Happy Birthday! April Celebration Dates for All-Americans and HOF Mentors
April 1st, 2021 - 9:03
UCLA (six; four from NCAA Tournament champions in 1960s), Illinois (five) and Kansas (four) are the schools with most All-Americans born this month. North Carolina (April 4) and Ohio State (April 8) each had two All-Americans born on the same day. April 9 is the day to celebrate the most birthdays this month for former All-Americans. This month marks the 100th anniversary of birth of Bowling Green A-A Don Otten. Following are birthdates in April for All-Americans and Hall of Fame coaches:
APRIL
1: All-Americans Joel Berry II (born in 1995/attended North Carolina), Bobby Cook (1923/Wisconsin), Mark Jackson (1965/St. John's), Brook Lopez (1988/Stanford) and Etan Thomas (1978/Syracuse).
2: All-Americans Jules Bender (1914/LIU), Jim McDaniels (1948/Western Kentucky) and Les Witte (1911/Wyoming).
3: All-Americans Pervis Ellison (1967/Louisville) and Frank Mason (1994/Kansas).
4: All-Americans Bill Bridges (1939/Kansas), Bill Garrett (1929/Indiana), Frank Kaminsky (1993/Wisconsin), Sean May (1984/North Carolina), Larry Miller (1946/North Carolina) and George Senesky (1922/St. Joseph's).
5: All-Americans Duane "Skip" Thoren (1943/Illinois) and Scottie Wilbekin (1993/Florida) plus Hall of Fame coaches Alvin "Doggie" Julian (1901/bench boss at Muhlenberg PA, Holy Cross and Dartmouth) and John McLendon (1915/North Carolina Central, Hampton, Tennessee State, Kentucky State and Cleveland State).
6: All-Americans John Shumate (1952/Notre Dame) and Melford "Mel" Waits (1918/Tarkio MO).
7: All-Americans Vinnie Cohen (1936/Syracuse), Dwight "Bo" Lamar (1951/Southwestern Louisiana) and Don Smith (1946/Iowa State).
8: All-Americans Robin Freeman (1934/Ohio State), John Havlicek (1940/Ohio State) and Jimmy Walker (1944/Providence).
9: All-Americans John Adams (1917/Arkansas), Paul Arizin (1928/Villanova), Allen Crabbe (1992/California), Bruce Douglas (1964/Illinois), Greg "Bo" Kimble (1966/Loyola Marymount), Stan Love (1949/Oregon), Kyle Macy (1957/Kentucky), Jack Nichols (1926/Washington) and Jim O'Brien (1950/Boston College).
10: All-Americans Joe Gibbon (1935/Mississippi), Paul Judson (1934/Illinois), Charles "Stretch" Murphy (1907/Purdue), Ferdinand "Fred" Pralle (1916/Kansas) and Terry Teagle (1960/Baylor).
11: All-American LeRoy "Cowboy" Edwards (1914/Kentucky).
12: All-Americans Larry Cannon (1947/La Salle), Dave Scholz (1948/Illinois) and Tyshawn Taylor (1990/Kansas).
13: All-Americans Jim "Bad News" Barnes (1941/Texas Western), Baron Davis (1979/UCLA), Alec Peters (1995/Valparaiso) and Marvin Webster (1952/Morgan State).
14: All-Americans Leo Byrd (1937/Marshall), Larry Friend (1935/California), Joe Hobbs (1936/Florida), Mark Macon (1969/Temple) and Stan Modzelewski (1920/Rhode Island State) plus HOF coach Ken Loeffler (1902/Yale, Denver, La Salle and Texas A&M).
15: All-Americans Rodney Carney (1984/Memphis), Michael Cooper (1956/New Mexico), Walt Hazzard (1942/UCLA), Filip Petrusev (2000/Gonzaga) and Anthony Roberts (1955/Oral Roberts).
16: All-Americans Lew Alcindor (1947/UCLA), Wendell Hudson (1951/Alabama), Rodney Monroe (1968/North Carolina State) and Walt Williams (1970/Maryland).
17: All-Americans Cleanthony Early (1991/Wichita State) and Horace Walker (1937/Michigan State) plus HOF coach John Kresse (1943/College of Charleston).
18: All-Americans Michael Bradley (1979/Villanova), Don Ohl (1936/Illinois), Don Otten (1921/Bowling Green State) and Caleb Swanigan (1997/Purdue).
19: All-Americans Lew Beck (1922/Oregon State), Keith Erickson (1944/UCLA), Mike Evans (1955/Kansas State), Jack Foley (1939/Holy Cross), Kelly Olynyk (1991/Gonzaga) and Russ Smith (1991/Louisville).
20: All-Americans Henry "Hank" Finkel (1942/Dayton), Allan Houston (1971/Tennessee) and Lamond Murray (1973/California).
21: All-Americans Gary Grant (1965/Michigan), Chuck Mencel (1933/Minnesota), Dave Meyers (1953/UCLA) and Bob Patterson (1932/Tulsa).
22: All-Americans DeJuan Blair (1989/Pittsburgh), Bill Garnett (1960/Wyoming), Spencer Haywood (1949/Detroit) and Dennis Hopson (Ohio State).
23: All-Americans John Bagley (1960/Boston College), Gail Goodrich (1943/UCLA), Bobby Joe Mason (1936/Bradley) and Mike Novak (1915/Loyola of Chicago).
24: All-Americans Ernie Grunfeld (1955/Tennessee) and Hank Stein (1936/Xavier).
25: All-Americans Charles Cleveland (1951/Alabama), Dave Corzine (1956/DePaul), Tim Duncan (1976/Wake Forest) and John McCarthy (1934/Canisius).
26: All-Americans Bob Boozer (1937/Kansas State), Dick Ives (1924/Iowa) and Delon Wright (1992/Utah).
27: All-American Courtney Alexander (1977/Fresno State).
28: All-Americans John Fairchild (1943/Brigham Young), Paul Hogue (1940/Cincinnati), Josh Howard (1980/Wake Forest) and Flynn Robinson (1941/Wyoming).
29: All-American Andy Wolfe (1925/California).
30: All-Americans Paul Lindemann (1918/Washington State), Isiah Thomas (1961/Indiana) and Brandon Joel "B.J." Tyler (1971/Texas) plus Hall of Fame coach Rick Byrd (1953/Belmont).
Birthdays in January for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in February for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in March for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in April for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in May for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in June for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in July for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in August for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in September for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in October for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in November for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in December for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Made News in April 1 MLB Contests
April 1st, 2021 - 8:35
Extra! Extra! This is no April Fool's prank. Although a new season has been delayed due to coronavirus outbreak, you have time to read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.
Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only four percent of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Former college hoopers Tom Dettore (Juniata PA) and Paul Popovich (West Virginia) were traded for each other at MLB level on this date. Ex-HBCU hoopers Larry Doby (Virginia Union) and Lou Johnson (Kentucky State) were also traded on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 1 calendar of trades focusing on several such versatile MLB athletes:
APRIL 1
OF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA basketball titlist) traded by the Baltimore Orioles to the Cleveland Indians in 1958.
LF "Sweet" Lou Johnson (Kentucky State teammate of legendary HBCU coach Davey Whitney averaged 5.7 ppg and 2 rpg in 1951-52) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Los Angeles Angels in 1961.
OF-1B Len Matuszek (starter for Toledo's 18-7 team in 1975-76) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Toronto Blue Jays in 1985.
OF Lou Piniella (averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.4 rpg for Tampa as freshman in 1961-62) traded by the Seattle Pilots to Kansas City Royals in 1969.
OF-1B John Poff (member of Duke's freshman basketball squad in 1970-71) traded by the Milwaukee Brewers to the Chicago White Sox in 1981.
INF Paul Popovich (averaged 3.3 ppg for West Virginia's 1960 NCAA playoff team) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Pittsburgh Pirates for RHP Tom Dettore (averaged 14.1 ppg and 9 rpg for Juniata PA in 1965-66) and cash in 1974.
College Exam: Day #19 of One-and-Only NCAA Tournament Trivia Challenge
April 1st, 2021 - 8:20
Unless you're still busy hoarding toilet paper and face-masks or cowering in fetal position from college basketball version of Orson Welles' War of the Worlds, it's your opportunity to start taking online tests for 23 quarantined days symbolic of normal time frame from Selection Sunday to Monday evening championship contest.
We need something to occupy our minds during quarantine from much of the invective-infected #MessMedia. Emphasizing a "one-and-only" theme for a "one-and-only" event, here is Day 19 of a treasure-trove of tantalizing NCAA Tournament trivia questions from CollegeHoopedia.com tracking the only coach, conference, player or school to be linked to a distinguished or dubious achievement (click here for answers or conduct research digesting historical morsels in CollegeHoopedia.com's year-by-year highlights):
1. Name the only Final Four team to have a trio all average more than 20 points per game in the same season. Hint: The school won its conference tournament that year although none of threesome shot better than 50% from floor over the three games.
2. Name the only duo to twice reach the Final Four and both players average more than 20 points per game each season. Hint: Their team lost each year at the Final Four by same score. One of the pair is only player to score more than 25 points in Final Four defeats in back-to-back years.
3. Who is the only one of UCLA's eight first-team All-Americans from 1964 through 1975 to fail to earn a spot on an All-NCAA Tournament team when the Bruins won 10 national titles? Hint: He averaged more than 15 points per game in two of his three varsity seasons and went on to coach the Bruins' crosstown rival to a regional final.
4. Who is the only NCAA baseball championship coach to direct a basketball team from the same school to the Final Four? Hint: He is the school's all-time winningest basketball coach.
5. Who is the only championship team senior to average seven points per game or less entering the national semifinals before seizing the moment and averaging double digits in scoring in his last two games with an increase of at least six points per game from his pre-Final Four scoring mark? Hint: He was the seventh-leading scorer for the season on a team with only two seniors among its top eight point producers.
6. Who is the only player to score more than half of a championship team's points in a single NCAA Tournament? Hint: He was the team's only player to compile a double-digit season scoring average and no teammate scored more than seven points in either of two Final Four games.
7. Name the only school to lose three national championship games in a city where it enjoyed a distinct homecourt advantage. Hint: The school lost two of the three title games by one point before capturing title there in a season it became the only NCAA champion to lose four consecutive conference contests.
8. Name the only team to fail to have at least one player score in double figures in the championship game. Hint: It was the school's only NCAA Tournament appearance until university started appearing regularly in tourney since 1975.
9. Name the only Division II school to have three of its former head coaches go on to direct major-college teams to the NCAA Division I Tournament championship game. Hint: None of the three coaches compiled a losing record in any of the total of 11 seasons they coached at small school, which won Division II Tournament in 1984 and captured first two NAIA Tournament titles.
10. Who is the only one of the individuals named NBA Most Valuable Player, score more than 20,000 pro points or be selected to at least five All-NBA teams after participating in more than six NCAA Division I Tournament games and not compile a winning tourney record? Hint: He left college with eligibility remaining, but was involved in two NCAA playoff defeats when the tournament conducted regional third-place games.
All-American Boys: Will There Be Another Hoops Standout Play Pro Baseball?
March 31st, 2021 - 20:52
Will there be an NCAA Division I basketball All-American in 21st Century sufficiently versatile to eventually play major-league baseball? Ryan Minor (Oklahoma) is the only hoops All-American in the last 40 years to subsequently become a major leaguer. The absence of another such versatile athlete is a stark contrast from when Seattle twins Eddie and Johnny O'Brien were among six different major-college A-As in six-season span from 1951-52 through 1956-57 to each end up performing at MLB level by 1960.
The two most prominent two-way athletes from the 1950s in this increasingly rare category clearly are Frank Howard (Ohio State) and Dick Groat (Duke). Is there any doubt Michael Jordan (North Carolina) should rank #23? As the 2021 MLB season gets underway, following is a baseball ranking of the 25 major-college basketball All-Americans who played Organized Ball:
| Rank | Hoop All-American | College | A-A Year(s) | Summary of Organized Baseball Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Frank Howard | Ohio State | 1956-57 | Four-time American League All-Star outfielder-first baseman hit .273 with 382 home runs and 1,119 RBI with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Washington Senators, Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers in 16 seasons from 1958 through 1973. Hit .341 with 84 homers and 269 RBI in three minor-league campaigns in the Dodgers' organization. He also managed the San Diego Padres and New York Mets in early 1980s. |
| 2. | Dick Groat | Duke | 1950-51 and 1951-52 | Eight-time National League All-Star shortstop hit .286 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants in 1,929 games in 14 seasons (1952 and 1955 through 1967; served in U.S. military in 1953 and 1954). He did not play an inning of minor-league baseball. |
| 3. | Frankie Baumholtz | Ohio University | 1940-41 | Outfielder hit .290 in 1,019 games with the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies in 10 N.L. seasons (1947 through 1949 and 1951 through 1957). Hit .345 in three minor-league campaigns. |
| 4. | Joe Gibbon | Mississippi | 1956-57 | Lefthander compiled a 61-65 pitching record and 3.52 ERA in 419 MLB games with the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros during 13 N.L. seasons from 1960 through 1972. Posted a 31-26 mark in three minor-league campaigns in the Pirates' organization. |
| 5. | Johnny O'Brien | Seattle | 1951-52 and 1952-53 | Infielder/pitcher played six seasons (1953 and 1955 through 1959) with the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Braves. Hit .250 and compiled a 1-3 pitching record in 339 MLB games. Hit .294 in three minor-league campaigns in farms systems of the Cards and Cincinnati Reds. |
| 6. | Louis "Bosey" Berger | Maryland | 1931-32 | Infielder hit .236 with the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox in six A.L. seasons (1932 and 1935 through 1939). Played six minor-league seasons in farm systems of Indians, St. Louis Cardinals, Brooklyn Dodgers, St. Louis Browns and New York Yankees. |
| 7. | Eddie O'Brien | Seattle | 1952-53 | Infielder-outfielder played five seasons (1953 and 1955 through 1958) with the Pittsburgh Pirates, hitting .236 in 231 MLB games. He also won his lone decision while pitching in five contests. O'Brien hit .260 and compiled an 11-11 pitching record in two minor-league campaigns. |
| 8. | Danny Ainge | Brigham Young | 1978-79 through 1980-81 | Utilityman hit .220 with the Toronto Blue Jays in three years from 1979 through 1981. Hit .237 in three minor-league seasons at AAA level. |
| 9. | Ryan Minor | Oklahoma | 1994-95 and 1995-96 | Rookie third baseman with the Baltimore Orioles replaced Cal Ripken Jr. in their lineup on September 20, 1998, ending Ripken's major league record of 2,632 consecutive games played. Minor hit .185 in three years with them before hitting .158 in lone campaign with the Montreal Expos in 2001. He hit .266 with 95 HRs and 356 RBI in nine minor-league seasons in farm systems of the Orioles, Expos, Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Dodgers and Florida Marlins. |
| 10. | Charles "Cotton" Nash | Kentucky | 1961-62 through 1963-64 | First baseman went 3-for-16 (.188) in three brief A.L. stints with the Chicago White Sox (1967) and Minnesota Twins (1969 and 1970). He collected 170 homers and 540 RBI in nine minor-league seasons in farm systems of the California Angels, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, Twins and Texas Rangers. |
| 11. | Dick Ricketts Jr. | Duquesne | 1953-54 and 1954-55 | Compiled a 1-6 pitching record and 5.82 ERA in his only MLB season with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1959. Registered a 99-91 mark in 10 minor-league campaigns in farm systems of the Cards, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets. |
| 12. | Dave DeBusschere | Detroit | 1959-60 through 1961-62 | Righthander compiled a 3-4 pitching record for the Chicago White Sox in 1962 and 1963. Posted a 40-21 mark in three minor-league seasons. |
| 13. | Don Grate | Ohio State | 1943-44 and 1944-45 | Righthander pitched briefly for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1945 and 1946 (1-1 record with 9.37 ERA). Compiled a 43-28 minor-league mark in the farm systems of the Phillies, Boston Braves, Boston Red Sox and Washington Senators. Also played outfield in farm systems of Senators and New York Giants in 1953, 1956 and 1957. |
| 14. | Ernie Andres | Indiana | 1937-38 and 1938-39 | Hit .098 in 15 games as a third baseman with the Boston Red Sox in 1946. Played five minor-league seasons in farm systems of the Red Sox, New York Giants, Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates. He posted a .287 batting average in three years at AA level with Louisville, including 100 RBI in 1941. |
| 15. | George Lacy | Richmond | 1934-35 | Catcher for 10 minor-league seasons from 1936 to 1948 in farm systems of the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox and Boston Braves. He also was a minor-league manager for the Braves and Washington Senators. |
| 16. | R. Gail Bishop | Washington State | 1942-43 | Outfielder in the Boston Braves' farm system played four minor-league seasons from 1946 through 1949. In 1947, he hit .365 with 37 extra-base safeties in Sunset League (Class C). |
| 17. | Bill Sharman | Southern California | 1949-50 | OF-3B hit .281 in Brooklyn Dodgers' farm system in five minor-league seasons from 1950 through 1953 and 1955. Model of consistency hit from .286 to .292 in four of the campaigns. |
| 18. | Jay Arnette | Texas | 1959-60 | Outfielder hit .269 with 17 homers and 144 RBI in Los Angeles Dodgers' farm system in four seasons from 1961 through 1964. He hit .295 in Class A his last two campaigns. |
| 19. | Rolland "Rollie" Seltz | Hamline MN | 1945-46 | Infielder hit .266 in St. Louis Cardinals' organization in four minor-league seasons from 1943 through 1946. He hit .296 with a total of 37 homers and 142 RBI in his last two years at Class B level. |
| 20. | Andy Phillip | Illinois | 1941-42, 1942-43 and 1946-47 | Reached the Class AAA level in the St. Louis Cardinals' organization. OF-1B also played in the Cleveland Indians' farm system. In 1949, he collected 22 doubles, 8 homers and 47 RBI with Winston-Salem Cardinals in Carolina League (Class B). |
| 21. | Jim Jarvis | Oregon State | 1964-65 | Second baseman hit .288 with three minor-league teams in Philadelphia Phillies' organization in 1966. |
| 22. | Ferdinand "Fred" Pralle | Kansas | 1937-38 | OF hit .303 for the Pittsburgh Pirates' Class D team in Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League in 1946. |
| 23. | Michael Jordan | North Carolina | 1982-83 and 1983-84 | Outfielder hit .202 with 114 strikeouts in 127 games in Chicago White Sox' farm system in 1994 with Birmingham (AA Southern League). |
| 24. | Trajan Langdon | Duke | 1997-98 and 1998-99 | Third baseman, a sixth-round selection by San Diego Padres out of high school in MLB amateur draft, hit .189 in 50 games in their farm system in three years from 1994 to 1997. |
| 25. | Wardell "Dell" Curry | Virginia Tech | 1985-86 | Lost only start as pitcher (yielded one run while fanning four batters in three innings) with Gastonia (Class A South Atlantic League) in the Texas Rangers' farm system in 1991. He was a 37th-round selection by Rangers in 1982 MLB amateur draft out of high school and 14th round in 1985 by Baltimore Orioles in 1985. |
Juco Jewels: Junior College Products Helped Previous UCLA National Titlists
March 31st, 2021 - 17:03
Junior college products have made a significant difference for NCAA Tournament titlists. Keith Erickson (El Camino CA), Jack Hirsch (Los Angeles Valley CA), Larry Hollyfield (Compton CA), Terry Schofield (Santa Monica CA), John Vallely (Orange Coast CA) and Sidney Wicks (Santa Monica CA) were instrumental in helping UCLA win seven of its NCAA championships (1964, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973) and mighty mite Bobby Joe Hill (Burlington IA) was the spark-plug for Texas Western when the Miners captured the 1966 title. Wicks is the only individual to become a member of three NCAA champions after playing in junior college.
No juco recruit will make an impact this year and be able to join the following alphabetical list of key Final Four team regulars previously playing for a junior college:
| J.C. Recruit | Pos. | Final Four Team(s) | Junior College(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Ackles | C | UNLV '91 | Garden City (Kan.) |
| Tony Allen | G | Oklahoma State '04 | Wabash Valley (Ill.) |
| Malcolm Armstead | G | Wichita State '13 | Chipola (Fla.) |
| Rex Bailey | G | Western Kentucky '71 | Vincennes (Ind.) |
| Jarvis Basnight | F | UNLV '87 | Mount San Antonio (Calif.) |
| Warren Baxter | G | San Francisco '55 & '56 | San Francisco City |
| Corey Beck | G | Arkansas '94 & '95 | South Plains (Tex.) |
| Walter Berry | F | St. John's '85 | San Jacinto (Tex.) |
| Kavell Bigby-Williams | F-C | Oregon '17 | Gillette (Wyo.) |
| Daron "Mookie" Blaylock | G | Oklahoma '88 | Midland (Tex.) |
| Corie Blount | C | Cincinnati '92 | Rancho Santiago (Calif.) |
| Carl Boldt | F | San Francisco '56 | Glendale (Calif.) |
| Kenny Booker | F-G | UCLA '70 & '71 | Long Beach (Calif.) |
| Roy Boone | G | Wisconsin '00 | Coffeyville (Kan.) |
| Ron Brewer | G | Arkansas '78 | Westark (Ark.) |
| Karl Brown | G | Georgia Tech '90 | Chipola (Fla.) |
| Terry Brown | G | Kansas '91 | Erie (Pa.) & Northeastern Oklahoma A&M |
| Pembrook Burrows | F | Jacksonville '70 | Brevard (Fla.) |
| David Butler | C | UNLV '90 | San Jacinto (Tex.) |
| Chet Carr | F | Southern California '54 | Vallejo (Calif.) |
| Jerry Chambers | F-C | Utah '66 | Trinidad (Colo.) |
| Jason Cipolla | G | Syracuse '96 | Tallahassee (Fla.) |
| DeShawn Corprew | F | Texas Tech '19 | South Plains (Tex.) |
| Charlie Criss | G | New Mexico State '70 | New Mexico J.C. |
| Howie Dallmar | G | Stanford '42 | Menlo (Calif.) |
| Bennett Davison | F | Arizona '97 | West Valley (Calif.) |
| Art Day | C | San Francisco '57 | Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) |
| Jason Detrick | G | Oklahoma '02 | Southwest Missouri State-West Plains |
| Alex Dillard | G | Arkansas '94 & '95 | Southern Union (Ala.) |
| Don Draper | G | Drake '69 | Coffeyville (Kan.) |
| Al Dunbar | G | San Francisco '57 | Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) |
| Malik Dunbar | G-F | Auburn '19 | College of Central Florida |
| Jerry Dunn | F | Western Kentucky '71 | Vincennes (Ind.) |
| Cleanthony Early | F | Wichita State '13 | Sullivan County (N.Y.) |
| Ebi Ere | G | Oklahoma '02 | Barton County (Kan.) |
| Denny Fitzpatrick | G | California '59 | Orange Coast (Calif.) |
| Jerry Frizzell | F | Seattle '58 | Grays Harbor (Wash.) |
| Dean Garrett | C | Indiana '87 | City College of San Francisco |
| Alex Gilbert | C | Indiana State '79 | Coffeyville (Kan.) |
| Armon Gilliam | F-C | UNLV '87 | Independence (Kan.) |
| Artis Gilmore | C | Jacksonville '70 | Gardner-Webb (N.C.) |
| Ricky Grace | G | Oklahoma '88 | Midland (Tex.) |
| Harvey Grant | F | Oklahoma '88 | Independence (Kan.) |
| Jeff Graves | F-C | Kansas '03 | Iowa Western |
| Hassani Gravett | G | South Carolina '17 | Pensacola State (Fla.) |
| Evric Gray | F | UNLV '91 | Riverside (Calif.) |
| Rickey Green | G | Michigan '76 | Vincennes (Ind.) |
| Carl Hall | F | Wichita State '13 | Middle Georgia & Northwest Florida State |
| Arnette Hallman | F | Purdue '80 | Joliet (Ill.) |
| Dick Hammer | G | Southern California '54 | Fullerton (Calif.) |
| Darrin Hancock | F | Kansas '93 | Garden City (Kan.) |
| Josh Harrellson | C | Kentucky '11 | Southwestern Illinois |
| Bobby Joe Hill | G | Texas Western '66 | Burlington (Iowa) |
| Larry Hollyfield | G-F | UCLA '72 & '73 | Compton (Calif.) |
| Lenzie Howell | F | Arkansas '90 | San Jacinto (Tex.) |
| Othello Hunter | F | Ohio State '07 | Hillsborough (Fla.) |
| Roy Irvin | C | Southern California '54 | Fullerton (Calif.) |
| Aundre Jackson | F | Loyola of Chicago '18 | McLennan (Tex.) |
| Bobby Jackson | G | Minnesota '97 | Western Nebraska |
| Alonzo Jamison | F | Kansas '91 | Rancho Santiago (Calif.) |
| David Johanning | C | Kansas '91 | Hutchinson (Kan.) |
| Larry Johnson | F | UNLV '90 & '91 | Odessa (Tex.) |
| Dontae' Jones | F | Mississippi State '96 | Northeast Mississippi |
| Herb Jones | F | Cincinnati '92 | Butler County (Kan.) |
| John Keller | F-G | Kansas '52 | Garden City (Kan.) |
| Larry Kenon | F | Memphis State '73 | Amarillo (Tex.) |
| Weldon Kern | F | Oklahoma A&M '45 & '46 | Cameron (Okla.) |
| Charlie Koon | G | Washington '53 | Olympic (Wash.) |
| Don Kruse | C | Houston '67 | Kilgore (Tex.) |
| Vern Lewis | G | Houston '67 & '68 | Tyler (Tex.) |
| Chadrack Lufile | F | Wichita State '13 | Chipola (Fla.), Vincennes (Ind.) & Coffeyville (Kan.) |
| Akolda Manyang | C | Oklahoma '16 | Indian Hills (Iowa) |
| Archie Marshall | F | Kansas '86 | Seminole (Okla.) |
| Erik Martin | F | Cincinnati '92 | Rancho Santiago (Calif.) |
| Bob McAdoo | C | North Carolina '72 | Vincennes (Ind.) |
| Bill McClintock | F | California '59 & '60 | Monterey Peninsula (Calif.) |
| J'Von McCormick | G | Auburn '19 | Lee (Tex.) |
| Aaron McGhee | F-C | Oklahoma '02 | Vincennes (Ind.) |
| Johnny McNeil | C | Georgia Tech '90 | Chowan (N.C.) |
| Lincoln Minor | G | Kansas '88 | Midland (Tex.) |
| Wat Misaka | G | Utah '44 | Weber (Utah) |
| Casey Mitchell | G | West Virginia '10 | Chipola (Fla.) |
| Larry Moffett | C | UNLV '77 | Compton (Calif.) |
| Rex Morgan | G | Jacksonville '70 | Lake Land (Ill.) |
| Roger Morningstar | F | Kansas '74 | Olney (Ill.) Central |
| Willie Murrell | F | Kansas State '64 | Eastern Oklahoma A&M |
| Swen Nater | C | UCLA '72 & '73 | Cypress (Calif.) |
| Carl Nicks | G | Indiana State '79 | Gulf Coast (Fla.) |
| Jim Nielsen | F | UCLA '67 & '68 | Pierce (Calif.) |
| Charles Okwandu | C | Connecticut '11 | Harcum (Pa.) |
| Ehimen Orukpe | C | Wichita State '13 | Three Rivers (Mo.) |
| V.C. "Buck" Overall | F | Texas '43 | Tyler (Tex.) |
| Andre Owens | G | Oklahoma State '95 | Midland (Tex.) |
| Gerald Paddio | F | UNLV '87 | Kilgore (Tex.) & Seminole (Okla.) |
| Hal Patterson | F | Kansas '53 | Garden City (Kan.) |
| Mike Preaseau | F | San Francisco '56 & '57 | Menlo (Calif.) |
| Ryan Randle | F-C | Maryland '02 | Allegany (Md.) |
| George Reese | F | Ohio State '99 | Independence (Kan.) |
| George Reynolds | G | Houston '68 | Imperial Valley (Calif.) |
| Morris "Moe" Rivers | G | North Carolina State '74 | Gulf Coast (Fla.) |
| Dave Rose | G | Houston '83 | Dixie State (Utah) |
| Lynden Rose | G | Houston '82 | North Harris County (Tex.) |
| Terrell Ross | G | Texas '03 | Allegany (Md.) |
| Randy Rutherford | G | Oklahoma State '95 | Bacone (Okla.) |
| Greg Samuel | G | Florida State '72 | Broward (Fla.) |
| Terry Schofield | G | UCLA '69, '70 & '71 | Santa Monica (Calif.) |
| Moses Scurry | F | UNLV '90 | San Jacinto (Tex.) |
| Daryan Selvy | F | Oklahoma '02 | Carl Albert (Okla.) |
| Tony Skinn | G | George Mason '06 | Blinn (Tex.) |
| Keith Smart | G | Indiana '87 | Garden City (Kan.) |
| Odie Smith | G | Kentucky '58 | Northeast Mississippi |
| Robert Smith | G | UNLV '77 | Arizona Western |
| Sam Smith | F | UNLV '77 | Seminole (Okla.) |
| Phil Spence | F | North Carolina State '74 | Vincennes (Ind.) |
| Elmore Spencer | C | UNLV '91 | Connors (Okla.) State |
| Leroy Staley | F | Indiana State '79 | Florida J.C. |
| Dwight Stewart | C | Arkansas '94 & '95 | South Plains (Tex.) |
| Jozsef Szendrei | C | Oklahoma '02 | Northeastern (Colo.) |
| Rich Tate | G | Utah '66 | Trinidad (Colo.) |
| Ron Thomas | F | Louisville '72 | Henderson County (Tex.) |
| Tom Tolbert | F | Arizona '88 | Cerritos (Calif.) |
| Nick Van Exel | G | Cincinnati '92 | Trinity Valley (Tex.) |
| Eloy Vargas | C | Kentucky '11 & '12 | Miami-Dade (Fla.) |
| Toby Veal | F | Virginia Commonwealth '11 | Northwest Florida State |
| Mark Wade | G | UNLV '87 | El Camino (Calif.) |
| Dinjiyl Walker | G | Oklahoma '16 | Iowa Western |
| Russell Walters | F | Mississippi State '96 | Jones County (Miss.) |
| Lloyd Walton | G | Marquette '74 | Moberly (Mo.) |
| Janavor Weatherspoon | G | Oklahoma State '04 | Odessa (Tex.) |
| Wes Westfall | F | Memphis State '73 | Trinidad (Colo.) |
| Quannas White | G | Oklahoma '02 | Midland (Tex.) |
| Jerome Whitehead | C | Marquette '77 | Riverside (Calif.) City |
| Nick Wiggins | G | Wichita State '13 | Vincennes (Ind.) & Wabash Valley (Ill.) |
| Andre Wiley | F | Oklahoma '88 | Compton (Calif.) |
| David Willard | C | UNLV '87 | Laredo (Tex.) |
| Willie Wise | F | Drake '69 | San Francisco City |
| Gary Zeller | G | Drake '69 | Long Beach (Calif.) |
Melting Pot: Each Final Four Team Roster Boasts International Representation
March 31st, 2021 - 16:39
At least they're not illegal aliens. College basketball has taken on an increasingly international flavor with an average of more than 400 foreign athletes annually competing for NCAA Division I men's teams over the last 17 seasons. An all-time high of eight different foreign nations outside North America were represented at the 2017 Final Four as the search for talent knows no borders.
You've heard of a trade deficit. How about the trade surplus at the national semifinals? All but two Final Four since 1993 had an international flavor with at least one player from outside North America in the regular rotation of a team reaching the national semifinals. All four 2021 Final Four squads are in this category, including multiple regulars for Baylor and Gonzaga.
"If communism hadn't fallen, I would have had to make the most difficult decision in my life," said center George Zidek, the starting center for UCLA's 1995 national champion who once was yelped at by dogs and arrested during a riot in Prague. "I would have had to leave to play basketball and never come back to my country or my family. I don't know if I could have done that."
An old adage claimed that fans couldn't tell the players without a roster. Now, it's at the point where fans can't pronounce the names on rosters without taking a couple of Berlitz language courses. Following is a chronological look at Final Four regulars in the last 28 tourneys coming from 39 different foreign nations (in reverse order):
2021 - Gonzaga G Joel Ayayi (France), Gonzaga C Oumar Ballo (Mali), UCLA F-C Kenneth Nwuba (Nigeria), Houston F J'wan Roberts (Virgin Islands), Baylor F Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua (Cameroon) and Baylor F Flo Thamba (Congo)
2019 - Virginia F-C Mamadi Diakite (Guinea, Africa), Texas Tech G-F Brandone Francis (Dominican Republic), Texas Tech G Davide Moretti (Italy) and Virginia C Jack Salt (New Zealand)
2018 - Kansas C Udoka Azubuike (Nigeria), Kansas F-C Silvio DeSousa (Angola), Kansas G Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (Ukraine), Loyola of Chicago G Bruno Skokna (Croatia) and Michigan C Moritz Wagner (Germany)
2017 - Oregon F-C Kavell Bigby-Williams (England), South Carolina F-C Khadim Gueye (Senegal), Gonzaga F Rui Hachimura (Japan), Gonzaga C Przemek Karnowski (Poland), South Carolina F-C Mak Kotsar (Estonia), South Carolina F Chris Silva (Gabon), Oregon F Roman Sorkin (Israel) and Gonzaga F-C Killian Tillie (France)
2016 - Oklahoma G Buddy Hield (Bahamas)
2015 - None
2014 - Connecticut C Amida Brimah (Ghana), F Kentan Facey (Jamaica) and G-F Niels Giffey (Germany) and Florida F Will Yeguete (Ivory Coast)
2013 - Louisville C Gorgui Dieng (Senegal), Syracuse C Baye Moussa Keita (Senegal) and Wichita State C Ehimen Orukpe (Nigeria)
2012 - Kentucky C Eloy Vargas (Dominican Republic) and Louisville C Gorgui Dieng (Senegal)
2011 - Connecticut G-F Niels Giffey (Germany) and C Charles Okwandu (Nigeria) and Kentucky C Eloy Vargas (Dominican Republic)
2010 - West Virginia F Deniz Kilicli (Turkey)
2009 - Connecticut C Hasheem Thabeet (Tanzania) and Michigan State C Idong Ibok (Nigeria)
2008 - UCLA F-C Alfred Aboya (Cameroon), F Nikola Dragovic (Serbia) and F Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (Cameroon) and Kansas C Alexander "Sasha" Kaun (Russia)
2007 - UCLA F-C Alfred Aboya (Cameroon) and F Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (Cameroon)
2006 - Florida G Walter Hodge (Puerto Rico), F-C Al Horford (Dominican Republic) and G David Huertas (Puerto Rico), Louisiana State F Magnum Rolle (Bahamas) and UCLA F-C Alfred Aboya (Cameroon) and F Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (Cameroon)
2005 - Louisville F-G Francisco Garcia (Dominican Republic), F-C Otis George (Dominica) and Juan Palacios (Columbia)
2004 - Duke F Luol Deng (Sudan) and Georgia Tech C Luke Schenscher (Australia)
2003 - Texas G Sydmill Harris (The Netherlands)
2002 - Oklahoma C Jabahri Brown (Virgin Islands) and C Jozsef Szendrei (Hungary)
2001 - None
2000 - Wisconsin G Kirk Penney (New Zealand)
1999 - Connecticut C Souleymane Wane (Senegal) and Ohio State G Boban Savovic (Yugoslavia)
1998 - Utah F Hanno Mottola (Finland) and North Carolina C Makhtar Ndiaye (Nigeria)
1997 - North Carolina F Ademola Okulaja (Germany) and C Serge Zwikker (Netherlands)
1996 - Syracuse G Marius Janulis (Lithuania) and Massachusetts G Edgar Padilla (Puerto Rico) and G Carmelo Travieso (Puerto Rico)
1995 - UCLA C George Zidek (Czechoslovakia), Arkansas G Davor Rimac (Yugoslavia) and North Carolina C Serge Zwikker (Netherlands)
1994 - Arkansas G Davor Rimac (Yugoslavia) and Florida F Martti Kuisma (Finland)
1993 - North Carolina G Henrik Rodl (Germany)
Star Light: Gonzaga & Houston Reach Final Four Despite Undergrad Defector
March 31st, 2021 - 14:43
For the 11th straight tourney, at least one team reached the Final Four after losing a vital player who defected following the previous season to make themselves available for the NBA draft or turn pro overseas. Gonzaga (Filip Petrusev departed) and Houston (Nate Hinton) were able to reload this year following undergraduates leaving early to become professionals.
Among schools losing a prominent undergraduate early, Kentucky was the only school to capture a crown (1998 without Ron Mercer) until Duke achieved the feat (2010 without Gerald Henderson) and UK secured another title two years later sans Brandon Knight. In a once-in-a-lifetime achievement, UK returned to the national semifinals in 2011 after losing five undergraduates who became NBA first-round draft choices.
The Final Four has had at least one team arrive after losing a prominent undergraduate to the NBA draft 18 times in the last 19 tourneys. Following is a list of the 38 squads unfazed by the early loss of key player(s) who left college with eligibility still remaining:
Final Four Team Prominent Undergraduate Defection Previous Year Marquette '74 Larry McNeill, F (25th pick overall in 1973 NBA draft) Louisiana State '81 DeWayne Scales, F (36th pick in 1980 draft) Georgia '83 Dominique Wilkins, F (3rd pick in 1982 draft) Houston '83 Rob Williams, G (19th pick in 1982 draft) Houston '84 Clyde Drexler, G-F (14th pick in 1983 draft) Louisiana State '86 Jerry "Ice" Reynolds, G-F (22nd pick in 1985 draft) Syracuse '87 Pearl Washington, G (13th pick in 1986 draft) Kentucky '97 Antoine Walker, F-G (6th pick in 1996 draft) North Carolina '97 Jeff McInnis, G (37th pick in 1996 draft) Kentucky '98 Ron Mercer, G-F (6th pick in 1997 draft) Indiana '02 Kirk Haston, F (16th pick in 2001 draft) Kansas '03 Drew Gooden, F (4th pick in 2002 draft) Georgia Tech '04 Chris Bosh, F (4th pick in 2003 draft) Louisiana State '06 Brandon Bass, F (33rd pick in 2005 draft) UCLA '07 Jordan Farmar, G (26th pick in 2006 draft) North Carolina '08 Brandan Wright, F (8th pick in 2007 draft) Kansas '08 Julian Wright, F (13th pick in 2007 draft) UCLA '08 Arron Afflalo, G (27th pick in 2007 draft) Duke '10 Gerald Henderson, G (12th pick in 2009 draft) Kentucky '11 John Wall, G (1st pick in 2010 draft) Kentucky '11 DeMarcus Cousins, F (5th pick in 2010 draft) Butler '11 Gordon Hayward, F (9th pick in 2010 draft) Kentucky '11 Patrick Patterson, F (14th pick in 2010 draft) Virginia Commonwealth '11 Larry Sanders, F (15th pick in 2010 draft) Kentucky '11 Eric Bledsoe, G (18th pick in 2010 draft) Kentucky '11 Daniel Orton, C-F (29th pick in 2010 draft) Kentucky '12 Brandon Knight, G (8th pick in 2011 draft) Kansas '12 Markieff Morris, F (13th pick in 2011 draft) Kansas '12 Marcus Morris, F (14th pick in 2011 draft) Kansas '12 Josh Selby, G (49th pick in 2011 draft) Syracuse '13 Dion Waiters, G (4th pick in 2012 draft) Syracuse '13 Fab Melo, C (22nd pick in 2012 draft) Kentucky '14 Nerlens Noel, C (6th pick in 2013 draft) Kentucky '14 Archie Goodwin, G-F (29th pick in 2013 draft) Michigan State '15 Gary Harris, G (19th pick in 2014 draft) Duke '15 Rodney Hood, G-F (23rd pick in 2014 draft) Duke '15 Jabari Parker, F (2nd pick in 2014 draft) Kentucky '15 Julius Randle, F (7th pick in 2014 draft) Kentucky '15 James Young, G (17th pick in 2014 draft) North Carolina '16 J.P. Tokoto, F-G (58th pick in 2015 draft) Syracuse '16 Chris McCullough, G (29th pick in 2015 draft) Gonzaga '17 Domantas Sabonis, F-C (11th pick in 2016 draft) Kansas '18 Josh Jackson, G-F (4th pick in 2017 draft) Michigan '18 D.J. Wilson, F (17th pick in 2017 draft) Michigan State '19 Miles Bridges, F (12th pick in 2018 draft) Michigan State '19 Jaren Jackson, F (4th pick in 2018 draft) Texas Tech '19 Zhaire Smith, F (16th pick in 2018 draft) Gonzaga '21 Filip Petrusev, C (withdrew from draft and returned to native Serbia) Houston '21 Nate Hinton, G-F (played in NBA G League after going undrafted)
Sizzling Scorers: Gonzaga's Drew Timme Was Top Scorer Entering Final Four
March 31st, 2021 - 11:53
In 2016, Oklahoma's Buddy Hield, the nation's runner-up in scoring with 25.4 points per game, came close to duplicating one of the most overlooked achievements in NCAA Tournament history. In 1951-52, Clyde Lovellette of champion Kansas became the only player to lead the nation in scoring average (28.4 ppg) while competing for a squad reaching the NCAA tourney title game. Final Four luminaries averaging more than 30 ppg include Elvin Hayes (36.8/Houston '68), Oscar Robertson (33.7/Cincinnati '60 and 32.6/Cincinnati '59), Rick Mount (33.3/Purdue '69), Elgin Baylor (32.5/Seattle '58), Bill Bradley (30.5/Princeton '65) and Len Chappell (30.1/Wake Forest '62).
Lovellette, an 11-year NBA center who passed away two years ago, served as sheriff of Vigo County in his native Indiana (noted for raid on Terre Haute brothels). Gonzaga center Drew Timme (19 ppg) would have been gesture-ecstatic if the leading scorer among this campaign's national semifinalists "raided" the Final Four by joining Lovellette as the only other player cracking the 30-point plateau in the national semifinals and championship contest in the same season (33 against both Santa Clara and St. John's). However, only two top scorers entering the past 15 national semifinals wound up leading that specific Final Four in total points after Timme fell short of Jared Butler's 39 points for Baylor.
Hield was the first Final Four player since Georgia Tech's Dennis Scott to average in excess of 25 ppg. Only two other Final Four players notched higher scoring averages than Hield since the playoff field expanded to at least 32 teams in 1975 - Larry Bird (28.6 ppg for Indiana State '79 and Glen Rice (25.6 for Michigan '89). Rice scored 59 points in two Final Four games. The highest F4 total since him was accrued by Arizona guard Miles Simon with 54 in 1997. Timme joins the following list of individuals in the last 30 tourneys amassing the highest scoring average from a Final Four club since Scott's mark of 27.7 ppg in 1989-90:
Season Top Scorer Among Final Four Participants School Average Final Four's Two-Game Top Scorer 1989-90 Dennis Scott Georgia Tech 27.7 ppg Duke's Phil Henderson/UNLV's Anderson Hunt (49 points) 1990-91 Larry Johnson UNLV 22.7 ppg Duke's Christian Laettner (46 points) 1991-92 Christian Laettner Duke 21.5 ppg Duke's Bobby Hurley (35 points) 1992-93 Jamal Mashburn Kentucky 21.0 ppg Michigan's Chris Webber/ UNC's Donald Williams (50 points) 1993-94 Khalid Reeves Arizona 24.2 ppg Arkansas' Corliss Williamson (52 points) 1994-95 Bryant Reeves Oklahoma State 21.5 ppg UCLA's Ed O'Bannon (45 points) 1995-96 John Wallace Syracuse 22.2 ppg Wallace (50 points) 1996-97 Antawn Jamison North Carolina 19.1 ppg Arizona's Miles Simon (54 points) 1997-98 Antawn Jamison North Carolina 22.2 ppg Kentucky's Jeff Sheppard (43 points) 1998-99 Richard Hamilton Connecticut 21.5 ppg Hamilton (51 points) 1999-00 Morris Peterson Michigan State 16.8 ppg Peterson (41 points) 2000-01 Jay Williams Duke 21.6 ppg Duke's Shane Battier (43 points) 2001-02 Juan Dixon Maryland 20.4 ppg Dixon (51 points) 2002-03 Carmelo Anthony Syracuse 22.2 ppg Anthony (53 points) 2003-04 Ben Gordon Connecticut 18.5 ppg UConn's Emeka Okafor (42 points) 2004-05 Sean May North Carolina 17.5 ppg May (48 points) 2005-06 Glen Davis Louisiana State 18.6 ppg Florida's Lee Humphrey (34 points) 2006-07 Arron Affalo UCLA 16.9 ppg Ohio State's Greg Oden (38 points) 2007-08 Tyler Hansbrough North Carolina 22.6 ppg Memphis' Chris Douglas-Roberts (50 points) 2008-09 Tyler Hansbrough North Carolina 20.7 ppg UNC's Ty Lawson (43 points) 2009-10 Jon Scheyer Duke 18.2 ppg Duke's Kyle Singler (40 points) 2010-11 Kemba Walker Connecticut 23.5 ppg Butler's Shelvin Mack (37 points) 2011-12 Thomas Robinson Kansas 17.7 ppg Robinson (37 points) 2012-13 Russ Smith Louisville 18.7 ppg Louisville's Luke Hancock (42 points) 2013-14 Shabazz Napier Connecticut 18.0 ppg Kentucky's James Young (37 points) 2014-15 Frank Kaminsky Wisconsin 18.8 ppg Kaminsky (41 points) 2015-16 Buddy Hield Oklahoma 25.4 ppg Villanova's Josh Hart (35 points) 2016-17 Sindarius Thornwell South Carolina 21.6 ppg UNC's Justin Jackson/Gonzaga's Nigel Williams-Goss (38 points) 2017-18 Jalen Brunson Villanova 19.2 ppg Villanova's Donte DiVincenzo (46 points) 2018-19 Jarrett Culver Texas Tech 18.9 ppg Virginia's De'Andre Hunter (41 points) 2018-19 Cassius Winston Michigan State 18.9 ppg Virginia's De'Andre Hunter (41 points) 2020-21 Drew Timme Gonzaga 19 ppg Baylor's Jared Butler (39 points)
Change of Address: Transfers Have More Impact on Final 4 Than Ever Before
March 31st, 2021 - 11:00
Although there frequently is a disenchantment stigma attached to transfers, it shouldn't be considered a crime. There has never been more impact on a Final Four from players commencing their college playing careers at other four-year NCAA Division I institutions than this year. Four of Baylor's top six scorers are transfers, two guards in top-ranked Gonzaga's regular rotation are transfers, six of Houston's top 10 scorers are transfers and UCLA's top point producer is a transfer. Including injured Kentucky star Derek Anderson in 1997, 33 of the last 37 Final Fours featured teams with at least one starter or key reserve beginning his college career attending another four-year DI school.
Vanderbilt guard Billy McCaffrey, a transfer from Duke, is the only All-Tournament selection to finish his college playing career attending another major university. There was no All-Tournament team in 1942 when Stanford guard Howie Dallmar was named Final Four Most Outstanding Player before completing his undergraduate work at Penn toward the end of World War II. McCaffrey earned a spot on the 1991 All-Tournament team by scoring 16 points to help Duke defeat Kansas (72-65) in the championship game.
"What I really wanted was consistency; not playing a key factor in some games, very minimal in others," McCaffrey said. "My role probably would have been the same if I had stayed. I felt I could do more. I needed to enjoy the game more. I think a player likes to know that he can be counted on for certain things every night. That's how I get pleasure from the games. Your college career is too short to spend somewhere you're not happy.
"I don't regret leaving. I cherish those memories. I was happy for them (when the Blue Devils repeated in 1992). I knew when I left that they had a good chance to win (again). I took that into consideration when I made my decision to leave. I'd already been a part of a national championship. Maybe that made it easier."
There are more regular-rotation transfers at Final Four this season than there was in nine-year span from 1992 through 2000. Following is a chronological look at how transfers have impacted the Final Four in the last 37 years (in reverse order):
2021 - Houston F Reggie Chaney (transfer from Arkansas), Gonzaga G Aaron Cook (Southern Illinois), Baylor G Adam Flagler (Presbyterian), Houston F Justin Gorham (Towson), Houston F-C Brison Gresham (Massachusetts), Houston G Quentin Grimes (Kansas), Houston G Dejon Jarreau (Massachusetts), UCLA G Johnny Juzang (Kentucky), Baylor G Davion Mitchell (Auburn), Gonzaga G Andrew Nembhard (Florida), Baylor F Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua (UNLV), Baylor G MaCio Teague (UNC Asheville) and Houston G Cameron Tyson (Idaho).
2019 - Auburn G Samir Doughty (Virginia Commonwealth), Texas Tech G Brandone Francis (Florida), Virginia F Braxton Key (Alabama), Texas Tech G Matt Mooney (Air Force/South Dakota) and Texas Tech F-C Tariq Owens (Tennessee/St. John's)
2018 - Loyola of Chicago G Clayton Custer (Iowa State), Michigan G Charles Matthews (Kentucky), Kansas G-F Malik Newman (Mississippi State), Villanova F Eric Paschall (Fordham), Michigan G-F Duncan Robinson (Williams MA) and Loyola of Chicago G Marques Townes (Fairleigh Dickinson)
2017 - Oregon G Dylan Ennis (Rice/Villanova), Gonzaga G Jordan Mathews (California), Oregon C Paul White (Georgetown), Gonzaga F Johnathan Williams (Missouri) and Gonzaga G Nigel Williams-Goss (Washington)
2016 - Syracuse G Michael Gbinije (Duke) and Oklahoma F Ryan Spangler (Gonzaga)
2015 - Michigan State G Bryn Forbes (Cleveland State)
2014 - Wisconsin F Zach Bohannon (Air Force), Florida F Dorian Finney-Smith (Virginia Tech) and Connecticut G-F Lasan Kromah (George Washington)
2013 - Wichita State G Malcolm Armstead* (Oregon) and Louisville G-F Luke Hancock (George Mason)
2012 - Ohio State F Evan Ravenel (Boston College), Louisville G Chris Smith (Manhattan), Kentucky C Eloy Vargas* (Florida), Kansas F Justin Wesley (Lamar), Kansas C Jeff Withey (Arizona) and Kansas F Kevin Young (Loyola Marymount)
2011 - Kentucky C Eloy Vargas* (Florida), Virginia Commonwealth F Jamie Skeen (Wake Forest), Virginia Commonwealth F Toby Veal* (Colorado)
2010 - None
2009 - None
2008 - Kansas G Rodrick Stewart** (Southern California) and Memphis F Shawn Taggart (Iowa State)
2007 - Georgetown F Patrick Ewing Jr. (Indiana) and Ohio State G Ron Lewis (Bowling Green)
2006 - None
2005 - Illinois F-C Jack Ingram (Tulsa)
2004 - Oklahoma State G Daniel Bobik (Brigham Young), Georgia Tech G Will Bynum (Arizona), Oklahoma State G-F Joey Graham (Central Florida), Oklahoma State F Stephen Graham (Central Florida), Oklahoma State G John Lucas III (Baylor) and Oklahoma State F Jason Miller (North Texas)
2003 - Texas F Deginald Erskin (North Texas) and Marquette F-C Robert Jackson (Mississippi State)
2002 - Oklahoma C Jabahri Brown (Florida International) and F-C Aaron McGhee* (Cincinnati) and Maryland G-F Byron Mouton (Tulane)
2001 - Michigan State F Mike Chappell (Duke), Maryland G-F Byron Mouton (Tulane) and Arizona C Loren Woods (Wake Forest)
2000 - Michigan State F Mike Chappell (Duke)
1999 - Ohio State G Scoonie Penn (Boston College)
1998 - Kentucky F Heshimu Evans (Manhattan) and North Carolina C Makhtar Ndiaye (Michigan)
1997 - Kentucky G-F Derek Anderson (Ohio State)
1996 - Kentucky G-F Derek Anderson (Ohio State) and C Mark Pope (Washington)
1995 - Oklahoma State F Scott Pierce (Illinois)
1994 - None
1993 - Kentucky G Travis Ford (Missouri) and Kansas G Rex Walters (Northwestern)
1992 - Cincinnati G Anthony Buford (Akron) and F Erik Martin* (Texas Christian)
1991 - UNLV G Greg Anthony (Portland) and C Elmore Spencer* (Georgia)
1990 - UNLV G Greg Anthony (Portland)
1989 - Illinois F Kenny Battle (Northern Illinois)
1988 - Kansas G Clint Normore (Wichita State), Oklahoma F Harvey Grant (Clemson) and Arizona F Tom Tolbert* (UC Irvine)
1987 - Providence G Delray Brooks (Indiana) and UNLV G Mark Wade* (Oklahoma)
1986 - Kansas C Greg Dreiling (Wichita State)
1985 - St. John's G Mike Moses (Florida)
1984 - Virginia G Rick Carlisle (Maine)
*Played for a junior college between four-year schools.
**Injured.
College Exam: Day #18 of One-and-Only NCAA Tournament Trivia Challenge
March 31st, 2021 - 8:25
Unless you're still busy hoarding toilet paper or cowering in fetal position from college basketball version of Orson Welles' War of the Worlds, it's your opportunity to start taking online tests for 23 quarantined days symbolic of normal time frame from Selection Sunday to Monday evening championship contest.
We need something to occupy our minds during quarantine from much of the invective-infected #MessMedia. Emphasizing a "one-and-only" theme for a "one-and-only" event, here is Day 18 of a treasure-trove of tantalizing NCAA Tournament trivia questions from CollegeHoopedia.com tracking the only coach, conference, player or school to be linked to a distinguished or dubious achievement (click here for answers or conduct research digesting historical morsels in CollegeHoopedia.com's year-by-year highlights):
1. Who is the only major-college coach to finish his career with more than 500 victories and never participate in the NCAA playoffs? Hint: The coach spent his entire four-year school coaching career at one institution and had nine consecutive winning seasons at Division I level from 1972-73 through 1980-81.
2. Who is the only player to average more than 26 points per game for an undefeated NCAA champion before averaging less than five points per game in his NBA career? Hint: He averaged the same number of points in NCAA Tournament as he did for entire season.
3. Who is the only coach to win three national third-place games? Hint: No coach accumulated as many different All-Americans as he did (16) in his first 20 campaigns at a single school.
4. Who is the only former major-college player to score more than 23,000 points in the NBA after never participating in the NCAA Tournament or NIT? Hint: His alma mater returned to small-college status after being at the Division I level for more than 50 years but never appearing in NCAA playoffs or NIT.
5. Of the 10 different players to compile season scoring averages of more than 23 points per game for a national champion, who is the only individual in this group to tally fewer than 40 points in two games at the Final Four? Hint: His team won both Final Four games that year by a minimum of 20 points.
6. Who is the only individual to coach a team to the Final Four after becoming an NCAA consensus first-team All-American and NBA first-round draft choice? Hint: He joined Chet Walker and Bob Love as 20-points-per-game scorers for the Chicago Bulls in 1969-70 after becoming the first African-American to earn a league MVP while attending Southern school.
7. Who is the only national player of the year to score less than 10 points when his school was eliminated in a Final Four contest the same season? Hint: He averaged more than 25 points per game in his four previous playoff contests that year.
8. Name the only Final Four team to have as many as six players still on its roster with double-digit season scoring averages. Hint: All six individuals played in the NBA as did another player on squad who averaged eight points per game.
9. Who is the only All-Tournament selection to finish his college playing career at another major university? Hint: His brother was a wide receiver for a Super Bowl champion.
10. Who is the only leading scorer for a Final Four team to also play for the school's football squad in a New Year's Day bowl game and win a silver medal in the Olympics as a high jumper? Hint: The Olympics climaxed a superb academic school year for the versatile athlete who won NCAA high jump crown and led his school's football and basketball teams in scoring. He also appeared in the first two NBA All-Star Games.
Fresh Faces: Mick Cronin and Scott Drew Make Final Four Coaching Debuts
March 30th, 2021 - 23:11
Mick Cronin (UCLA) and Scott Drew (Baylor) realized coaching nirvana by reaching the national semifinals for the first time. Final Four debuts were a long time coming the previous decade for Dana Altman (Oregon), Mark Few (Gonzaga) and Big Ten Conference coaches John Beilein (Michigan) and Bo Ryan (Wisconsin). Since the start of the NCAA Tournament in 1939, no coach ever took longer in his four-year college career to reach the DI Final Four than Beilein (31 seasons). Ryan (30) and Altman (28) joined five other coaches to take more than 20 years to achieve the milestone - Jim Calhoun (27), Dick Bennett (24), Gary Williams (23), Jim Larranaga (22) and Norm Sloan (22).
There was at least one fresh face among bench bosses at the national semifinals all but once (1993) in a 27-year span from 1985 through 2011. Connecticut's Kevin Ollie joined Indiana's Mike Davis and VCU's Shaka Smart as coaches only in their second campaign to steer squads to the Final Four in the 21st Century. Cronin and Drew joined the following list of coaches advancing to the Final Four for first time since field expanded to at least 64 teams in 1985 (in reverse order):
- 2021 - Mick Cronin (UCLA/18th season as head coach) and Scott Drew (Baylor/19th).
- 2019 - Chris Beard (Texas Tech/7th season overall and fourth with DI school at four-year college level), Tony Bennett (Virginia/13th) and Bruce Pearl (Auburn/24th overall and 15th at DI).
- 2018 - Porter Moser (Loyola of Chicago/15th).
- 2017 - Dana Altman (Oregon/28th), Mark Few* (Gonzaga/18th) and Frank Martin (South Carolina/10th).
- 2016 - All returnees.
- 2015 - All returnees.
- 2014 - Kevin Ollie (Connecticut/2nd) and Bo Ryan* (Wisconsin/30th).
- 2013 - John Beilein* (Michigan/31st) and Gregg Marshall (Wichita State/15th).
- 2012 - All returnees.
- 2011 - Shaka Smart (Virginia Commonwealth/2nd).
- 2010 - Brad Stevens* (Butler/3rd).
- 2009 - Jay Wright* (Villanova/15th).
- 2008 - Bill Self* (Kansas/15th).
- 2007 - Thad Matta* (Ohio State/7th) and John Thompson III (Georgetown/7th).
- 2006 - John Brady (Louisiana State/15th), Ben Howland* (UCLA/12th) and Jim Larranaga (George Mason/22nd).
- 2005 - Bruce Weber (Illinois/6th).
- 2004 - Paul Hewitt (Georgia Tech/7th).
- 2003 - Rick Barnes (Texas/16th) and Tom Crean (Marquette/4th).
- 2002 - Mike Davis (Indiana/2nd) and Kelvin Sampson* (Oklahoma/20th).
- 2001 - Gary Williams* (Maryland/23rd).
- 2000 - Dick Bennett (Wisconsin/24th) and Billy Donovan* (Florida/6th).
- 1999 - Jim Calhoun* (Connecticut/27th), Tom Izzo* (Michigan State/4th) and Jim O'Brien (Ohio State/17th).
- 1998 - Bill Guthridge* (North Carolina/1st), Rick Majerus (Utah/14th) and Tubby Smith (Kentucky/7th).
- 1997 - Clem Haskins (Minnesota/17th).
- 1996 - John Calipari* (Massachusetts/8th) and Richard Williams (Mississippi State/10th).
- 1995 - Jim Harrick (UCLA/16th).
- 1994 - Lon Kruger (Florida/12th).
- 1993 - All returnees.
- 1992 - Bob Huggins* (Cincinnati/12th).
- 1991 - Roy Williams* (Kansas/3rd).
- 1990 - Bobby Cremins (Georgia Tech/15th) and Nolan Richardson* (Arkansas/10th).
- 1989 - P.J. Carlesimo (Seton Hall/14th) and Steve Fisher* (Michigan/1st).
- 1988 - Billy Tubbs (Oklahoma/14th).
- 1987 - Jim Boeheim* (Syracuse/11th) and Rick Pitino* (Providence/7th).
- 1986 - Mike Krzyzewski* (Duke/11th).
- 1985 - Lou Carnesecca (St. John's/17th), Dana Kirk (Memphis State/14th) and Rollie Massimino (Villanova/14th).
*Subsequently returned to the Final Four.
We Shall Return: Baylor Back at National Semifinals First Time in 71 Years
March 30th, 2021 - 21:11
Try, try again! History repeats itself but can take longer than anyone wants or expects. Baylor will participate in the Final Four for the first time since 1950. The Bears' 71-year absence between national semifinal appearances is exceeded only by Oregon (78). Of the universities reaching the national semifinals at least twice, Houston is also among the following 13 institutions going more than 35 years before returning to the Promised Land:
| Final Four School | Famine Years | Coaches Between Final Fours | NCAA Tournament Appearances During Lapse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 78 | Howard Hobson (1939) to Dana Altman (2017) | 13: 1945-60-61-95-00-02-03-07-08-13-14-15-16 |
| Baylor | 71 | Bill Henderson (1950) to Scott Drew (2021) | nine: 1988-08-10-12-14-15-16-17-19 |
| Wisconsin | 59 | Bud Foster (1941) to Dick Bennett (2000) | four: 1947-94-97-99 |
| Stanford | 56 | Everett Dean (1942) to Mike Montgomery (1998) | five: 1989-92-95-96-97 |
| Texas | 56 | Jack Gray (1947) to Rick Barnes (2003) | 17: 1960-63-72-74-79-89-90-91-92-94-95-96-97-99-00-01-02 |
| Loyola of Chicago | 54 | George Ireland (1963-64) to Porter Moser (2016-17) | four: 1964-66-68-85 |
| Wichita State | 48 | Gary Thompson (1965) to Gregg Marshall (2013) | seven: 1976-81-85-87-88-06-12 |
| Oklahoma State | 44 | Hank Iba (1951) to Eddie Sutton (1995) | nine: 1953-54-58-65-83-91-92-93-94 |
| Oklahoma | 41 | Bruce Drake (1947) to Billy Tubbs (1988) | six: 1979-83-84-85-86-87 |
| Georgetown | 39 | Elmer Ripley (1943) to John Thompson Jr. (1982) | five: 1975-76-79-80-81 |
| Houston | 37 | Guy Lewis (1984) to Kelvin Sampson (2021) | six: 1987-90-92-10-18-19 |
| Illinois | 37 | Harry Combes (1952) to Lou Henson (1989) | eight: 1963-81-83-84-85-86-87-88 |
| DePaul | 36 | Ray Meyer (1943) to Ray Meyer (1979) | seven: 1953-56-59-60-65-76-78 |
Penthouse to Outhouse: Final 4 Berth Won't Guarantee Success Next Tourney
March 30th, 2021 - 9:41
Granted, it's two years removed because of 2020 pandemic cancellation. But Auburn became the 36th school since the NCAA Tournament field expanded to at least 48 teams in 1980 to fail to qualify for the NCAA playoffs the ensuing tourney after advancing to the national semifinals. Despite the disappointment of not participating in the NCAA playoffs, the previous 19 schools in this category acknowledged in following list averaged 20 victories:
Final Four Team Record Next Year League Finish Indiana State '79 16-11 in 1979-80 T5th in MVC Michigan State '79 12-15 in 1979-80 9th in Big Ten Purdue '80 21-11 in 1980-81 4th in Big Ten Louisiana State '81 14-14 in 1981-82 T4th in SEC Georgia '83 17-13 in 1983-84 T7th in SEC North Carolina State '83 19-14 in 1983-84 7th in ACC Houston '84 16-14 in 1984-85 T5th in SWC Virginia '84 17-16 in 1984-85 8th in ACC Louisville '86 18-14 in 1986-87 1st in Metro Providence '87 11-17 in 1987-88 8th in Big East Kansas '88 19-12 in 1988-89 6th in Big Eight Seton Hall '89 12-16 in 1989-90 T7th in Big East UNLV '91 26-2 in 1991-92 1st in Big West Duke '94 13-18 in 1994-95 9th in ACC Oklahoma State '95 17-10 in 1995-96 T4th in Big Eight Mississippi State '96 12-18 in 1996-97 T3rd in SEC Western Syracuse '96 19-13 in 1996-97 T4th in Big East 7 Minnesota '97 20-15 in 1997-98 8th in Big Ten Marquette '03 19-12 in 2003-04 8th in C-USA Louisville '05 21-13 in 2005-06 T11th in Big East George Mason '06 18-15 in 2006-07 T5th in CAA Louisiana State '06 17-15 in 2006-07 6th in SEC Western Florida '07 24-12 in 2007-08 4th in SEC Eastern Ohio State '07 24-13 in 2007-08 5th in Big Ten Connecticut '09 18-16 in 2009-10 T11th in Big East North Carolina '09 20-17 in 2009-10 T9th in ACC Butler '11 22-15 in 2011-12 T3rd in Horizon League Kentucky '12 21-12 in 2012-13 T2nd in SEC Connecticut '14 20-15 in 2014-15 T5th in AAC Florida '14 16-17 in 2014-15 T8th in SEC Oklahoma '16 11-20 in 2016-17 9th in Big 12 Syracuse '16 19-15 in 2016-17 T7th in ACC Oregon '17 23-13 in 2017-18 T6th in Pac 12 South Carolina '17 17-16 in 2017-18 T11th in SEC Loyola of Chicago '18 20-14 in 2018-19 T1st in Missouri Valley Auburn '19 13-14 in 2020-21 T10th in SEC NOTES: Kansas and UNLV were on NCAA probation while Auburn had self-imposed sanction after finishing T2nd in SEC standings in 2019-20. . . . Duke, Florida '14, George Mason, Indiana State, Louisiana State '07, Louisville '87, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Providence and Seton Hall were eligible schools also failing to participate in the NIT.
College Exam: Day #17 of One-and-Only NCAA Tournament Trivia Challenge
March 30th, 2021 - 8:12
Unless you're still busy hoarding toilet paper or cowering in fetal position from college basketball version of Orson Welles' War of the Worlds, it's your opportunity to start taking online tests for 23 quarantined days symbolic of normal time frame from Selection Sunday to Monday evening championship contest.
We need something to occupy our minds during quarantine from much of the invective-infected #MessMedia. Emphasizing a "one-and-only" theme for a "one-and-only" event, here is Day 17 of a treasure-trove of tantalizing NCAA Tournament trivia questions from CollegeHoopedia.com tracking the only coach, conference, player or school to be linked to a distinguished or dubious achievement (click here for answers or conduct research digesting historical morsels in CollegeHoopedia.com's year-by-year highlights):
1. Which school had the only trio to each score at least 20 points in two Final Four games? Hint: All three players finished their college careers with more than 2,000 points and were on roster the next year when school lost its playoff opener. The school is only national runner-up to score more than 85 points in an NCAA final.
2. Name the only school to have three players score more than 20 points in a Final Four game. Hint: The school lost championship game that year by more than 20 points although score was tied at halftime.
3. Who is the only player to score 40 or more points in a Final Four game and not eventually play in the NBA? Hint: He was held under 10 points in his other Final Four game that year.
4. Who is the only coach to go more than 40 years from his first to his last appearance in the playoffs? Hint: He and his son, who succeeded him, both compiled a losing tourney record.
5. Who is the only player to compile an NBA playoff scoring average more than 15 points per game higher than his NCAA Tournament average? Hint: He scored just six points in his NCAA playoff debut against a school participating in the tourney for just second time.
6. Who is the only player to lead an NCAA tournament in scoring with more than 120 points and not eventually play in the NBA? Hint: He averaged 32.3 points per game in his three-year college career.
7. Who is the only player from 1957 through 1996 to lead a tournament in rebounding and not eventually play in the NBA? Hint: His school was making just its second tourney appearance the year he led in rebounding.
8. Who is the only non-guard to be the undisputed leading scorer of an NCAA Tournament and not participate in the Final Four? Hint: He never played in the NBA.
9. Who is the first coach to make more than a dozen NCAA playoff appearances before reaching the Final Four? Hint: He was coach of the first team to win national championship in its first Final Four appearance since Texas Western in 1966.
10. Who is the only player to take more than 40 field-goal attempts in a playoff game his team lost? Hint: The guard was the nation's leading scorer with more than 36 points per game for only school to reach national semifinals of a small-college tournament one year and participate in NCAA Tournament the next season.
Only One Player in 21st Century Has Averaged More Than 30 Points Per Game
March 29th, 2021 - 19:19
Need an example showing how scoring is down in college basketball? Disregard the freak set of circumstances in 2008-09 when eventual NBA MVP Stephen Curry went scoreless against Loyola (Md.). Unsure if it is a byproduct of doomed civilization stemming from eco-fascist climate change, but only one NCAA Division I player averaged in excess of 30 points per game in the 21st Century (since LIU's Charles Jones in 1996-97. He was Campbell's Chris Clemons, who achieved the feat two seasons ago (30.1 ppg).
Six years ago, Eastern Washington's Tyler Harvey (23.1 ppg) finished with the lowest average for the national scoring leader since Yale's Tony Lavelli posted 22.4 ppg in 1948-49. As a means of comparison to an era when scorers flourished, an average of 36 players annually posted higher scoring marks than Harvey in a six-season span from 1967-68 through 1972-73, including a high of 44 in 1969-70 when LSU's Pete Maravich nearly doubled Harvey with 44.5 ppg despite the absence of the three-point field goal.
Glenn Robinson Jr. (30.3 ppg for Purdue in 1993-94) was the only player from a power six league to pace the country in scoring in a 41-year span from 1971-72 through 2011-12 (South Carolina was independent in 1980-81 and TCU was SWC member in 1994-95). ORU's Max Abmas joined the following list citing the high and low games for players during the season when they led DI in scoring average:
NOTE: Leaders are unofficial from 1935-36 through 1946-47.
How the West Has Lost: BYU and Utah State Each is 18 Games Below .500
March 29th, 2021 - 15:35
Despite the Pac-12 Conference's resurgence in this year's NCAA Tournament, the West remains the worst. Brigham Young and Utah State promptly bowing out of the NCAA playoffs shouldn't have been a surprise unless you put stock in creepy porn lawyer #Avenaughty as a #Dimorat presidential candidate or always believe contrived comments from Muslim Brotherhood apologist/former CIA chief John "NBC News' Snoopy" Brennan. Also weighing heavily out West, Wyoming is the only former national champion (1943) to compile an all-time NCAA playoff record more than five games below .500 (9-20).
Everett Shelton, coach of Wyoming's titlist, is the only championship team bench boss to finish with a non-winning playoff record (4-12 from 1941 through 1958) and was more games under .500 in NCAA Division I Tournament competition than any coach in history until supplanted by Fran Dunphy (3-17 with Penn and Temple from 1993 through 2019). Also, Shelton is the only coach to lose three consecutive regional final games (1947, 1948 and 1949).
Joining Dunphy and Shelton among the eight coaches more than six games under .500 in NCAA playoff play are Rick Byrd (1-8 with Belmont from 2006 through 2019), Pete Carril (4-11 with Princeton from 1969 through 1996), Don Corbett (0-7 with North Carolina A&T from 1982 through 1988), Hugh Greer (1-8 with Connecticut from 1951 through 1960), Stew Morrill (1-9 with Montana and Utah State from 1991 through 2011) and Mike Vining (0-7 with Louisiana-Monroe from 1982 through 1996).
BYU and Utah State are more games below .500 than any institutions in NCAA playoff history (minus 18). More than half of the following 11 schools more than 10 games below .500 in NCAA tourney competition are from west of the Mississippi River:
School Playoff Record Games Below .500 Mark Summary of Tournament Tumult Brigham Young 15-33 minus 18 only one of victories was by fewer than six points Utah State 6-24 minus 18 lost 18 of last 19 games with only victory in that span in OT against Ohio State in 2001 New Mexico State 10-27 minus 17 lost last 12 games since 1993 after winning seven of 11 contests from 1968 through 1970 Princeton 13-29 minus 16 lost eight of first nine games from 1952 through 1963 and last five contests since 1998 Iona 1-15 minus 14 14 straight setbacks with first four of them by fewer than four points from 1980 through 1998 Miami (Ohio) 6-19 minus 13 only victory in 10-game span from 1969 through 1992 was in OT against defending NCAA champion Marquette in 1978 Murray State 4-17 minus 13 lost 11 games in a row from 1988 through 2006 Penn 13-26 minus 13 lost last 10 games and 15 of last 16 after entering 1979 Final Four with winning playoff record (11-9) Montana 2-13 minus 11 won inaugural game in 1975 but lost last four contests since 2012 by an average of 26 points Weber State 6-17 minus 11 seven of last nine defeats since 1979 were by fewer than 12 points Wyoming 9-20 minus 11 1943 NCAA titlist before losing 12 of 13 games from 1947 through 1967
Against All-American Odds: Winners As Players Become Losers As Coaches
March 29th, 2021 - 11:53
Beyond possibly paying blow-a-hole-in-your-budget buyout, it shouldn't have been a surprise Danny Manning departed Wake Forest last year minus manufacturing a miracle. He compiled an anemic 30-80 ACC record in six seasons as head coach of the Demon Deacons. History is demonic for numerous former All-Americans showing they rarely measure up as bench bosses. For instance, Patrick Ewing, who won more than 84% of his games as celebrated center with Georgetown the first half of the 1980s (121-23 record) assumed control of coaching position at his alma mater four years ago with an impressive player pedigree as four-time All-American. But the odds are overwhelmingly against Ewing compiling a higher winning percentage as a bench boss than he did as premium player. He would need to supplant UCLA's John Wooden (.808) atop the coaching list in this category. Coincidentally, Wooden assembled the same winning percentage as an A-A player with Purdue as Ewing did for the Hoyas.
The odds of succeeding on Indiana's sideline are more remote for former IU A-A Mike Woodson, who has zero experience as a college head coach when hired by the Hossiers. It's the same amount of experience Penny Hardaway had when hired by his alma mater three seasons ago. But commercial comrade Lil' Penny could lounge in a Memphis Mafia sideline chair and assemble a better differential at Big Penny's alma mater than St. John's luminary Chris Mullin regarding winning percentage as a A-A player compared to coaching acumen. Mullin's winning percentage in his four seasons as coach of alma mater was 31.9% lower than as a player (almost the same as Ewing's -32.8% and Manning's -31.6%). Other All-Americans who posted significantly worst winning percentages as a DI coach than as a player include Sidney Moncrief (69.3% lower), Bo Ellis (-67.1%), Corliss Williamson (-52.2%), Tony Yates (-50.9%), Juan Dixon (-50%), Jim Jarvis (-48.3%), Mark Macon (-48.2%), Clyde Drexler (-46.6%), Stackhouse (-46.1%), Butch Beard (-45.7%), Isiah Thomas (-44.8%), Monte Towe (-44.6%), Henry Bibby (-44.1%), Donyell Marshall (-41.8%), Mark Madsen (-39.1%) and Jason Gardner (-37.9%).
Woodson faces an uphill battle as a bench boss resembling Hardaway's 31-point defeat with Tigers against Cincinnati in 1992 regional final. Will lightning strike again for the Hoosiers? Indiana's Branch McCracken, who directed the Hoosiers to NCAA tourney titles in 1940 and 1953, is the only one of the first 65 All-Americans who became major-college mentors to finish his coaching career compiling a higher winning percentage as coach. Dave Schellhase is the only A-A to compile a losing record as a player (Purdue) and coach (Indiana State). Hardaway, after winning this year's NIT, and Michigan's Juwan Howard have the best chances by far of any current coaches to eventually join McCracken in rare-air category as fewer than half of the following alphabetical list of All-American players posted winning career records as a DI mentor:
All-American (School; Winning % as Player) Coaching Career Summary (Winning % at DI Level) *Steve Alford (Indiana 84-87; .724) Southwest Missouri State 96-99/Iowa 00-07/New Mexico 08-13/UCLA 14-19/Nevada 20 & 21 (.661) *Tommy Amaker (Duke 84-87; .783) Seton Hall 98-01/Michigan 02-07 /Harvard 08-21 (.603) Forrest "Whitey" Baccus (SMU 33-35; .580) Southern Methodist 39-42, 46 & 47 (.437) Alfred "Butch" Beard (Louisville 67-69; .783) Howard 91-94/Morgan State 02-06 (.326) Henry Bibby (UCLA 70-72; .967) Southern California 96-05 (.526) Charles "Tub" Bradley (Wyoming 78-81; .616) Loyola Marymount 98-00 (.244) Gary Brokaw (Notre Dame 73 & 74; .746) Iona 87-91 (.493) Bob Calihan (Detroit 38-40; .714) Detroit 49-69 (.559) Ernie Calverley (Rhode Island State 43-46; .807) Rhode Island 58-68 (.552) Tom Churchill (Oklahoma 28-30; .725) New Mexico 31-33 (.627) Jimmy Collins (New Mexico State 68-70; .841) Illinois-Chicago 97-10 (.512) Bob Cousy (Holy Cross 47-50; .839) Boston College 64-69 (.750) Howie Dallmar (Stanford 42 & 43/Penn 45; .714) Penn 49-54/Stanford 55-75 (.534) *Johnny Dawkins (Duke 83-86; .714) Stanford 09-16/UCF 17-21 (.588) *Juan Dixon (Maryland 99-02; .780) Coppin State 18-21 (.280) Clyde Drexler (Houston 81-83; .794) Houston 99 & 00 (.328) Maurice "Bo" Ellis (Marquette 74-77; .849) Chicago State 99-03 (.178) *Patrick Ewing (Georgetown 82-85; .840) Georgetown 18-21 (.512) Larry Finch (Memphis State 71-73; .750) Memphis State 87-97 (.629) Jason Gardner (Arizona 00-03; .787) IUPUI 15-19 (.408) Tom Gola (La Salle 52-55; .856) La Salle 69 & 70 (.740) Jack Gray (Texas 33-35; .765) Texas 37-42 & 46-51 (.667) Sidney Green (UNLV 80-83; .719) Florida Atlantic 00-05 (.309) *Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway (Memphis State 92 & 93; .652) Memphis 19-21 (.663) Clem Haskins (Western Kentucky 65-67; .851) Western Kentucky 81-86/Minnesota 87-99 (.585) Walt Hazzard (UCLA 62-64; .773) UCLA 85-88 (.621) *Juwan Howard (Michigan 92-94; .784) Michigan 20 & 21 (.712) *Bobby Hurley Jr. (Duke 90-93; .821) Buffalo 14 & 15/Arizona State 16-21 (.592) Jim Jarvis (Oregon State 63-65; .733) Idaho 75-78 (.250) Ed "Moose" Krause (Notre Dame 32-34; .818) Holy Cross 40-42/Notre Dame 43, 44 & 47-51 (.637) Mark Macon (Temple 88-91; .729) Binghamton 10-12 (.247) Kyle Macy (Kentucky 76 & 78-80; .752) Morehead State 98-06 (.424) *Mark Madsen (Stanford 97-00; .814) Utah Valley 20 & 21 (.423) Danny Manning (Kansas 85-88; .769) Tulsa 13 & 14/Wake Forest 15-20 (.453) Donyell Marshall (Connecticut 92-94; .696) Central Connecticut State 17-21 (.278) Willie McCarter (Drake 67-69; .646) Detroit 80-82 (.407) John McCarthy (Canisius 54-56; .622) Canisius 75-77 (.364) E. "Branch" McCracken (Indiana 28-30; .588) Indiana 39-43 & 47-65 (.677) Banks McFadden (Clemson 38-40; .603) Clemson 47-56 (.394) Sidney Moncrief (Arkansas 76-79; .836) UALR 00 (.143) Chris Mullin (St. John's 82-85; .766) St. John's 16-19 (.447) Jeff Mullins (Duke 62-64; .849) UNC Charlotte 86-96 (.562) Jim O'Brien (Boston College 69-71; .641) St. Bonaventure 83-86/Boston College 87-97/Ohio State 98-04 (.547) John Oldham (Western Kentucky 43 & 47-49; .887) Tennessee Tech 56-64/Western Kentucky 65-71 (.679) Barry Parkhill (Virginia 71-73; .620) William & Mary 84-87 (.387) Mark Price (Georgia Tech 83-86; .675) Charlotte 16-18 (.417) Jeff Ruland (Iona 78-80; .773) Iona 99-07 (.507) Tom "Satch" Sanders (NYU 58-60; .662) Harvard 74-77 (.430) Dave Schellhase (Purdue 64-66; .444) Indiana State 83-85 (.435) Harv Schmidt (Illinois 55-57; .742) Illinois 68-74 (.536) Frank Selvy (Furman 52-54; .738) Furman 67-70 (.427) John Shumate (Notre Dame 73 & 74; .746) Southern Methodist 89-95 (.398) Bob Spessard (Washington & Lee VA 36-38; .762) Washington & Lee VA 49 (.455) *Jerry Stackhouse (North Carolina 94 & 95; .812) Vanderbilt 20 & 21 (.351) *Damon Stoudamire (Arizona 92-95; .800) Pacific 17-21 (.479) Isiah Thomas (Indiana 80 & 81; .734) Florida International 10-12 (.286) John Thompson Jr. (Providence 62-64; .800) Georgetown 73-99 (.714) Monte Towe (North Carolina State 73-75; .919) New Orleans 02-06 (.473) *Darrell Walker (Arkansas 81-83; .802) UALR 19-21 (.483) Lou Watson (Indiana 47-50; .607) Indiana 66-69 & 71 (.508) Paul Westphal (Southern California 70-72; .744) Pepperdine 02-06 (.517) Corliss Williamson (Arkansas 93-95; .817) Central Arkansas 11-13 (.295) John Wooden (Purdue 30-32; .840) UCLA 49-75 (.808) *Mike Woodson (Indiana 77-80; .655) Indiana 22 (TBD) Tony Yates (Cincinnati 61-63; .921) Cincinnati 84-89 (.412) *Active coaches.
College Exam: Day #16 of One-and-Only NCAA Tournament Trivia Challenge
March 29th, 2021 - 7:56
Unless you're still busy hoarding toilet paper or cowering in fetal position from college basketball version of Orson Welles' War of the Worlds, it's your opportunity to start taking online tests for 23 quarantined days symbolic of normal time frame from Selection Sunday to Monday evening championship contest.
We need something to occupy our minds during quarantine from much of the invective-infected #MessMedia. Emphasizing a "one-and-only" theme for a "one-and-only" event, here is Day 16 of a treasure-trove of tantalizing NCAA Tournament trivia questions from CollegeHoopedia.com tracking the only coach, conference, player or school to be linked to a distinguished or dubious achievement (click here for answers or conduct research digesting historical morsels in CollegeHoopedia.com's year-by-year highlights):
1. Name the only school to have four players score more than 14,000 points in the pros after never participating in national postseason competition (NCAA playoffs and NIT). Hint: One member of the foursome left college early after just one season of eligibility when he averaged 30 points per game and another is the highest scorer in NBA history to never participate in NBA playoffs.
2. Name the only father-son combination to be on the rosters of two teams from the same school to win NCAA Tournament championships. Hint: Both of them were underclassmen when their teams captured NCAA titles.
3. Who is the only player never to appear in the NBA or ABA after averaging more than 20 points per game for a team reaching an NCAA Tournament final? Hint: A college teammate was member of the NBA championship team drafting him.
4. Who is the only undergraduate non-center to average more than 23 points per game for a national champion? Hint: He is the last player to score the most points in a single game of an NCAA Tournament and play for championship team.
5. Who is the only player to appear at a minimum of two Final Fours and be game-high scorer in every Final Four contest he played? Hint: His brother is an NFL Hall of Famer.
6. Who is the only coach to win an NBA championship after directing a college to the Final Four? Hint: His college squad was implicated in a game-fixing scandal.
7. Who is the only player to grab more than 41 rebounds at a single Final Four? Hint: He is the only player to retrieve more than 21 missed shots in a championship game and only player to score more than 20 points and grab more than 20 rebounds in back-to-back NCAA finals.
8. Who is the only Final Four Most Outstanding Player to later coach a school other than his alma mater to the playoffs? Hint: He coached for more than 20 years in the same conference against UCLA legend John Wooden. He is also the only Final Four Most Outstanding Player to complete his college playing career attending another university.
9. Who is the only junior college player to later be selected Final Four Most Outstanding Player? Hint: He won the award when Final Four was held in his home state and eventually became an NBA head coach.
10. Name the only school with a losing league record to defeat a conference rival by more than 20 points in a season the opponent wound up winning the national championship. Hint: The school with a losing league mark participated in NCAA playoffs the next season for first time since reaching Final Four more than 20 years earlier when a consensus first-team All-American became only player in school history to average more than 25 points in a season.
Unfinished Business: Bama, BYU, Mizzou & USU Remain Haunted by Final 4
March 28th, 2021 - 20:57
Weep On It/Think On It/Sleep On It/Drink On It. That could be the motto for Alabama, Brigham Young, Missouri and Utah State after they remained "Susan Lucci" schools in Division I by failing to advance again to the Promised Land. BYU, Missouri and Xavier are the only three schools participating in more than 25 NCAA Tournaments but never advancing to a Final Four.
Missouri has reached a regional final on four occasions but fell short in advancing to the Final Four. Three years ago, Xavier joined Mizzou (1994) as the only schools never reaching the national semifinals despite earning a #1 seed at some point during their NCAA playoff participation. Boston College is another bridesmaid multiple times comparable to Xavier, losing three regional finals (1967, 1982 and 1994) in 18 tourney appearances (22-19 record) since the field expanded beyond eight teams in 1950.
The following "Low Five" frustrated institutions remain in quagmire because they've made more than 20 appearances without reaching the Final Four:
School Tourney Appearances (Playoff Record Through 2021) Regional Final Losses Utah State 22 (6-24 mark, .200) 1970 Brigham Young 30 (15-33, .313) 1951 and 1981 Missouri 28 (22-28, .440) 1976, 1994, 2002 and 2009 Alabama 22 (23-22, .511) 2004 Xavier 28 (28-28, .500) 2004, 2008 and 2017
Big Blunders: Playoffs Bring Generous Dose of Gloom-and-Doom Humility
March 28th, 2021 - 20:55
If looking at tournament glass as half empty, the coronavirus outbreak was culprit bringing postseason competition to a screeching halt a year ago. If gazing at glass as half full, the shutdown possibly averted additional tourney stigma now attached to Alabama's Herb Jones. The SEC Player of the Year this campaign committed a pair of offensive fouls in opening minute before missing three of four free throws in the last 37 seconds of regulation, making only 2-of-7 from the charity stripe for the entire game, as #2 seed was eliminated by #11 seed UCLA in overtime in regional semifinal.
Remember Northern Iowa's 2016 complete collapse in squandering a 12-point lead in the last 35 seconds of regulation against Texas A&M en route to a 92-88 setback in double overtime. The Panthers' cataclysmic cave-in almost makes you forget about Arizona's fiasco flop when the Wildcats frittered away a 15-point advantage with four minutes remaining in regulation against Illinois in 2005 playoffs.
If you think about gaffes from a human perspective for a moment, having their playoff balloon pop by dull pin is terrible thing to happen to a team. On the other hand, a scorned squad can share the blame-game burden while an individual player could be branded for lifetime. Truth be told, some players probably will live with major miscue in front of God and country for the remainder of their Earthly existence. No one deserves a humiliating label, even after bad blunder on the biggest stage, but spit happens where temperatures rise and afflicted seek a stay-at-home order. Punctuated by fable-like failure, the following chronological list details 10 additional fatal stumbles at the wrong time since the tourney field expanded to at least 32 teams in 1975:
1975: Louisville reserve guard Terry Howard, after converting all 28 of his previous foul shots during season, missed the front end of a one-and-one free-throw opportunity with 20 seconds remaining in overtime and the Cardinals leading by one point. UCLA prevailed in national semifinal, 75-74, when Richard Washington sank short jumper from right baseline in closing seconds.
1982: Georgetown sophomore guard Fred Brown's errant pass, ostensibly seeing a teammate out of the corner of his right eye, went directly to North Carolina forward James Worthy and prevented the Hoyas from attempting a potential game-winning shot in the closing seconds of 63-62 setback against the Tar Heels.
1993: Michigan rallied to trim deficit to 73-71 before two North Carolina players trapped Chris Webber on the right sideline with only 11 seconds remaining after he dribbled downcourt when referees failed to call him for walking after grabbing rebound of missed free-throw attempt. The Wolverines' consensus first-team All-American called a fateful timeout his team did not have. Donald Williams wrapped up the game with four consecutive free throws to give Carolina a 77-71 triumph. "Sometimes winning a basketball game is just plain luck," UNC coach Dean Smith said. Meanwhile, Webber's family took mental lapse in stride and showed time heals all wounds when his father, Mayce, acquired a vanity license plate proclaiming "Timeout," a reference to his son's excruciating blunder.
1994: The score was tied when Connecticut All-American Donyell Marshall, who hit 77% of his foul shots during three-year college career, missed two free throws with 3.4 seconds remaining in regulation in East Regional semifinals. UConn wound up losing to Florida, 69-60, in overtime.
1995: Upon making splendid steal off baseline in-bounds pass by Arkansas, Lucious Jackson called an unnecessary timeout while prone in right corner with 4.3 seconds remaining in regulation although Syracuse was out of them and had possession arrow pointing in direction of the Orange. The Razorbacks made one-of-two technical foul charity tosses to knot score, 82-82, and won second-round game in overtime, 96-94.
2006: In the last 20 seconds, Gonzaga's Jose Bautista committed a foul going for rebound following teammate's missed field-goal attempt and subsequently had ball stolen from him after receiving in-bounds pass triggering go-ahead basket for UCLA, giving the Bruins their first lead of game en route to 73-71 come-from-behind victory. The reversal left national player of the year Adam Morrison of the Zags weeping prostrate at mid-court.
2008: Given multiple chances to put away Kansas in national final including leading by nine points with fewer than two minutes remaining in regulation, Memphis All-Americans Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts combined to convert only one of five foul shots in the final 1:12 of regulation (including one front end of a one-and-one). They were 1-of-4 in the last 16 seconds. Rose and Douglas-Roberts had collaborated to sink 20-of-23 in a semifinal rout of UCLA. The Tigers hit only 59% from the line for the season after losing to KU, 75-68.
2014: Virginia Commonwealth's JeQuan Lewis ran into Stephen F. Austin player (Desmond Haymon) as lefthander made three-point field goal with 3.6 seconds remaining in regulation in second round of South Regional. After Haymon converted free throw to complete four-point play, VCU went on to lose in overtime, 77-75.
2019: New Mexico State's Terrell Brown missed two of three free throws with 1.1 seconds remaining in a 78-77 opening-round setback against Auburn after getting fouled by Bryce Brown beyond the three-point arc. Terrell Brown made a team-leading 77.6% of his charity tosses during the entire season.
2019: Auburn's Samir Doughty fouled Virginia's Kyle Guy at buzzer when sharpshooter launched a three-point attempt from the left corner. Guy sank all three free throws to give the Cavaliers a 63-62 win in national semifinals.
Seeds of Doubt: #1-Seeded Squads Unable to Bear NCAA Tournament Fruit
March 28th, 2021 - 19:28
Illinois' departure was by double digits against Loyola of Chicago but there have been other top seeds bowing by larger margins. Three #1 seeds from ACC in the previous decade were eliminated prior to the NCAA Final Four by more than 16 points. Five #1 seeds have been kayoed by at least 20 points before the national semifinals since seeding was introduced in 1979. Arizona won two of the following nine games when #1 seeds in this category lost by more than 15 points:
Margin #1 Seed Regional Elimination Result Before F4 27 UCLA 1992 West Finals #2 Indiana (106-79) 25 Arizona 1998 West Finals #3 Utah (76-51) 20 Louisiana State 1980 Midwest Finals #2 Louisville (86-66) 20 Missouri 1994 West Finals #2 Arizona (92-72) 20 Virginia 2018 South First Round #16 Maryland-Baltimore County (74-54) 17 Ohio State 1991 Midwest Semifinals #4 St. John's (91-74) 17 North Carolina 2019 Midwest Semifinals #5 Auburn (97-80) 16 Duke 2011 West Semifinals #5 Arizona (93-77) 16 Oklahoma 2003 East Finals #3 Syracuse (63-47)
False Start: NIT Championship Won't Mean Too Much to Memphis Next Year
March 28th, 2021 - 16:21
Don't mean to hurt "wittle" feelings of safe-space snowflakes sympathetic to roof-top dancing bartender #AOC (Always Outlandish Commentary), Jussie Smollett supporters believing fictional tale about #MAGA caps/bleach/noose/nutritional white face, Mayor Pete pundits accepting "All Lives Matters" whether you're the husband or wife and Emory students terrified by Trump chalk talk. But if history means anything, a National Invitation Tournament crown earned in a poorly-attended game won't serve as a springboard to NCAA playoff success for Memphis. Defending NIT champions combined for a 12-18 NCAA Tournament record from 1986 through 2019 with four of the previous five kingpins not participating at all in NCAA tourney or NIT prior to last year's cancellation.
The NIT titlists from 1985 through 2004 combined for a losing national postseason tournament record (15-17) the year after capturing an NIT championship - NCAA (8-13) and NIT (7-4) - with three of them not reaching national postseason play. Four more NIT champions in the last 12 years - South Carolina '06, Penn State '09, Minnesota '14 and Stanford '16 - also failed to appear in NCAA playoffs or NIT the next season when there was competition. West Virginia '08, Ohio State '09, Wichita State '12 and TCU '17 combined for a 2-4 NCAA playoff mark the years after winning an NIT title.
Only three schools in the last 37 years reached an NCAA regional semifinal the year after capturing an NIT title - Virginia '93, West Virginia '08 and Baylor '14. Following is a breakdown of how the NIT champions fared the next season since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985:
Year NIT Champion Season Summary the Following Campaign 1985 UCLA 15-14 record in 1985-86; 9-9 in Pacific-10 (4th place); no postseason 1986 Ohio State 20-13 in 1986-87; 9-9 in Big Ten (6th); lost in NCAA 2nd round 1987 Southern Mississippi 19-11 in 1987-88; 5-7 in Metro (7th); lost in NIT 2nd round 1988 Connecticut 18-13 in 1988-89; 6-10 in Big East (T7th); lost in NIT 3rd round 1989 St. John's 24-10 in 1989-90; 10-6 in Big East (4th); lost in NCAA 2nd round 1990 Vanderbilt 17-13 in 1990-91; 11-7 in SEC (4th); lost in NCAA 1st round 1991 Stanford 18-11 in 1991-92; 10-8 in Pacific-10 (4th); lost in NCAA 1st round 1992 Virginia 21-10 in 1992-93; 9-7 in ACC (5th); lost in NCAA regional semifinal 1993 Minnesota 21-12 in 1993-94; 10-8 in Big Ten (T4th); lost in NCAA 2nd round 1994 Villanova 25-8 in 1994-95; 14-4 in Big East (2nd); lost in NCAA 1st round 1995 Virginia Tech 23-6 in 1995-96; 13-3 in Atlantic 10 (T1st/W); lost in NCAA 2nd round 1996 Nebraska 19-14 in 1996-97; 7-9 in Big 12 (4th/N); lost in NIT 3rd round 1997 Michigan 25-9 in 1997-98; 11-5 in Big Ten (4th); lost in NCAA 2nd round 1998 Minnesota 17-11 in 1998-99; 8-8 in Big Ten (6th); lost in NCAA 1st round 1999 California 18-15 in 1999-00; 7-11 in Pacific-10 (7th); lost in NIT 3rd round 2000 Wake Forest 19-11 in 2000-01; 8-8 in ACC (T5th); lost in NCAA 1st round 2001 Tulsa 27-7 in 2001-02; 15-3 in WAC (T1st); lost in NCAA 2nd round 2002 Memphis 23-7 in 2002-03; 13-3 in C-USA (1st/National); lost in NCAA 1st round 2003 St. John's 6-21 in 2003-04; 1-15 in Big East (14th); no postseason 2004 Michigan 13-18 in 2004-05; 4-12 in Big Ten (9th); no postseason 2005 South Carolina 23-15 in 2005-06; 6-10 in SEC (5th/East); won NIT championship 2006 South Carolina 14-16 in 2006-07; 4-12 in SEC (6th/Eastern); no postseason 2007 West Virginia 26-11 in 2007-08; 11-7 in Big East (T5th); lost in NCAA regional semifinals 2008 Ohio State 22-11 in 2008-09; 10-8 in Big Ten (T4th); lost in NCAA 1st round 2009 Penn State 11-20 in 2009-10; 3-15 in Big Ten (11th); no postseason 2010 Dayton 22-14 in 2010-11; 7-9 in Atlantic 10 (T8th); lost in NIT 1st round 2011 Wichita State 27-6 in 2011-12; 16-2 in Missouri Valley (1st); lost in NCAA 1st round 2012 Stanford 19-15 in 2012-13; 9-9 in Pac-12 (T6th); lost in NIT 2nd round 2013 Baylor 26-12 in 2013-14; 9-9 in Big 12 (T6th); lost in NCAA regional semifinals 2014 Minnesota 18-15; 6-12 in Big Ten (T10th); no postseason 2015 Stanford 15-15; 8-10 in Pac-12 (9th); no postseason 2016 George Washington 20-15; 10-8 in Atlantic 10 (6th); lost in CBI 2nd round 2017 Texas Christian 21-12; 9-9 in Big 12 (5th); lost in NCAA 1st round 2018 Penn State 14-18; 7-13 in Big Ten (T10th); no postseason 2019 Texas 19-12; 9-9 in Big 12 (T3rd); national postseason play cancelled because of pandemic 2021 Memphis To be determined in 2021-22
College Exam: Day #15 of One-and-Only NCAA Tournament Trivia Challenge
March 28th, 2021 - 8:27
Unless you're busy hoarding toilet paper or cowering in fetal position from college basketball version of Orson Welles' War of the Worlds, it's your opportunity to start taking online tests for 23 quarantined days symbolic of normal time frame from Selection Sunday to Monday evening championship contest.
We need something to occupy our minds during quarantine from much of the invective-infected #MessMedia. Emphasizing a "one-and-only" theme for a "one-and-only" event, here is Day 15 of a treasure-trove of tantalizing NCAA Tournament trivia questions from CollegeHoopedia.com tracking the only coach, conference, player or school to be linked to a distinguished or dubious achievement (click here for answers or conduct research digesting historical morsels in CollegeHoopedia.com's year-by-year highlights):
1. Who is the only individual to play for two NCAA champions, play for more than two NBA champions and coach two NBA champions. Hint: He was the first of four players to be a member of an NCAA championship team one year and an NBA titlist the next season as a rookie. He won the high jump in the West Coast Relays his senior year.
2. Who is the only individual to average fewer than four points per game as a freshman and then be selected Final Four Most Outstanding Player the next season as a sophomore. Hint: He had more three-point baskets in two Final Four games than contributing his entire freshman season.
3. Who is the only player named to an All-NCAA Tournament team not to score a total of more than 10 points in two Final Four games? Hint: He had the same point total in each Final Four game for a team whose star had same last name.
4. Who is the only Final Four Most Outstanding Player to later coach his alma mater in the NCAA Tournament? Hint: The guard was named Most Outstanding Player although he was his team's fourth-leading scorer at Final Four that year.
5. Name the only school to have two of the six eligible teams ranked among the top five in the AP and/or UPI final polls to not participate in either the NCAA Tournament or the NIT in the days before teams other than the conference champion could be chosen to the NCAA playoffs as at-large entrants. Hint: The school lost three regional finals in one four-year span and hasn't reached Final Four in last 50-plus years.
6. Who is the only coach to lose more than five regional final games? Hint: His regional final defeats were by an average margin of 10 points and his biggest nemesis was the Big Ten Conference.
7. Who is the only individual to become NBA Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player to participate in the NCAA Tournament but never win an NCAA playoff game? Hint: He shared the NBA Rookie of the Year award with another player who was on the losing end in his only NCAA Tournament appearance. Two years later, he was NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player the same season named league MVP.
8. Of the more than 40 different players to be named NBA Most Valuable Player, score more than 20,000 points in the pros or be selected to an All-NBA team at least five times after participating in the NCAA Tournament, who is the only one to average fewer than 10 points per game in the NCAA playoffs? Hint: He is believed to be the youngest Hall of Famer to appear in an NCAA championship game at the tender age of 16 and subsequently was named to 12 consecutive All-NBA teams.
9. Who is the only guard to score more than 35 points in an NCAA final? Hint: He led his team in scoring in back-to-back Final Fours but wasn't named Final Four Most Outstanding Player either year. He is the only championship team player to have a two-game total of at least 70 points at the Final Four and is the shortest undergraduate to average more than 20 points per game for an NCAA titlist.
10. Who is the only player to have as many as 20 field goals in an NCAA championship game? Hint: He scored fewer than seven points in both his tourney debut and final playoff appearance.
Mr. Big Shot: Suggs Delivers Heroics for Gonzaga With Semis Buzzer Beater
March 27th, 2021 - 21:50
What we missed the most from cancellation of NCAA tourney last year and much of this season's playoffs was adding to striking list of storybook moments in playoff lore when your blood percolates as game is decided in unforgettable closing moments. More than one-fourth of the NCAA Tournament's games were determined in overtime or in regulation by fewer than four points since the field expanded to at least 32 teams in 1975. Four riveting national finals in an eight-year span from 1982 through 1989 furnished memories etched indelibly in our minds because clutch players appeared impervious to pressure by producing in last-second situations. Yearning for more, dynamic delivery was worth waiting for when Gonzaga All-American freshman guard Jalen Suggs banked in a three-pointer at the end of first overtime to win national semifinal against UCLA.
When time allows, pass-the-time videos help us remember buzzer beaters far beyond the actual moment. Butler's Gordon Hayward almost joined this group but his heave from near half-court rimmed out in 2010 national final against Duke. Hayward learned close only counts in hand grenades, horseshoes and old-school, drive-in movies. The following alphabetical list details numerous individuals who supplied a trip-down-memory-lane field goal or free throw as time expired or in waning moments in an NCAA tourney tilt:
| Player | School | Description of Decisive Last-Second Basket |
|---|---|---|
| Danny Ainge | Brigham Young | Coast-to-coast drive including behind-the-back dribble and finishing with scoop shot edged #2 seed Notre Dame, 51-50, in 1981 East Regional semifinals. |
| Keith Anderson | Cal State Fullerton | Capping comeback from 15-point, second-half deficit, he drilled jumper with three seconds remaining to break a 72-72 deadlock against Bill Cartwright-led San Francisco in 1978 West Regional semifinals. |
| Elgin Baylor | Seattle | Long shot at the buzzer closer to mid-court than head of the key gave the Chiefs a 69-67 success at San Francisco in 1958 West Regional semifinals. |
| Rolando Blackman | Kansas State | Jumper from 17 feet from right baseline was the difference in 50-48 verdict against #1 seed Oregon State in second round of 1981 West Regional. |
| Vander Blue | Marquette | Drive and lefthanded layup with one second remaining climaxed rally from five-point deficit with fewer than 30 seconds remaining in 59-58 nod over Davidson in opening round of 2013 East Regional. |
| Rodney Bullock | Providence | Layup with 1.5 seconds remaining off baseline in-bounds pass lifted the Friars to 70-69 win against Southern California in first round of 2016 East Regional. |
| Pembrook Burrows III | Jacksonville | Put-back with three seconds remaining enabled the Dolphins to outlast Iowa, 104-103, in 1970 Mideast Regional semifinals. |
| Nathaniel Burton | Georgetown | Driving layup surviving instant-replay review was final margin in 63-61 nod over Arkansas in first round of 2001 West Regional. |
| Will Bynum | Georgia Tech | Drive down right side of lane and layup with 1.5 seconds left gave Yellow Jackets a 67-65 triumph against Oklahoma State in 2004 national semifinals. |
| Casey Calvary | Gonzaga | Tipped in game-winner with 4.4 seconds remaining in 73-72 verdict over Florida in 1999 West Regional semifinals. |
| Lorenzo Charles | North Carolina State | Sophomore forward, averaging a modest 8 ppg, converted guard Dereck Whittenburg's off-line desperation shot from well beyond the three-point arc into decisive dunk in 54-52 success against Houston in 1983 championship game. |
| Chris Chiozza | Florida | The Gators, trailing Wisconsin by two points with fewer than four seconds remaining in OT in 2017 East Regional semifinals, got the ball in hands of Chiozza, who went coast-to-coast and sank a running three-pointer at the buzzer for 84-83 triumph. |
| Fran Corcoran | Canisius | Corcoran's jumper with four seconds remaining - his only points of the four-overtime game - catapulted the Golden Griffins to a 79-78 success against #2-ranked North Carolina State in first round of 1956 East Regional. |
| Davonte "Devo" Davis | Arkansas | Lefthanded jumper by freshman in traffic off penetration dribble from midway down right side of free-throw lane with 3.1 seconds remaining lifted Razorbacks to 72-70 success against Oral Roberts in 2021 South Regional semifinal. |
| Todd Day | Arkansas | Follow-up of his own missed shot with three seconds remaining raised Razorbacks to an 86-84 win against Dayton in second round of 1990 Midwest Regional. |
| Cameron Dollar | UCLA | Short runner in middle of lane with less than two seconds remaining after length-of-the-court drive in overtime upended Iowa State, 74-73, in 1997 Midwest Regional semifinals. |
| Leonard Drake | Central Michigan | Converted pair of free throws after time expired in 77-75 nod over Georgetown in first round of 1975 Mideast Regional. The contest marked first NCAA Tournament appearance for CMU and Hoyas coach John Thompson Jr. |
| Bryce Drew | Valparaiso | Signature three-pointer after touch pass following three-quarter court pass from minor-league baseball player on baseline to another hoop teammate gave #13 seed a 70-69 victory against Ole Miss in first round of 1998 Midwest Regional. |
| Tyus Edney | UCLA | Length-of-the-court drive mixing in behind-the-back dribble before layup from right side gave #1 seed a 75-74 triumph against Missouri in second round of 1995 West Regional. |
| James Forrest | Georgia Tech | Freshman forward, who didn't attempt a three-pointer all year, nailed a desperation shot from beyond the arc on left side after receiving sideline out-of-bounds pass for 79-78 win against Southern California in second round of 1992 Midwest Regional. |
| Rick Fox | North Carolina | Drive along right baseline for leaning bank shot in 79-77 upset of top-ranked Oklahoma in second round of 1990 Midwest Regional. |
| Kevin Gamble | Iowa | Straight-away three-pointer with one second remaining in overtime against Oklahoma provided 93-91 triumph in 1987 West Regional semifinals. |
| Tate George | Connecticut | Turnaround jumper from right baseline after length-of-the-court pass from eventual MLB first-round draft choice Scott Burrell clipped Clemson, 71-70, in 1990 East Regional semifinals. |
| Clarence Gilbert | Missouri | Jumper from 15 feet helped withstand furious Georgia rally, 70-68, in first round of 2001 East Regional. |
| Clarence Glover | Western Kentucky | Pretending to tie his shoestring after an opponent's turnover, he received an in-bounds pass in closing seconds and put in decisive basket in 74-72 nod over Jacksonville in first round of 1971 Mideast Regional. |
| Demetri Goodson | Gonzaga | Short running bank shot from left side of lane following length-of-the court drive by eventual Baylor CB and NFL draft choice lifted Zags to 83-81 triumph against Western Kentucky in second round of 2009 South Regional. |
| Jeff Green | Georgetown | It looked like a walk violation, but Green squeezed through traffic to sink jumper off spin move from right side of lane with 2.5 seconds remaining in 66-65 verdict over Vanderbilt in 2007 East Regional semifinals. |
| Richard Hamilton | Connecticut | Off-balance fall-away in lane following rebound gave Huskies a 75-74 win against Washington in 1998 East Regional semifinals. |
| Bob Heaton | Indiana State | Shifted ball from his normal right hand to left for short shot bouncing twice on rim before going down with one second remaining to send Sycamores to 73-71 success against Arkansas in 1979 Midwest Regional final. |
| Jeff Hodge | South Alabama | Desperation three-pointer off broken play in waning moments gave USA an 86-84 victory against Alabama in opening round of 1989 Southeast Regional. |
| Shaheen Holloway | Seton Hall | Mercurial point guard drove length of the court through and around a double-team to score on a scoop shot high off the glass from middle of lane with 1.9 seconds remaining in overtime to frustrate Oregon, 72-71, in first round of 2000 East Regional. |
| Jeff Hornacek | Iowa State | Fall-away 25-footer from left side off an out-of-bounds pass with two seconds remaining in overtime gave the Cyclones their first NCAA playoff victory in 42 years - 81-79 against Miami (Ohio) in opening round of 1986 Midwest Regional. |
| R.J. Hunter | Georgia State | Son knocked his excited father/coach (Ron Hunter) off stool along sideline with long straight-on three pointer with 2.6 seconds remaining to give Panthers a 57-56 success against #3 seed Baylor in first round of 2015 Midwest Regional. |
| Donte Ingram | Loyola of Chicago | Straight-on three-pointer from well beyond arc propelled Ramblers to 64-62 success against Miami (Fla.) in 2018 South Regional first round. |
| De'Jon Jackson | San Diego | Fade-away 18-footer from right side with 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime for #13 seed accounted for 70-69 decision over UConn in 2008 West Regional. |
| Marius Janulis | Syracuse | Lithuanian sank a three-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining - his second trey in final minute - to lift the Orangemen to a 63-61 win against Iona in first round of 1998 South Regional. |
| Kris Jenkins | Villanova | On the heels of miracle off-balance three-pointer by North Carolina's Marcus Paige tying the score at 74-74 with fewer than five seconds remaining, Jenkins responded by drilling a game-winning trey from right side following clever hand-off by Nova's playmaker in 2016 title tilt. |
| Paul Jesperson | Northern Iowa | Half-court bank shot after several dribbles crossing from right sideline to middle of hardwood propelled #11 seed to a 75-72 nod over Texas in opening round of 2016 West Regional. |
| Mike Jones | Wichita State | Two long-range baskets from left side in last 50 seconds - second jumper with three ticks remaining - sent Shockers to 66-65 decision over Kansas in 1981 Midwest Regional semifinal in first game between the schools in 36 years. |
| DeAndre Kane | Iowa State | Layup high off backboard with less than two seconds remaining after driving down middle of lane lifted Cyclones to 85-83 victory against North Carolina in second round of 2014 East Regional. |
| Jason Kidd | California | Twisting layup from right side with one second remaining following drive down lane enabled the Bears to edge Louisiana State, 66-64, in first round of 1993 Midwest Regional. |
| Jimmy King | Michigan | Offensive rebound put-back basket with 1.5 seconds remaining after off-balance miss by teammate Jalen Rose enabled the Wolverines to complete rally from 19-point, first-half deficit and give them an 86-84 overtime success against UCLA in 1993 West Regional second round. |
| Bronson Koenig | Wisconsin | Swished three-pointer from right corner off sideline out-of-bounds play in 66-63 triumph against #2 seed Xavier in second round of 2016 East Regional. His decisive basket left him 16-of-31 from beyond the arc in last five minutes of games during the season. |
| Chris Kramer | Purdue | Drive past one defender down left side of lane and right-handed layup with 4.2 seconds remaining over another defender taller than him boosted Boilermakers past Texas A&M, 63-61, in overtime in second round of 2010 South Regional. |
| Christian Laettner (1) | Duke | After in-bounding ball with 2.6 seconds remaining in overtime, he received it back and converted contorted leaner from left side for 79-78 win against UConn in 1990 East Regional final. |
| Christian Laettner (2) | Duke | In perhaps most memorable shot in NCAA playoff history, he received pass from opposite baseline from Grant Hill and sank turnaround jumper near top of the key for 104-103 overtime victory against Kentucky in 1992 East Regional final. |
| Orlando Lamb | Virginia Commonwealth | Contested free-throw line jumper at buzzer propelled Rams to 70-69 win against Jim Calhoun-coached Northeastern in first round of 1984 East Regional. |
| Jim Lee | Syracuse | Mid-range jumper from left wing with five seconds remaining put Orangemen ahead in 78-76 win against North Carolina in 1975 East Regional semifinal. |
| Gabe Lewullis | Princeton | Layup from the right side of basket off a back-door cut with less than four seconds remaining proved decisive for #13 seed in 43-41 triumph against defending NCAA champion UCLA in first round of 1996 Southeast Regional. |
| Chris Lofton | Tennessee | Jumper from right corner after receiving sideline in-bounds pass for #2 seed in 63-61 win against upstart Winthrop in first round of 2006 Washington/East Regional. |
| Brook Lopez | Stanford | Dropped in twisting right-baseline leaner with 1.3 seconds remaining to outlast Marquette in overtime, 82-81, in second round of 2008 South Regional. |
| Korie Lucious | Michigan State | Straight-on three-pointer from top of key at buzzer in 85-83 decision over Maryland in second round of 2010 Midwest Regional. |
| Luke Maye | North Carolina | Jumper from left side just inside three-point arc with 0.3 seconds remaining was the difference in 75-73 win against Kentucky in 2017 South Regional final. |
| Eric Maynor | Virginia Commonwealth | Swished jumper off dribble move from just beyond middle of free-throw line with 1.8 seconds left for 79-77 upset win against Duke in 2007 West Regional opener. |
| Ken McCally | Navy | After two-minute freeze, reserve made 20-foot one-handed basket with two seconds remaining to give Midshipmen a 69-67 win against Cornell in 1954 East Regional semifinals. |
| Mike Miller | Florida | Fall-down short shot driving left side of lane in overtime gave eventual national runner-up a 69-68 nod over Butler in first round of 2000 East Regional. |
| Darrel Mitchell | Louisiana State | Long three-pointer with 3.9 seconds remaining enabled the Tigers to top Texas A&M, 58-57, in second round of 2006 South/Atlanta Regional. |
| Ronald Moore | Siena | Connecting from identical spot where he made three-pointer at end of first overtime, another trey with fewer than four seconds left in second OT sent the Saints past Ohio State, 74-72, in first round of 2009 Midwest Regional. |
| Rick Mount | Purdue | Mid-range jumper from the right side with one tick remaining in overtime boosted Boilermakers to 75-73 success against Marquette in 1969 Mideast Regional final. |
| Maurice Newby | Northern Iowa | Three-point basket from left side with two seconds remaining in 74-71 triumph against #3 seed Missouri in first round of 1990 Southeast Regional. |
| Drew Nicholas | Maryland | Dribbled much of length of court before firing three-pointer from right side to nip UNC Wilmington, 75-73, in first round of 2003 South Regional. |
| Freddie Owens | Wisconsin | Lefthander's three-pointer from left corner capped comeback from 13-point deficit in a 61-60 success against Tulsa in second round of 2003 Midwest Regional. |
| Kenton Paulino | Texas | Three-pointer from left side propelled #2 seed to a 74-71 victory against West Virginia in Sweet 16 of 2006 Atlanta/South Regional. |
| Ron Pflueger | Notre Dame | Tip-in with 1.5 seconds remaining climaxed a 76-75 come-from-behind victory against upstart Stephen F. Austin in second round of 2016 East Regional. |
| Quincy Pondexter | Washington | Driving short bank shot from left side with 1.7 seconds remaining in an 80-78 win against Marquette in opening round of 2010 East Regional. |
| Jordan Poole | Michigan | Spread-eagle trey from well beyond the arc on right side gave Wolverines a 64-63 triumph over Houston in 2018 West Regional second round. |
| Ken Pryor | Oklahoma | Backup's only basket in 1947 tourney, a two-handed banked set shot from left wing in closing seconds, gave OU a 55-54 success against Texas in national semifinals. |
| U.S. Reed | Arkansas | In aftermath of clutch field goal by Louisville's Derek Smith, a criss-crossing drive down right side resulted in mid-court heave giving Hogs a 74-73 win in second round of 1981 Midwest Regional. |
| Don Reid | Georgetown | Grabbed Allen Iverson's three-pointer falling short of rim and flipped ball back over his head for basket in 53-51 victory against Weber State in second round of 1995 Southeast Regional. |
| Scottie Reynolds | Villanova | Length-of-court drive and successful short jumper in middle of lane against #1 seed Pittsburgh for 78-76 triumph in 2009 East Regional final. |
| Cameron Ridley | Texas | Lefthanded basket at buzzer off rebound of missed shot lifted Longhorns to 87-85 triumph against Arizona State in first round of 2014 Midwest Regional. |
| Ty Rogers | Western Kentucky | Desperation 30-foot three-pointer from right side in overtime against Drake lifted WKU to 101-99 first-round victory in 2008 West Regional. |
| Vic Rouse | Loyola of Chicago | Junior forward jumped high to redirect center Les Hunter's shot from free-throw line into the basket to climax Ramblers' first year in playoffs with 60-58 overtime success against Cincinnati in 1963 championship game. |
| Tyrone Sally | West Virginia | After blocking a three-point attempt, Sally raced downcourt for decisive dunk with fewer than three seconds remaining to propel Mountaineers to a 63-61 verdict over Creighton in first round of 2005 Albuquerque/West Regional. |
| Vee Sanford | Dayton | Flyers edged Ohio State, 60-59, in first round of 2014 South Regional when Sanford banked in short runner down right side of lane with 3.8 seconds remaining. |
| Charlie Scott | North Carolina | Basket at the buzzer from the Tar Heels' first African-American player beat Lefty Driesell-coached Davidson, 87-85, in 1969 East Regional final. |
| Keith Smart | Indiana | Junior college recruit, IU's fifth-leading scorer, tallied 12 of the Hoosiers' final 15 points, including 15-foot jumper from left baseline to give them a 74-73 victory against Syracuse in 1987 championship game. |
| Ishmael Smith | Wake Forest | Jumper from right side with less than two seconds remaining capped comeback from eight-point deficit in overtime in an 81-80 win against Texas in opening round of 2010 East Regional. |
| John Smith | Saint Joseph's | Converted layup after adroit pass from teammate in right corner with three seconds remaining in 49-48 decision over top-ranked DePaul in second round of 1981 Mideast Regional. |
| Steve Smith | Michigan State | Three-pointer near top of the key with one tick remaining beat Wisconsin-Green Bay, 61-58, in 1991 West Regional opener. |
| Dave Sorenson | Ohio State | Banked in shot with three seconds remaining to give OSU an 82-81 victory against Kentucky in 1968 Mideast Regional final at Lexington, Ky., where fifth-ranked UK failed to lose all season. |
| Terence Stansbury | Temple | Swished 25-footer for 65-63 win against St. John's in first round of 1984 East Regional after All-American Chris Mullin, a 91% free-throw shooter, missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity. |
| Salim Stoudamire | Arizona | Lefthander hit off-balance jumper from left side with less than three seconds remaining to nip Oklahoma State, 79-78, in 2005 Chicago/Midwest Regional semifinals. |
| Jalen Suggs | Gonzaga | Freshman banked in a three-pointer on run after crossing mid-court at end of first overtime to give Zags a 93-90 win over UCLA in 2021 national semifinal. |
| Robert Tatum | Ohio University | Freshman picked up a loose ball at left corner of free-throw line before nailing fade-away, double-clutch shot for 51-49 triumph against Illinois State in first round of 1983 Mideast Regional. |
| Terrell Taylor | Creighton | His eighth three-pointer of game (following move after receiving out-of-bounds pass from left sideline) gave Bluejays an 83-82 double-overtime win against Florida in first round of 2002 Midwest Regional. |
| Danero Thomas | Murray State | Fall-away jumper from right side just inside three-point arc for #13 seed secured a 66-65 verdict over Vanderbilt in 2010 West Regional. |
| Wayman Tisdale | Oklahoma | Lefthander's turnaround jumper from eight feet out along the left baseline bounced multiple times on rim before falling through with :02 remaining in overtime to give Sooners an 86-84 win against Karl Malone-led Louisiana Tech in 1985 Midwest Regional semifinals. |
| Andre Turner | Memphis State | "Little General" contributed back-to-back free-throw high, game-winning jumpers in Midwest Regional (67-66 vs. UAB with five seconds left in overtime and shot at buzzer in 59-57 success vs. Boston College) to carry Tigers to 1985 Final Four. |
| David Vaughn III | Memphis State | Put-back field goal from right baseline with 1.1 seconds remaining after teammate's missed mid-range jumper from other side of court propelled Tigers to 75-73 victory against Purdue in second round of 1995 Midwest Regional. |
| Jermaine Wallace | Northwestern State | Step-back three-pointer from left corner after retrieving long rebound catapulted Demons to triumph over #3 seed Iowa, 64-63, in first round of 2006 Atlanta/South Regional. |
| John Wallace | Syracuse | Lean-in three-pointer with less than three seconds remaining in overtime produced 83-81 win against Georgia in 1996 West Regional semifinals. |
| Richard Washington | UCLA | Short jumper from right baseline in closing seconds of overtime boosted the Bruins to 75-74 win over Louisville in 1975 national semifinals in coach John Wooden's swan song. |
| Tremont Waters | Louisiana State | Scoop layup driving down right side of lane in traffic with 1.6 seconds remaining gave the Tigers a 69-67 success against Maryland in second round of 2019 East Regional. |
| Jarrod West | West Virginia | Banked in long three-pointer with less than one second remaining for a 75-74 victory against #2 seed Cincinnati in second round of 1998 West Regional. UC had just made a trey seconds earlier. |
| Herb Wilkinson | Utah | Freshman swingman connected from beyond head of the key with three seconds remaining to give Utes a 42-40 overtime win against Dartmouth in 1944 championship game. |
| Danny Young | Wake Forest | Drove to hoop for basket and 73-71 triumph in overtime against #1 seed DePaul in 1984 Midwest Regional semifinals, spoiling legendary coach Ray Meyer's swan song. |
UK and UNC Still Rank 1-2 in Most All-Americans Despite Both Shut Out Again
March 27th, 2021 - 12:29
Despite being shut out each of last two years, Kentucky and North Carolina still rank 1-2 for most All-American honorees over the years. Duke isn't far behind UK and UNC although none of the Blue Devils' All-Americans came from the state of North Carolina (20 different states plus District of Columbia).
Illinois, Notre Dame and Purdue never have won an NCAA championship despite all three schools supplying more than 20 different individuals as All-Americans. Following is a list of the top 10 universities boasting the most All-Americans since 1928-29 (AP, Converse, NABC, UPI and USBWA):
Rank School (Different Individuals) Rank School (Total # of All-Americans) 1. Kentucky (48) 1. North Carolina (74) 2. North Carolina (45) 2. Kentucky (73) 3. Duke (44) 3. Duke (67) 4. Indiana (42) 4. Kansas (58) 5. Kansas (40) 5. Indiana (57) 6. Illinois (33) 6. UCLA (48) 7. UCLA (32) 7. Ohio State (47) 8. Ohio State (30) 8. Notre Dame (44) 9. Notre Dame (26) 9. Illinois (38) 10. Purdue (22) 10. Purdue (33) 11. Michigan (21) 12. Syracuse (20)
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