As North Carolina begins March Madness, Fairleigh Dickinson and UMBC are proof that a No. 16 seed can shock a No. 1

North Carolina spent the 2023-24 season as one of the best college basketball teams in the country.

But March Madness is best known for crazy upsets and broken brackets, and there's already proof that a No. 16 seed can stun a No. 1.

3

Fairleigh Dickinson and the University of Maryland-Baltimore County both made history by toppling a top speed in past NCAA Tournaments.

The No. 1 seed Tar Heels face No. 16 Wagner in a West Region first round game on Thursday night.

For more than three decades, No. 16s tried to overcome a 1 but it was impossible.

Then came little-known UMBC in 2018.

READ MORE ON BASKETBALL

LeBron James splashed $3600 on insane gift to Duquesne before historic March Madness game

Meet the 7ft giant who's taller than Wemby and could join LeBron's Lakers in NBA Draft

The No. 16 Retrievers blew out No. 1 Virginia, which was supposed to be a Final Four contender in '18.

It was the first win for a No. 16 over a top seed in NCAA Tournament history and the greatest reminder that anything can happen in the chaos of March Madness.

Inspired by UMBC's triumph over Virginia -- which was blown out by Colorado State 67-42 in a First Four game on Wednesday -- little-known Fairleigh Dickinson shocked America again in 2023.

The undersized Knights became just the second No. 16 seed to topple a top seed.

Most read in Basketball

Clippers suffered historic playoff implosion vs Nuggets that cost head coach his job

Greg Popovich admits Michael Jordan struggle before trade that began Chicago Bulls dynasty

'We ain't the same' - Reese's mom calls out Clark fans after 'embarrassing' LSU homecoming

Nikola Jokic unrecognizable in throwback snaps as fans refuse to believe it's Nuggets star

3

3

Throw in FDU knocking over Boilermakers big man Zach Edey, who stands 7ft 4in and weighs 300 pounds, and it was a win that destroyed brackets everywhere.

“If we played them 100 times, they’d probably beat us 99 times,†FDU coach Tobin Anderson said. “Play them 100 times, we have one win. But tonight’s the one we had to be unique, we had to be unorthodox. We had to make it tough on them, just be different.â€

No. 16s were 1-150 against No. 1s before the Knights made it 2-150.

“Man, I can’t even explain it,†Sean Moore said. “I’m still in shock right now. I can’t believe it. It’s crazy. But it feels amazing.â€

North Carolina, Houston, Connecticut and Purdue are the No. 1 seeds in 2024.

If one if them falls in The Dance, the madness of March will be repeating itself.