5-Seeds

Uh-oh.  Everyone knows these guys are in danger of being the victim of the classic 5-12 upset.  All four 5-seeds have advanced to the Second Round only six times in 39 tournaments.  Only 65% of the last 40 5-seeds got past their 12-seed opponent.  Besides the 9-seed, the 5-seed is the only other single-digit seed to not win a Championship.

Overall Performance

• 101 (of 156) 5-seeds advanced to the Second Round
• 54 went on to the Sweet 16
• 12 reached the Elite 8
• 9 reached the Final 4
• 4 reached the championship game

Performance Over the Last 10 Tournaments

• 26 (of 40) advanced to the Second Round
• 15 went on to the Sweet 16
• 4 reached the Elite 8
• 3 reached the Final 4
• 1 reached the Championship Game and lost

Record in the Second Round

• vs 4-seeds:  36-44
• vs 13-seeds:  16-3

Feats of Strength

• In 2010, Michigan State and Butler (both 5-seeds) faced off against each other in the Final Four.  Butler lost to 1-seed Duke (by 2 points!!) in the championship game.
• 2023 was the second time we saw two 5-seeds in the Final Four. San Diego State beat 9-seed Florida Atlantic, and Miami lost to eventual champion 4-seed Connecticut.
• Three other 5-seeds reached the championship game.  All lost.
  • 2000 – Florida
  • 2002 – Indiana
  • 2023 – San Diego State