Oregon State is 18th double-digit seed in NCAA Elite Eight
Add Oregon State to the relatively short list of double-digit seeds that have reached a regional final in the NCAA Tournament.
The Beavers became the 18th team seeded 10th or lower to reach the Elite Eight since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985 when they beat Loyola Chicago 65-58 on Saturday. Coach Wayne Tinkle’s team is the second No. 12 seed to make a regional final, joining Missouri in 2002. Those Tigers ended up losing to No. 2 seed Oklahoma.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be just part of the success, really,” Oregon State star Ethan Thompson said. “Beaver Nation has waited a long time. And when coach Tinkle and the rest of the coaching staff got here, this was the goal in mind to turn it into successful basketball. And we’re here now. So it’s just been a great feeling and extremely blessed to be a part of it.”
No team seeded worse than 12th has made the Elite Eight, but No. 15 seed Oral Roberts made a strong bid for history later Saturday. The Golden Eagles led No. 3 seed Arkansas by double digits in the second half, but the Razorbacks rallied to win 72-70.
Only five double- digit seeds have gone on to reach the Final Four — three in the past decade. Loyola Chicago got there as an 11 seed in 2018. The others were Syracuse (No. 10 seed in 2016), VCU (No. 11 in 2011), George Mason (No. 11 in 2006) and LSU (No. 11 in 1986).
Other double-digit seeds to reach the Elite Eight include Davidson in 2008 as a No. 10 seed led by Stephen Curry; Gonzaga in 1999 as a No. 10 seed that started its run of 22 straight tournament appearances; and Loyola Marymount as a No. 11 seed in 1990 following the death of star Hank Gathers.
PAC-12 POWER
The Pac-12 will occupy at least 25% of the Elite Eight.
Oregon State’s victory ensured the conference will have at least two teams in the regional finals. No. 11 seed UCLA would become the second of three Pac-12 representatives if its beats No. 2 Alabama in the East Region on Sunday. The final Sweet 16 game of the weekend is an all-Pac-12 matchup: Sixth-seeded USC against No. 7 seed Oregon in the West Region.
“Our whole league, Pac12, we’ve been trying to tell you guys in the media for the last couple years the Pac-12 is really good,” USC coach Andy Enfield said. “Last year was exceptional. This year, the same.”
The last time the Pac-12 had at least two teams in the Elite Eight was 2007, when both UCLA and Oregon made it. The conference had three teams — Arizona, Stanford and USC — reach the regional finals in 2001.