The Two Elevens: A History to Repeat?

As we wrap up the first two rounds of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, we already have so much to talk about. In what seems to be one of the most complex March Madness tournaments ever, we can only be prepared for what the end-load of play has to bring us.

No. 16-seed UMBC shocked the world when they knocked off no. 1-seed Virginia in the first round by 20 points. Michigan's Jordan Poole nailed one of the ugliest shots I have ever seen as time expired in their back-and-forth game against Houston to dance their way into the Sweet Sixteen. Texas A&M knocked off Joel Berry and the UNC Tar Heels, Cincinnati was eliminated by no. 7-seed Nevada, and Xavier, another no. 1-seed, was excluded from this year's tournament when they lost to Florida State in the Round of 32.

The real story comes from the two no. 11-seeds that inhabit the Sweet Sixteen. Loyola-Chicago and Syracuse have convinced their audience that they aren't quite finished yet.

No. 11-seed Loyola-Chicago survived and advanced with two, final-second wins over tougher seeded opponents to punch their ticket into the Sweet Sixteen. They will play the no. 7-seeded Nevada Wolf Pack in the South Region semifinal, since the Wolf Pack edged Cincinnati in a tight game.

The only other 11-seed in the tournament still is Syracuse, another play-in team that defeated TCU and went on to play one of their best games in the tournament so far when they picked up a win against Tom Izzo's no. 3-seeded Michigan State Spartans, a favorite to reach the Final Four this year.

According to an article by Daniel Wilco at NCAA.com, 11-seeds have won about 37% of their matchups throughout history. 18 total 11-seeds have ever made it to the Sweet Sixteen, and only three out of those 18 have been fortunate enough to make it to the Final Four.

Another fun fact from Wilco, more 11-seeds have made it to the Final Four than 10-seeds, 9-seeds, and 7-seeds.

Oh wow. Isn't Loyola-Chicago an 11-seed, and the Nevada Wolf Pack a 7-seed? Indeed, and they have a chance to make a run to the Final Four if they can keep their pace of play at the level they have it now. In their game against Tennessee, Loyola-Chicago was able to get open looks under the basketball to their big guys and make their shooters available beyond the arc. They handled the Vols for most of the second-half, until Tennessee recouped and shortened the lead Loyola had established for themselves. It was until Loyola guard, Clayton Custer, hit a jumper from near the elbow with roughly 3 seconds left to clinch the win. If the Loyola Ramblers can keep their composure in the final two-minutes of their game against Nevada (which they struggled with against Tennessee), they can easily advance to a spot in the Elite Eight.

However, no. 11-seed Syracuse, coached by long-time competitor Jim Boeheim, is a different story. They are set to play no. 2-seeded Duke in the Sweet Sixteen after two hard fought victories against tougher-seeded opponents, while Marvin Bagley III, Grayson Allen and the rest of Duke easily danced their way through the tournament so far. Although Syracuse has shown-out against their tougher opponents, Duke is doing what does best, and that's winning by a substantial amount to higher-seeded teams. Coach K never seems to disappoint during the NCAA Tournament. Even though they defeated the overrated Rhode Island squad by 25 points, the Syracuse Orange will be their toughest competition in the tournament thus far. It's hard to predict what to expect when Boeheim and Krzyzewski go head-to-head in such an important game.

Both 11-seed games are definitely ones to watch for this upcoming round. Loyola's path to an Elite Eight appearance looks slightly more promising than Syracuse's, which is mainly based off the matchups they have yet to face. Will Loyola become the fourth EVER 11-seed to reach the Final Four? Will Jim Boeheim and the Syracuse Orange topple the Duke-favorite? Are Loyola and Syracuse both able to join sacred history? Action kicks off again on March 22nd.

The madness continues.