Final Four Feedback: Personal Items on Coaches Revisiting National Semifinals

This year marks only the fifth occasion when all four coaches converged on the national semifinals with previous Final Four experience although the fourth different Kentucky mentor is represented. Following is a look at the four years when coaches got back to business at the Final Four:

• 1951 - Illinois (Harry Combes), Kansas State (Jack Gardner), Kentucky (Adolph Rupp), Oklahoma A&M (Hank Iba)

• 1968 - Houston (Guy Lewis), North Carolina (Dean Smith), Ohio State (Fred Taylor), UCLA (John Wooden)

• 1984 - Georgetown (John Thompson Jr.), Houston (Guy Lewis), Kentucky (Joe B. Hall), Virginia (Terry Holland)

• 1993 - Kansas (Roy Williams), Kentucky (Rick Pitino), Michigan (Steve Fisher), North Carolina (Dean Smith)

• 2012 - Kansas (Bill Self), Kentucky (John Calipari), Louisville (Rick Pitino), Ohio State (Thad Matta)

There is a tendency to overindulge at an all-you-can-eat buffet. Anyone digesting the following assortment of incisive facts on this year's national semifinal coaches should find that variety is the spice of CollegeHoopedia's smorgasbord. Remember: If a morsel isn't appetizing, don't be a glutton for punishment in trying to comprehend what makes these veterans tick. Just proceed directly to the next tidbit. Sooner or later, there's bound to be a factoid you can savor as the Final Four unfolds in New Orleans.

KANSAS: Bill Self served as an assistant on the Big Eight Conference coaching staffs of Larry Brown (Kansas) and Eddie Sutton (Oklahoma State). Self, an Oklahoma State alumnus, played in the Big Eight against Maryland coach Mark Turgeon (Kansas) and top two NBA draft picks Steve Stipanovich (2nd selection overall in 1983/attended Missouri), Wayman Tisdale (2nd in 1985/Oklahoma) and Danny Manning (1st in 1988/Kansas). Self, Oklahoma's High School Player of the Year over Tisdale in 1980-81, directed Oral Roberts to the nation's best winning percentage among independent schools in 1996 (18-9) and 1997 (21-7).

KENTUCKY: John Calipari lettered two years for UNC Wilmington before transferring to Clarion (PA) State.

LOUISVILLE: Rick Pitino averaged more assists per game (5.6) than points (4.7) in his two-year playing career with Massachusetts. Al Skinner, Boston College's all-time winningest coach, was captain of the 1973-74 UMass squad that was led in assists by Pitino for the second straight season.

OHIO STATE: Thad Matta, a transfer from Southern Illinois, led Butler in assists and three-point field-goal percentage in 1987-88 and free-throw percentage in 1988-89. He was involved in postseason play in each of his six seasons as a full-time assistant coach from 1994-95 through 1999-2000 with Miami (Ohio), Western Carolina and Butler. At first glance, Matta is a native of the ultimate smaller Illinois basketball community named Hoopeston. However, the town rhymes with "up" not "hoop."

Naturally, there are varying degrees of success. NCAA Tournament coaches need to draw upon all of their resources, including educational backgrounds, to motivate their clubs. Following is a quick glance at the bachelor's diplomas earned by the mentors in this year's Final Four:

There has been some smooth sailing, but it is usually a rugged road en route to becoming NCAA kingpin. Most titlists are severely tested at least once on the meandering tourney trail. A total of 48 champions have won a minimum of one playoff game by four points or less, including 22 titlists to win at least one contest by just one point. Following are the W-L records of Final Four coaches in major-college games decided by fewer than six points: