Before 2012, 2-seeds went 10 straight years without losing in the First Round. In the five years since that streak, we’ve seen 4 2-seeds drop their first game. Is this the start of a new trend? Or a weird statistical anomaly? Who knows? Let’s see what happens this year!
2-seeds are good. More than half (63%) of them have reached the Sweet 16. A little less than half (47%) of them have reached the Elite 8. We’ve had five 2-seed champions, including last year’s winner, Villanova.
Overall, 120 (of 128) 2-seeds advanced to the Round of 32. 81 went on to the Sweet 16, and 60 reached the Elite 8. Twenty-seven 2-seeds have reached the Final 4, and 13 made the championship game. Five of them won the tournament.
Over the last 10 years, 36 (of 40) advanced to the Round of 32. 26 went on to the Sweet 16, and 20 reached the Elite 8. Nine 2-seeds have reached the Final 4, and 3 made it to the championship game, but only one of them won it.
Record in the Second Round (by seed matchup)
- vs 7-seeds: 54-21
- vs 10-seeds: 27-18
Feats of Strength
- Villanova was the last team to win the tournament as a 2-seed in 2016.
- The previous 2-seed winner was Connecticut, 12 years earlier, in 2004.
- All four 2-seeds advanced to the Elite 8 twice:
- 1995 – Massachusetts, Connecticut, North Carolina, and Arkansas
- 1996 – Georgetown, Wake Forest, Cincinnati, and Kansas
2017 Advice
All four 2-seeds will get to the Second Round. At most, three of them will reach the Sweet 16. One or two will make the Elite 8. Strangely, exactly 2 have made it in each of the last eight years. There will probably be a 2-seed in the Final 4. Almost half of all 2-seeds to make the Final 4 went on to the championship game, so there’s a decent chance we’ll see a 2-seed in the final game.
Pick all four 2-seeds to win in the First. Pick two or three to make the Sweet 16 and at least one of those to advance to the Elite 8. After that, anything could happen. Go with your gut.
