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Elite Eight
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<h2 id="ncaa-mens-division-i-tournament">NCAA men's Division I tournament</h2> <ul><li>During the first 12 years of the tournament (1939–50, inclusive) only eight teams competed, meaning every team that qualified in those years was an automatic "Elite Eight" team.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Idaho_State_University/KMKXJgCJ">Idaho State</a> in <a href="/facts/1977_NCAA_Division_I_men%2527s_basketball_tournament/A7k6XWpc">1977</a>, which defeated <a href="/facts/UCLA_Bruins_men%2527s_basketball/PxNxzNFu">UCLA</a> in the previous round to end the Bruins' streak of consecutive <a href="/facts/Final_Four/y9rzYkgR">Final Four</a> appearances at 10 to end the <a href="/facts/John_Wooden/A2EPTWJv">John Wooden</a>-era dynasty<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a></li></ul> <h2 id="double-digit-seeds-to-reach-the-mens-elite-eight">Double-digit seeds to reach the Men's Elite Eight</h2> <h3>10 seeds</h3> <p>Six teams seeded No. 10 have reached the regional final round with two (2016 Syracuse, 2022 Miami (FL)) advancing to the Final Four. </p> <table><tbody><tr><th>Year</th><th>Team</th><th>Notes</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/1997_NCAA_Division_I_men%2527s_basketball_tournament/gf63IRvs">1997</a></td><td><a href="/facts/1996%25E2%2580%259397_Providence_Friars_men%2527s_basketball_team/dTbGCAt2">Providence</a></td><td>First 10 seed to advance to Elite Eight; lost to eventual National champion <a href="/facts/1996%25E2%2580%259397_Arizona_Wildcats_men%2527s_basketball_team/HVs0822f">Arizona</a>, 96–92 in OT.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/1999_NCAA_Division_I_men%2527s_basketball_tournament/0usBWaf2">1999</a></td><td><a href="/facts/1998%25E2%2580%259399_Gonzaga_Bulldogs_men%2527s_basketball_team/ccWyNEpM">Gonzaga</a></td><td>Lost to eventual National champion UConn, 67–62</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/2002_NCAA_Division_I_men%2527s_basketball_tournament/nvwgwDIC">2002</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2001%25E2%2580%259302_Kent_State_Golden_Flashes_men%2527s_basketball_team/V5WmUBr8">Kent State</a></td><td>First time two double-digit seeds reached the Elite Eight in the same tournament (Missouri)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/2008_NCAA_Division_I_men%2527s_basketball_tournament/bKbFwMp6">2008</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2007%25E2%2580%259308_Davidson_Wildcats_men%2527s_basketball_team/sFJ5YXJF">Davidson</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Stephen_Curry/qobLpauW">Stephen Curry</a> propelled the Wildcats to a near upset of eventual National champion <a href="/facts/2007%25E2%2580%259308_Kansas_Jayhawks_men%2527s_basketball_team/bHGG6rh0">Kansas</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/2016_NCAA_Division_I_men%2527s_basketball_tournament/Iu44KfT6">2016</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2015%25E2%2580%259316_Syracuse_Orange_men%2527s_basketball_team/fQxbC8hX">Syracuse</a></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/2022_NCAA_Division_I_men%2527s_basketball_tournament/nypjUkrE">2022</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2021%25E2%2580%259322_Miami_Hurricanes_men%2527s_basketball_team/UaQlUyGQ">Miami (FL)</a></td><td>Head coach <a href="/facts/Jim_Larra%25C3%25B1aga/7wblTDUW">Jim Larrañaga</a> was the first to take two double-digit-seeded teams to the Elite Eight under different schools (<a href="/facts/2005%25E2%2580%259306_George_Mason_Patriots_men%2527s_basketball_team/XS84kCnf">George Mason in 2006</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>11 seeds</h3> <p>A total of ten teams seeded No. 11 have reached the Elite Eight – more than all other double-digit seeds combined. Six advanced to the Final Four. </p> <table><tbody><tr><th>Year</th><th>Team</th><th>Notes</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/1986_NCAA_Division_I_men%2527s_basketball_tournament/zS1PHCte">1986</a></td><td><a href="/facts/1985-86_LSU_Tigers_men%2527s_basketball_team/3qTaQE4U">LSU</a></td><td>First double-digit seed to advance to Elite Eight and Final Four</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/1990_NCAA_Division_I_men%2527s_basketball_tournament/A4gobctL">1990</a></td><td><a href="/facts/1989%25E2%2580%259390_Loyola_Marymount_Lions_men%2527s_basketball_team/ooxvmVw6">Loyola Marymount</a></td><td>One of the team's stars, <a href="/facts/Hank_Gathers/eHU4QEbe">Hank Gathers</a>, collapsed and died on the court during the WCC Tournament, and teammates (including <a href="/facts/Bo_Kimble/3UH6RaPV">Bo Kimble</a>, who shot his first free throw of each tournament game left-handed) honored Gathers during the tournament.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> Lost to eventual National champion UNLV.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/2001_NCAA_Division_I_men%2527s_basketball_tournament/U6JvepDS">2001</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2000%25E2%2580%259301_Temple_Owls_men%2527s_basketball_team/HxLWNl7s">Temple</a></td><td>Finished the 2001 regular season on a remarkable run, winning the <a href="/facts/Atlantic_10_men%2527s_basketball_tournament/yRghNlM8">Atlantic 10 tournament</a> behind play of <a href="/facts/Lynn_Greer/LL63QNQC">Lynn Greer</a> before succumbing to <a href="/facts/2000%25E2%2580%259301_Michigan_State_Spartans_men%2527s_basketball_team/2AlNVRbw">Michigan State</a>.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/2006_NCAA_Division_I_men%2527s_basketball_tournament/DmFojIjA">2006</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2005%25E2%2580%259306_George_Mason_Patriots_men%2527s_basketball_team/XS84kCnf">George Mason</a></td><td>First 11 seed to advance to the Final Four since <a href="/facts/1986_NCAA_Division_I_men%2527s_basketball_tournament/zS1PHCte">1986</a>, after defeating 1 seed <a href="/facts/2005%25E2%2580%259306_Connecticut_Huskies_men%2527s_basketball_team/B9fnGhTl">UConn</a> in overtime in the Elite Eight</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/2011_NCAA_Division_I_men%2527s_basketball_tournament/1fjWIGzY">2011</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2010%25E2%2580%259311_VCU_Rams_men%2527s_basketball_team/pHuYaKnP">Virginia Commonwealth</a></td><td>The first "<a href="/facts/First_Four/UxLfvBSc">First Four</a>" team to advance to the Final Four</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/2014_NCAA_Division_I_men%2527s_basketball_tournament/jablRQkH">2014</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2013%25E2%2580%259314_Dayton_Flyers_men%2527s_basketball_team/4CvNpm0u">Dayton</a></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/2017_NCAA_Division_I_men%2527s_basketball_tournament/fupu0zpW">2017</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2016%25E2%2580%259317_Xavier_Musketeers_men%2527s_basketball_team/8HI2lERS">Xavier</a></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/2018_NCAA_Division_I_men%2527s_basketball_tournament/fJlXvzY5">2018</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2017%25E2%2580%259318_Loyola_Ramblers_men%2527s_basketball_team/W1MklGUL">Loyola–Chicago</a></td><td>Reached the Final Four</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/2021_NCAA_Division_I_men%2527s_basketball_tournament/Prs80jS6">2021</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2020%25E2%2580%259321_UCLA_Bruins_men%2527s_basketball_team/EyaPnplv">UCLA Bruins</a></td><td>The second First Four team to advance to the Final Four</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/2024_NCAA_Division_I_men%2527s_basketball_tournament/wptGVYng">2024</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2023%25E2%2580%259324_NC_State_Wolfpack_men%2527s_basketball_team/7tgl6HuN">NC State Wolfpack</a></td><td>The program's first Final Four since capturing the 1983 National championship</td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>12 seeds</h3> <p>Two twelve seeds have reached the regional final round. Neither advanced to the Final Four. </p> <table><tbody><tr><th>Year</th><th>Team</th><th>Notes</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/2002_NCAA_Division_I_men%2527s_basketball_tournament/nvwgwDIC">2002</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2001-02_Missouri_Tigers_men%2527s_basketball_team/5ejJyMjK">Missouri</a></td><td>First 12 seed to advance to Elite Eight<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/2021_NCAA_Division_I_men%2527s_basketball_tournament/Prs80jS6">2021</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2020%25E2%2580%259321_Oregon_State_Beavers_men%2527s_basketball_team/2EPoaaC3">Oregon State</a></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>15 seeds</h3> <table><tbody><tr><th>Year</th><th>Team</th><th>Notes</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/2022_NCAA_Division_I_men%2527s_basketball_tournament/nypjUkrE">2022</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2021-22_Saint_Peter%2527s_Peacocks_basketball_team/pycDgDzM">Saint Peter's</a></td><td>First 15 seed (and first below a 12 seed) to advance to Elite Eight</td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="double-digit-seeds-to-reach-the-womens-elite-eight">Double-digit seeds to reach the Women's Elite Eight</h2> <p>In 1991, with 48 participants in the tournament, No. 10 seed Lamar reached the regional final round. The women's tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1994, and double-digit seeds have reached the Elite Eight round three more times (2011, 2017, 2022). No double-digit seed has reached the Final Four of the women's NCAA tournament. </p> <h3>10 seeds</h3> <table><tbody><tr><th>Year</th><th>Team</th><th>Notes</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/1991_NCAA_Division_I_women%2527s_basketball_tournament/yEqmnt7G">1991</a></td><td><a href="/facts/1990%25E2%2580%259391_Lamar_Lady_Cardinals_basketball_team/tIWmAdJP">Lamar</a></td><td>Lost to eventual runner-up Virginia</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/2017_NCAA_Division_I_women%2527s_basketball_tournament/oIaXwU6V">2017</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2016%25E2%2580%259317_Oregon_Ducks_women%2527s_basketball_team/GYEq4yXl">Oregon</a></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/2022_NCAA_Division_I_women%2527s_basketball_tournament/zfgG61PE">2022</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2021%25E2%2580%259322_Creighton_Bluejays_women%2527s_basketball_team/reHkDEF3">Creighton</a></td><td>Lost to eventual National champion South Carolina</td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>11 seeds</h3> <table><tbody><tr><th>Year</th><th>Team</th><th>Notes</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/2011_NCAA_Division_I_women%2527s_basketball_tournament/n2HPNAtE">2011</a></td><td>Gonzaga</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Trademark record for serial no. 74687330 (Elite Eight)". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved 2011-03-27. <a href="http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=74687330" target="_blank">http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=74687330</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"St. Peter's becomes the first 15 seed to reach the Elite Eight after stunning March Madness win against Purdue". CBS News. March 25, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2025. <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/march-madness-2022-bracket-buster-st-peters-first-15-seed-elite-eight/" target="_blank">https://www.cbsnews.com/news/march-madness-2022-bracket-buster-st-peters-first-15-seed-elite-eight/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Bruins were finally floored <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-dec-15-sp-uclahoops15-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-dec-15-sp-uclahoops15-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"Friars Come Close, but Arizona and Carolina Close the Deal". The New York Times. March 24, 1997. Retrieved March 23, 2025. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/24/sports/friars-come-close-but-arizona-and-carolina-close-the-deal.html" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/24/sports/friars-come-close-but-arizona-and-carolina-close-the-deal.html</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"For Kent State, 'Validation'". The Washington Post. March 22, 2002. Retrieved March 22, 2025. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2002/03/22/for-kent-state-validation/2b9104ce-d2b8-4425-aca8-8bc553cfaf37/" target="_blank">https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2002/03/22/for-kent-state-validation/2b9104ce-d2b8-4425-aca8-8bc553cfaf37/</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Davidson continues dream run into Elite Eight". reuters.com. March 28, 2008. Retrieved March 22, 2025. <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-basketball-ncaa-friday/davidson-continues-dream-run-into-elite-eight-idUSN2735466020080329" target="_blank">https://www.reuters.com/article/us-basketball-ncaa-friday/davidson-continues-dream-run-into-elite-eight-idUSN2735466020080329</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Mike Downey (March 24, 1990). "Lions Refuse to Let Ship Be Grounded". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 22, 2025. <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-24-sp-616-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-24-sp-616-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"Tigers Upend UCLA, 82-73, To Advance To Elite Eight". University of Missouri Athletics. March 21, 2002. Retrieved March 22, 2025. <a href="https://mutigers.com/news/2002/3/21/Tigers_Upend_UCLA_82_73_To_Advance_To_Elite_Eight.aspx" target="_blank">https://mutigers.com/news/2002/3/21/Tigers_Upend_UCLA_82_73_To_Advance_To_Elite_Eight.aspx</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>