Now that the Super Bowl has come and gone, it’s officially college basketball’s turn in the spotlight. The NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments are slated to tip off in a month, which is great news for hoops fans and means major action for New York sportsbooks.
While we don’t know which schools from New York will qualify for the 2024 Big Dance, we do know which teams from the Empire State have thrived in the face of on-court adversity in recent years, with several universities making it to the Sweet 16 as double-digit seeds this century.
ESPN bracket guru Joe Lunardi currently lists Colgate (15th seed) as the only New York university in the field of 68, with the Red Raiders picked to face second seed UNC in the first round of the tournament.
With the college basketball season heating up and March Madness fast approaching, many bettors are turning their attention to who will be this year’s Cinderella team. EmpireStakes.com – your source for NY sportsbook promos – looked at the history of Cinderella teams back to the 2000 tournament. If history tells us anything, that team will come from one of the states in the second chart below.
Double-Digit Seeds in Sweet 16 Since 2000
These tables are compiled by EmpireStakes.com and are not available on New York sports betting apps.
States with Double-Digit Seeds in Sweet 16
Where New York’s Cinderella Count Ranks Nationally
Since 2000, four New York teams have gone on to reach the Elite Eight as a double-digit seed. It was Syracuse in 2016, 2018 and 2021 under legendary head coach Jim Boeheim, along with the Cornell Big Red in 2010.
Nationally, the Empire State’s double-digit seed count ranks in a tie with California and Washington State for second, behind Ohio’s five and ahead of Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey and Oregon (three apiece).
For now, no New York schools are anywhere near the top of the Caesars Sportsbook NY odds board to win the NCAAs. Caesars favors neighboring UConn with a +450 chance to repeat, followed by Purdue (+700) and Arizona and Houston (both +900).
You must drop way down to see the first New York team. Rick Pitino’s St. John’s team is at +30000.
