3-Seeds

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

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