12 of the Most Memorable Cinderella Teams Who Have Competed in March Madness

North Carolina State's coach Jim Valvano in 1983. ; Stephen Curry #30 of the Davidson Wildcats in 2008. ; DJ Burns Jr.

#30 of the NC State Wolfpack in 2024 Credit: Bettmann; Gregory Shamus/Getty; Lance King/Getty NEED TO KNOW A March Madness Cinderella story is when an underdog team goes on to become a dominant force during the NCAA Tournament There have numerous Cinderella stories, with a select few leading to unforgettable history-making showdowns NC State has made waves during March Madness, both in 1983 and 2024 During March Madness , Cinderella trades the castle ballroom for the basketball court. Cinderella stories are an an exciting part of the annual NCAA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship and there are several bracket busters over the years that fans haven't forgotten about. A March Madness Cinderella story is when an overlooked team is considered an underdog after Selection Sunday, but then exceed expectations during the NCAA tournament, enchanting basketball fans with their surprising rags-to-riches narrative.

Here's a look at 12 of the most memorable Cinderella stories from March Madness history. 01 of 11 1983: NC State Akeem Olajuwon #35 of the Houston Cougars plays against the North Carolina State Wolfpack on November 19, 1983 in Raleigh, North Carolina Credit: Ronald C. Modra/Getty After winning three ACC tournament games in a row, North Carolina State was able to claim a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Led by head coach Jim Valvano, the NC State Wolfpack made it all the way to the final, where they were up against the University of Houston's Cougars. There were only seconds left in the game and both teams were tied at 52-52 when NC State's Dereck Whittenburg launched a shot 30 feet from the basket. Lorenzo Charles then caught and dunked it with the buzzer, scoring a victory for the team.