Shock Treatment: FGCU Engulfed in Bottom of NCAA Bracket Racket

In the first six years of the NCAA Tournament seeding process from 1979 through 1984 when the playoff field ranged from 40 to 53 teams, a total of 13 No. 1 and 2 seeds lost their openers. The NCAA tourney hasn't been saturated with authentic upsets since the playoff field expanded to at least 64 teams in 1985, but there has been only four years without a first-round shocker from the bottom of the bracket (1994, 2000, 2004 and 2007).

Teams seeded 13th or worse defeated teams seeded among the top four in a regional a total of 48 times in the last 29 years. NCAA playoff newcomer Florida Gulf Coast, leading by 19 points in the second half, appeared as if it was going to challenge for the most decisive triumph in this category before settling to become one of nine double-digit margin winners among the #13 through #15 seeds (78-68 over Georgetown). Navy overwhelmed LSU by 23 points in 1985 and Siena smothered Vanderbilt by 21 points in 2008.

Thirty-six of the 48 poignant surprises were decided by fewer than seven points or in overtime. Arizona's stunning defeat against Santa Clara in 1993 materialized despite the Wildcats reeling off 25 unanswered points in a stretch bridging the last five minutes of the first half and the first five minutes of the second half.

A #16 seed never has defeated a #1. But here is a rundown of the first 48 first-round knockouts by the bottom of the bracket (#13, #14 and #15 seeds) since the NCAA field expanded to at least 64 teams in 1985:

#15 seed (7 victories)

#14 seed (16 victories)

#13 seed (25 victories)