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Best Mid-Major Success Stories in March Madness History
From Butler to Davidson, Revisit the Unforgettable Moments When Small Schools Made Big Dreams Come True
What Makes Mid-Major Teams so Special in March Madness?
One of the best things about the NCAA men’s basketball tournament is watching an underdog go on a Cinderella run and beat the March Madness odds for a few rounds, busting millions of brackets in the process and creating countless memories for that school and its students.
We wanted to highlight some of the best March Madness Cinderella teams with an emphasis on mid-major basketball. These are the smaller schools that used their tournament success to put their name on the map.
The Beauty in the Upsets
There are many reasons for basketball fans to appreciate and outright root for a mid-major school during March Madness.
“The Cinderella has been the heartbeat of March Madness.“
Who will make a run this year? 👀 pic.twitter.com/6Zd44awwEI
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 10, 2020
People love underdogs, and there are some true David vs. Goliath matchups in this tournament between elite programs in Power 5 conferences compared to the smaller schools. Watching a school like Duke get upset by Cinderella can bring a lot of joy to many basketball fans.
These runs also can help put those schools on the map nationally, helping to improve their recruiting classes and raise their profile. Who can forget the story of Sister Jean and the 2018 Loyola Chicago Ramblers on their way to the Final Four?
There’s also the fact that a lot of mid-major schools have experienced rosters with more chemistry between teammates since not everyone is looking to jump ship to the NBA after one year at a major school. Chemistry can lead to better play and better execution of unorthodox styles like a heavy 3-point shooting team or someone who is willing to play full-court press for most of the game.
The March Madness history wouldn’t be what it is without teams like the mid-major success stories we are about to share.
Steph Curry’s ‘I Am Him’ Moment for Davidson (2008)
For many of us of a certain age, the 2008 NCAA tournament was an introduction to Steph Curry, who would become the greatest shooter in NBA history. But before that, he was Dell Curry’s son and a good sophomore shooter for the Davidson Wildcats, the No. 10 seed in 2008.
Curry went on an incredible run where he dropped 30 of his 40 points in a second-half comeback win against Gonzaga. He then led a 17-point comeback by scoring 25 second-half points in an upset over Georgetown.
Flashback to Davidson & a young @StephenCurry30 shocking Georgetown and booking a trip to the Sweet 16. 🙌
(🎥: @marchmadness)
pic.twitter.com/X0C72oFm35— theScore (@theScore) March 18, 2021
Curry had Davidson all the way to the Elite Eight before they fell to Kansas, the eventual champion, in a tight one. Davidson has qualified for the tournament five times since Curry’s magical run, but that was the school’s peak.
When the Slipper First Fit for Gonzaga (1999)
About a decade before Steph Curry upsetting Gonzaga was a big deal, Gonzaga was a small school in the West Coast Conference that was making the NCAA tournament for just the second time in 1999.
They haven’t missed the tournament (2020 COVID-cancelled year aside) since after an incredible run that saw them go through three higher seeds as a No. 10 seed. They beat Florida on a late tip to advance to the Elite Eight in a memorable finish:
March 18, 1999: NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. 10-seed Gonzaga (@ZagMBB), back it was a Cinderella, beats 6-seed Florida 73-72 on a game-winning tip-in w/ :04 left.
Gus on the call.
“GONZAGA. The slipper still fits!”
pic.twitter.com/is4zWETF8X— This Day In Sports Clips (@TDISportsClips) March 18, 2024
That season was the final one for coach Dan Monson, who left for another job, leading to assistant Mark Few taking over in 1999. Few has coached the team ever since and always has them in the NCAA tournament with high expectations.
Butler Goes Back-to-Back (2010-11)
You won’t find a better example of a resilient mid-major run that was no fluke than what the Butler Bulldogs did during March Madness in 2010 and 2011. Behind coach Brad Stevens, who later became the coach of the Boston Celtics, the Bulldogs reached the title game in back-to-back years.
Back when they were in the Horizon League, Butler was led by strong team play from the trio of Gordon Hayward (future NBA star), Shelvin Mack, and Matt Howard. While they were 33-5 and the No. 5 seed in 2010, they still went on a miracle run to the national championship game where they took on hated Duke.
While Butler lost 61-59, the ending was one of the most dramatic ever as Hayward’s half-court shot almost went in at the buzzer.
April 5, 2010: Gordon Hayward just misses a half court miracle at the buzzer, and Duke beats Butler 61-59 to win the National Championship. pic.twitter.com/hQfPyWDAmr
— This Day In Sports Clips (@TDISportsClips) April 5, 2022
Stevens and Butler rallied back a year later as a No. 8 seed without Hayward, but this time they came up much shorter in a 53-41 loss to Connecticut. But it was an incredible run that helped Stevens get the job in Boston where he built up one of the best teams, and since moving to a president of basketball operations position, he was the 2024 NBA Executive of the Year.
