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March Madness: VCU and South Florida Eye Upsets

3/17/2026

38 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The 2026 NCAA Tournament begins with No. 11 Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) against No. 6 North Carolina, as VCU rides a 16-1 streak and UNC misses star Caleb Wilson due to injury.
Another anticipated upset is No. 11 South Florida vs No. 6 Louisville, as Louisville's Mikel Brown's uncertain status raises concerns.
No. 16 seeds have defeated No. 1 seeds only twice since 1985, underscoring Cinderella stories in March Madness.

History

Historical Context

The 1985 NCAA Tournament marked a pivotal moment when No. 8 Villanova defeated No. 1 Georgetown, becoming the lowest seed to win the championship. This upset reshaped tournament dynamics, as historically, No. 16 seeds have only triumphed over No. 1 seeds twice, in 2018 and 2023. As No. 11 seeds, VCU and South Florida seek to continue this tradition of unexpected victories.

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Story summary

The 2026 NCAA Tournament begins with No. 11 Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) against No. 6 North Carolina, as VCU rides a 16-1 streak and UNC misses star Caleb Wilson due to injury.
Another anticipated upset is No. 11 South Florida vs No. 6 Louisville, as Louisville's Mikel Brown's uncertain status raises concerns.
No. 16 seeds have defeated No. 1 seeds only twice since 1985, underscoring Cinderella stories in March Madness.

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