Top 5 NCAA Tournament Cinderellas

#5 Hampton 58, Iowa State 57 (2001 Round of 64)

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This wasn't the first time a 15-seed upset the 2-seed, but it's the most memorable. Who could forget coach Steve Merfeld being lifted into the air by Hampton player David Johnson? 

#4 George Mason 86, UConn 84, OT (2006 Round of 8)

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George Mason was expected to lose handily in the first round. But their tenacity and will to win was evident from the opening tip of their first game. En route to the school's first Final Four appearance, George Mason beat Michigan State, North Carolina, and UConn. Unlikely tournament hopefuls would be satisfied by upsetting one of these historic programs, George Mason beat them all in one unforgettable run to the Final Four. 

#3 Florida Gulf Coast 78, Georgetown 68 (2013 Round of 64)

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Florida Gulf Coast was the twenty-first century incarnation of Phi Slamma Jamma. Their highflying, athletic play caught Georgetown and every college basketball fan by surprise. After shocking the basketball world by beating Georgetown, FGCU proved they deserved to be in the tournament and beat San Diego State to reach the Sweet 16, becoming the first 15-seed to reach the round of 16. 

#2 N.C. State 54, Houston 52 (1983 National Championship)

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Phi Slamma...who? Coach Jimmy V and the Wolfpack of North Carolina State first limped into the tournament. But their magical run to the final pitted them against the consensus number one team – Houston. Houston was led by two future NBA hall of famers (Clyde "The Glide" Drexler and Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon). But despite all the talent on Houston's roster, Coach Valvano inspired his team to finish this special run by defeating the unbeatable. With the game tied and the clock running out, after a desperation heave, Lorenzo Charles grabbed the rebound and quickly dunked the ball beating the buzzer and winning the national championship for NC State. 

#1 Univ. of Maryland Baltimore County 74, Virginia 54 (2018 Round of 64)

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There's a first time for everything. The Retrievers of UMBC produced an iconic first that will be remembered a lifetime. Not only did UMBC achieve the impossible – beating a number 1 seed (first time in tourney history), they absolutely annihilated the one-seed. But the most shocking aspect of the UMBC victory is, Virginia wasn't just any one seed, Virginia was the tournament's overall number one seed and they were outclassed in every facet of the game.