Personal Items: Few Things You Need to Know About 2017 Final Four Coaches

Did You Know?: Three of this year's Final Four coaches didn't play college basketball (all but Dana Altman). Naturally, there is a tendency to overindulge at an all-you-can-eat buffet. Anyone digesting the following assortment of did-you-know facts on 2017 Final Four coaches should find that variety is the spice of this smorgasbord:

• Dana Altman (Oregon): First coach in Creighton history to participate in at least five consecutive national postseason tournaments. The Bluejays appeared in either the NCAA playoffs or NIT in 12 successive years from 1998 through 2009.

• Mark Few (Gonzaga): Never was a head coach at any level before inheriting that position after Dan Monson departed for Minnesota. Few was an assistant for two different Oregon high schools before becoming an aide with the Zags under Dan Fitzgerald and Monson. Few's wedding vows in 1994 were exchanged with Rev. Norm Few, the father of the groom.

• Frank Martin (South Carolina): The son of Cuban immigrants served as a bouncer at a nightclub while attending Florida International in Miami.

• Roy Williams (North Carolina): Coached eventual Tar Heels All-American Brad Daugherty in fourth grade. Williams' son, Scott, was a backup guard with the Tar Heels.

Drawing upon all resources including degrees of success to motivate their teams, following are the educational backgrounds of the Final Four coaches:

Close likely will determine who gets to smoke the victory cigar. Few boasts the best mark among active coaches in at least 120 tight tilts decided by fewer than six points. Ask Arizona fans if close doesn't count after the Wildcats lost five regional finals from 2003 through 2015 by a total of 14 points. Following is how the Final Four mentors have fared at the major-college level in games decided by fewer than six points: