March 17th, 2013 10:10pm
A closer look at the No. 3 seed
Florida fans are familiar with how long a run a No. 3 seed can make in the NCAA Tournament.
In 2006, as a No. 3 seed, the Gators cut down the nets in Indianapolis, winning six straight to earn the first of their back-to-back national titles.
Here’s a look at how No. 3 seeds have fared in the NCAA Tournament since the field was expanded to 64 teams in 1985, courtesy of the Washington Post:
vs. No. 14 seed — 81-15 (.844)
Round of 32 –48-33 (.593)
Sweet 16 — 23-25 (.479)
Elite Eight — 12-11 (.522)
Final Four — 8-4 (.667)
National Title Game — 3-5 (.375)
National title winners as No. 3 seeds — Florida (2006), Syracuse (2003), Michigan (1989).
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Kevin Brockway gave up on his dream of becoming a lefty starting pitcher for the New York Mets when he walked four straight batters, then hit one in a middle school game in Suffern, N.Y. Since graduating college in 1993, he’s worked as a sports writer at daily newspapers throughout the state of Florida, beginning with the Key West Citizen. He then moved on to the Northwest Florida Daily News and Naples Daily News before becoming the men’s basketball writer for The Gainesville Sun in 2003. Brockway has won multiple state and national writing awards during his 16-year career. Favorite pastimes include karaoke and watching baseball. Favorite college hoops team growing up was St. John’s.
After they canceled the Georgetown game with no continuation, I said they would put us in an NCAA bracket together with them and here we are. Go Gators!
by Brr-bon Phil
Now give us a breakdown of what seeds the #3 has played in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8. I recall in ’06 the Gators got a big time break because they did not play the #1 seed nor maybe even the #2 seed in their regional bracket. What is odd (it seems) are the familiar faces from the past they possibly could meet again…UCLA, VCU, Georgetown.
by heidelja
Not true, in ’06 we beat Villanova, the #1 seed to advance to Final Four. G’Town had beaten Ohio St (#2) as a 7, but still tough match-up.
by EmpireStateOfMind