It is that time of year, when 64 65 68 of the best teams come together in a display of College Basketball greatness. But not every team can be victorious; obviously, only one can make that claim. Every year, however, several teams attempt to find solace in their loss by staking a flimsy claim to being second best. In 2017, North Carolina won it all, but who's to say Arkansas wasn't the second best team? They lost to North Carolina as did the runner-up Gonzaga.
One team, however, has the least claim on second best, what we're calling The Worst of the Tournament. This team, Mount Saint Mary's for instance in 2017, lost to the team that lost to the team that lost to the team that ... lost to the eventual champions North Carolina. Can you find the Worst of the Tournament for the following years?
| 2000 |
2012 |
2003 |
1997 |
1999 |
| 1967 |
1959 |
1989 |
1951 |
1996 |
N37 --.--- W122 --.---
You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.
Congratulations to thanman2 for FTF and tzutzanu for FTS!
[Update 9/19/17: puzzle simplified and dropped down the D rating]