It’s Part II of our series on the Top 10 Greatest Bubble Teams Ever. Not only did these five prove they belonged in the Big Dance, a couple came close to winning the whole thing. And as you’ll see, there’s one school that just wouldn’t geaux quietly from the tourney during the late ’80s.
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5. 2002 Missouri: #12 Seed (Elite Eight)
In just his third year after replacing the beloved Norm Stewart at Missouri, Quin Snyder had already worn out his welcome. Losing 6 of their last 10 games and earning a lowly 12 seed, Mizzou fans expected another early exit from the Big Dance.
Only then did his blue-chip talent such as Kareem Rush, Rickey Paulding and Arthur Johnson finally play up to their potential, waltzing into the Sweet Sixteen with double-digit wins over Miami and Ohio State. After brushing aside Steve Lavin’s upstart UCLA squad, Mizzou faced Big 12 nemesis Oklahoma and were on the verge of becoming the lowest seeded team to reach the Final Four. Hindered by Clarence Gilbert’s 1-16 shooting, the Tigers fell short. But the boosters climbed off Snyder’s back – if only for the time being.
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4. 1997 Providence: #10 Seed (Elite Eight)
The Friars were an enigma the entire season. They lost to Middle Tennessee State in their second game and despite tons of talent, lost six of their final 10 games in a weak Big East. There were numerous reports about internal sparring between teammates. And as for coach Pete Gillen? “A lot of times, they don’t listen to a word I say.” Nice, coach.
But when the tournament hit, the Friars shot the lights out. Austin Croshere poured in 39 points in a first round win. Derrick Brown then scored a career-high 33 points vs. Duke, as Providence became America’s Team for knocking off the Evil Empire. After dispatching fellow Cinderella UT-Chattanooga, the clock appeared to strike midnight when Providence fell down 12 to Arizona in the second half. That’s when God Shammgod took over, tying the game in the final seconds to force overtime. Alas, it wasn’t enough, and the Wildcats went on to the national title.
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3. 1987 LSU: #10 Seed (Elite Eight)
After making the 1986 Final Four, sophomore stud John Williams bolted for the NBA and Ricky Blanton and Zoran Jovanovich suffered season-ending injuries before the first game. It looked to spell disaster for LSU, as they started the SEC 1-5.
After a late really to make the tournament, LSU’s “Freak Defense” blending zone and man worked like a charm again – stumping Georgia Tech, Temple and DePaul to set up an Elite Eight matchup with Indiana. The Tigers had the game in control, up 12 in the second half, only to choke it away and watch an Indiana air ball with six seconds left get caught in mid-air and put in to crush LSU’s Final Four dreams.
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2. 2006 George Mason: #11 Seed (Final Four)
You already know all about George Mason’s Cinderella season. To put their historic run in perspective, the Patriots had been swept by Hofstra during the season and had pundits crying foul that the Pride didn’t get in instead.
But with Jim Larranaga’s crazy antics, GMU beat Michigan State and defending champs North Carolina back-to-back – and that’s despite falling behind 16-2 to the Heels. But the real shocker came when they dispatched top-seeded Connecticut after a missed 3-pointer at the buzzer, as the Huskies were favorites to win it all. Unfortunately, Mason was no match for Florida, who went on to claim their first of back-to-back titles.
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1. 1986 LSU #11 Seed (Final Four)
This much is clear: No one circled the wagons in March like coach Dale Brown. A year before LSU’s run to the Elite Eight, LSU went all the way to the Final Four after a season that appeared cursed – plagued by injuries, a transfer, a dropout and the chicken pox.
But in the tournament, it looked the Tigers had been touched by an angel. Playing its first two games in Baton Rouge, LSU pulled out a double-overtime thriller in the first round, a buzzer-beater in the second and knocked off a Georgia Tech team starring Mark Price and John Salley in the Sweet Sixteen – at the Omni, no less. That set up a rematch with Kentucky, who’d already beaten them three times that year. No matter. LSU held Kenny Walker to four points in the second half, then won it on a layup with 17 seconds left.
The freakfest finally came to a halt in Dallas, when Louisville torched the LSU defense for 88 points en route to a national title.
Note: In order to qualify, teams must be a double-digit seed
I still say George Mason’s run was the best. They suspended a player in the first round vs. Michigan State, whereas LSU had essentially two home games for their first two. Also, UConn had tons of talent that year. To beat them was a real accomplishment.
What about Kent State as a 10 seed in 2002 making it to the elite eight beat Alabama and Pitt along the way?
How about the Dick Bennet Wisconsin Badgers in 2000. I know that they were a #8 seed, but seriously…look at their lineup. They had no reason beating the likes of LSU, Arizona and Purdue on the way to the Final Four and a 19-17 halftime score against eventual champ Michigan State. They won with “team defense”, a concept that is a thing of the past. Everyone wants to run up and down the floor, throw up s**t and expect two free throws if it doesn’t go in. This team proved that it is possible to win with average players who understand that the only stat that counts is the final score.
how can rolli massimino’s 1985 villanova #8 CHAMPIONSHIP against PATRICK EWING’s georgetown NOT BE A TOP 10?! villanove shot a STILL NCAA record of 73% the entire game.. only missing 1 SHOT in the second half!!! whoever wrote this needs to broaden his research or something.
What about Seton Hall University knocking off Duke in the Final Four and going to the NCAA Championship in 1989? SHU was a long shot. They took down the fabled Duke Blue Devils in a no holds barred contest. No one expected this school to become a Big East power house afterwards. SHU may not be a big school, but it packed a big punch! SHU still cannot get the respect that they deserve. What a shame!
What about Bradley’s run a #13 knocking of Kanas then Pitt
The reason the 8 seeds aren’t mentioned is in the note at the beginning:
Note: In order to qualify, teams must be a double-digit seed