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NCAA Basketball: Top 20 biggest tournament upsets of all time

By Brock Zimmermann

Mar 24, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; General view of a march madness logo during practice the day before the semifinals of the Midwest regional of the NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; General view of a march madness logo during practice the day before the semifinals of the Midwest regional of the NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 16, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; View of the march madness logo on the court on practice day at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; View of the march madness logo on the court on practice day at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

9. North Carolina State over Houston – 1983

The lowest seed to ever win a National Championship at the time, the No. 6 Wolfpack defeated the Houston Cougars on one of the most iconic buzzer beaters of all time, winning 54-52.

Houston was ranked No. 1 going into the tournament and had won 26 straight games. They were powered by Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, two future NBA Hall of Fame players.

The upset is historically significant, as, at the time, NC State was the first team that did not receive a first round bye to win the tournament. Additionally, they were the first team with 10 losses to win the National Title.

NC State barely made the Big Dance at all, having to win the ACC Tournament to get a bid. They narrowly defeated Wake Forest, North Carolina, and Virginia to earn a spot in the tournament. The Wolfpack overcame numerous late game deficits and early season struggles to become one of the most unexpected championship teams.

The mega upset helped propel the story of Jim Valvano.

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