These guys are good, and they seem to be getting even better. It’s been nine years since winning a championship, but the 3-seed is the only other seed besides the 1- and 2-seeds to have won multiple championships. They’ve won 4, and 2-seeds have won 5.
Overall Performance
- 119 (of 140) 3-seeds advanced to the Second Round
- 74 went on to the Sweet 16
- 36 reached the Elite 8
- 17 reached the Final 4
- 11 made the championship game
- 4 won the tournament
Performance Over the Last 10 Years
- 34 (of 40) advanced to the Second Round
- 22 went on to the Sweet 16
- 11 reached the Elite 8
- 4 reached the Final 4
- 3 made it to the championship game, and one won it
Bracket Performance History and Advice
- First Round: While 85% of all 3-seeds have advanced to the Second Round, there is only about a 50% chance all four 3-seeds will do it in the same year. It’s only happened 17 times in the last 35 years.
- Second Round: About 53% chance a 3-seed will get past the Second Round. At least one and at most three of them will.
- Sweet 16: About 26% of all 3-seeds reach the Elite 8. Most likely, one will make it that far. More than two 3-seeds reaching the Elite 8 has never happened.
- Elite 8: There’s about a 12% chance we’ll see a 3-seed in the Final 4.
- Final 4: If there is a 3-seed in the Final 4, it will probably advance to the championship game. It has happened the last two years. Eleven of the 17 Final Four 3-seeds advanced to the Championship game.
- Final: 3-seeds have won it all 4 times, so it’s definitely possible but not likely.
Record in the Second Round
- vs 6-seeds: 44-28
- vs 11-seeds: 31-17
Feats of Strength
- All four 3-seeds made the Sweet 16 twice
- 2008 – Stanford, Wisconsin, Xavier, and Louisville
- 2009 – Syracuse, Kansas, Missouri, and Villanova
- 2019 – LSU, Texas Tech, Purdue, and Houston
- Four 3-seeds have been crowned champion
- 1989 – Michigan
- 2003 – Syracuse
- 2006 – Florida
- 2011 – Connecticut