How many 14 seeds have upset 3 seeds? History of first-round upsets after Oakland upsets Kentucky
While not as memorable as a No. 16 seed or a No. 15 seed pulling off a first-round stunner and while not as common as a No. 12 seed knocking off a No. 5 seed, a No. 14 seed toppling a No. 3 seed is one of the more thrilling possible outcomes in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The result embodies what millions across the country love about the frenetic opening days of March Madness — a program from a small conference getting the best of one of the sport’s top 15 teams, the vast majority of which come from one of college basketball’s most powerful leagues.
It took just one full day of the 2024 NCAA Tournament to produce such an upset.
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In its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2011, No. 14 seed Oakland defeated No. 3 seed Kentucky 80-76 Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, eliminating a Wildcats team expected by many to contend for a Final Four and perhaps even a national championship.
It’s a remarkable feat: a program with no prior victories in the tournament’s first round taking down the winningest program in Division I history. But just how rare is it?
Here’s a look at the history of 14-over-3 upsets:
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History of 14 seeds beating 3 seeds in March Madness
Oakland’s win against Kentucky is the 23rd ever for a No. 14 seed against a No. 3 seed since 1985, when the tournament’s field expanded to 64. It’s the first such upset since 2021.
Here is a list of all the other times it has occurred:
2021: Abilene Christian 53, Texas 52
2016: Stephen F. Austin 70, West Virginia 56
2015: Georgia State 57, Baylor 56
2015: UAB 60, Iowa State 59
2014: Mercer 78, Duke 71
2013: Harvard 68, New Mexico 62
2010: Ohio 97, Georgetown 83
2006: Northwestern State 64, Iowa 63
2005: Bucknell 64, Kansas 63
1999: Weber State 76, North Carolina 74
1998: Richmond 62, South Carolina 61
1997: Chattanooga 73, Georgia 70
1995: Weber State 79, Michigan State 72
1995: Old Dominion 89, Villanova 81
1992: East Tennessee State 87, Arizona 80
1991: Xavier 89, Nebraska 84
1990: Northern Iowa 74, Missouri 71
1989: Siena 80, Stanford 78
1988: Murray State 78, NC State 75
1987: Austin Peay 68, Illinois 67
1986: Little Rock 90, Notre Dame 83
1986: Cleveland State 83, Indiana 79
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How many 14 seeds have beat 3 seeds? History of upsets after Oakland beats Kentucky