the last time a number one seed didn't make the final four was 2011.
the last time a number one seed didn't make the final four was 2011.
when was the last time a number one seed didn't make the final four?
2011
the 2011–12 chicago bulls season was the 46th season of the franchise in the national basketball association (nba). the bulls finished the lockout-shortened season with a 50–16 record and ended as the number one seed in the eastern conference for a second consecutive season. chicago started their playoff run on april 28, taking game 1 of the first round against the philadelphia 76ers at the united center. however, that victory was marred with the season-ending injury of point guard and reigning mvp derrick rose, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the final minutes of the game. chicago then lost three games in a row and were also without the services of starting center joakim noah for games 4 and 5 of the series following an injury in his left ankle during game 3 in philadelphia. the bulls won one more game at home before losing the series 2–4 in philadelphia and became the fifth number one seed in league history to lose a playoffs series against a number eight seed, following the seattle supersonics in 1994, the miami heat in 1999, the dallas mavericks in 2007, and the san antonio spurs in 2011.
2011–12 chicago bulls season
missouri state (then southwest missouri state), was not a regular participant in the tournament. they had not earned a bid until 1991, when they won their first game and lost their second game. in 1992, they were assigned an eight seed. their first game was against kansas, which they won 75–59. that win matched them up against the number one seed in the midwest region, iowa. the hawkeyes were 25–3, winner of the big ten conference in their ninth year under hall of fame coach c. vivian stringer. despite the odds, the missouri state team took iowa to overtime, and won 61–60 in the overtime period. that matched up the bears against fifth-seeded ucla, but missouri state won easily, 83–57. their next game was against sec regular season champion ole miss, one of a small number of teams who had played in every ncaa tournament since the first one in 1982. ole miss was the number two seed in the region, but missouri state again achieved an upset, winning the game 94–71. that win placed missouri state in the final four. prior to this win, the lowest seed to make it to the final four was a four seed. only one team, arkansas in 1998, with a nine seed, has made it to the final four with a weaker seed.
1992 ncaa division i women's basketball tournament