Editing Elite Eight

{{Short description|Final eight teams of the NCAA men's Division I basketball tournament}}
{{About|NCAA men's Division I basketball championship|National Ringette League|National Ringette League#NRL National Champions}}
[[File:NCAA Elite Eight wordmark color.svg|right|alt=NCAA Elite Eight logo]]
In the [[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA men's Division I basketball championship]] or the [[NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA women's Division I basketball championship]], the "'''Elite Eight'''" comprises the final eight teams, representing the regional finals, or national quarterfinals. In [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] and [[NCAA Division III|Division III]], the Elite Eight consists of the two teams in each of the four regional championship games. The winners advance to the [[Final Four]]. Since 1997, when the NCAA trademarked the phrase,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=74687330|title=Trademark record for serial no. 74687330 (Elite Eight)|publisher=[[United States Patent and Trademark Office]]|access-date=2011-03-27}}</ref> in [[NCAA Division II|Division II]], the Elite Eight consists of the eight winners of the eight Division II regions. Like the Division I Final Four, the Division II Elite Eight games are all held in one predetermined location.

In the men's Division I, the lowest-seeded team ever to reach this round in the modern 64-team tournament era is No. 15 seed [[2021–22 Saint Peter's Peacocks men's basketball team|Saint Peter's University]] in [[2022 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2022]].<ref>{{cite web |title=St. Peter's becomes the first 15 seed to reach the Elite Eight after stunning March Madness win against Purdue |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/march-madness-2022-bracket-buster-st-peters-first-15-seed-elite-eight/ |publisher=[[CBS News]] |date=March 25, 2022 |access-date=March 22, 2025}}</ref>

Two No. 12 seeds have advanced to the Elite Eight: [[Missouri Tigers men's basketball|Missouri]] in [[2002 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2002]], and the [[2020–21 Oregon State Beavers men's basketball team|Oregon State Beavers]] in [[2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2021]].

Ten No. 11 seeds have advanced to the Elite Eight: [[LSU Tigers men's basketball|LSU]] ([[1986 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1986]]), [[Loyola Marymount Lions men's basketball|Loyola Marymount]] ([[1990 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1990]]), [[Temple Owls men's basketball|Temple]] ([[2001 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2001]]), [[George Mason Patriots men's basketball|George Mason]] ([[2006 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2006]]), [[VCU Rams men's basketball|Virginia Commonwealth]] ([[2011 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2011]]), [[Dayton Flyers men's basketball|Dayton]] ([[2014 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2014]]), [[Xavier Musketeers men's basketball|Xavier]] ([[2017 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2017]]), [[Loyola Ramblers men's basketball|Loyola Chicago]] ([[2018 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2018]]), [[UCLA Bruins men's basketball|UCLA]] ([[2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2021]]), and [[North Carolina State University|North Carolina State]] (2024). There have only been four seasons where two double-digit-seeded teams have made it to the Elite Eight: 1990 (10 seed [[1989–90 Texas Longhorns men's basketball team|Texas]] and 11 seed [[1989–90 Loyola Marymount Lions men's basketball team|LMU]]); 2002 (12 seed [[2001–02 Missouri Tigers men's basketball team|Missouri]] and 10 seed [[2001–02 Kent State Golden Flashes men's basketball team|Kent State]]); 2021, where both were from the same conference (12 seed [[2020–21 Oregon State Beavers men's basketball team|Oregon State]] and 11 seed [[2020–21 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team|UCLA]]); and 2022 (10 seed [[2021–22 Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team|Miami]] and 15 seed [[2021–22 Saint Peter's Peacocks men's basketball team|Saint Peter's]]).

On average, three of the four No. 1 seeds make it to the Elite Eight each year. There has only been one occurrence in history in which no No. 1 seeds made the Elite Eight (2023). In men's play, the Elite Eight exists intact for less than 24 hours between the second Friday evening and the following Saturday afternoon of the tournament. The Elite Eight also represents the halfway mark of the men's tournament since each qualifying team must win three rounds (games) to reach the national quarterfinals, with three rounds remaining to reach and win the national championship game.

Like "March Madness," the phrase "Elite Eight" originally referred to the [[Illinois High School Boys Basketball Championship]], the single-elimination [[basketball#High school basketball|high school basketball]] tournament run by the [[Illinois High School Association]] (IHSA). When the IHSA finals were reduced from sixteen to eight teams in 1956, a replacement nickname for [[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|Sweet Sixteen]] was needed, and Elite Eight won popular favor. The IHSA trademarked the term in 1995; the trademark rights are now held by the March Madness Athletic Association, a joint venture between the NCAA and IHSA formed after a 1996 court case allowed both organizations to use "March Madness" for their own tournaments.

The Elite Eight can also refer to the eight NCAA Division I baseball teams that reach the [[College World Series]].

In addition, the term is often colloquially used to denote quarterfinalists in the four major North American professional sports; i.e., the teams that reach the [[American League Division Series]] and the [[National League Division Series]] in [[Major League Baseball]], the Divisional Playoffs in either conference of the [[National Football League]], and the conference semi-finals in the [[National Basketball Association]] and the [[National Hockey League]].

==NCAA men's Division I tournament==
* During the first 12 years of the tournament (1939–50, inclusive) only eight teams competed, meaning every team that qualified in those years was an automatic "Elite Eight" team.
* [[Idaho State University|Idaho State]] in [[1977 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1977]], which defeated [[UCLA Bruins men's basketball|UCLA]] in the previous round to end the Bruins' streak of consecutive [[Final Four]] appearances at 10 to end the [[John Wooden]]-era dynasty<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-dec-15-sp-uclahoops15-story.html Bruins were finally floored]</ref>

==Double-digit seeds to reach the Men's Elite Eight==
===10 seeds===
Six teams seeded No. 10 have reached the regional final round with two (2016 Syracuse, 2022 Miami (FL)) advancing to the Final Four.
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Team
! Notes
|-
|[[1997 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1997]]
|[[1996–97 Providence Friars men's basketball team|Providence]]
|First 10 seed to advance to Elite Eight; lost to eventual National champion [[1996–97 Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team|Arizona]], 96–92 in OT.<ref name="prov-ariz">{{cite news |title=Friars Come Close, but Arizona and Carolina Close the Deal |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/24/sports/friars-come-close-but-arizona-and-carolina-close-the-deal.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 24, 1997 |access-date=March 23, 2025}}</ref>
|-
|[[1999 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1999]]
|[[1998–99 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team|Gonzaga]]
|Lost to eventual National champion UConn, 67–62
|-
|[[2002 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2002]]
|[[2001–02 Kent State Golden Flashes men's basketball team|Kent State]]
|First time two double-digit seeds reached the Elite Eight in the same tournament (Missouri)<ref>{{cite news |title=For Kent State, 'Validation' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2002/03/22/for-kent-state-validation/2b9104ce-d2b8-4425-aca8-8bc553cfaf37/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 22, 2002 |access-date=March 22, 2025}}</ref>
|-
|[[2008 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2008]]
|[[2007–08 Davidson Wildcats men's basketball team|Davidson]]
|[[Stephen Curry]] propelled the Wildcats to a near upset of eventual National champion [[2007–08 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team|Kansas]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Davidson continues dream run into Elite Eight|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-basketball-ncaa-friday/davidson-continues-dream-run-into-elite-eight-idUSN2735466020080329|website=[[Reuters|reuters.com]]|date=March 28, 2008|access-date=March 22, 2025}}</ref>
|-
|[[2016 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2016]]
|[[2015–16 Syracuse Orange men's basketball team|Syracuse]]
|
|-
|[[2022 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2022]]
|[[2021–22 Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team|Miami (FL)]]
|Head coach [[Jim Larrañaga]] was the first to take two double-digit-seeded teams to the Elite Eight under different schools ([[2005–06 George Mason Patriots men's basketball team|George Mason in 2006]])
|}

===11 seeds===
A total of ten teams seeded No. 11 have reached the Elite Eight {{ndash}} more than all other double-digit seeds combined. Six advanced to the Final Four.
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Team
! Notes
|-
|[[1986 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1986]]
|[[1985-86 LSU Tigers men's basketball team|LSU]]
|First double-digit seed to advance to Elite Eight and Final Four
|-
|[[1990 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1990]]
|[[1989–90 Loyola Marymount Lions men's basketball team|Loyola Marymount]]
|One of the team's stars, [[Hank Gathers]], collapsed and died on the court during the WCC Tournament, and teammates (including [[Bo Kimble]], who shot his first free throw of each tournament game left-handed) honored Gathers during the tournament.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-24-sp-616-story.html|title=Lions Refuse to Let Ship Be Grounded|author=Mike Downey|date=March 24, 1990|access-date=March 22, 2025}}</ref> Lost to eventual National champion UNLV.
|-
|[[2001 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2001]]
|[[2000–01 Temple Owls men's basketball team|Temple]]
|Finished the 2001 regular season on a remarkable run, winning the [[Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament|Atlantic 10 tournament]] behind play of [[Lynn Greer]] before succumbing to [[2000–01 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|Michigan State]].
|-
|[[2006 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2006]]
|[[2005–06 George Mason Patriots men's basketball team|George Mason]]
|First 11 seed to advance to the Final Four since [[1986 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1986]], after defeating 1 seed [[2005–06 Connecticut Huskies men's basketball team|UConn]] in overtime in the Elite Eight
|-
|[[2011 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2011]]
|[[2010–11 VCU Rams men's basketball team|Virginia Commonwealth]]
|The first "[[First Four]]" team to advance to the Final Four
|-
|[[2014 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2014]]
|[[2013–14 Dayton Flyers men's basketball team|Dayton]]
|
|-
|[[2017 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2017]]
|[[2016–17 Xavier Musketeers men's basketball team|Xavier]]
|
|-
|[[2018 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2018]]
|[[2017–18 Loyola Ramblers men's basketball team|Loyola–Chicago]]
|Reached the Final Four
|-
|[[2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2021]]
|[[2020–21 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team|UCLA Bruins]]
|The second First Four team to advance to the Final Four
|-
|[[2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2024]]
|[[2023–24 NC State Wolfpack men's basketball team|NC State Wolfpack]]
|The program's first Final Four since capturing the 1983 National championship
|}

===12 seeds===
Two twelve seeds have reached the regional final round. Neither advanced to the Final Four.
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Team
! Notes
|-
|[[2002 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2002]]
|[[2001-02 Missouri Tigers men's basketball team|Missouri]]
|First 12 seed to advance to Elite Eight<ref>{{cite web |title=Tigers Upend UCLA, 82-73, To Advance To Elite Eight |url=https://mutigers.com/news/2002/3/21/Tigers_Upend_UCLA_82_73_To_Advance_To_Elite_Eight.aspx |publisher=[[Missouri Tigers|University of Missouri Athletics]] |date=March 21, 2002 |access-date=March 22, 2025}}</ref>
|-
|[[2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2021]]
|[[2020–21 Oregon State Beavers men's basketball team|Oregon State]]
|
|}

===15 seeds===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Team
! Notes
|-
|[[2022 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2022]]
|[[2021-22 Saint Peter's Peacocks basketball team|Saint Peter's]]
|First 15 seed (and first below a 12 seed) to advance to Elite Eight
|}

==Double-digit seeds to reach the Women's Elite Eight==
In 1991, with 48 participants in the tournament, No. 10 seed Lamar reached the regional final round. The women's tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1994, and double-digit seeds have reached the Elite Eight round three more times (2011, 2017, 2022). No double-digit seed has reached the Final Four of the women's NCAA tournament.
===10 seeds===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Team
! Notes
|-
|[[1991 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|1991]]
|[[1990–91 Lamar Lady Cardinals basketball team|Lamar]]
|Lost to eventual runner-up Virginia
|-
|[[2017 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|2017]]
|[[2016–17 Oregon Ducks women's basketball team|Oregon]]
|
|-
|[[2022 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|2022]]
|[[2021–22 Creighton Bluejays women's basketball team|Creighton]]
|Lost to eventual National champion South Carolina
|}

===11 seeds===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Team
! Notes
|-
|[[2011 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|2011]]
|[[2010–11 Gonzaga Bulldogs women's basketball team|Gonzaga]]
|
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament navbox}}
{{NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament}}

[[Category:Sports terminology]]
[[Category:NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament]]
[[Category:NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament]]