Regardless of which team wins Monday night, it can lobby for inclusion on this list of unlikely winners since the tournament expanded to 64 teams.
5. Syracuse (2003) » There’s no doubt Syracuse was talented with freshman Carmelo Anthony and future NBA player Hakeem Warrick. But the third-seeded Orange eliminated two No. 1 seeds before beating second-seeded Kansas 81-78 for the title.
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4. Arizona (1997) » The fourth-seeded Wildcats, led by freshman Mike Bibby, became the first team to beat three No. 1 seeds, including Kentucky in the championship. Arizona’s championship wiped out memories of first-round exits in 1992, ’93 and ’95.
3. Kansas (1988) » Danny and the Miracles. Danny Manning averaged 27.2 points and 9.3 rebounds in six games for the sixth-seeded Jayhawks. In the 83-79 championship win over Oklahoma, Manning’s tally was 31 points, 18 boards and five steals. Kansas became the first team with 11 losses to win the title.
2. N.C. State (1983) » The sixth-seeded Wolfpack only qualified by winning the ACC tournament. Then they opened the NCAAs by rallying from a six-point deficit in the final 24 seconds to beat Pepperdine in overtime. In the finale, they shocked heavily favored Houston 54-52 on Lorenzo Charles’ buzzer-beating dunk of a Dereck Whittenburg airball.
1. Villanova (1985) » Perhaps it was more surprising that the eighth-seeded Wildcats were in this game than that they beat Georgetown. Yes, they needed to shoot 78.5 percent to win — and only by two points. But ‘Nova had played the Hoyas well that season, losing twice by a combined nine points.
