When Syracuse tips off against North Carolina on Saturday, the Orange will become just the fourth double-digit seed in NCAA Tournament history to play in the Final Four.

If SU (23-13, 9-9 Atlantic Coast) beats the top-seeded Tar Heels (32-6, 14-4), it would become the first double-digit seed to win a Final Four game.

Here’s a look at past double-digit seed teams who made it to the Final Four:

Virginia Commonwealth, 2011

Led by second-year head coach Shaka Smart, VCU took America by storm with its havoc defense as the Rams advanced from the First Four to the Final Four — the first-ever team to accomplish such a feat.

VCU was given an at-large berth as a No. 11 seed after losing the Colonial Athletic Association tournament final. The Rams beat Southern California in the play-in game before upsetting No. 6 seed Georgetown in the Round of 64 and beating No. 3 seed Purdue in the Round of 32. Both games were played in the United Center in Chicago, where Syracuse beat Gonzaga and Virginia to win the Midwest Region this year.

In the Sweet 16, VCU beat No. 10 seed Florida State, 72-71, in overtime to advance to the Elite Eight, where No. 1 seed Kansas awaited. The Rams raced out to a 14-point lead in the first half in that game and the Jayhawks couldn’t overcome the deficit as  VCU shocked the last remaining top seed, 71-61.

The VCU Cinderella run was then put up against a team with its own history of outperforming its seed in March — the Butler Bulldogs. The year prior, Butler won the hearts of the nation as it advanced to the national championship as a No. 5 seed and was inches away from beating perennial-powerhouse Duke. In the 2011 Final Four, it was again the Bulldogs who advanced to the national championship despite 27 points from VCU’s forward Jamie Skeen.

George Mason, 2006

Who is this year’s George Mason? The question is often asked leading up to the start of the NCAA Tournament regarding the 2006 George Mason team that captivated the country.

The Patriots became the first team in CAA history to advance to the Final Four after three March upsets. Like VCU, George Mason was a No. 11 seed and beat a No. 6 seed in the Round of 64, Michigan State. With one upset down, the Jim Larranaga-led squad beat No. 3 seed North Carolina, 65-60, a year after the Tar Heels won the national championship.

In the Sweet 16, George Mason took on No. 7 seed Wichita State, which shocked No. 2 seed Tennessee in the second round of the tournament. The Patriots prevailed, beating the Shockers close to home in Washington, D.C. Following that win, George Mason beat top-seeded Connecticut in one of the most iconic tournament games of the 2000s. It took an extra period, but the Patriots came away with an unlikely 86-84 win.

Once in the Final Four, George Mason matched up with No. 3 seed Florida, featuring star big men Joakim Noah and Al Horford. The Patriots struggled from the field and couldn’t contain the dynamic Gator offense as Florida went on to beat — and eventually win the national championship — George Mason, 73-58.

The Patriots have returned to the NCAA Tournament twice since 2006.

Louisiana State, 1986

At the time, 11th-seeded LSU was the lowest rank to ever make the Final Four. Like Syracuse this year, the Tigers went into the Tournament on a cold streak, winning just eight of its last 19 games.

A first-round, double-overtime win against Purdue at the Maravich Assembly Center — LSU’s home court — pitted Dale Brown’s team against No. 3 seed Memphis in the second round. In another close game, LSU topped the Tigers, 83-81, as guard Anthony Wilson sunk an 8-foot jump shot as time expired to send LSU to the Sweet 16. Two years after LSU won the two Tournament games on its home court, the NCAA created a rule prohibiting teams from playing home games in the NCAA Tournament.

Facing the preseason No. 1 team in the country, Georgia Tech, in the Sweet 16, LSU was led by guards Don Redden and Derrick Taylor. The duo scored 50 of the Tigers’ 70 points as LSU upset the No. 2 seed Yellow Jackets. In the Elite Eight, LSU was matched against No. 1 seed Kentucky, led by future No. 5 pick Kenny Walker. The Wildcats led early but LSU clawed back to take the lead with less than a minute left. In what was the first year of the shot clock in college basketball (45 seconds), the Tigers stalled for an open layup that secured the eventual 59-57 win.

The likes of Duke, Kansas and Louisville rounded out the remaining teams, and the Tigers drew the Cardinals. LSU led by eight points at halftime but Louisville went on a 17-1 run in the second half to win, ending LSU’s Cinderella run. Louisville beat Duke in the national championship. The Tigers have made one Final Four since 1986.

Published on March 30, 2016 at 2:54 pm

Contact Justin: jmatting@syr.edu | @jmattingly306