Southern Living: #1 Seed Virginia Among Late Arrivals to NCAA Tourney Party

Ten power league members always classified as major colleges - with majority of them from the South - finished in the Top 20 of a final wire-service poll at least twice although they didn't make their initial NCAA appearance until after 1970. Virginia, a #1 seed this year and tying for second place in the ACC, was among the late arrivals to the NCAA party. Among the late-bloomer group, Nebraska is winless in the NCAA playoffs while Florida is a two-time NCAA champion.

Major School (Power League) 1st NCAA Tourney Star Player(s) in Playoff Debut
Alabama (SEC) 1975 (0-1) Leon Douglas and T.R. Dunn
Auburn (SEC) 1984 (0-1) Charles Barkley and Chuck Person
Clemson (ACC) 1980 (3-1) Larry Nance
Florida (SEC) 1987 (2-1) Vernon Maxwell and Dwayne Schintzius
Georgia (SEC) 1983 (3-1) James Banks, Terry Fair and Vern Fleming
Minnesota (Big Ten) 1972 (1-1) Jim Brewer, Clyde Turner and Dave Winfield
Nebraska (Big Eight) 1986 (0-1) Brian Carr and Bernard Day
Seton Hall (Big East) 1988 (1-1) Mark Bryant and John Morton
South Carolina (ACC) 1971 (0-2) Kevin Joyce, Tom Owens, Tom Riker and John Roche
Virginia (ACC) 1976 (0-1) Wally Walker

**NOTE: Nebraska (Big Ten) and South Carolina (SEC) currently are members of other power conferences.