Biggest Surprises In 2022 March Madness

The electric 2022 edition of March Madness has reduced its 68-team field to eight, and over the weekend you will see the bracket find its ultimate form. There will be regional champions in the South, West, Midwest and East. By Sunday night, we will know the 2022 Final Four in New Orleans. Let’s take a look at four pleasant surprises of this NCAA Tournament. We have to start with the greatest Cinderella run of all time.

Saint Peter’s

The discussion of 2022 March surprises can’t begin anywhere else. Coach Shaheen Holloway has managed to get his team to the Elite Eight, the first time a No. 15 seed has done so in March Madness. Keep in mind that the previous lowest seed to make the Elite Eight was a No. 12 seed. The Nos. 13 and 14 seeds have still never done this, but Saint Peter’s, a 15 seed – which had to play second-seeded Kentucky in the first round and third-seeded Purdue in the regional semifinals – has shocked the world. When we talk about Cinderella runs, 1983 North Carolina State and 1985 Villanova certainly belong in the discussion, but those teams were top-eight seeds which had played in power conferences all season long. They also both played before the shot clock existed, which enabled them to slow the game down in ways modern teams are unable to do. Let’s put it this way: Saint Peter’s is undeniably the greatest Cinderella team of the shot-clock era. It would be even more amazing if the Peacocks can upset North Carolina and go all the way to the Final Four.

Arkansas

The Razorbacks made the Elite Eight last year by beating the Nos. 14, 6, and 15 seeds. They got a favorable draw and didn’t have to play a higher seed until they got to the Elite Eight. This year, Arkansas had to play the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament, the Gonzaga Bulldogs, before the Elite eight. The Hogs had to go through the Zags if they wanted to make back-to-back Elite Eights. Yet, that’s exactly what they have done under coach Eric Musselman. They played ferocious defense and dominated the Gonzaga backcourt. They rattled the Zags with their physical play and were clearly the better team down the stretch. Arkansas has overachieved this season, and Musselman has managed to significantly boost his reputation in the coaching community.

Miami

The Hurricanes have made the Elite Eight for the very first time in their history. Coach Jim Larranaga, who guided George Mason to the Final Four in 2006, has become the very first coach in the history of the NCAA Tournament to take two double-digit seeds at separate schools to the Elite Eight. George Mason was a No. 11 seed in 2006, and Miami is a 10 seed this year. Miami has done something it had never previously done. That says it all.

Houston

The Cougars are a good team and have been a good team all season, but they made the Elite Eight without Marcus Sasser and Tramon Mark, two core players. It was felt by many that losing Sasser in particular would prevent this team from contending for the Final Four, but that’s not the case. Kelvin Sampson is easily one of the best coaches in America. He has done phenomenal work this season.