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Get ready for 2017 NCAA Tournament

By Tamberlyn Richardson

Apr 4, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Villanova Wildcats players celebrate with the trophy after the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the championship game of the 2016 NCAA Men's Final Four at NRG Stadium. Villanova won 77-74. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Villanova Wildcats players celebrate with the trophy after the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the championship game of the 2016 NCAA Men's Final Four at NRG Stadium. Villanova won 77-74. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Upsets Over the Years:

And there lies the beauty of March Madness. No one agrees, and the tournament is rarely easy to predict. Upsets occur all the time and inevitably an unexpected underdog (or several) will rise up to the surprise of everyone.

Though Boston Celtics current head coach Brad Stevens and his Butler Bulldogs unexpected success in back to back tournaments stand out, Butler was hardly an underdog.  Rather, teams seeded in the lower half of the bracket would fall into this category.

Must Read: Westbrook – most hated MVP candidate ever

Review of the tournament history shows 11th and 12th seeds have produced the greatest success rate for upsets. In both cases these seeds have upset their 5 and 6 seed opponents 46 times.

Three of the four 11th seeded teams in 2011 beat their 5th seeded opponents. In 2013 and 2014 three 12th ranked seeds beat their sixth ranked opponents. (full list of these teams can be found on Wikipedia)

It’s worth noting these anomalies while filling our your bracket.

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