Can San Diego State break the NCAA Tournament 5-seed curse?

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 01: Lamont Butler #5 of the San Diego State Aztecs makes a basket as the clock expires to defeat the Florida Atlantic Owls 72-71 during the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at NRG Stadium on April 01, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) /

2 of 5

NCAA Tournament Duke”s Chris Carrawell #23 makes a block as Florida Al Bello/ALLSPORT /

2000: Florida vs. Michigan State

The 2000 NCAA Tournament may have been even wilder than the one we’re still enjoying. Two different 8-seeds, Wisconsin and North Carolina, reached the Final Four, along with 5-seed Florida and the favorite, 1-seed Michigan State. Under the intense eye of fifth-year head coach Tom Izzo, and led by the phenomenal trio of Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson, and Jason Richardson, the Spartans took care of business and re-established themselves as a power on the national stage, beating Florida for their second national championship and first since the Jud Heathcote and Magic Johnson-led team of 1979.

Florida may have been a 5-seed, but like San Diego State, they were extremely formidable. Fans will recognize the names of Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem, and head coach Billy Donovan, who chomped their way to the title game thanks in part to a Butler-related buzzer beater of their own, though theirs came in the first round when Mike Miller hit a driving floater to beat the Butler Bulldogs.

Michigan State came out on top against Florida 89-76 after jumping out to an 11-point halftime lead, finally putting the game away with a late 16-6 run. It will be fascinating to see how the game plays out on Monday night, as UConn has ended the first half with a lead in every game this tournament, then extended those leads with second-half obliterations of every team they’ve faced. San Diego State hasn’t been afraid to play from behind, and they are now an amazing 8-2 in those scenarios this season after erasing halftime deficits against Creighton and Florida Atlantic in the last two rounds.

One area where San Diego State has an edge over this Florida team is in the experience department. Nearly the entire Aztec roster is made up of juniors and seniors, whereas the Gators ran out only three upperclassmen in their 10-man rotation. Experience certainly played a factor in Michigan State’s victory. Will it help the 5-seed this time?

Home/March Madness