Does Cinderella's slipper fit a No. 6 seed? For TCU, absolutely

TCU can't exactly be called a Cinderella team going in to the NCAA Tournament.

Six seeds, typically, aren't surprise teams if they make a run in March.

But for the Horned Frogs, who are in the tournament for the first time in 20 years, a couple of wins would undoubtedly get them fitted for Cinderella's high tops.

So how rare is a six seed or lower making a run in the tournament? Not so much.

Six-seeds are 29-40 in the tournament over the past 10 years. A team seeded six or lower has reached the Final Four the past five seasons and in six of the past seven. Three times in that stretch a seven-seed or lower reached the final (No. 8 Butler in 2011 and No. 7 Connecticut who beat No. 8 Kentucky for the 2014 title).

A year ago, four teams seeded seventh or lower made it to the Sweet 16 round. Two of them (No. 7 South Carolina and No. 11 Xavier) reached the Elite 8. South Carolina even reached the Final Four.

Since 1979, when the tournament expanded to 40 from 32 teams, a six seed or lower has reached the championship game eight times and four have won the championship. In 1985, the year the tournament expanded to 64 teams, No. 8 Villanova won it all. The other two six seeds or lower to win it all was No. 6 North Carolina State in 1983 (in a field of 52), and No. 6 Kansas in 1988.

Ten Years of Cinderellas

Since 2008, 14 teams seeded six or lower have reached the Elite 8 and 45 have reached the Sweet 16.

Here's a look at the teams seeded sixth or lower who reached at least the Sweet 16 since 2008:

This story was originally published March 14, 2018 at 3:38 PM with the headline "Does Cinderella's slipper fit a No. 6 seed? For TCU, absolutely."