Arizona and Virginia, both programs with successful college basketball histories, have been struggling with a growing reputation for NCAA Tournament disappointments. The Wildcats have suffered early-round exits in the tournament, despite being seeded sixth or better each time. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers lost to a 13th seed team for the second straight year and were the only No. 1 seed to lose to a 16th seed team five years ago.
Despite the recent losses, both programs have had successful experiences in the past. However, overcoming their reputations for NCAA Tournament disappointments has been difficult for the teams.
Virginia’s Past Tournament Struggles
Virginia coach Tony Bennett understands the difficulty of overcoming a reputation for NCAA Tournament disappointments. The Virginia Cavaliers were upset by UMBC in the first round of the 2018 tournament, becoming the first No. 1 seed to lose to one of the lowest-seeded teams. This loss is more memorable to many fans than the Cavaliers’ subsequent national championship win.
Isaac McKneely, a guard for the Virginia team, explains that every team at this level is good, regardless of seeding. This sentiment is shared by many coaches and players, who know that the NCAA Tournament is unpredictable and full of surprises.
Arizona’s Recent Tournament Losses
Arizona has suffered a string of disappointing NCAA Tournament losses since 2016. The Wildcats lost to No. 11 seed Wichita State in 2016, No. 11 seed Xavier in 2017, No. 13 seed Buffalo in 2018, and No. 5 seed Houston in 2019. In the most recent tournament, Arizona lost to No. 15 seed Princeton in a 59-55 defeat, with Tommy Lloyd as head coach.
Even blueblood programs like Kansas can suffer from upset losses in the tournament, as they did to No. 14 seed Bucknell and No. 13 seed Bradley in consecutive years. Despite initial questions about his coaching abilities, Bill Self led Kansas to a national championship in 2008 and they are the defending champions.
Gonzaga Hopes to Overcome March Reputation
Gonzaga coach Mark Few has a reputation for underachievement in March, despite their five No. 1 seeds and two appearances in the title game. Winning a national title may be the only way for Gonzaga to overcome this reputation.
Few says that some teams in the 1-16 games are tougher than they appear on paper.
Gonzaga coach Mark Few commented on the unpredictability of the NCAA tournament, citing a past experience where his team faced a supposedly weaker opponent that turned out to be much more challenging than expected. He mentioned that such situations are not uncommon in the tournament, and it can be difficult to predict the outcomes of games.
Princeton Upsets Arizona
Plenty of schools have positive reputations come March. Princeton has been known as a giant killer ever since its backdoor-cutting, first-round upset of UCLA under Pete Carril in 1996, when current coach Mitch Henderson was playing for the Tigers. The Tigers’ victory over Arizona in the NCAA tournament marked their first advancement to the second round in 25 years, following their previous win over UNLV as a No. 5 seed two years after that drought began.
The recent victory of Princeton’s basketball team in the NCAA tournament has been attributed to the group’s team-first mentality, which has been a hallmark of the program for many years. The team’s coach, Henderson, has emphasized that this year’s team should not be compared to previous teams, including the one coached by Carril, who led the Tigers to multiple NCAA tournament appearances in the 1990s.
The focus should be on this year’s team and their achievement of creating their own unique story, which will be remembered by the players, fans, and alumni of Princeton. The team’s smart and disciplined play was evident in their win against Arizona, and they will look to continue their success as they move forward in the tournament.
