13-Seeds

Usually, and by usually I mean 70% of the time, at least one 13-seed advances to the Second Round, so it’s a decent bet that we’ll see a 13-seed advance this year.  It’s a dangerous upset pick, though, because 4-seeds reach the Final Four almost as often as 3-seeds.  You’ll potentially murder your bracket if you pick the wrong 4-seed to lose in the first round!

While we know we should pick a 13-seed to win in the First Round, should we consider advancing them to the Sweet 16?  Well, it’s happened five times in the past 35 years, but not since 2013.

Overall Performance

• 32 (of 152) advanced to the Second Round
• 6 went on to the Sweet 16
• None reached the Elite 8

Performance Over the Last 10 Years

• 8 (of 40) advanced to the Second Round
• 1 went on to the Sweet 16
• None reached the Elite 8

Record in the Second Round

• vs 12-seeds:  3-9
• vs 5-seeds:  3-17

The most recent 13-seeds to reach the Sweet 16

• 2013:  La Salle – beat (4-seed) Kansas State and (12-seed) Mississippi; also beat Boise State in the First Four
• 2012:  Ohio – beat (4-seed) Michigan and (12-seed) South Florida
• 2006:  Bradley – beat (4-seed) Kansas and (5-seed) Pittsburgh