Tuesday Top Ten: Fun Facts About This Year's NCAA Tournament

Well that was a hell of a fun five days.  In this unusual year of college basketball, we did have one team that had to withdraw from the NCAA Tournament because of COVID (VCU, before it's Saturday First Round game against Oregon), but fingers crossed we don't have any more.  And that was far from the craziest thing that happened this past weekend.  We had upsets galore and some crazy finishes.  Between the First Four and the first day of the Round of 32 on Sunday, there were 15 games where the margin of victory was five points or fewer and/or that when to overtime.  And then there was yesterday -- or what I'm now dubbing Blowout Monday -- where the closest game was 8 points (Michigan over LSU, 86-78) and the average margin of victory was 18 points.  All in all, 10 higher-seeded teams upset lower-seeded teams in the First Round, and 7 higher-seeded teams upset lower-seeded teams in the Second Round -- and of those 17 upsets, 12 were by teams seeded at least five lines higher than who they beat, which is a record.  Madness!

I'll be on vacation next week, so I won't get to post my usual opus about the Final Four, but for now, we're at the Sweet 16.  Only five of the Sweet 16 teams are repeats from 2019, but Gonzaga is the only one left that made it as far as the Elite Eight in 2019, so no matter who makes the Final Four, there won't be any repeats from last tournament.  And this year's Sweet 16 will be on Saturday and Sunday instead of Thursday and Friday, with the Elite 8 following on Monday and Tuesday instead of the usual Saturday and Sunday.  All games are in Indianapolis from here on out.  Here are the Sweet 16 teams, along with the last time they made the Sweet 16 (and their region, seeds, game time, and what station is televising the game):

Midwest Region
(8) Loyola (IL) (2018) vs. (12) Oregon State (1982) - Saturday 3/27 2:40 p.m. ET CBS
(2) Houston (2019) vs. (11) Syracuse (2018) - Saturday 3/27 9:55 p.m. ET TBS

South Region
(1) Baylor (2017) vs. (5) Villanova (2018) - Saturday 3/27 5:15 p.m. ET CBS
(3) Arkansas (1996) vs. (15) Oral Roberts (1974) - Saturday 3/27 7:25 p.m. ET TBS

West Region
(1) Gonzaga (2019) vs. (5) Creighton (1974) - Sunday 3/28 2:10 p.m. ET CBS
(6) USC (2007) vs. (7) Oregon (2019) - Sunday 3/28 9:45 p.m. ET TBS

East Region
(1) Michigan (2019) vs. (4) Florida State (2019) - Sunday 3/28 5:00 p.m. ET CBS
(2) Alabama (2004) vs. (11) UCLA (2017) - Sunday 3/28 7:15 p.m. ET TBS

If you're like me -- and you better pray to Eric Clapton that you're not –- you not only love the NCAA Tournament, but you are fascinated with the history and statistical minutiae associated with the tournament.  Like I've done the last couple years, I'm going to drop knowledge bombs on your mind.  Here are 16 fun facts about this year's NCAA tournament.  You know, 16.  For the Sweet 16.

16.  With Texas Southern and Norfolk State's wins in the First Four on Thursday, this was the first NCAA Tournament in which multiple HBCUs won an NCAA Tournament game.

15.  15 of the 16 seed numbers won games in the First Round, with only the 16-seeds missing out on the fun.  This is the 4th time this many different seeds have won games in the same tournament, with 1991, 2013, and 2016 being the other three years.

14.  Only one school got its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, and that was East 14-seed Abilene Christian, which beat 3-seed Texas, 63-62, in the First Round.

13.  There is no region in which all top four seeds advanced to the Sweet 16, which is actually a pretty common occurrence.  Since seeding began in 1979, that has now happened 23 times:  1980, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2021.

Likewise, there is no region in which all top three seeds advanced to the Sweet 16, which is only the 13th time that has ever happened:  1981, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2021.

12.  Oregon State -- who was picked to finish last in the Pac-12 at the beginning of the season -- is back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1982, and Creighton and Oral Roberts are in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1974.  Here's how they stack up with the longest-ever droughts between Sweet 16 appearances (since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 16 teams in 1951):
-58 years:  LaSalle (1955-2013)
-56 years:  Cornell (1954-2010)
-52 years:  Virginia Tech (1967-2019)
-51 years:  Bradley (1955-2006), St. Mary's (1959-2010)
-47 years:  Creighton (1974-2021), Oral Roberts (1974-2021)
-46 years:  Penn State (1955-2001)
-44 years:  South Carolina (1973-2017)
-42 years:  Oregon (1960-2002)
-41 years:  Butler (1962-2003)
-40 years:  USC (1961-2001)
-39 years:  Davidson (1969-2008), Oregon State (1982-2021), Tulsa (1955-1994)
-38 years:  Ohio (1964-2002)
-35 years:  Houston (1984-2019), West Virginia (1963-1998)

Here are the schools that have current Sweet 16 droughts of 50 or more years.  Again, it's since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 16 teams in 1951.  I'm adding a year, since they obviously aren't in this year's Sweet 16 -- and, of course, teams that are no longer Division 1 teams are not included, nor are teams that have never made the Sweet 16.  Here they are:
-71 years (1951):  Montana State, San Jose State
-69 years (1953):  Holy Cross
-68 years (1954):  Rice
-65 years (1957):  Canisius, Lafayette, St. Louis
-64 years (1958):  Dartmouth, Manhattan
-63 years (1959):  Boston University
-61 years (1961):  Morehead State
-59 years (1963):  Bowling Green
-58 years (1964):  Seattle (although they were not D-1 from 1980 to 2008)
-55 years (1967):  Princeton, SMU
-54 years (1968):  Columbia, East Tennessee State, TCU
-53 years (1969):  Colorado, Colorado State, Duquesne
-52 years (1970):  Jacksonville, Niagara, Santa Clara, St. Bonaventure, Utah State
-51 years (1971):  Drake, Fordham, Pacific
-50 years (1972):  Weber State

11.  Since the First Four format was introduced in 2011, UCLA became the 5th First Four team to advance to the Sweet 16, although only one of the prior four has advanced past the Sweet 16.  Here are the teams that have done it:
2021:  11-seed UCLA
2018:  11-seed Syracuse
2014:  11-seed Tennessee
2013:  13-seed LaSalle
2011:  11-seed VCU (advanced to Final Four)

10.  If Rutgers hadn't shit the bed against Houston, the top 7 seeds in the Midwest Region would have lost before the Sweet 16.  That has never happened.  The closest was in 2018, when, in the South Region, none of the top four seeds advanced to the Sweet 16 -- which was the first time that happened since the Tournament began seeding in 1979.

9.  With its 85-51 loss to USC in the Second Round, Kansas suffered its worst-ever loss in the NCAA Tournament.  It's previous worst loss was by 18 points in the 1940 NCAA Championship Game to Branch McCracken's Indiana Hoosiers.

8.  The Big Ten and Big 12 were supposed to be the two best conferences in the country this year.  Together, they had 16 teams in this year's tournament, with the Big Ten getting 9 bids and the Big 12 getting 7.  Both conferences have only one team that advanced to the Sweet 16 -- Baylor in the Big 12 and Michigan in the Big Ten (both 1-seeds, mind you).  It was the first time in 14 years that more than one Big Ten team didn't advance to the Sweet 16.  Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, here are the major conferences –- which I define as the ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Big 8/Big 12, Pac-10/Pac-12, and the Big East (until 2013) –- that only advanced one team (or no team) to the Sweet 16:
-ACC:  5 times (one team in 2007-2008, 2010, 2014, and 2017)
-Big East (until 2013):  5 times (no team in 1986 and 1993, and one team in 1988, 1992, and 2001)
-Big 8/Big 12:  13 times (no team in 1990 and 1998, and one team in 1985-1986, 1992, 1996-1997, 1999, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2013, and 2021)
-Big Ten:  8 times (no team in 1995-1996 and 2006, and one team in 1985, 1997, 2004, 2007, 2021)
-Pac-10/Pac-12:  21 times (no team in 1985-1987, 1993, 1999, 2004, 2012, and 2018, and one team in 1988-1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2009-2011, and 2016)
-SEC:  13 times (no team in 1988 and 2009, and one team in 1990-1992, 1997-1998, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2013, and 2015-2016)

7.  Oral Roberts became only the second 15-seed ever to advance to the Sweet 16 -- matching Florida Gulf Coast's (aka Dunk City) feat in 2013 -- and only the 10th team ever seeded 13 or higher to advance to the Sweet 16. None of them has advanced to the Elite 8.  Here are all ten:
2021: #15 Oral Roberts
2013: #13 LaSalle, #15 Florida Gulf Coast
2012: #13 Ohio
2006: #13 Bradley
1999: #13 Oklahoma
1998: #13 Valparaiso
1997: #14 UT-Chattanooga
1988: #13 Richmond
1986: #14 Cleveland State

6.  The Pac-12 has 4 teams in the Sweet 16 (Oregon, Oregon State, UCLA, and USC), but no other conference has more than 2 teams.  Here are the years in which only one conference had at least three teams in the Sweet 16.  Note that 1980 was the first year in which more than one at-large bid could be awarded to each conference, so that was the starting point:
2021:  Pac-12 (4)
2011:  ACC (3)
2010:  Big Ten (3)
2006:  Big East (4)
1991:  Big East (3)
1990:  ACC (4)
1984:  ACC (4)
1982:  Big East (3)

5.  Defending champ Virginia got upset by Ohio in the First Round, losing 62-58.  It was the fourth tournament in a row that the defending champ lost before the Sweet 16 and the 24th time since seeding began in 1979 that the defending champ failed to make it to the Sweet 16.  If you're counting, that means a defending champ is more likely than not to fail to make it to the Sweet 16.  Setting aside that grammatical garble, here is a breakdown of defending champions who have lost before the Sweet 16 or failed to make the NCAA Tournament since 1979:
2021:  Virginia (lost in Round of 64)
2019:  Villanova (lost in Round of 32)
2018:  North Carolina (lost in Round of 32)
2017:  Villanova (lost in Round of 32)
2015:  UConn (did not make the NCAA Tournament)
2013:  Kentucky (did not make the NCAA Tournament)
2012:  UConn (lost in Round of 64)
2010:  North Carolina (did not make the NCAA Tournament)
2008:  Florida (did not make the NCAA Tournament)
2006:  North Carolina (lost in Round of 32)
2005:  UConn (lost in Round of 32)
2000:  UConn (did not make the NCAA Tournament)
1996:  UCLA (lost in Round of 64)
1994:  North Carolina (lost in Round of 32)
1993:  Duke (lost in Round of 32)
1990:  Michigan (lost in Round of 32)
1989:  Kansas (did not make the NCAA Tournament)
1988:  Indiana (lost in Round of 64)
1987:  Louisville (did not make the NCAA Tournament)
1986:  Villanova (lost in Round of 32)
1984:  NC State (did not make the NCAA Tournament)
1982:  Indiana (lost in Round of 32)
1981:  Louisville (lost in Round of 32)
1980:  Michigan State (did not make the NCAA Tournament)

4.  9 double-digit seeds won their first round games, including a record 4 teams seeded 13 of higher.  The 9 wins by double-digit seeds is well above the average, and it marks only the 4th time since 1985 that 9 or more double-digit seeds advanced to the Round of 32.  In the 35 tournaments since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, there have been 224 double-digit seeds that have won their first round games, which is an average of 6.4 per year.  Here is a year-by-year list of every double-digit seed that has won its first round game since 1985 (with the hears in which 9 or more teams won bolded):
2021:  9 (#10 Maryland, Rutgers, #11 Syracuse, UCLA, #12 Oregon State, #13 North Texas, #13 Ohio, #14 Abilene Christian, #15 Oral Roberts)
2019:  8 (#10 Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, #11 Ohio State, #12 Liberty, Murray State, Oregon, #13 UC Irvine)
2018:  6 (#10 Butler, #11 Loyola (IL), Syracuse, #13 Buffalo, Marshall, #16 UMBC)
2017:  5 (#10 Wichita State, #11 Rhode Island, USC, Xavier, #12 Middle Tennessee State)
2016:  10 (#10 Syracuse, VCU, #11 Gonzaga, Northern Iowa, Wichita State, #12 Little Rock, Yale, #13 Hawaii, #14 Stephen F. Austin, #15 Middle Tennessee State)
2015:  5 (#10 Ohio State, #11 Dayton, UCLA, #14 UAB, Georgia State)
2014:  6 (#10 Stanford, #11 Dayton, Tennessee, #12 Harvard, North Dakota State, Stephen F. Austin)
2013:  8 (#10 Iowa State, #11 Minnesota, #12 California, Mississippi, Oregon, #13 LaSalle, #14 Harvard, #15 Florida Gulf Coast)
2012:  9 (#10 Purdue, Xavier, #11 Colorado, North Carolina State, #12 South Florida, VCU, #13 Ohio, #15 Lehigh, Norfolk State)
2011:  6 (#10, Florida State, #11 Gonzaga, Marquette, VCU, #12 Richmond, #13 Morehead State)
2010:   8 (#10 Georgia Tech, Missouri, St. Mary's, #11 Old Dominion, Washington, #12 Cornell, #13 Murray State, #14 Ohio)
2009:  8 (#10 Maryland, Michigan, USC, #11 Dayton, #12 Arizona, Western Kentucky, Wisconsin, #13 Cleveland State)
2008:  6 (#10 Davidson, #11 Kansas State, #12 Villanova, Western Kentucky, #13 San Diego, Siena)
2007:  2 (#11 Winthrop, VCU)
2006:  8 (#10 Alabama, NC State, #11 George Mason, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, #12 Montana, Texas A&M, #13 Bradley, #14 Northwestern State)
2005:  5 (#10 NC State, #11 UAB, #12 Wisconsin-Milwaukee, #13 Vermont, #14 Bucknell)
2004:  3 (#10 Nevada, #12 Manhattan, Pacific)
2003:  5 (#10 Arizona State, Auburn, #11 Central Michigan, #12 Butler, #13 Tulsa)
2002:  7 (#10 Kent State, #11 Southern Illinois, Wyoming, #12 Creighton, Missouri, Tulsa, #13 UNC-Wilmington)
2001:  9 (#10 Butler, Georgetown, #11 Georgia State, Temple, #12 Gonzaga, Utah State, #13 Indiana State, Kent State, #15 Hampton)
2000:  3 (#10 Gonzaga, Seton Hall, #11 Pepperdine)
1999:  8 (#10 Creighton, Gonzaga, Miami (OH), Purdue, #12 Detroit, Southwest Missouri State, #13 Oklahoma, #14 Weber State)
1998:  8 (#10 Detroit, West Virginia, St. Louis, #11 Washington, Western Michigan, #12 Florida State, #13 Valparaiso, #14 Richmond)
1997:  5 (#10 Providence, Texas, #12 Charleston, #14 Tennessee-Chattanooga, #15 Coppin State)
1996:  6 (#10 Santa Clara, Texas, #11 Boston College, #12 Arkansas, Drexel, #13 Princeton)
1995:  6 (#10 Stanford, #11 Texas, #12 Miami (OH), #13 Manhattan, #14 Old Dominion, Weber State)
1994:  5 (#10 George Washington, Maryland, #11 Pennsylvania, #12 Tulsa, Wisconsin-Green Bay)
1993:  4 (#11 Tulane, #12 George Washington, #13 Southern, #15 Santa Clara)
1992:  5 (#10 Iowa State, Tulane, #12 New Mexico State, #13 Southwest Louisiana, #14 East Tennessee State)
1991:  8 (#10 BYU, Temple, #11 Connecticut, Creighton, #12 Eastern Michigan, #13 Penn State, #14 Xavier, #15 Richmond)
1990:  5 (#10 Texas, #11 Loyola Marymount, #12 Ball State, Dayton, #14 Northern Iowa)
1989:  8 (#10 Colorado State, #11 Evansville, Minnesota, South Alabama, Texas, #12 DePaul, #13 Middle Tennessee State, #14 Siena)
1988:  4 (#10 Loyola Marymount, #11 Rhode Island, #13 Richmond, #14 Murray State)
1987:  6 (#10 LSU, Western Kentucky, #12 Wyoming, #13 Southwest Missouri State, Xavier, #14 Austin Peay)
1986:  5 (#10 Villanova, #11 LSU, #12 DePaul, #14 Arkansas-Little Rock, Cleveland State)
1985:  5 (#11 Auburn, Boston College, UTEP, #12 Kentucky, #13 Navy)

3.  The average seed number for Sweet 16 teams this year is 5.875, which is the record for the highest average seed number in the Sweet 16 since since seeding began in 1979, and only the 9th time since then that the average seed number has been 5 or greater.  Of course, if the seeding played out as it should (i.e., all teams seeded 1-4 advancing to the Sweet 16, which has never happened), the average seed number would be 2.5. Here is the average seed of Sweet 16 teams since 1979 (with the years when the average seed number was 5 or higher bolded):
2021: 5.875
2019: 3.0625
2018: 5.3125
2017: 4.0625
2016: 4.125
2015: 4.375
2014: 4.9375
2013: 5.0625
2012: 4.5625
2011: 5
2010: 5
2009: 3.0625
2008: 4.375
2007: 3.1875
2006: 4.4375
2005: 4.5
2004: 4.5625
2003: 4.1875
2002: 4.6875
2001: 4.5625
2000: 5.3125
1999: 5.5
1998: 4.75
1997: 4.8125
1996: 3.6875
1995: 3.1875
1994: 4.25
1993: 4.0625
1992: 4.1875
1991: 4
1990: 5.5
1989: 3.125
1988: 4.3125
1987: 4.25
1986: 5.5625
1985: 4.875
1984: 3.8125
1983: 3.5
1982: 3.1875
1981: 4.5625
1980: 4.125
1979: 3.8125

2.  We have four mid-majors in the Sweet 16 -- Gonzaga and Houston.  (I consider schools in conferences other than the ACC, Big East, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12, and SEC to be mid-majors, even if a school is now in one of those conferences, so, for instance, Butler and Xavier were mid-majors before joining the Big East a couple years ago, but are no longer mid-majors. It's not a perfect science. Deal with it.)  25 mid-majors have advanced to the Final Four since 1979.  Here is a year-by-year breakdown of the number of mid-major teams that made it to the Sweet 16 since 1979:
2021:  4 (Gonzaga, Houston, Loyola (IL), Oral Roberts)
2019: 2 (Gonzaga, Houston)
2018: 3 (Gonzaga, Loyola (IL)*, Nevada)
2017: 1 (Gonzaga*)
2016: 1 (Gonzaga)
2015: 2 (Gonzaga, Wichita State)
2014: 2 (Dayton, San Diego State)
2013: 3 (Florida Gulf Coast, LaSalle, Wichita State*)
2012: 2 (Ohio, Xavier)
2011: 5 (Butler*, BYU, Richmond, San Diego State, VCU*)
2010: 5 (Butler*, Cornell, Northern Iowa, St. Mary's, Xavier)
2009: 3 (Gonzaga, Memphis, Xavier)
2008: 4 (Davidson, Memphis*, Western Kentucky, Xavier)
2007: 4 (Butler, Memphis, Southern Illinois, UNLV)
2006: 5 (Bradley, George Mason*, Gonzaga, Memphis, Wichita State)
2005: 2 (Utah, UW-Milwaukee)
2004: 4 (Nevada, St. Joseph's, UAB, Xavier)
2003: 2 (Butler, Marquette*)
2002: 2 (Kent State, Southern Illinois)
2001: 2 (Cincinnati, Gonzaga, Temple)
2000: 2 (Gonzaga, Tulsa)
1999: 4 (Gonzaga, Miami (OH), SW Missouri State, Temple)
1998: 3 (Rhode Island, Utah*, Valparaiso)
1997: 3 (St. Joseph's, Utah, UT-Chattanooga)
1996: 3 (Cincinnati, Massachusetts*, Utah)
1995: 3 (Massachusetts, Memphis, Tulsa)
1994: 2 (Marquette, Tulsa)
1993: 4 (Cincinnati, George Washington, Temple, Western Kentucky)
1992: 5 (Cincinnati*, Memphis State, Massachusetts, New Mexico State, UTEP)
1991: 4 (Eastern Michigan, Temple, UNLV*, Utah)
1990: 4 (Ball State, Loyola Marymount, UNLV**, Xavier)
1989: 2 (Louisville, UNLV)
1988: 4 (Louisville, Rhode Island, Richmond, Temple)
1987: 3 (DePaul, UNLV*, Wyoming)
1986: 5 (Cleveland State, DePaul, Louisville**, Navy, UNLV)
1985: 3 (Louisiana Tech, Loyola (IL), Memphis State*)
1984: 6 (Dayton, DePaul, Houston*, Louisville, Memphis State, UNLV)
1983: 4 (Houston*, Louisville, Memphis State, Utah)
1982: 6 (Fresno State, Houston*, Idaho, Louisville*, Memphis State, UAB)
1981: 5 (BYU, St. Joseph's, UAB, Utah, Wichita State)
1980: 2 (Lamar, Louisville**)
1979: 8 (DePaul*, Indiana State*, Louisville, Marquette, Penn*, Rutgers, San Francisco, Toledo)

*Advanced to Final Four
**Won NCAA title

1.  There are five teams seeded 8 or lower that advanced to the Sweet 16, which matches the record set in 1999 and 2011.  Thirteen teams seeded 8 or higher have advanced to the Final Four (Villanova in 1985 was the only national champion).  Here is a year-by-year breakdown of the number of teams seeded #8 or lower that made it to the Sweet 16 since 1979:

2021:  5 (#8 Loyola (IL), #11 Syracuse, #11 UCLA, #12 Oregon State, #15 Oral Roberts)
2019: 1 (#12 Oregon)
2018: 4 (#9 Florida State, #9 Kansas State, #11 Loyola (IL)*, #11 Syracuse)
2017: 2 (#8 Wisconsin, #11 Xavier)
2016: 2 (#10 Syracuse*, #11 Gonzaga)
2015: 2 (#8 NC State, #11 UCLA)
2014: 4 (#8 Kentucky*, #10 Stanford, #11 Dayton, #11 Tennessee)
2013: 4 (#9 Wichita State*, #12 Oregon, #13 LaSalle, and #15 Florida Gulf Coast)
2012: 3 (#10 Xavier, #11 NC State, and #13 Ohio)
2011: 5 (#8 Butler*, #10 Florida State, #11 Marquette, #11 VCU*, and #12 Richmond)
2010: 4 (#9 Northern Iowa, #10 St. Mary's, #11 Washington, #12 Cornell)
2009: 1 (#12 Arizona)
2008: 3 (#10 Davidson, #12 Villanova, #12 Western Kentucky)
2007: 0
2006: 2 (#11 George Mason*, #13 Bradley)
2005: 2 (#10 North Carolina State, #12 UW-Milwaukee)
2004: 3 (#8 Alabama, #9 UAB, #10 Nevada)
2003: 2 (#10 Auburn, #12 Butler)
2002: 4 (#8 UCLA, #10 Kent State, #11 Southern Illinois, #12 Missouri)
2001: 3 (#10 Georgetown, #11 Temple, #12 Gonzaga)
2000: 4 (#8 North Carolina*, #8 Wisconsin*, #10 Seton Hall, #10 Gonzaga)
1999: 5 (#10 Gonzaga, #10 Miami (OH), #10 Purdue, #12 Southwest Missouri State, #13 Oklahoma)
1998: 4 (#8 Rhode Island, #10 West Virginia, #11 Washington, #13 Valparaiso)
1997: 3 (#10 Texas, #10 Providence, #14 UT-Chattanooga)
1996: 2 (#8 Georgia, #12 Arkansas)
1995: 0
1994: 2 (#9 Boston College, #10 Maryland, #12 Tulsa)
1993: 1 (#12 George Washington)
1992: 2 (#9 UTEP, #12 New Mexico State)
1991: 3 (#10 Temple, #11 Connecticut, #12 Eastern Michigan)
1990: 4 (#8 North Carolina, #10 Texas, #11 Loyola Marymount, #12 Ball State)
1989: 1 (#11 Minnesota)
1988: 2 (#11 Rhode Island, #13 Richmond)
1987: 2 (#10 LSU, #12 Wyoming)
1986: 4 (#8 Auburn, #11 LSU*, #12 DePaul, #14 Cleveland State)
1985: 4 (#8 Villanova**, #11 Auburn, #11 Boston College, #12 Kentucky)
1984: 1 (#10 Dayton)
1983: 1 (#10 Utah)
1982: 1 (#8 Boston College)
1981: 2 (#8 Kansas State, #9 St. Joseph's)
1980: 2 (#8 UCLA*, #10 Lamar)
1979: 2 (#9 Penn*, #10 St. John's)

*Advanced to Final Four
**Won NCAA title