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 five times in 37 years.  Only 58% 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

  • 95 (of 148) 5-seeds advanced to the Second Round
  • 50 went on to the Sweet 16
  • 10 reached the Elite 8
  • 7 reached the Final 4
  • 3 reached the championship game

Performance Over the Last 10 Tournaments

  • 23 (of 40) advanced to the Second Round
  • 11 went on to the Sweet 16
  • 2 reached the Elite 8
  • 1 reached the Final 4

Bracket Performance History and Advice

  • First Round:  83% chance of at least one upset.
  • Second Round:  64% of 5’s reach this round.
  • Sweet 16:  34% of 5’s reach this round.
  • Elite 8:  7% of 5’s reach this round.  A 5-seed in the Elite 8 is a rare occurrence.  It’s only happened 9 times.
  • Final 4:  Only seven 5-seeds have reached the Final 4.
  • Final:  A 5-seed has never won the tournament.  Only three of them have even reached the final game.

Record in the Second Round

  • vs 4-seeds:  34-42
  • vs 13-seeds:  14-3

Feats of Strength

  • 2019 Auburn is the last 5-seed to reach the Final Four – where they lost to eventual champion 1-Virginia by 1 point
  • 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.
  • Two other 5-seeds reached the championship game.  Both lost.
    • 2000 – Florida
    • 2002 – Indiana

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