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Virginia’s NCAA loss to Maryland-Baltimore County, the 16th seed ably coached by Ryan Odom, the younger son of Dave and Lynn Odom, was obviously the greatest shock ever experienced by a top-seeded ACC club.
Since 1979, when the NCAA began seeding its tournament, the ACC has commanded 37 top seeds. The Cavaliers are only the second No. 1 to go down without a preceding victory, after the ’79 North Carolina squad.
In all, five No. 1’s from the ACC failed to notch more than one NCAA win. Five others went 2-1, most recently UVa in 2014.
UNC has had 16 No. 1 seeds, followed in the ACC by Duke at 14, Virginia at six, and Maryland and Wake Forest with one each.
The Blue Devils, a second seed this go-round, reached the Final Four or won the NCAA championship in half of the years they earned a top seed. They also won four of their titles as a No. 1, the exception coming in 1991 when they were second-seeded and bested top-seed UNLV.
Carolina made the Final Four 10 of 16 times (62.5 percent) it appeared as a No.1 seed in the NCAAs. All five of its national titles since 1982 – two under Dean Smith, three under Roy Williams – came in such circumstances.
The Tar Heels, a No. 2 seed in 2018, are vying for a third straight visit to the NCAA title game. Only Duke among ACC clubs has previously made a trio of consecutive trips to the championship contest, losing in 1990 but winning in 1991 and 1992.
WHEN ONE IS UNDONE NCAA No. 1 Seeds From ACC Ousted Early |
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Year | No. 1 Seed | Opponent Seed, Name | Final Score | |
1979 | North Carolina | #9 | Pennsylvania | 71-72 |
1982 | Virginia | #4 | Ala.-Birmingham | 66-68 |
1984 | North Carolina | #4 | Indiana | 68-72 |
1994 | North Carolina | #9 | Boston College | 72-75 |
2018 | Virginia | #16 | Md.-Baltimore Co. | 54-74 |