These guys are good, and they seem to be getting even better.  It’s been twelve 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

• 126 (of 148) 3-seeds advanced to the Second Round
• 77 went on to the Sweet 16
• 37 reached the Elite 8
• 17 reached the Final 4
• 11 made the championship game
• 4 won the tournament

Performance Over the Last 10 Tournaments

• 34 (of 40) advanced to the Second Round
• 22 went on to the Sweet 16
• 10 reached the Elite 8
• 3 reached the Final 4
• 2 made it to the championship game

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 18 times in the last 37 tournaments.
• Second Round:  85% of 3’s reach this round.
• Sweet 16:  52% of 3’s reach this round.
• Elite 8:  25% of 3’s reach this round.   More than two 3-seeds reaching the Elite 8 has never happened.
• Final 4:  11% of 3’s reach this round.  If there is a 3-seed in the Final 4, it will probably advance to the championship game.  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:  46-29
• vs 11-seeds:  31-20

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