History shows that No. 1 seeds are 158-2 against No. 16 seeds (98.8%) and that No. 2 seeds are 149-11 against No. 2 seeds (93%). Even with those numbers, blueblood programs have a common theme: Sooner or later, you lose a first-weekend game to a so-called nobody.
– No. 2 seed Michigan State lost to Middle Tennessee State in 2016.
– No. 2 seed Duke lost to Lehigh in 2012.
– No. 2 seed Kentucky lost to Saint Peters in 2022.
– No. 1 seed Kansas lost to Northern Iowa in 2010.
Unfortunately, Arizona leads the world in most first-round losses to an obscure NCAA opponent. The UA is the only team to lose twice to 15 seeds, and to lose three times in the first round as a No. 2/No. 3 seed. Here's UA's most shocking first-round losses:
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1992
Arizona's Sean Rooks in action against East Tennessee State during the NCAA Tournament in Atlanta, March 20, 1992.
Who: No. 14 seed East Tennessee State defeated No. 3 seed Arizona, 87-80, in Atlanta
The DNA: Arizona guard Matt Othick shot 0 for 6 and didn't score; Damon Stoudamire went 1 for 5 on 3-pointers. East Tennessee State shot 39 free throws, 16 more than Arizona. How good was ETSU? It had lost to Austin Peay, Furman and Chattanooga. Its coach, Alan LeForce, never won another NCAA Tournament game in 21 seasons at Coastal Carolina and ETSU.
1993
Who: No. 15 seed Santa Clara defeated No. 2 seed Arizona 64-61 in Salt Lake City
The DNA: Star guard Khalid Reeves and Stoudamire combined to shoot 2 for 16. Santa Clara outrebounded Arizona 50-36. How good was Santa Clara? It had lost to Pepperdine and UC-San Diego. Its coach, Dick Davey, in his first of 16 seasons, never won another NCAA Tournament game.
1995
Who: No. 12 seed Miami of Ohio defeated No. 5 seed Arizona 71-62 in Dayton, Ohio
The DNA: It was a virtual home game for Miami, located 25 miles from Dayton. UA guards Reggie Geary and Stoudamire combined to shoot 7 for 25. Starting all-conference center Ben Davis did not play, serving a suspension by the NCAA for accepting illegal payments. How good was Miami? It had lost to New Hampshire and twice to Ball State. Coach Herb Sendek has gone on to go 7-8 in NCAA Tournament games in 32 years at Miami, NC State, ASU and Santa Clara.
2018
Who: No. 13 seed Buffalo defeated No. 4 seed Arizona 89-68 in Boise
The DNA: Arizona made just 2 of 18 3-pointers. Buffalo shot 54.8% afield. UA center Deandre Ayton, the NBA's overall No. 1 draft pick, was outplayed by two Buffalo bigs. How good was Buffalo? It had lost to South Dakota State, Kent State and NIU. Coach Nate Oats left to coach Alabama a year later.
2023
Arizona center Oumar Ballo, left, walks off the court after No. 15-seeded Princeton stunned the No. 2-seeded Wildcats in the 2023 opening round.
Who: No. 15 seed Princeton defeated No. 2 seed Arizona 59-55 in San Francisco
The DNA: Arizona shot 3 for 16 on 3-pointers. How good was Princeton? The Tigers had lost to Hofstra, Iona and twice to Yale. Head coach Mitch Henderson, now in his 15th season at Princeton, was coaching at a school that had not won an NCAA game since 1998.
