Here’s a quick refresher of NCAA tournament trivia to get you warmed up before the games begin Thursday.
You look familiar …
Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton got hs Cowboys into the field of 64 for the second consecutive year. Sutton, no stranger to the Big Dance, is the only coach to lead four teams into the field of 64 (Creighton, Arkansas and Kentucky were his others).
The new Dean
With Dean Smith retired, Lute Olson now has the distinction of leading a team to the tournament the most consecutive years. Arizona hasn’t been left out since 1984.
Quite a rebound
Temple’s streak of making every tournament this decade was in jeopardy earlier this season when the Owls started 4-4. They closed the season 13-3.
Now THAT’S an in-state rivalry
As good as Duke and North Carolina have been, they’ve never met for the NCAA title. Only twice have schools from the same state met in the finals: Cincinnati defeated Ohio State in 1961 and ’62.
Still No. 1
Twenty years after the birth of the Magic Johnson-Larry Bird rivalry, the NCAA final between Michigan State and Indiana State is still the highest-rated TV game in the tournament’s history.
Tough under pressure
Under the watchful eye of coach Nolan Richardson, Arkansas has averaged two wins–or a trip to the Sweet 16–whenever it makes the tournament.
A ray of hope
Take heed, all you teams not ranked in the Top 25. In 1988 Danny Manning and his sixth-seeded Kansas Jayhawks took home the title. Then again, an unranked team hasn’t won since.
Four teams looking to suprise
Almost every tournament some unranked team pulls off a big early upset or two and makes it to the Sweet 16. Last year it was Valparaiso, which is in the tournament again but no longer a surprise. So here are our picks of four teams you don’t want your alma mater to face in the first couple of rounds:
Detroit. Jermaine Jackson and the nation’s No. 2 defense (only 54.3 points per game) give the Titans a chance to win a game by one of those 51-50 scores.
Yes, Samford. The Bulldogs led the nation in three-point shooting, knocking down close to 10 per game.
Yes, Miami. Wally Szczerbiak and his 24 points per game will cause someone trouble.
Yes, Gonzaga. No, John Stockton has not re-enrolled. But Matt Santangelo can hit the outside jumper.
State braggin’ rights
California teams have won 15 NCAA championships, more than any other state (can anyone say, “UCLA”?). Kentucky is second with nine and North Carolina has seven. Illinois has one: Loyola in 1963.
A rocky road
Kentucky struggled at times during the regular season, but coach Tubby Smith has the Wildcats back in the tournament for a shot at their third national championship in four years.
Off probation
Thanks to a change of heart by the NCAA, Louisville and coach Denny Crum are in the tournament for the 22nd time.
New kids on the block
Perhaps no team provided a bigger surprise this season than Auburn, led by Chris Porter’s 16.5 points per game. The Tigers haven’t been to the tournament since 1988.
Turnaround I
A year ago, Ohio State found itself at the bottom of the Big Ten. Then transfer Scoonie Penn became eligible, and he combined with Michale Redd to lead the Buckeyes back to the tournament.
Turnaround II
Not since the days of Rick Barry in the 1960s has Miami (Fla.) made much noise in basketball. But thanks to forward Tim James and guard Johnny Hemsley, the Hurricanes are in the tournament this year.
Remember when …
This is the 60th anniversary of the first NCAA Final Four, which was held in Evanston. Oregon won it with a 46-33 victory over Ohio State.
