Rank the #15 over #2 upsets in terms of biggest to smallest

[WeAreDePaul]

Was St. Pete over KY Jelly the biggest 15 over a 2 ever or were there others that were even bigger?

KY was a trendy pick to make the F4 and even win the whole thing. Definitely a much bigger upset than say, an overseeded South Carlolina losing to Copin State. Duke losing to Lehigh was huge, but at least Lehigh had an NBA borderline all star in CJ McCullough. St. Peters was led by an Uber driver with a 70s porn stache.

here are all the times it happened....

1991	Richmond def. Syracuse	73-69
1993	Santa Clara def. Arizona	64-61
1997	Coppin State def. South Carolina	78-65
2001	Hampton def. Iowa State	58-57
2012	Lehigh def. Duke	75-70
2012	Norfolk State def. Missouri	86-84
2013	Florida Gulf Coast def. Georgetown	78-68
2016	Middle Tennessee def. Michigan State	90-81
2021	Oral Roberts def. Ohio State	75-72
2022	Saint Peter's def. Kentucky	85-79

 

[JVDBeak'em]

At the time, the Norfolk State over Missouri game was the biggest upset in NCAA Tournament history.
They were 30-4 fresh off a Big 12 tournament championship.

 

[FaithPlusOne]

At the time, the Norfolk State over Missouri game was the biggest upset in NCAA Tournament history.
They were 30-4 fresh off a Big 12 tournament championship.

I think it still might be the biggest tournament upset by spread.

 

[thebasketballreasons]

Norfolk State upset was the worst, it was effectively an 1 vs 16 matchup and Missouri managed to screw up. Frank Haith is such a shit coach, his only highlight in March Madness was this moment.

 

[englandnu]

I’m not sure if it’s the biggest upset, but Florida Gulf Coast dunking all over the place was the most memorable for me. They also went to the sweet 16.

 

[Random UK Fan]

I have a genuine appreciation for @WeAreDePaul ’s “eat it” game. It’s at least lifting my spirits some! jumpingsmile

Shows how you better have thick skin around here or take a couple days off. Not sure what my deal is . . . I must be a glutton, but bring it anyway!

 

[JVDBeak'em]

The tournament expanded from 64 to 68 in 2011.
From 1985-2010 (26 years) there were 4 2/15 upsets. So every 6.5 tournaments on average.
Since then (11 tournaments including this one) there has been 6, with 3 games still left in this tournament. (1.8 years)

I'd say going from 4 16 seeds to 6 has been a pretty big deal.

 

[AuHoosier420]

Oral Robert’s and Florida gulf coast both made the sweet 16. Oral Robert’s took Arkansas to the wire last year for the elite 8 also. Norfolk probably worst team

 

[Turinturumbar]

Norfolk State upset was the worst, it was effectively an 1 vs 16 matchup and Missouri managed to screw up. Frank Haith is such a shit coach, his only highlight in March Madness was this moment.

As much as I would love to crap on Mizzou, being a KU fan, I don't think it's the worst upset.

They were susceptible for an upset. Yeah, nobody thought it would be in that first game, but they were susceptible.

They had no real paint presence. They were very small, but were quick and great shooters. But when you rely so much on jump shots, you are susceptible to having a bad day shooting the ball. And when you lack length, the lower seeded team is able to shoot jump shots without being overly bothered by length, and Norfolk State most definitely shot it well that day.

Additionally, Mizzou was likely seeded higher than they should have. Oh, they were good, but they won a lot of close games. It seemed like every time they needed to hit a big bucket they did. They shot an incredibly high % of their late game three pointers in close games. There were a few games where they won because they hit a couple clutch shots late, some of which were probably bad shots, but went in. Generally you miss as many or more as you make and you lose some of those games, but Mizzou had a portion of good luck that year...except when it mattered most of course.

I must say though, it was fun that year watching Mizzou fans talk smack to KU fans, only to lose to a 15 seed, while KU's team that wasn't all that great, made it all the way to the title game. It was supposed to be Mizzou's year to rub it in our faces that they were better, and yet we made it to the title game while they went home the first day. It was great.

 

[brooky03]

Cuse has to get the most credit for being first

 

[FaithPlusOne]

What’s crazy about that list is there are 5 HOF coaches. I get that they usually have/had high seeds so more opportunities for it, but still.

 

[Boilermaker03]

The Middle Tennessee St game was a pretty good one.

 

[Montana81]

I have a genuine appreciation for @WeAreDePaul ’s “eat it” game. It’s at least lifting my spirits some! jumpingsmile

Shows how you better have thick skin around here or take a couple days off. Not sure what my deal is . . . I must be a glutton, but bring it anyway!

It doesn’t matter what anyone says about UK basketball right now. Calipari is the bad guy. All my sports anger is focused solely on him. There’s no salt or anger left for amateur trash talkers.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

This is how I'd rank 'em:

1. 1993 Santa Clara over Arizona

2. 2001 Hampton over Iowa State

3. 1991 Richmond over Syracuse

4. 2022 St. Peter's over Kentucky

5. 2012 Norfolk State over Missouri

6. 2016 Middle Tennessee State over Michigan State

7. 2012 Lehigh over Duke

8. 1997 Coppin State over South Carolina

9. 2013 Florida Gulf Coast over Georgetown

10. 2021 Oral Roberts over Ohio State

 

[Original_Irish]

This is how I'd rank 'em:

1. 1993 Santa Clara over Arizona

2. 2001 Hampton over Iowa State

3. 1991 Richmond over Syracuse

4. 2022 St. Peter's over Kentucky

5. 2012 Norfolk State over Missouri

6. 2016 Middle Tennessee State over Michigan State

7. 2012 Lehigh over Duke

8. 1997 Coppin State over South Carolina

9. 2013 Florida Gulf Coast over Georgetown

10. 2021 Oral Roberts over Ohio State

You are putting the 15 Seed with by far the best player on any of these teams as the biggest upset?

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

You are putting the 15 Seed with by far the best player on any of these teams as the biggest upset?

Yes.

Nash was a freshman that year. Arizona was Pac 10 champs and was ranked 5th in the AP heading into this game. Santa Clara finished 3rd.....in the WCC.....with an 18-11 record.

 

[speedfrk]

At the time, the Norfolk State over Missouri game was the biggest upset in NCAA Tournament history.
They were 30-4 fresh off a Big 12 tournament championship.

i also seem to recall Kim English really playing it up that they weren’t a 1 seed and such.

 

[Danger 35 Zone]

St. Peters was led by an Uber driver with a 70s porn stache.

I think you are underestimating the power of a 70s Porn stash.

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

Norfolk State upset was the worst, it was effectively an 1 vs 16 matchup and Missouri managed to screw up. Frank Haith is such a shit coach, his only highlight in March Madness was this moment.

I know Illinois has definitely underperformed in the NCAAs over the years (but that is relative to our pretty damn good regular season success), so maybe I don’t get to say this … but that was the most Missouri shit ever.

They’ve actually been pretty good over the years, and they have ZERO Final Fours.

 

[KUhawks34]

Has to be Kentucky

 

[SpartyGotSix]

I’ve heard of every school except Saint Peters which I learned about last night.

 

[IUfanBorden]

You are putting the 15 Seed with by far the best player on any of these teams as the biggest upset?

At the time he wasn't.....That AZ team had 7 guys go onto to play in the NBA----Had Khalid Reeves, Chris Mills, Damon Stoudamire.......AZ went 17-1 in the Pac10.....This was a HUGE upset. IMO, just behind the Norfolk/Mizzou game..

 

[snowsquirrel11]

FGCU was the most fun, they dunked on everyone

 

[WeAreDePaul]

The Middle Tennessee St game was a pretty good one.

And I remember that year a lot of people including experts were picking MSU to win the whole thing.

 

[RR30]

Florida Golf Coast was the coolest. Kentucky the most pathetic probably.

 

[GE Nole]

Folks may not remember this, but Hampton over Iowa State was a massive upset. Marcus Fizer was a complete stud. That Iowa State team could dominate opponents. And Hampton was a MEAC team, which is traditionally among the worst in the country.

 

[GE Nole]

Florida Golf Coast was the coolest. Kentucky the most pathetic probably.

I never quite got the FGCU love. I mean it was a good upset, and a few nice dunks. But they only had like 6 or 7. Seems like it got romanticized to them having 15+ dunks.

We played them in that time frame and I remember seeing them in person was sort of…meh. If I recall we out dunked them like 12-5 in our game.

Andy Enfield sure made a ton of money off it though. He’s got a lot more NCAAT losses.

 

[RockChalk82]

Was St. Pete over KY Jelly the biggest 15 over a 2 ever or were there others that were even bigger?

KY was a trendy pick to make the F4 and even win the whole thing. Definitely a much bigger upset than say, an overseeded South Carlolina losing to Copin State. Duke losing to Lehigh was huge, but at least Lehigh had an NBA borderline all star in CJ McCullough. St. Peters was led by an Uber driver with a 70s porn stache.

here are all the times it happened....

1991	Richmond def. Syracuse	73-69
1993	Santa Clara def. Arizona	64-61
1997	Coppin State def. South Carolina	78-65
2001	Hampton def. Iowa State	58-57
2012	Lehigh def. Duke	75-70
2012	Norfolk State def. Missouri	86-84
2013	Florida Gulf Coast def. Georgetown	78-68
2016	Middle Tennessee def. Michigan State	90-81
2021	Oral Roberts def. Ohio State	75-72
2022	Saint Peter's def. Kentucky	85-79

So glad we’re not on that list

we like to wait until at least the second round to embarrass ourselves

 

[lurkeraspect84]

I have a genuine appreciation for @WeAreDePaul ’s “eat it” game. It’s at least lifting my spirits some! jumpingsmile

Shows how you better have thick skin around here or take a couple days off. Not sure what my deal is . . . I must be a glutton, but bring it anyway!

 

[Villian07]

Folks may not remember this, but Hampton over Iowa State was a massive upset. Marcus Fizer was a complete stud. That Iowa State team could dominate opponents. And Hampton was a MEAC team, which is traditionally among the worst in the country.

Man ibused to be such a marcus fizer abd company fan as a kid. Wanted iowa state to win it all lol they made it one game. They had a stud guard too iirc not on the level of fizer but he was really good just didnt make the nba

 

[Villian07]

Cant forget how many times weve read on here how UK was the #1 2 seed. Gotta factor in somewhere.

 

[lurkeraspect84]

Like most all other stats UK owns this one too.