How many times has the #1overall seed won the tourney?

Question

How many times in recent history has the #1overall seed won the tourney?

I was just wondering, because it seems like it doesn't happen very often. I would think being the #1 overall seed is a bad place to be. Just remember, I know some of you think UK winning the NCAA is a lock, but in a one-an-done 64 team tourney, anything can happen.

BTW, I am in the camp that feels a regular season loss would help UK in the long run. That kind of winning streak it would take for UK to finish out the regular season and post-season with no losses, just doesn't happen.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by buster3.0.

Answer 1

I think they started doing the overall number 1 seed in 2003 and we received it that year. Off the top of my head I think the overall 1 seed has won it maybe twice.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by Nintendo.

Answer 2

We're just confident in our team. The fact that we will play home games in Louisville for Rounds 1 and 2... And then most likely Atlanta in Rounds 3 and 4 don't hurt. Sure we can go 0-20 from 3 like we did against WVU and the other team can play out of their minds... But I'll take our chances over anyone else right now. And by a great deal more.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by Kramer318.

Answer 3

I stand corrected, the overall number 1 seed began in 2004 and we earned it that year.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by Nintendo.

Answer 4

Well, we didn't win it as the #2 overall #1 seed a couple of years ago, so let's give this one a try.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by wild mandu.

Answer 5

Florida in 07 was the #1 overall seed.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by OldSpiceGuy.

Answer 6

I probably should have said the team that finished #1 in the final AP poll. I couldn't find archive information on the coaches poll.

The funny thing is that in 2007, Florida wasn't the number #1 ranked team, although they were awarded the overall top seed.

Since 2000, only 1 team who finished #1 in the final AP poll (taken after the conf. tourneys) won the NCAA tournament. That was Duke in 2001.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by buster3.0.

Answer 7

Florida did in 2006. UNC was #1 in 09 when they won it but not sure if they were the top seed. Every once in a while a team comes along that is just alot better than the rest of the country. Florida had a team like that when they won back to back. UNC had a team like that in 2004 and 2009. UConn in 2005. I think we have potentially that same caliber of team. Like those teams our team has basically a starting 5 of NBA players with several lottery picks and NBA guys on the bench. I think we could have that type of team its looking like that. Where we go in the tournament the unanimous favorite.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by mrbassky1.

Answer 8

Off the top of my head...not sure about overall #1 but #1 seeds have won it in...

2010 - Duke
2009 - UNC
2008 - Kansas
2007 - Florida
2005 - UNC
2002 - Maryland
2001 - Duke
2000 - Michigan St.
1999 - UConn
1996 - Kentucky
1995 - UCLA
1994 - Arkansas
1993 - UNC
1992 - Duke
1991 - Duke
1990 - UNLV

Thus, from 1990, a #1 seed has won the national title 16 times in 21 years.

Pretty good odds a #1 seed will win it all again this year.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by Son_Of_Saul.

Answer 9

Not me. I'm already nervous as hell. This one would sting if we got knocked out.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by KingChapman.

Answer 10

I agree. As a fan, there's a ton of pressure on the team this season. Knowing what we have, and what we'll likely lose in the draft, and also knowing these great teams only knock once every so often.

This is our chance, and if we lose, it will sting probably as bad for me as 1993 or 2003 did.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by Son_Of_Saul.

Answer 11

Is there some other ranking that's had a much better go of it? In that time period, a #2 has won it twice, and a #4 has won it twice. No other poll position has resulted in more than one title.

Do you really believe we'd be more likely to win it- based merely on past rankings- if we were #2 or #4?

You're a Tennessee fan. You're scared of what might happen this April. You're reading the tea leaves and looking for omens. That's understandable. You're not alone. Deal with it.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by Rush2112 UK.

Answer 12

As great as this team is, it is not like we will be crap next year.

If we get Bazz and Noel UK will be sick again next year.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by Ripamaru.

Answer 13

Winning the title has nothing to do with where you rank among the #1 seeds. It's about matchups. You can be the best team in the country, but if you don't get the bracket you're supposed to get (Ohio State) you're not as likely to win the title.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by wild mandu.

Answer 14

I'm pretty sure UNC was the overall # 1 seed in 2009 and might have been in 2005 as well.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by #1Wildcatfan4life.

Answer 15

Or Illinois. 2005, The unusual case where the two best teams actually meet in the championship game.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by wild mandu.

Answer 16

Come to think of it, wasn't Loserville the overall # 1 seed in 2005? I know they lose to UNC the year they were the overall # 1 seed.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by #1Wildcatfan4life.

Answer 17

Nevermind, I think Loserville lost to Mich. St. the year they were the overall # 1. Maybe I'm getting my years mixed up.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by #1Wildcatfan4life.

Answer 18

I think overall number 1 seeds have went like this.

2004... Kentucky lost in second round
2005.... Illinois lost in championship game
2006... Duke lost in sweet 16
2007... Florida won championship
2008.. UNC lost in final 4
2009... Louisville lost in elite 8
2010... Kansas lost in second round
2011.... Ohio State lost in sweet 16

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by hock15.

Answer 19

2003 - UK (Lost to Marquette in the Elite Eight)
2004 - UK (Lost to UAB in the round of 32)
2005 - Illinois (Lost to UNC in the National Championship game)
2006 - Duke (Lost to LSU in the Sweet Sixteen)
2007 - Florida (2007 National Champs)
2008 - UNC (Lost to Kansas in the Final Four)
2009 - Louisville (Lost ot Michigan State in the Elite Eight)
2010 - Kansas (Lost to Northern Iowa in the round of 32)
2011 - Ohio State (lost to Kentucky in the Sweet Sixteen)

So, as you can see, Florida in 2007 is the only number one overall seed to win it all.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by rabidcatfan.

Answer 20

Prior outcomes have absolutely no bearing whatsoever on future occurences, especially those involving completely different circumstances e.g. different lineups competing against other different lineups.

Imagine asking, "I wonder how many times a randomly thrown die has landed on 6?" How many times its landed on 6 in the past will have no bearing on what the number on the next roll will be. None.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by maverick1.

Answer 21

Lunardi doesn't have us being the overall #1 seed anyhow. If Syracuse wins the Big East Tournament, I bet they get it.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by wild mandu.

Answer 22

Man that's depressing to see us at the top in '03 and '04 and not get anything out of it.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by wild mandu.

Answer 23

Did they rank the 1's in 2003. I know there was a bunch of controversy since UK and Zona were 1 and 2 in the polls and slated to meet in the final four. I thought that was what prompted them to rank the 1's in the next year's tourney.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by ky22ishuge.

Answer 24

No one's odds are 'good' to win it all. It takes a good bracket and a lot of luck. We have everything we can control. That's all you can ask for.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by GonzoCat90.

Answer 25

This is a bit interesting, but a seed is just an opinion and the play on the court is what really counts...generally the play crowns the "best" team, and maybe a little luck and a bounce helps them.
I thinknthat's us...I don't care if we are The top number one seed.

Some on here have postulated that often the number one seed doesn't get a good draw in their bracket anyway....might not that be true,since this post includes posts of many number 1s not winning

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by fla.cat.

Answer 26

So this could be the third time we've been the overall #1 seed, and no one else has done it more than once? Interesting.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by Blue63Madison.

Answer 27

We'll probably be the #2 #1 seed.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by SilverBulletKY.

Answer 28

I'm not for certain, but for some reason I remember them saying that UK was the overall number one in 2003. I may be wrong though.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by rabidcatfan.

Answer 29

They did not have the 2003 teams ranked. No freaking way, as UK and Zona were the top 2 seeds and were on the same side of the bracket. It was UMASS/UK all over again, except both teams choked in the elite 8 this time.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by UKWildcats#8.

Answer 30

Whether or not we are the overall #1, I have seen all of the top teams play and I think we are the best. I like our chances to win it all this year as much as I ever have. That said, freakish circumstances, such as Dwyane Wade and 4-of-32 from three, do happen. I would still take us over the field, though.

At some point, Cal has GOT to cut the nets down. He is getting way too many talented players not to.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by ukgrad2004.

Answer 31

Gambler's Fallacy, Vol boy.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by BlueSince92.