Seeding Clearly: UConn and UK Comprise Worst Set of Final Four Seeds
March 30th, 2014 - 20:37
No. 7 Connecticut and No. 8 Kentucky, both of whom lost a conference road game by more than 20 points, became the first set of seeds seventh or worse to reach the Final Four in the same year. The only school to win a Final Four game in this category is No. 8 Villanova, which captured the 1985 NCAA championship after dropping a Big East Conference road contest by more than 20 points.
There was a 19-year span from 1987 through 2005 when no team advanced to the national semifinals with a seed seventh or worse. UConn and UK became the seventh and eighth Final Four participant on the following list seeded #7 or worse:
| Year | Seed | Final Four Team | Coach | Worst Regular-Season Defeat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | #7 | Virginia | Terry Holland | 85-72 vs. North Carolina |
| 1985 | #8 | Villanova | Rollie Massimino | 85-62 at Pittsburgh |
| 1986 | #11 | Louisiana State | Dale Brown | at Alabama and Georgia by 16 |
| 2006 | #11 | George Mason | Jim Larranaga | 72-52 vs. Creighton |
| 2011 | #11 | Virginia Commonwealth | Shaka Smart | 71-51 vs. George Mason |
| 2013 | #9 | Wichita State | Gregg Marshall | 68-55 vs. Indiana State |
| 2014 | #7 | Connecticut | Kevin Ollie | 81-48 at Louisville |
| 2014 | #8 | Kentucky | John Calipari | 85-64 at Florida |