50 Fun Facts About March Madness

How many teams are invited to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament (March Madness)?

Since 2011, the NCAA Tournament has featured 68 teams. The field expanded from 65 to 68 with the addition of the First Four play-in games.

What is the name of the Sunday when the NCAA Tournament bracket is revealed?

Selection Sunday is the day the NCAA Selection Committee announces the 68-team field and seedings for the tournament, typically held in mid-March.

What is the term for the semifinal round of the NCAA Tournament, held on a Saturday?

The Final Four refers to the last four teams remaining in the NCAA Tournament. The two national semifinal games are typically played on a Saturday, with the championship game on Monday.

Which school has won the most NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament championships?

UCLA holds the record with 11 NCAA Tournament championships, including an unprecedented seven consecutive titles from 1967 to 1973 under coach John Wooden.

What song is traditionally played during the tournament highlight montage at the end of the championship game?

"One Shining Moment" by David Barrett has been played over the tournament highlight montage at the conclusion of the championship game since 1987. It has become one of the most iconic traditions in college basketball.

What do players and coaches traditionally do after winning the NCAA championship game?

Cutting down the nets is a longstanding tradition in college basketball, dating back to 1947 when North Carolina State coach Everett Case started the practice. The head coach typically gets the last snip.

In bracket terminology, what is the round of 16 teams called?

The Sweet Sixteen is the round where 16 teams remain in the tournament. It follows the first and second rounds and precedes the Elite Eight.

What is the highest seed a team can receive in the NCAA Tournament?

The top seed in each region is a No. 1 seed. There are four No. 1 seeds in the tournament, one for each region. Being a No. 1 seed means you face a No. 16 seed in the first round.

How many regions make up the NCAA Tournament bracket?

The NCAA Tournament bracket is divided into four regions, each containing 16 teams (plus First Four participants). The winner of each region advances to the Final Four.

What term describes a lower-seeded team that makes a surprising deep run in the tournament?

A "Cinderella" team is a lower-seeded team that exceeds expectations by winning multiple games in the tournament. The term evokes the fairy tale of an unlikely hero rising to prominence.

Which legendary UCLA coach led the Bruins to 10 NCAA championships, including seven in a row?

John Wooden coached UCLA to 10 NCAA titles between 1964 and 1975, including an unprecedented seven consecutive championships from 1967 to 1973. He is widely considered the greatest college basketball coach of all time.

What nickname was given to Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski?

Mike Krzyzewski was universally known as "Coach K" due to the difficulty of spelling and pronouncing his Polish surname. He coached Duke for 42 seasons, winning five NCAA championships before retiring in 2022.

In what year was the first NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held?

The first NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament was held in 1939, with just eight teams. Oregon defeated Ohio State 46-33 to win the inaugural championship.

Which conference has produced the most NCAA Tournament champions?

The ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) has produced the most NCAA Tournament champions, thanks to powerhouse programs like Duke, North Carolina, NC State, and Virginia.

What are the play-in games before the main NCAA Tournament bracket called?

The First Four consists of four play-in games held before the main 64-team bracket begins. These games feature the four lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers and the four lowest-seeded at-large teams, and have been held in Dayton, Ohio since 2001.

In which city have the First Four play-in games traditionally been held?

Dayton, Ohio, has been the home of the NCAA Tournament's play-in games (now called the First Four) since 2001. The University of Dayton Arena hosts the games.

What is a "bracket buster" in March Madness terminology?

A "bracket buster" refers to an unexpected upset result that ruins the predictions in many fans' tournament brackets. These upsets are what make March Madness so exciting and unpredictable.

Which school's fans are known for camping out in a tent city called "Krzyzewskiville" to get basketball tickets?

Duke students camp out in tents outside Cameron Indoor Stadium in an area called "Krzyzewskiville" (or K-ville) to secure seats for big games. The tradition is named after long-time coach Mike Krzyzewski.

How many games must a team win to go from the First Four to the national championship?

A First Four team must win 7 games: the First Four game, then the first round, second round, Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, Final Four semifinal, and the national championship game.

What is the term for the round of 8 teams remaining in the NCAA Tournament?

The Elite Eight is the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament, when only eight teams remain. The winners of the Elite Eight advance to the Final Four.

In 2018, which No. 16 seed became the first to defeat a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament?

UMBC (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) stunned No. 1 overall seed Virginia 74-54 in 2018, becoming the first 16-seed to beat a 1-seed in the history of the men's tournament after 135 previous failed attempts.

Which school won the national championship the year after being upset by UMBC as a No. 1 seed?

Virginia came back from the historic 2018 upset to win the 2019 NCAA Championship, defeating Texas Tech in the final. It was the ultimate redemption story in tournament history.

Who hit the iconic buzzer-beater to win the 1992 Elite Eight game for Duke against Kentucky?

Christian Laettner hit a turnaround jumper at the buzzer to give Duke a 104-103 overtime win over Kentucky in the 1992 East Regional Final. Grant Hill threw the famous full-court pass. It is widely regarded as the greatest game in tournament history.

Which Villanova player hit the buzzer-beating three-pointer to win the 2016 NCAA Championship?

Kris Jenkins hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give Villanova a 77-74 victory over North Carolina in the 2016 championship game. Ryan Arcidiacono passed Jenkins the ball with seconds remaining.

In 1983, which team completed one of the greatest upsets in championship game history by defeating the heavily favored Houston Cougars (Phi Slama Jama)?

NC State, coached by Jim Valvano, stunned Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler's Houston team 54-52 on Lorenzo Charles' buzzer-beating dunk off Dereck Whittenburg's airball. Valvano's frantic search for someone to hug became an iconic moment.

Who was the beloved 98-year-old team chaplain who became a cultural icon during Loyola-Chicago's 2018 Cinderella run?

Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, Loyola-Chicago's 98-year-old team chaplain, became a national sensation during the Ramblers' 2018 Final Four run as an 11-seed. She was known for her scouting reports and pregame prayers.

Which school holds the record for the longest winning streak in NCAA Tournament history with 7 consecutive titles?

UCLA won seven consecutive NCAA Tournament championships from 1967 to 1973 under coach John Wooden, a record that will likely never be broken. The streak included four undefeated seasons.

What was the famous upset margin when No. 16 UMBC beat No. 1 Virginia in 2018?

UMBC didn't just beat Virginia — they demolished them 74-54, a stunning 20-point victory. It wasn't even close, making the upset even more shocking since Virginia was the overall No. 1 seed.

How many NCAA Tournament championships did Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski) win at Duke?

Coach K won five NCAA Championships with Duke: 1991, 1992, 2001, 2010, and 2015. He retired in 2022 as the winningest coach in Division I men's basketball history.

Which school pulled off the "Miracle on Ice of college basketball" by going from unranked to winning the 1985 NCAA Championship as a No. 8 seed?

No. 8 seed Villanova shot an incredible 78.6% from the field (a championship game record) to upset Patrick Ewing's Georgetown Hoyas 66-64 in the 1985 NCAA Championship game. It is often called the greatest upset in championship game history.

Which team completed the first perfect season (40-0) in NCAA history by winning the 2015 NCAA Championship?

Trick question — Kentucky did NOT complete the perfect season. They went 38-0 before losing to Wisconsin in the 2015 Final Four. Duke won the 2015 championship. Indiana's 1976 team (32-0) under Bob Knight remains the last team to finish a season undefeated and win the title.

Which program has made the most Final Four appearances in NCAA Tournament history?

North Carolina holds the record for the most Final Four appearances in NCAA Tournament history with 21. UCLA is close behind. The Tar Heels have converted those appearances into six national championships.

What was the lowest seed to ever reach the Final Four before the modern era of upsets?

No. 11 seed George Mason shocked the basketball world by reaching the 2006 Final Four, defeating Michigan State, North Carolina, Wichita State, and Connecticut along the way. They lost to eventual champion Florida in the semifinals.

Which coach delivered the famous "Don't give up, don't ever give up" speech at the 1993 ESPYs after being diagnosed with cancer?

Jim Valvano, who coached NC State to the 1983 championship, delivered his legendary "Don't give up" speech at the 1993 ESPYs while battling terminal bone cancer. He passed away less than two months later. The V Foundation for cancer research was established in his honor.

Which player scored 44 points in a 2018 first-round upset win as a No. 13 seed over No. 4 Cincinnati?

Ja Morant scored 17 points, had 16 assists, and 11 rebounds (a triple-double) for Murray State vs. Marquette in 2019 — not 44 points vs. Cincinnati. This was actually a trick: no single player scored 44 in that specific game. The correct standout 13-seed upset of Cincinnati was by Marshall in 2018.

Who is the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Tournament history?

Christian Laettner holds the record for most career points in NCAA Tournament history with 407 points scored over 23 tournament games during his four years at Duke (1989-1992). He also went a perfect 10-for-10 from the field in the famous 1992 Kentucky game.

Which mid-major program, led by Stephen Curry, made a Cinderella run to the Elite Eight as a No. 10 seed in 2008?

Stephen Curry led No. 10 seed Davidson to the 2008 Elite Eight, scoring 40 points against Gonzaga, 30 against Georgetown, and 33 against Wisconsin before falling to eventual champion Kansas. Curry's shooting made Davidson a national sensation.

Which school made back-to-back championship game appearances in 2010 and 2011 as a mid-major?

Butler, coached by Brad Stevens, made consecutive championship game appearances in 2010 (losing to Duke) and 2011 (losing to UConn). Gordon Hayward's half-court shot at the buzzer in 2010 nearly went in, rimming out in one of the most dramatic near-misses in tournament history.

What historic achievement did UConn accomplish in 2004 that no school had done before?

In 2004, UConn became the first (and still only) school to win both the men's and women's NCAA basketball championships in the same year. The men's team, led by Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon, defeated Georgia Tech, while the women's team, led by Diana Taurasi, won their third straight title.

Which legendary North Carolina coach retired in 1997 holding the record for most wins in college basketball history?

Dean Smith retired from North Carolina in 1997 with 879 career wins, which was then the all-time record. He coached the Tar Heels for 36 seasons, winning two national championships (1982, 1993). His record was later surpassed by Bob Knight, Jim Boeheim, and Mike Krzyzewski.

In what year did the NCAA Tournament expand from 48 to 64 teams?

The NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, which significantly increased the number of first-round upsets and helped create the "March Madness" phenomenon we know today. It later expanded to 68 teams in 2011 with the First Four.

Which coach holds the record for the most NCAA Tournament wins?

Mike Krzyzewski (Coach K) holds the record for the most NCAA Tournament wins with 101 victories during his career at Duke (and briefly Army). He surpassed Dean Smith's previous record. His 42 tournament appearances are also a record.

Which program won back-to-back NCAA Championships in 2006 and 2007?

The Florida Gators, coached by Billy Donovan, won back-to-back championships in 2006 and 2007 with essentially the same core roster. Joakim Noah, Al Horford, and Corey Brewer chose to return rather than enter the NBA draft after 2006.

Which famous buzzer-beater gave the 1982 NCAA Championship to North Carolina, launched Michael Jordan's legend, and was the game-winning shot against Georgetown?

As a freshman, Michael Jordan hit a 16-foot jumper from the left wing with 17 seconds remaining to give North Carolina a 63-62 win over Georgetown in the 1982 championship game. Jordan later said coach Dean Smith's confidence in him to take that shot changed his life forever.

What is the largest margin of victory in an NCAA Tournament championship game?

UNLV demolished Duke 103-73 in the 1990 championship game, winning by 30 points — the largest margin of victory in title game history. The irony: Duke beat UNLV in the 1991 semifinal to deny them a repeat.

Which No. 11 seed made one of the most improbable Final Four runs in 2011, beating Kansas, Florida State, and Purdue?

VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University) was one of the "Last Four In" on Selection Sunday 2011, starting in the First Four. They then won five straight games to reach the Final Four as an 11-seed under coach Shaka Smart and his "havoc" pressing defense.

Which player set the single-game NCAA Tournament scoring record with 61 points in 1970?

Austin Carr of Notre Dame scored 61 points against Ohio University in the first round of the 1970 NCAA Tournament, setting a record that still stands. Carr averaged 41.3 points per game in that tournament.

Which school has lost the most NCAA Championship games without winning one?

Ohio State has appeared in the championship game multiple times without winning since their 1960 title. They lost championship games in 1961, 1962, 2007, and their overall title game record is among the most lopsided of any major program.

Which team's 2014 NCAA Championship run was notable for UConn being a No. 7 seed — the lowest seed to win a title since Villanova in 1985?

No. 7 seed UConn won the 2014 NCAA Championship led by Shabazz Napier, who dominated the tournament. It was UConn's fourth national title and the lowest seed to win the championship since No. 8 Villanova in 1985.

Who coached Kansas to the 2008 NCAA Championship, completing a comeback from a 9-point deficit with 2:12 remaining in regulation against Memphis?

Bill Self coached Kansas to the 2008 title in one of the greatest championship game comebacks ever. Kansas trailed Memphis by 9 with 2:12 left in regulation, forced overtime largely thanks to Mario Chalmers' clutch three-pointer, and won 75-68 in OT.