenomenons. The Super Bowl and Kentucky Derby come to mind as dates on the calendar where casual and even non-sports fans will plop down in front of the TV, place a small wager or buy a couple of squares in the family pool, and enjoy the action. For college sports, the NCAA Basketball Tournament is that event.
There is something about a scrappy team from a small conference getting their shot to take down the blue blood programs that speaks to people. Being dubbed a Cinderella team is an accomplishment. When the dance starts, they want to stay on the floor as long as possible.
We’ll reflect on some of the greatest Cinderella teams in history and embrace the nostalgia that comes with it.
The Cinderella Blueprint: 1980s
This decade of feisty underdogs is defined by Rollie Massimino’s 1985 Villanova team, the 1986 LSU Tigers, and arguably the most famous of them all, Jim Valvano’s “Survive and Advance” NC State Wolfpack in 1983.
Villanova was an 8-seed in ’85. They entered the tournament in the shadow of Patrick Ewing’s 1-seed Georgetown team within their conference. They wound up facing those Hoyas in the national title game after beating teams like Michigan, Maryland, and UNC en route.
According to a 2018 ESPN piece, only the 1999 UConn Huskies have won as more significant underdogs in the title game. The Wildcats escaped 66-64 and etched their names in the history books as the lowest-seeded team to win a championship.
Jimmy V’s NC State team snuck into the dance after a surprise conference tournament championship. They beat Michael Jordan’s Tar Heels and Ralph Sampson’s Cavaliers to hoist the ACC title.
As a 6-seed, they advanced to the Elite Eight, again defeating Virginia. After a Final Four win over Georgia, they triumphed at the buzzer over top-seeded Houston and future Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. Lorenzo Charles’ game-winning layup has been replayed for decades and never gets old.
The Modern Cinderella: 2000s and 2010s
Jim Larranaga’s George Mason team in 2006 became the first 11-seed to reach the Final Four since those ’86 LSU Tigers. After a twenty-year drought since it had last occurred, popular belief had swayed toward the modern underdog not being able to compete with teams from traditional powerhouse conferences. The Patriots laid the blueprint with wins over Michigan State, North Carolina, and UConn to dance all the way to the Final Four.
Since that George Mason run, three 11-seeds have made Final Four appearances in 2011 (VCU), 2018 (Loyola-Chicago), and 2021 (UCLA). Unfortunately, none of those teams advanced to play for the championship after historic runs.
Finally, we must remember the 2010 and 2011 Butler Bulldogs, who made back-to-back appearances in the championship game with coach Brad Stevens. The first year, they lost to Duke as a 5-seed when Gordon Hayward’s half-court heave clanged off the rim at the buzzer.
The following season, they were an 8-seed and raced back to the title game before falling to Kemba Walker’s UConn Huskies. The program was changed forever after the start of the 2010s, and the Bulldogs now play in the Big East conference.
With the 2023 NCAA Tournament on the horizon, fans of all levels will tune in, hoping to witness the next Cinderella. First-round action, following the play-in games, tips off on March 16.
