Since the 64-team field was created in 1984, No. 1 seeds have had just two years, 2008 and 2025, when all reached the Final Four.
That should be a point of caution for this year's No. 1 seeds, Michigan, Duke, Arizona and Florida.
In '08, No. 1 seeds Kansas, North Carolina, Memphis and UCLA went a perfect 16-0 to reach the Final Four. But it wasn't easy.
Kansas' Mario Chalmers shoots a 3-pointer to take the game in to overtime against Memphis during the championship game at the NCAA Tournament in San Antonio, April 7, 2008.
Kansas struggled to beat 10th-seeded Davidson, 59-57. UCLA had difficulty beating Texas A&M 51-49 in the Round of 32. Memphis escaped an upset by Mississippi State 77-74 in the second round. And North Carolina had to rally to beat No. 3 seed Louisville 83-73 in the Elite Eight.
Of Arizona's four visits to the Final Four, only one, 1988, was a No. 1 seed. The Wildcats of ’88 reached basketball heaven (in Kansas City) against No. 1 seed Oklahoma, No. 2 seed Duke and No. 6 Kansas. The Jayhawks won it all.
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The UA's other No. 1 seeds of 1989 (lost to UNLV in Sweet 16), 1998 (lost to Utah Elite Eight), 2000 (lost to Wisconsin in Round of 32), 2003 (lost to Kansas in Elite Eight), 2014 (lost to Wisconsin in Elite Eight) and 2022 (lost to Houston in Sweet 16) couldn't reach their anticipated destination.
Arizona men's basketball's 1951 NCAA Tournament team left a big legacy
