Unforgettable Underdogs: The Top 5 Cinderella Stories in March Madness History
Who Doesn’t Love a Good March Madness Cinderella Story?
Come for the Hoops, Stay for the Cinderella Stories
Who doesn’t love March Madness? Even if your bracket takes a pummeling on the first day of the yearly college basketball tournament, it still makes for some great action to watch, especially when a Cinderella story team gets a run going.
But what are some of the best Cinderella stories in the tournament’s history? Let’s get right to it with my picks for the top five.

Top 5 Best Cinderella Teams in March Madness History
5. 2013 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
Opening my list, when you have a nickname like “Dunk City,” how can you not remember a team like the 2012-13 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles?
Entering as the #15 seed from the South Region after winning the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament and making their first-ever appearance in March Madness, the Eagles said, “Hold my sh*t” and introduced NCAAB picks and predictions fans to what they could do, knocking out the #2 Georgetown Hoyas by 78-68.
On this date in 2013, Florida Gulf Coast! Dunk City! Woooooooo!
— Honest☘️Larry (@HonestLarry1) March 22, 2024
Not done with that, FGU would then take out #7 San Diego State Aztecs 81-71 before falling against #3 Florida Gators in the Sweet 16 round.
Go ahead, show me a cooler nickname for a team than “Dunk City”. I’ll wait.
4. 2011 VCU Rams
When remembering the fourth team on this list, the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams, two things come to mind.
First, they became the first squad to go from the “First Four” round of games (2011 marked the first year this round would be played) all the way to the Final Four.
On this day 10 years ago, @VCU_Hoops‘ unforgettable trip to the #FinalFour kicked off with the Rams defeating USC 59-46. #VCU then took down Georgetown, Purdue & Florida State.
No one thought VCU would defeat Kansas, but then they did 71-61.
2011. What a time. #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/fXBb73C133
— Amir Vera (@TheAmirVera) March 16, 2021
Secondly, coach Shaka Smart and the passion he brought to the Rams’ sideline.
Dad, did Shaka Smart really coach @VCU_Hoops
— JG (@TheJames_Gray) November 22, 2023
Taking out the #11 USC Trojans, #6 Georgetown, #3 Purdue Boilermakers, #11 Florida State Seminoles, and most impressively #1 Kansas Jayhawks before losing against #8 Butler Bulldogs in the Final Four, VCU’s run is the stuff small schools dream of living at least once.
3. 2008 Davidson Wildcats
Yes, everybody knows Steph Curry, one of the greatest, if not the greatest, three-point shooters in the history of the NBA. But how many truly know about his run in the 2008 March Madness Tournament leading the Davidson Wildcats?
It didn’t matter that Davidson entered the tournament on a 22-game winning streak; when it came to that year’s March Madness bracket, the Wildcats were seeded at #10 in the Midwest Regional slate.
What fans weren’t expecting would be for Curry to give ball fans their first taste of what was to come once he reached the NBA, averaging 32 points shooting 44.2% from three-point land in the team’s four tournament games, making his 40-point performance against #7 Gonzaga Bulldogs his best showing that year.
(2008) 10 years ago today, @StephenCurry30 went off in a comeback win during the NCAA Tournament with 40 points, including 8 made threes! pic.twitter.com/Ip83yu6bca
— Timeless Sports (@timelesssports_) March 22, 2018
After beating Gonzaga, Curry & Davidson would beat #2 Georgetown and #3 Wisconsin Badgers before falling in the Elite Eight against #1 Kansas.
As far as Curry goes, well, you know the rest.
2. 2022 Saint Peter’s Peacocks
Many people remember the 2022 March Madness Tournament for players like Duke’s Paolo Banchero and North Carolina’s Armando Bacot and Caleb Love.
Some even remember it for Indiana cheerleader Cassidy Cerny, who got an NIL deal after bringing down a ball that was stuck in the backboard during the Hoosiers game against Saint Mary’s.
Let’s take a look behind the scenes as @andrewcatalon and @stlappas watch Indiana cheerleaders Cassidy Cerny and Nathan Paris save the day. pic.twitter.com/ZSpy3pdXW2
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 19, 2022
See, pretty cool, right?
But not me; I remember it for the Saint Peter’s Peacocks and their memorable run all the way to the Elite Eight.
THE ST. PETER’S PEACOCKS HAVE DONE IT
FIRST EVER 15-SEED TO ADVANCE TO THE ELITE EIGHT 🤯 pic.twitter.com/H8FMQJPrr5
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 26, 2022
Starting their March Madness schedule by knocking out #2 Kentucky Wildcats, the Peacocks would take out #7 Murray State and #3 Purdue before falling to #8 North Carolina Tar Heels in the Elite Eight.
2022 was definitely a great year to be a Peacock hoops fan.
1. 2018 Loyola Chicago Ramblers
For my number one pick, you know I had to give a shout-out to the man above and his college hoops ambassador in Chicago, Sister Jean, the 2019 Loyola Chicago Ramblers.
Entering the tournament as an #11 seed out of the South Region after winning the Mountain Valley Conference Championship, it’s safe to say nobody had any faith in the Ramblers, except Sister Jean, of course.
At 98, Sister Jean is having the time of her life. pic.twitter.com/nX7zfk1mEY
— ESPN (@espn) March 30, 2018
But did Loyola care about that? Hell no! Sorry, I mean, Heaven’s no!
Starting the tournament by taking out the #6 Miami Hurricanes with a last-second three-pointer 64-62, the Ramblers would then move on to knock out the #3 Tennessee Volunteers 63-62 before a Sweet Sixteen showdown against #7 Nevada, who, as you can guess, took another L from Sister Jean’s squad 69-68.
Loyola Chicago is back in the NCAA Tournament.@RamblersMBB‘s run to the Final Four in 2018 is one we’ll never forget. pic.twitter.com/lQIzTqI27a
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 7, 2021
In the team’s most impressive win in the 2018 Tournament, Loyola defied all betting odds and took out the heavily favored #9 Kansas State Wildcats by 78-62 in the Elite Eight round.
It was now on to the NCAA Men’s Final Four!
CINDERELLA DANCES ON!!!
Loyola Chicago advances to the #FinalFour #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/AN6b4MNuNP
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 25, 2018
Putting up the fight of a lifetime and shooting a prayer up in the sky against the #3 Michigan Wolverines, Loyola would end up falling 69-57, thus finishing one of the best Cinderella runs in recent times and my all-time favorite.
Remembering Ramblers guard Ben Richardson’s words: “Despite going out this way, we’re going to never forget this. I think a lot of people will remember this run for a long time.” rest easy knowing all college basketball fans will never forget the 2017-18 Loyola team.