Incredible runs have been done before, can FU be the next program to shock college basketball?
Re: Can FU hoops make a Final Four run one day?
PostPosted:Tue Jun 13, 2023 1:18 pm
by FU Hoopla
2023 Florida Atlantic Owls (9-seed)
On Selection Sunday, one of the bigger talking points was how underseeded FAU seemed. The Owls entered the NCAA tournament with a 31-3 record and a top-30 ranking in most metrics. Yet they were given a 9-seed due to their lack of high-quality wins. But they went out, silenced the doubters and backed up the supporters. It took a last-second shot from Nick Boyd to beat Memphis in the first round before facing 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson in the second round. FDU looked poised for a second straight stunner, but FAU pulled away late. Against a physical and defensive-minded Tennessee team in the Sweet 16, FAU was able to impose its will more than most teams had all season -- and then the Owls took down NCAA tournament star Markquis Nowell and Kansas State in the Elite Eight.
Re: Can FU hoops make a Final Four run one day?
PostPosted:Tue Jun 13, 2023 1:19 pm
by FU Hoopla
2011 Butler Bulldogs (8-seed)
You might be surprised to learn that 8-seeds have as many Final Four teams as 6- and 7-seeds combined, with six. In fact, four have advanced to the national championship game, including last year's North Carolina team -- and one, 1985 Villanova, won it all. While Villanova's national championship was the most surprising title win in tournament history, it wasn't the most surprising Final Four run in history -- that likely goes to 2011 Butler.
It was a year after the Bulldogs went to the title game and lost in the final seconds to Duke. They were sitting at 14-9 in early February, on a three-game losing streak and hovering in the 60s in KenPom. They didn't lose another game until the final Monday night of the season, to UConn, beating 9-seed Old Dominion, 1-seed Pitt, 4-seed Wisconsin and 2-seed Florida to get to Houston, where they then beat the 2011 VCU team.
Re: Can FU hoops make a Final Four run one day?
PostPosted:Tue Jun 13, 2023 1:20 pm
by FU Hoopla
2013 Wichita State Shockers (9-seed)
Until Saturday night, the Shockers were the only 9-seed to advance to the Final Four -- and it was a springboard for Gregg Marshall and Wichita State's 35-0 run to the NCAA tournament the following season. Not only did Wichita State beat a 1-seed, 2-seed and 8-seed on its way to the Final Four, it beat three of the top-12 teams at KenPom that season. The Shockers blew out Pittsburgh in the first round by 18 points, then knocked off top-seeded Gonzaga to advance to the Sweet 16. Once there, they took down an even bigger Cinderella in 13-seed La Salle before beating Ohio State in the Elite Eight.
Re: Can FU hoops make a Final Four run one day?
PostPosted:Tue Jun 13, 2023 1:21 pm
by FU Hoopla
2018 Loyola Chicago Ramblers (11-seed)
Sister Jean! Loyola Chicago was actually one of the hottest teams in the country entering the NCAA tournament, winning 17 of its final 18 games, but a difficult first half of the campaign resulted in an 11-seed. Once there, the Ramblers had some of the best close-game performances we've ever seen in the tournament. They beat 6-seed Miami by two, 3-seed Tennessee by one and 7-seed Nevada by one -- before erupting against 9-seed Kansas State in the Elite Eight, blowing out the Wildcats by 16. They didn't go through the region's 1-seed to get to the Final Four, but it was also the program's first NCAA tournament since 1985, so No. 3 seems fair.
Re: Can FU hoops make a Final Four run one day?
PostPosted:Tue Jun 13, 2023 1:21 pm
by FU Hoopla
2006 George Mason Patriots (11-seed)
After losing to Hofstra in the semifinal of the CAA tournament, it looked like George Mason might be left out of the NCAA tournament. But the Patriots got an at-large bid ahead of the Pride and made history after that. Jim Larranaga guided his team to wins over three of the biggest programs in the sport, beating 6-seed Michigan State in the first round, 3-seed North Carolina in the second round, knocking off 7-seed Wichita State in the Sweet 16 -- and then the biggest stunner of them all, an 86-84 victory over 1-seed UConn, arguably the tournament favorite.
Re: Can FU hoops make a Final Four run one day?
PostPosted:Tue Jun 13, 2023 1:21 pm
by FU Hoopla
2011 VCU Rams (11-seed)
HAVOC! The first First Four-to-Final Four team, the Rams are tied with four other 11-seeds as the lowest seed to ever make the Final Four -- but they're the most improbable of the group. VCU lost four of its final five games to end the regular season, lost in the CAA tournament and entered the NCAA tournament ranked No. 84 at KenPom. But something flipped for Shaka Smart's team in the Dance, where the Rams beat USC in the First Four, upset Georgetown by 18 in the first round and then stunned 3-seed Purdue by 18 in Chicago. They got a good break when 10-seed Florida State upset Notre Dame in the second round, but they still had to take down top-seeded Kansas to get to the Final Four.
Re: Can FU hoops make a Final Four run one day?
PostPosted:Tue Jun 13, 2023 1:22 pm
by FurmanFan23
The short answer is yes they can, the long answer is will they
Re: Can FU hoops make a Final Four run one day?
PostPosted:Tue Jun 13, 2023 1:45 pm
by greenvegas
In the immortal words of Mister Spock: It is highly unlikely, Captain.
