11-Seeds

11-seeds have become the ultimate bracket busters.  2024’s NC State was the most recent 11-seed to bust millions of brackets by reaching the Final Four.  They’ve similarly laid waste to brackets three other times in the last 13 tournaments.  11-seeds have actually reached the Second Round and the Sweet 16 about as often as 12-seeds, but they’re the only double-digit seed (outside of 10-Syracuse in 2016) to reach the Final 4.

Overall Performance

• 61 (of 156) advanced to the Second Round
• 27 went on to the Sweet 16
• 10 reached the Elite 8
• 6 reached the Final 4

Performance Over the Last 10 Years

• 22 (of 40) advanced to the Second Round
• 12 went on to the Sweet 16
• 5 reached the Elite 8
• 3 reached the Final 4

Record in the Second Round

• vs 3-seeds:  20-34
• vs 14-seeds:  7-0

Feats of Strength

• In 1989 all four 11-seeds advanced to the second round
• Six 11-seeds have advanced to the Final 4:
  • 2024 – NC State
  • 2021 – UCLA
  • 2018 – Loyola-Chicago
  • 2011 – Virginia Commonwealth
  • 2006 – George Mason
  • 1986 – LSU