Xavier’s loss to Illinois marks rare occurrence for First Four teams

Typically, a No. 11-seed losing to a No. 6-seed isn’t an unusual thing to see in the NCAA Tournament.

However, on Friday, No. 11-seed Xavier’s 86-73 loss to No. 6-seed Illinois marked an incredibly rare event in the tournament’s history.

The Musketeers were the last team that advanced out of the First Four play-in games in Dayton, Ohio remaining in the tournament. No. 11-seed North Carolina and No. 16-seeds Mount St. Mary’s and Alabama State were all defeated ahead of Friday night’s contest.

Upon Xavier’s loss, it became the first time since 2019 no team from the First Four had won in the first round.

In fact, it’s only the second time since the First Four was introduced into March Madness in 2011 that no team emerging victorious from Dayton advanced to the Round of 32.

The most notable teams to make deep runs after winning their respective play-in games were VCU (2011 Final Four) and UCLA (2021 Final Four). Both were the lowest seeds to ever reach the national semifinals.