Closest Calls in Tourney History

By Tim St.Sauver
Love of Sports Correspondent

Since the NCAA tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985 (if you lose the play-in game, shame on you -you don’t count), no #16 seed has ever beaten a #1. And they shouldn’t, should they?

The #1 seeds have been deemed the best in the land and are expected to be able to match up with the best teams in the country. The #16 seeds are given a free ticket to the dance for winning a conference in which many of the schools starting basketball lineups are the same as their math club lineups.

Look at it this way: 31 of the 65 teams in the tournament get an automatic bid. This year, over 15 of these conferences will be sending only one team to the tournament, regardless of which team wins the conference title. One team from each weak conference.

The selection committee has to pick the worst five as 16 seeds. Two of the teams are so bad they have to play each other to determine which squad deserves to be one of the four worst teams in the tournament. It’s like a fat person winning a wing eating competition to gain entry to a body builder show.

Since the majority of us are more likely to win a wing eating competition than a body building competition, it’s natural for us to root for that #16 to knock of the perfectly shaped #1 (unless it messes up our brackets.)

As it turns out, the #16 seeds have had their moments throughout the years. Here’s a list of the closest a #16 has ever been to knocking of the mighty number #1:

Three #16 seeds have been within nine points, but that’s just not good enough. We’ll start at eight.

CLOSEST CALLS IN NCAA HISTORY

8. 1997 – (1) North Carolina vs. (16) Fairfield

A night on which Dean Smith tied Adolph Rupp’s 876 win total was almost ruined by a team that went 11-18 in the regular season. The Stags actually led by seven at halftime and were within three points with just 3:33 to play. UNC pulled it out, though, and won the game 82-74. Whew!

7. 1986 – (1) Duke vs. (16) Mississippi Valley State

The Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils led by 11 points in the second half and forced 23 turnovers in the game. All-American Johnny Dawkins brought the Blue Devils back, though, and Duke ended up winning 85-78.

6. 1989 – (1) Illinois vs. (16) McNeese State

McNeese State (which I’m still not convinced is a real school) gave top seeded Illinois everything they could handle, but Illinois was able to hang on in the end, winning the game by six, 77-71.

5. 1985 – (1) Michigan vs. (16) Fairleigh Dickinson

The Fairleigh Dickinson Knights led by six at the half in this one. Head coach Tom Green (not the one who starred in Freddy Got Fingered) was with the team then and is still with the team now. They ended up losing the game 59-55, but in the first year of the 64-team format, they’ll forever be remembered as the first #16 to ever really challenge a #1.

4. 1996 – (1) Purdue vs. (16) Western Carolina

Western Carolina was down by just two points with the ball in the final seconds of the game. They took a three pointer that would’ve given them the lead with just a few ticks left on the clock. The Catamounts missed the shot, but grabbed the offensive rebound and had yet another chance to tie it. Unfortunately, it bounced off the back rim. One could argue that this was close as a #16 has ever been to advancing to the second round.

3. 1989 – (1) Oklahoma vs. (16) East Tennessee State

1989 was the year of the near upset. I already touched on Illinois’ six-point escape of McNeese State, and there was definitely more to come. The Sooners managed to edge East Tennessee State by one point in this contest, 72-71, despite Keith “Mister” Jennings going berserk for the upstart Buccaneers.

2. 1989 – (1) Georgetown vs. (16) Princeton

Yes. TWO 16 seeds were within a single basket of knocking off #1 seeds in 1989. Princeton actually held the ball during the final seconds in this one as well. They took two shots that could have won it, but Alonzo Mourning wouldn’t have it. He blocked both attempts by the Tigers, and Georgetown held on to win the game by the skin of their teeth.

1. 1990 – (1) Michigan State vs. (16) Murray State

I’ll break the suspense – Michigan State won by four. So, why is this No. 1 on my list? Because Michigan State had to go to overtime to make it happen. To this day, the 1990 Murray State Racers are the only #16 seed not to lose in regulation. The fat man competed with the body builder to the very end, and the judges needed extra time to make a decision. The Racers played one of the best games a huge underdog has ever played. I applaud them.

Wondering how the #1 seeds fared after their close escapes?

1985 – Michigan lost in the second round
1996 – Purdue lost in the second round
1989 – Oklahoma made the Sweet 16
1990 – Michigan State made the Sweet 16
1989 – Georgetown made the Elite Eight
1989 – Illinois made the Final Four
1997 – North Carolina made the Final Four
1986 – Duke reached the Finals, losing to Louisville

The tournament was expanded to 64 teams for a reason. The #16 has a chance. History has proven that much.