No. 16 seeds have only two tournament victories

The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament is known for its surprises. This year, the focus is on lower-seeded teams, especially the No. 16 seeds. Historically, No. 16 seeds have struggled, with just two victories out of 154 attempts against No. 1 seeds. The first-ever win happened in 2018 when Maryland-Baltimore County beat Virginia. In 2023, Fairleigh Dickinson pulled off a shocking upset against Purdue. This year's tournament features several teams making their first appearances. These include SIU-Edwardsville, Omaha, High Point, and UC San Diego. Houston has made the Final Four six times but has never won a championship. Statistics highlight the tournament's excitement. Drake is currently the best underdog team with a 6-0 record against the odds. St. John's has been competitive, losing four games by just seven points total this season. UCLA holds the record for the most national championships with eleven. In total, fourteen teams from the Southeastern Conference are competing, setting a new record for a single league. UC San Diego enters the tournament with a 15-game winning streak, while Memphis player PJ Haggerty has the highest scoring average at 21.8 points per game. The tournament, which began in 1939, continues to captivate fans with its mix of classic finishes and thrilling upsets. Players and teams are now gearing up for another exciting season of March Madness.