March Madness: NCAA Tournament Winners By Seed

The 1985 Champion Villanova Wildcats Were An 8-Seed

Official NCAA Tournament seeding, like that you see today, began in earnest in 1979.  Back then, the field consisted of just 40 teams. Today, the number of schools competing in March Madness has expanded to 68.

Take a look at the seeding of every national champion since 1979 via the two charts below.

The Villanova Wildcats, with their upset win over No. 1 seeded Georgetown in 1985, became the highest (or lowest, depending on how you look at it) seed to win it all. They were an 8 seed.

Of the 33 national champions since ’79, 18 were No. 1 seeds, six were No. 2 seeds,  five were 3 seeds, one was a 4 seed, two were 6 seeds and then you have ‘Nova with that 8 seed.

The second chart below gives a chronological listing of all NCAA tournament winners. Notice how there used to be more tournament parity back in the day. Meanwhile, the No. 1 seeds have won nine of the last 13 or 14 of the last 20 titles.

List up to date through 2012 NCAA Tournament. Original post above from Mar. 13, 2012.

BY SEED

CHRONOLOGICAL

Photo: vuhoops.com