When you mention a Cinderella Story, most people might think of a Disney movie. However, for sports fans, and basketball ones, in particular, the first image that comes to mind is an underdog team that goes on an incredible run.

When thinking of a Cinderella team in sports nothing matches the NCAA Tournament. A team that everyone overlooked during the regular season can go on this incredible run beating teams they had no business beating, it is how the term March Madness came to be. The NFL, NBA, NCAA or MLB just cannot match that, because true Cinderella’s do not exist. I am talking about the down and outs, not the slight underdog. And with the NCAA Tournament just beginning let us take some time to remember the underdogs who truly did shock the world.

10. Florida Gulf Coast Eagles University Eagles 2013.

Entering the NCAA Tournament FGCU was a 25-10 team out team out of the Atlantic Sun Conference. They were a 15 seed playing a two seed Georgetown University team with future NBA player, Otto Porter Jr. However, they busted brackets by not only beating the Hoyas, 78-68 but also defeating San Diego State University 81-71 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. Unfortunately, Dunk City fell to the University of Florida in the Sweet Sixteen, 62-50.

9. University of Dayton Flyers 2014.

This Dayton team entered the NCAA Tournament as an 11 seed playing in what some called the battle for Ohio against six seed Ohio State University. They won the game in thrilling fashion 60-59. In the second round the Flyers once again barely won, defeating three seeded Syracuse University by just two points. Dayton played fellow bracket buster 10 seed Stanford in the Sweet Sixteen and dispatched them by a solid 10-point margin. However, their dream of a Final Four run ended at the hands of number one overall seed, the University of Florida Gators, by a final score of 62-52.

8. Wichita State University Shockers 2013.

As a nine seed, not many people pick beyond the second round. That did not matter for the Shockers as they started the tournament blowing past the University of Pittsburgh 73-55, and then “shocked” everyone by defeating one seed Gonzaga by six. That loss was only the second all season for the Bulldogs. The momentum kept going, as they cruised past 13 seed La Salle by 14 points and took down number two-seeded Ohio State by only four points. Once in the Final Four, they hung with Louisville for a while until faltering late to lose by a final score 72-68.

7. George Mason University The Patriot 2006.

Tied for being the lowest seed to ever make the Final Four, George Mason started their epic run by beating six seed Michigan State by ten. From there they took out three seed North Carolina by five and seven seed Wichita State by eight. Then came the big dog, University of Connecticut, a one seed. They had a two-point lead with time winding down but escaped with the win after the game winning three-point attempt missed. In the Final Four, The Patriot were overmatched by Florida, losing 73-58.

6. Virginia Commonwealth University Rams 2011

ESPN college basketball analyst, Jay Bilas, openly criticized the NCAA Tournament Committee’s decision to put VCU in as an 11 seed. After winning their play-in game versus South Carolina 59-46, they showed it was no mistake. First, they beat six-seed Georgetown 74-56, then three seed Purdue 94-76 and ten seed Florida State 72-71 to advance to the Elite Eight. A game against the heavy favorite Kansas was up next and they did not disappoint, beating them by ten points. Their run ended at hands of fellow Cinderella, Butler, but we will get to them.

5. Butler University Bulldogs 2011

After Gordon Hayward left for the NBA draft following 2009-2010 many did not believe this team could even make it back to the NCAA Tournament let alone the National Championship. They barely squeaked into the big dance, but once there, they made some serious noise. In the second round, they played Pitt, after beating Old Dominion by two, they won a game-winning free throw with virtually no time remaining. From then on they beat four seed Wisconsin, two seed Florida and 11 seed VCU en route to the National Championship game. Butler would fall short against UConn, even after leading at halftime.

4. Davidson College Wildcats 2008

Led by future NBA MVP, Stephen Curry, the Wildcats went on a tear through March. First, they defeated seven seed Gonzaga by six and then upset heavy favorite Georgetown by four. In the Sweet Sixteen Wisconsin would prove to be no match for Curry and company as Davidson cruised to a 73-56 win. Sadly their run ended in the Elite Eight by eventual National Champion, Kansas, in a tightly contested affair.

3. Butler University Bulldogs 2010

Another Brad Steven’s coached Butler team makes the list, as this five seed defied all expectations. The first two rounds gave the Bulldogs two low seed opponents in Texas-El Paso, 12, and Murray State, 13. They handled Texas-El Paso, but barely beat Murray State by two. From then on it was all high seeds and power programs. They defeated one seed Syracuse, two seed Kansas State and five seed Michigan State on their road to the National Championships. In an instant classic, Butler lost after Gordon Hayward’s half-court shot missed barely to give Duke the 61-59 win.

2. North Carolina State Wolfpack 1983

Legendary coach Jimmy Valvano was able to get his team into the tournament as a six seed. They won their first two games of the tournament by a combined three points over 11 seed Pepperdine and three seed Nevada-Las Vegas. Then they cruised passed 10 seed Utah for a matchup versus one seed powerhouse, Virginia. They beat Virginia by just one point and went on to beat four seed Georgia by seven to go to the Nation Championship. Unlike the other teams on this list so far they took home the title defeating an unbelievable Houston team with a buzzer beating put-back dunk

1. Villanova Wildcats 1985

Two years later the most improbable run in NCAA Tournament history occurred. As an eight seed, ‘Nova came in as heavy underdogs but quickly proved they were ready. First, they beat nine seed Dayton by two, and then one seed Michigan by four. In the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight, they beat five seed Maryland, 46-43, and two seed North Carolina, 56-44. Once in the Final Four, they took down two seed Memphis by seven. In the National Championship versus Georgetown winning looked like an impossible task, but the Wildcats came through 66-64.

Not all of these Cinderella stories had a happy ending, but each and every one took fans for a wild ride they won’t soon forget.