With Butler and Virginia Commonwealth having advanced to this year's Final Four, I figure now would be a good time to recount the great Cinderella runs we've seen over the past 20 years.
These teams are the 14- and 15-seeds that have surprised the nation, the 12-seeds that have advanced to the Sweet 16, and, of course, the mid-majors that have made it to the Final Four.
But how does one determine whether or not a team is truly a Cinderella?
If a team advances to the Final Four like George Mason did in 2006, or to the Championship Game like Butler did this year and in 2010, can they really be considered a Cinderella?
I believe they can.
In 2000, Florida, just like Butler, advanced to the Championship Game as a No 5 seed. So are they a Cinderella?
I would say no, because, much of being a Cinderella is coming from a smaller, lesser-known school. It is about being one of the first teams from your program to leave its imprint on the NCAA Tournament.
At Florida, they had a team that advanced to the Final Four in 1994—Butler did not have any recent history comparable to that.
That's not to say that a school from one of the BCS Conferences can't be a Cinderella.
Aren't North Carolina and Wisconsin's respective runs to the Final Four as No. 8 seeds in 2000 worthy or this kind of distinction?
Absolutely.
But, for a school from one of the major conferences to be on this list, it will have to have accomplished quite a bit. The sixth-place team from the Big 12 winning a game or two as a No. 12 seed doesn't have the same aura and mystique associated with it as does a No. 12 seed from the Missouri Valley Conference or the Mid-American Conference winning a few games in the tournament.
Enjoy the countdown....
No. 98: The 2007 Virginia Commonwealth Rams
Year: 2007
Seed: 11
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (6) Duke, 79-77; lost to (3) Pittsburgh, 84-79 (OT)
No. 97: The 2005 UAB Blazers
Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
Year: 2005
Seed: 11
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (6) LSU, 82-68; lost to (3) Arizona, 85-63
No. 96: The 2006 Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Year: 2006
Seed: 11
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (6) Oklahoma, 82-74; lost to (3) Florida, 82-60
No. 95: The 2010 Old Dominion Monarchs
Year: 2010
Seed: 11
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (6) Notre Dame, 51-50; lost to (3) Baylor, 76-68
No. 94: The 2009 Dayton Flyers
Year: 2009
Seed: 11
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (6) West Virginia, 68-60; lost to (3) Kansas, 60-43
No. 93: The 2007 Winthrop Eagles
Year: 2007
Seed: 11
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (6) Notre Dame, 74-64; lost to (3) Oregon, 75-61
No. 92: The 2002 Wyoming Cowboys
Year: 2002
Seed: 11
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (6) Gonzaga, 73-66; lost to (3) Arizona, 68-60
No. 91: The 2001 Georgia State Panthers
Brian Bahr/Getty Images
Year: 2001
Seed: 11
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (6) Wisconsin, 50-49; lost to (3) Maryland, 79-60
No. 90: The 1998 Western Michigan Broncos
Vincent Laforet/Getty Images
Year: 1998
Seed: 11
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (6) Clemson, 75-72; lost to (3) Standford, 83-65
No. 89: The 2003 Central Michigan Chippewas
Jeff Gross/Getty Images
Year: 2003
Seed: 11
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (6) Creighton, 79-73; lost to (3) Duke, 86-60
No. 88: The 1994 Pennsylvania Quakers
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Year: 1994
Seed: 11
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (6) Nebraska, 90-80; lost to (3) Florida, 70-58
No. 87: The 1993 Tulane Green Wave
Scott Halleran/Getty Images
Year: 1993
Seed: 11
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (6) Kansas State, 55-53; lost to (3) Florida State, 94-63
No. 86: The 1991 Creighton Blue Jays
Year: 1991
Seed: 11
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (6) New Mexico State, 64-56; lost to (3) Seton Hall, 81-69
No. 85: The 2000 Pepperdine Waves
Rick Stewart/Getty Images
Year: 2000
Seed: 11
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (6) Indiana, 77-57; lost to (3) Oklahoma State, 75-67
No. 84: The 1997 College of Charleston Cougars
Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Year: 1997
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (5) Maryland, 75-66; lost to (4) Arizona, 73-69
No. 83: The 2004 Manhattan Jaspers
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Year: 2004
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (5) Florida, 75-60; lost to (4) Wake Forest, 84-80
No. 82: The 2009 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Year: 2009
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (5) Illinois, 76-72; lost to (4) Gonzaga, 83-81
No. 81: The 1996 Drexel Dragons
Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
Year: 1996
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (5) Memphis, 75-63; lost to (4) Syracuse, 69-58
No. 80: The 1995 Miami (Ohio) Redskins
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Year: 1995
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (5) Arizona, 71-62; lost to (4) Virginia, 60-54 (OT)
No. 79: The 2006 Montana Grizzlies
Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
Year: 2006
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (5) Nevada, 87-79; lost to (4) Boston College, 69-56
No. 78: The 2004 Pacific Tigers
Elsa/Getty Images
Year: 2004
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (5) Providence, 66-58; lost to (4) Kansas, 78-63
No. 77: The 2002 Creighton Blue Jays
Year: 2002
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (5) Florida, 83-82 (2 OT); lost to (4) Illinois, 72-60
No. 76: The 1999 Detroit Titans
Year: 1999
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (5) UCLA, 56-53; lost to (4) Ohio State, 75-44
No. 75: The 1994 Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Year: 1994
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (5) California, 61-57; lost to (4) Syracuse, 64-59
No. 74: The 2001 Utah State Aggies
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Year: 2001
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (5) Ohio State, 77-68 (OT); lost to (4) UCLA, 75-50
No. 73: The 1995 Manhattan Jaspers
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Year: 1995
Seed: 13
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (4) Oklahoma, 77-67; lost to (5) Arizona State, 64-54
No. 72: The 2008 Siena Saints
Year: 2008
Seed: 13
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (4) Vanderbilt, 83-62; lost to (12) Villanova, 84-72
No. 71: The 2010 Murray State Racers
Year: 2010
Seed: 13
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (4) Vanderbilt, 66-65; lost to (5) Butler, 54-52
No. 70: The 2002 Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Elsa/Getty Images
Year: 2002
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (5) Marquette, 71-69; lost to (4) Kentucky, 87-82
No. 69: The 2003 Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
Year: 2003
Seed: 13
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (4) Dayton, 84-71; lost to (5) Wisconsin, 61-60
No. 68: The 2011 Morehead State Eagles
Year: 2011
Seed: 13
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (4) Louisville, 62-61; lost to (12) Richmond, 65-48
No. 67: The 2001 Kent State Golden Flashes
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Year: 2001
Seed: 13
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (4) Indiana, 77-73; lost to (5) Cincinnati, 66-43
No. 66: The 2001 Indiana State Sycamores
Brian Bahr/Getty Images
Year: 2001
Seed: 13
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (4) Oklahoma, 70-68 (OT); lost to (12) Gonzaga, 85-68
No. 65: The 2009 Cleveland State Vikings
Year: 2009
Seed: 13
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (4) Wake Forest, 84-69; lost to (12) Arizona, 71-57
No. 64: The 2008 San Diego Toreros
Year: 2008
Seed: 13
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (4) Connecticut, 70-69 (OT); lost to (12) Western Kentucky, 72-63
No. 63: The 2002 UNC-Wilmington Seahawks
Year: 2002
Seed: 13
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (4) Southern Cal, 93-89 (OT); lost to (4) Indiana, 76-67
No. 62: The 2005 Vermont Catamounts
Year: 2005
Seed: 13
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (4) Syracuse, 70-67 (OT); lost to (5) Michigan State, 72-61
No. 61: The 1991 Penn State Nittany Lions
Year: 1991
Seed: 13
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (4) UCLA, 74-69; lost to (12) Eastern Michigan, 71-68 (OT)
No. 60: The 1992 Southwest Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Year: 1992
Seed: 13
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (4) Oklahoma, 87-83; lost to (12) New Mexico State 81-73
No. 59: The 1993 Southern Jaguars
Year: 1993
Seed: 13
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (4) Georgia Tech, 93-78; lost to (12) George Washington, 90-80
No. 58: The 1996 Princeton Tigers
Year: 1996
Seed: 13
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (4) UCLA, 43-41; lost to (5) Mississippi State, 63-41
No. 57: The 1999 Weber State Wildcats
Year: 1999
Seed: 14
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (3) North Carolina, 76-74; lost to (6) Florida, 82-74 (OT)
No. 56: The 1998 Richmond Spiders
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Year: 1998
Seed: 14
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (3) South Carolina, 62-61; lost to (11) Washington, 81-66
No. 55: The 1995 Weber State Wildcats
Year: 1995
Seed: 14
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (3) Michigan State, 79-72; lost to (6) Georgetown, 53-51;
No. 54: The the 2005 Bucknell Bison
Year: 2005
Seed: 14
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (3) Kansas, 64-63; lost to (6) Wisconsin, 71-62
No. 53: The the 1995 Old Dominion Monarchs
Year: 1995
Seed: 14
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (3) Villanova 89-81 (3 OT); lost to (6) Tulsa, 64-52
No. 52: The 1991 Xavier Musketeers
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Year: 1991
Seed: 14
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (3) Nebraska, 89-84; lost to (11) Connecticut, 66-50
No. 51: The 2010 Ohio University Bobcats
Year: 2010
Seed: 14
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (3) Georgetown, 97-83; lost to (6) Tennessee, 83-68
No. 50: The 1992 East Tennessee State Bucs
Year: 1992
Seed: 14
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (3) Arizona, 87-80; lost to (6) Michigan, 102-90
No. 49: The 2006 Northwestern State Demons
Year: 2006
Seed: 14
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (3) Iowa, 64-63; lost to (6) West Virginia, 67-54
No. 48: The 1993 Santa Clara Broncos
Year: 1993
Seed: 15
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (2) Arizona, 64-61; lost to (7) Temple 68-57
No. 47: The 1991 Richmond Spiders
Year: 1991
Seed: 15
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (2) Syracuse, 73-69; lost to (10) Temple, 77-64
No. 46: The 1997 Coppin State Eagles
Al Bello/Getty Images
Year: 1997
Seed: 15
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (2) South Carolina, 78-65; lost to (10) Texas, 82-81
No. 45: The 2001 Hampton Pirates
Year: 2001
Seed: 15
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (2) Iowa State, 58-57; lost to (10) Georgetown, 76-57
No. 44: The 2007 UNLV Runnin' Rebels
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Year: 2007
Seed: 7
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (10) Georgia Tech, 67-63; defeated (2) Wisconsin, 74-68; lost to (3) Oregon, 76-72
No. 43: The 1993 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Year: 1993
Seed: 7
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (7) Memphis State, 55-52; defeated (2) Seton Hall, 72-68; lost to (3) Florida State, 81-78 (OT)
No. 42: The 2006 Wichita State Shockers
Year: 2006
Seed: 7
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (10) Seton Hall, 86-66; defeated (2) Tennessee, 80-73; lost to (11) George Mason, 63-55
No. 41: The 1992 UTEP Miners
Year: 1992
Seed: 9
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (8) Evansville, 55-50; defeated (1) Kansas, 66-60; lost to (4) Cincinnati, 69-67
No. 40: The 2004 UAB Blazers
Year: 2004
Seed: 9
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (8) Washington, 102-100; defeated (1) Kentucky, 76-75; lost to (4) Kansas, 100-74
No. 39: The 2010 Northern Iowa Panthers
Year: 2010
Seed: 9
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (8) UNLV, 69-66; defeated (1) Kansas, 69-67; lost to (5) Michigan State, 59-52
No. 38: The 2000 Gonzaga Bulldogs
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images
Year: 2000
Seed: 10
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (7) Louisville, 77-66; defeated (2) St. John's (NY), 82-76; lost to (6) Purdue, 75-66
No. 37: The 2010 Saint Mary's Gaels
Year: 2010
Seed: 10
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (7) Richmond, 80-71; defeated (2) Villanova, 75-66; lost to (3) Baylor, 72-49
No. 36: The 2004 Nevada Wolfpack
Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
Year: 2004
Seed: 10
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (7) Michigan State, 72-66; defeated (2) Gonzaga, 91-72; lost to (3) Georgia Tech, 72-67
No. 35: The 1999 Miami (Ohio) Redhawks
Mark Lyons/Getty Images
Year: 1999
Seed: 10
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (7) Washington, 59-58; defeated (2) Utah, 66-58; lost to (3) Kentucky, 58-43
No. 34: The 2002 Southern Illinois Salukis
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Year: 2002
Seed: 11
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (6) Texas Tech, 76-68; defeated (3) Georgia, 77-75; lost to (2) Connecticut, 71-59
No. 33: The 2005 Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers
Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images
Year: 2005
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (5) Alabama, 83-73; defeated (4) Boston College, 83-75; lost to (1) Illinois, 77-63
No. 32: The 2003 Butler Bulldogs
Year: 2005
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (5) Mississippi State, 47-46; defeated (4) Louisville, 79-71; lost to (1) Oklahoma, 65-54
No. 31: The 2011 Richmond Spiders
Year: 2011
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (5) Vanderbilt, 69-66; defeated (13) Morehead State, 65-48; lost to (1) Kansas, 77-57
No. 30: The 2008 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Year: 2008
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (5) Drake, 101-99 (OT); defeated (13) San Diego, 72-63; lost to (1) UCLA, 88-78
No. 29: The 1999 Southwest Missouri State Bears
Craig Jones/Getty Images
Year: 1999
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (5) Wisconsin, 43-32; defeated (4) Tennessee, 81-51; lost to (1) Duke, 78-61
No. 28: The 2001 Gonzaga Bulldogs
Tom Hauck/Getty Images
Year: 2001
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (5) Virginia, 86-85; defeated (13) Indiana State, 85-68; lost to (1) Michigan State, 77-62
No. 27: The 2010 Cornell Big Red
Doug Benc/Getty Images
Year: 2010
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (5) Temple, 78-65; defeated (4) Wisconsin, 87-69; lost to (1) Kentucky, 62-45
No. 26: The 1991 Eastern Michigan Eagles
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Year: 1991
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The 2nd Round
Results: Defeated (5) Mississippi State, 76-56; defeated (13) Penn State, 71-68 (OT); lost to (1) North Carolina, 93-67
No. 25: The 1992 New Mexico State Aggies
Ken Levine/Getty Images
Year: 1992
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (5) DePaul, 81-73; defeated (13) Southwest Louisiana, 81-73; lost to (1) UCLA, 85-78
No. 24: The 2006 Bradley Braves
Year: 2006
Seed: 13
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (4) Kansas, 77-73; defeated (5) Pittsburgh, 72-66; lost to (1) Memphis, 80-64
No. 23: The 1998 Valparaiso Crusaders
Year: 1998
Seed: 13
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (4) Mississippi, 70-69; defeated (12) Florida State, 83-77; lost to (8) Rhode Island, 74-68
No. 22: The 1994 Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Brian Bahr/Getty Images
Year: 1994
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (5) UCLA, 112-102; defeated (4) Oklahoma State, 82-80; lost to (1) Arkansas, 103-84
No. 21: The 1993 George Washington Colonials
Year: 1993
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (5) New Mexico, 82-68; defeated (13) Southern, 90-80; lost to (1) Michigan, 72-64
No. 20: The 1997 Tennessee-Chattanooga Mocs
Year: 1997
Seed: 14
Advanced to: The Sweet 16
Results: Defeated (3) Georgia, 73-70; defeated (6) Illinois, 75-63; lost to (10) Providence, 71-65
No. 19: The 2004 Xavier Musketeers
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Year: 2004
Seed: 7
Advanced to: The Elite 8
Results: Defeated (10) Louisville, 80-70; defeated (2) Mississippi State, 89-74; defeated (6) Texas, 79-71; lost to (1) Duke, 66-63
No. 18: The 2000 Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Year: 2000
Seed: 7
Advanced to: The Elite 8
Results: Defeated (10) UNLV, 89-62; defeated (2) Cincinnati, 69-61; defeated (6) Miami (Fl) 80-71; lost to (8) North Carolina, 59-55
No. 17: The 1998 Rhode Island Rams
Year: 1998
Seed: 8
Advanced to: The Elite 8
Results: Defeated (9) Murray State, 97-74; defeated (1) Kansas, 80-75; defeated (13) Valparaiso, 74-68; lost to (3) Stanford, 79-77
No. 16: The 1993 Temple Owls
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Year: 1993
Seed: 7
Advanced to: The Elite 8
Results: Defeated (10) Missouri, 75-61; defeated (15) Santa Clara, 68-57; defeated (3) Vanderbilt, 67-59; lost to (1) Michigan, 77-72
No. 15: The 1992 Memphis State Tigers
Getty Images/Getty Images
Year: 1992
Seed: 6
Advanced to: The Elite 8
Results: Defeated (11) Pepperdine, 80-70; defeated (3) Arkansas, 82-80; defeated (7) Georgia Tech, 83-79 (OT); lost to (4) Cincinnati, 88-57
No. 14: The 1997 Providence Friars
Year: 1997
Seed: 10
Advanced to: The Elite 8
Results: Defeated (7) Marquette, 81-59; defeated (2) Duke, 98-87; defeated (14) Tennessee-Chattanooga, 71-65; lost to (4) Arizona, 96-92 (OT)
No. 13: The 1999 Gonzaga Bulldogs
Year: 1999
Seed: 10
Advanced to: The Elite 8
Results: Defeated (7) Minnesota, 75-63; defeated (2) Stanford, 82-74; defeated (6) Florida, 73-72; lost to (1) Connecticut, 67-62
No. 12: The 2002 Kent State Golden Flashes
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Year: 2002
Seed: 10
Advanced to: The Elite 8
Results: Defeated (7) Oklahoma State, 69-61; defeated (2) Alabama, 71-58; defeated (3) Pittsburgh, 78-73 (OT); lost to (5) Indiana, 81-69
No. 11: The 1991 Temple Owls
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Year: 1991
Seed: 10
Advanced to: The Elite 8
Results: Defeated (7) Purdue, 80-63; defeated (15) Richmond, 77-64; defeated (3) Oklahoma State, 72-63; lost to (1) North Carolina, 75-72
No. 10: The 2008 Davidson Wildcats
Year: 2008
Seed: 10
Advanced to: The Elite 8
Results: Defeated (7) Gonzaga, 82-76; defeated (2) Georgetown, 74-70; defeated (3) Wisconsin, 73-56; lost to (1) Kansas, 59-57
No. 9: The 2001 Temple Owls
Al Bello/Getty Images
Year: 2001
Seed: 11
Advanced to: The Elite 8
Results: Defeated (6) Texas, 79-65; defeated (3) Florida, 75-54; defeated (7) Penn State, 84-72; lost to (1) Michigan State, 69-62
No. 8: The 2002 Missouri Tigers
Year: 2002
Seed: 12
Advanced to: The Elite 8
Results: Defeated (5) Miami (Fl), 93-80; defeated (4) Ohio State, 83-67; defeated (8) UCLA, 82-73; lost to (2) Oklahoma, 81-75
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