Melting Pot: Each Final Four Team Roster Boasts International Representation

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

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

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

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

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.

Answers (Day 18)

Day 17 Questions and Answers

Day 16 Questions and Answers

Day 15 Questions and Answers

Day 14 Questions and Answers

Day 13 Questions and Answers

Day 12 Questions and Answers

Day 11 Questions and Answers

Day 10 Questions and Answers

Day 9 Questions and Answers

Day 8 Questions and Answers

Day 7 Questions and Answers

Day 6 Questions and Answers

Day 5 Questions and Answers

Day 4 Questions and Answers

Day 3 Questions and Answers

Day 2 Questions and Answers

Day 1 Questions and Answers

Fresh Faces: Mick Cronin and Scott Drew Make Final Four Coaching Debuts

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):

*Subsequently returned to the Final Four.

We Shall Return: Baylor Back at National Semifinals First Time in 71 Years

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

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

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.

Answers (Day 17)

Day 16 Questions and Answers

Day 15 Questions and Answers

Day 14 Questions and Answers

Day 13 Questions and Answers

Day 12 Questions and Answers

Day 11 Questions and Answers

Day 10 Questions and Answers

Day 9 Questions and Answers

Day 8 Questions and Answers

Day 7 Questions and Answers

Day 6 Questions and Answers

Day 5 Questions and Answers

Day 4 Questions and Answers

Day 3 Questions and Answers

Day 2 Questions and Answers

Day 1 Questions and Answers

Only One Player in 21st Century Has Averaged More Than 30 Points Per Game

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:

Year Leading NCAA DI Scorer School Avg. High Game Low Game
1936 Hank Luisetti Stanford 14.3 31 (Utah State)
1937 Hank Luisetti Stanford 17.1 unavailable
1938 Chester Jaworski Rhode Island State 21.0 unavailable
1939 Chester Jaworski Rhode Island State 22.6 unavailable
1940 Stan Modzelewski Rhode Island State 23.1 40 (Connecticut)
1941 Stan Modzelewski Rhode Island State 18.5 unavailable
1942 Stan Modzelewski Rhode Island State 21.4 unavailable
1943 George Senesky St. Joseph's 23.4 44 (Rutgers-Newark) 4 (Elizabethtown PA)
1944 Ernie Calverley Rhode Island State 26.7 48 (Maine)
1945 George Mikan DePaul 23.3 53 (Rhode Island State)
1946 George Mikan DePaul 23.1 37 (Indiana State)
1947 Bob Brown Miami (Ohio) 19.9 39 (Evansville)
1948 Murray Wier Iowa 21.0 34 (Illinois) 5 (Purdue)
1949 Tony Lavelli Yale 22.4 52 (Williams MA) 8 (Stanford/Villanova)
1950 Paul Arizin Villanova 25.3 41 (Seton Hall)
1951 Bill Mlkvy Temple 29.2 73 (Wilkes PA)
1952 Clyde Lovellette Kansas 28.4 44 (St. Louis) 13 (Iowa State)
1953 Frank Selvy Furman 29.5 63 (Mercer) 15 (Manhattan)
1954 Frank Selvy Furman 41.7 100 (Newberry SC) 25 (Newberry SC)
1955 Darrell Floyd Furman 35.9 67 (Morehead State) 20 (Newberry SC/Washington & Lee VA)
1956 Darrell Floyd Furman 33.8 62 (The Citadel) 18 (Davidson)
1957 Grady Wallace South Carolina 31.2 54 (Georgia) 14 (North Carolina State)
1958 Oscar Robertson Cincinnati 35.1 56 (Seton Hall/Arkansas) 16 (Drake)
1959 Oscar Robertson Cincinnati 32.6 45 (NYU) 13 (Houston)
1960 Oscar Robertson Cincinnati 33.7 62 (North Texas) 13 (Duquesne)
1961 Frank Burgess Gonzaga 32.4 52 (UC Davis)
1962 Billy McGill Utah 38.8 60 (Brigham Young)
1963 Nick Werkman Seton Hall 29.5 42 (St. Francis PA) 11 (Boston College)
1964 Howard Komives Bowling Green State 36.7 50 (Niagara) 25 (Toledo)
1965 Rick Barry Miami FL 37.4 59 (Rollins FL) 17 (Florida State)
1966 Dave Schellhase Purdue 32.5 57 (Michigan) 23 (UCLA)
1967 Jimmy Walker Providence 30.4 47 (Holy Cross) 5 (Villanova)
1968 Pete Maravich Louisiana State 43.8 59 (Alabama) 17 (Tennessee)
1969 Pete Maravich Louisiana State 44.2 66 (Tulane) 20 (Tennessee)
1970 Pete Maravich Louisiana State 44.5 69 (Alabama) 20 (Georgetown/Marquette)
1971 Johnny Neumann Mississippi 40.1 63 (Louisiana State) 17 (Louisiana State)
1972 Dwight "Bo" Lamar Southwestern Louisiana 36.3 51 (Louisiana Tech/Lamar)
1973 William "Bird" Averitt Pepperdine 33.9 57 (Nevada-Reno) 10 (Clemson)
1974 Larry Fogle Canisius 33.4 55 (St. Peter's) 18 (South Carolina)
1975 Bob McCurdy Richmond 32.9 53 (Appalachian State)
1976 Marshall Rogers Texas-Pan American 36.8 58 (Texas Lutheran)
1977 Freeman Williams Portland State 38.8 71 (Southern Oregon) 11 (Gonzaga)
1978 Freeman Williams Portland State 35.9 81 (Rocky Mountain MT) 14 (New Mexico)
1979 Lawrence Butler Idaho State 30.1 41 (SDSU/Boise State/UNLV) 12 (Georgia)
1980 Tony Murphy Southern 32.1 50 (Mississippi Valley State)
1981 Zam Fredrick South Carolina 28.9 43 (Georgia Southern)
1982 Harry Kelly Texas Southern 29.7 51 (Texas College)
1983 Harry Kelly Texas Southern 28.8 60 (Jarvis Christian TX)
1984 Joe Jakubick Akron 30.1 42 (Illinois-Chicago) unavailable
1985 Xavier McDaniel Wichita State 27.2 44 (West Texas State) 13 (Ohio University)
1986 Terrance Bailey Wagner 29.4 49 (Brooklyn) 15 (Fairleigh Dickinson)
1987 Kevin Houston Army 32.9 53 (Fordham) 18 (Holy Cross)
1988 Hersey Hawkins Bradley 36.3 63 (Detroit) 17 (Tulsa)
1989 Hank Gathers Loyola Marymount 32.7 49 (Nevada) 22 (Pepperdine)
1990 Greg "Bo" Kimble Loyola Marymount 35.3 54 (St. Joseph's) 21 (UNLV/Gonzaga)
1991 Kevin Bradshaw U.S. International 37.6 72 (Loyola Marymount)
1992 Brett Roberts Morehead State 28.1 53 (Middle Tennessee State)
1993 Greg Guy Texas-Pan American 29.3 38 (Jacksonville) 13 (Lamar)
1994 Glenn Robinson Jr. Purdue 30.3 49 (Illinois) 15 (Wisconsin)
1995 Kurt Thomas Texas Christian 28.9 45 (Illinois-Chicago) 13 (Virginia Tech)
1996 Kevin Granger Texas Southern 27.0 unavailable
1997 Charles Jones Long Island 30.1 46 (St. Francis PA) 16 (UAB)
1998 Charles Jones Long Island 29.0 53 (Medgar Evers NY) 16 (Mount St. Mary's)
1999 Alvin Young Niagara 25.1 44 (Siena) 3 (Iona)
2000 Courtney Alexander Fresno State 24.8 43 (UAB) 11 (Wisconsin)
2001 Ronnie McCollum Centenary 29.1 44 (Northwestern State) 14 (Louisiana State)
2002 Jason Conley Virginia Military 29.3 42 (Western Carolina) 17 (Eastern Mennonite VA)
2003 Ruben Douglas New Mexico 28.0 43 (Wyoming) 12 (Pepperdine)
2004 Keydren Clark St. Peter's 26.7 39 (Hofstra) 17 (Loyola/BSC/Niagara)
2005 Keydren Clark St. Peter's 25.8 43 (College Of Charleston) 14 (Tennessee Tech/Rider)
2006 Adam Morrison Gonzaga 28.1 44 (Loyola Marymount) 11 (San Diego)
2007 Reggie Williams Virginia Military 28.1 45 ((Virginia Intermont) 9 (Army)
2008 Reggie Williams Virginia Military 27.8 43 (Southern Virginia) 10 (Richmond)
2009 Stephen Curry Davidson 28.6 44 (Oklahoma/North Carolina State) 0 (Loyola MD)
2010 Aubrey Coleman Houston 25.6 38 (Tulane) 10 (Texas-San Antonio)
2011 Jimmer Fredette Brigham Young 28.9 52 (New Mexico) 13 (Creighton/Fresno Pacific)
2012 Reggie Hamilton Oakland 26.2 41 (Valparaiso) 11 (Arkansas)
2013 Erick Green Virginia Tech 25.0 35 (Virginia/Wake Forest) 12 (Brigham Young)
2014 Doug McDermott Creighton 26.7 45 (Providence) 7 (George Washington)
2015 Tyler Harvey Eastern Washington 23.1 42 (Idaho) 9 (Sacramento State)
2016 James Daniel III Howard University 27.1 39 (William & Mary) 15 (Norfolk State)
2017 Marcus Keene Central Michigan 30.0 50 (Miami OH) 12 (Miami OH)
2018 Trae Young Oklahoma 27.4 48 (Oklahoma State) 11 (Kansas)
2019 Chris Clemons Campbell 30.1 48 (Hampton) 14 (Hampton)
2020 Markus Howard Marquette 27.8 51 (Southern California) 6 (Maryland)
2021 Max Abmas Oral Roberts 24.5 41 (Western Illinois) 8 (Southwestern Christian)

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

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

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

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.

Answers (Day 16)

Day 15 Questions and Answers

Day 14 Questions and Answers

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Day 12 Questions and Answers

Day 11 Questions and Answers

Day 10 Questions and Answers

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Day 8 Questions and Answers

Day 7 Questions and Answers

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Day 1 Questions and Answers

Unfinished Business: Bama, BYU, Mizzou & USU Remain Haunted by Final 4

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

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

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

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

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.

Answers (Day 15)

Day 14 Questions and Answers

Day 13 Questions and Answers

Day 12 Questions and Answers

Day 11 Questions and Answers

Day 10 Questions and Answers

Day 9 Questions and Answers

Day 8 Questions and Answers

Day 7 Questions and Answers

Day 6 Questions and Answers

Day 5 Questions and Answers

Day 4 Questions and Answers

Day 3 Questions and Answers

Day 2 Questions and Answers

Day 1 Questions and Answers

Mr. Big Shot: Suggs Delivers Heroics for Gonzaga With Semis Buzzer Beater

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

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)

College Exam: Day #14 of One-and-Only NCAA Tournament Trivia Challenge

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 14 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 compile a losing record in a season it won on the road against a conference rival later capturing the NCAA championship. Hint: The school is a former national titlist itself, but had just one winning league mark in 12 years from 1977-78 through 1988-89.

2. Name the only school to compile a conference record of more than 10 games below .500 in a season it defeated a league rival becoming NCAA champion. Hint: The school, which finished in first or second place in league competition four consecutive seasons in early 1930s, had 44 consecutive non-winning records in conference play before securing its first tourney appearance.

3. Name the only school to trail by at least 10 points at halftime of a tournament game and end up winning the contest by more than 20. Hint: A prominent network broadcaster played for the team. The next year, the school became the only one in tourney history to win back-to-back overtime games by double-digit margins.

4. Who is the only coach to lose in back-to-back seasons to teams seeded 14th or worse? Hint: He captured an NCAA championship later that decade.

5. Name the only double-digit seeded team to reach the Final Four until Virginia Commonwealth achieved the feat last year. Hint: It's the worst-seeded school to defeat a #1 seed, a conference rival that defeated the team a total of three times that year during the regular season and postseason league tournament. The next year, the university became only school to reach back-to-back regional finals as a double-digit seed.

6. Name the only school to win a regional final game it trailed by more than 15 points at halftime. Hint: The school lost its next game at the Final Four to a team that dropped a conference game against the regional final opponent by a double-figure margin. Three years later, it became the only school to score more than 100 points in a championship game and win national final by more than 21 points.

7. Who is the only team-leading scorer to be held more than 25 points under his season average in a Final Four game? Hint: He scored 39 points against the same opponent earlier in the season to help end the third-longest winning streak in major-college history. He is the only player to lead the playoffs in scoring and rebounding in back-to-back seasons although he wasn't named to the All-Tournament team one of those years despite becoming the only player to lead a tourney in scoring by more than 60 points. In addition, he is the only player in tournament history to collect more than 40 points and 25 rebounds in same game.

8. Name the only school to lead the nation in scoring offense and win the NCAA title in the same season. Hint: The top four scorers were undergraduates for the only titlist to win all of its NCAA Tournament games by more than 15 points.

9. Name the only school to play in as many as three overtime games in a single tournament. Hint: One of the three overtime affairs was a national third-place game.

10. Who is the only Final Four Most Outstanding Player to go scoreless in two NCAA Tournament games in a previous year? Hint: His NBA scoring average decreased each of last nine seasons in the league after becoming Rookie of the Year.

Answers (Day 14)

Day 13 Questions and Answers

Day 12 Questions and Answers

Day 11 Questions and Answers

Day 10 Questions and Answers

Day 9 Questions and Answers

Day 8 Questions and Answers

Day 7 Questions and Answers

Day 6 Questions and Answers

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Day 3 Questions and Answers

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Day 1 Questions and Answers

Special K's Disciples: Krzyzewski Aides Have Compiled Losing Tourney Mark

In aftermath of 24 consecutive appearances in tourney coming to a halt, one of the biggest questions bubbling up from time to time deals with who is most likely to eventually succeed Mike Krzyzewski as coach at Duke. Let's face it! We won't get the answer from halftime fielding of blah lack-of-info babe how-do-you-feel questions. During the regular season, Krzyzewski has frequently dispatched one of his minions to endure such aimless interrogation torture probably in order to reduce risk of re-injuring back wincing at their incurable futility.

Coaching community shills frequently proclaim automatic success for Duke assistants when they become bench bosses. But the overall impact of Coach K's 12 disciples in the aftermath of serving under the all-time winningest major-college mentor has been anything but special. They've combined for a losing mark in the NCAA playoffs (more than 60 fewer tourney triumphs than Coach K's all-time high of 97) and only three regional final appearances (Quin Snyder with Missouri in 2002 before Mike Brey with Notre Dame in 2015 and 2016). Nate James is next on hit list (hired by Austin Peay), joining the following alphabetical list summarizing impact of Krzyzewski's assistants after they left his incubator and became a DI bench boss on their own:

Coach K Assistant NCAA Tourney Mark Biggest Flaw of DI Head Coaching Career
Tommy Amaker 4-5 14 games below .500 in power conference competition in 10 years with Seton Hall and Michigan
Bob Bender 2-3 36 games below .500 in power conference competition in nine seasons with Washington
Mike Brey 13-14 no NCAA Tournament Final Four appearance with Notre Dame
Jeff Capel III 4-3 24 games below in ACC competition with Pitt in first three seasons
Chris Collins 1-1 51 games below .500 in Big Ten Conference play in first eight seasons with Northwestern
Johnny Dawkins 3-2 only one NCAA playoff appearance and 10 games below .500 in Pac-10/12 Conference play in eight seasons with Stanford before dismissal led him to UCF and entertaining NCAA playoff game in 2019
Mike Dement 0-1 losing conference mark in SWC and WAC in nine seasons with Southern Methodist
David Henderson DNP losing overall record in six seasons with Delaware
Tim O'Toole DNP losing overall record in eight seasons with Fairfield
Quin Snyder 5-4 never finished among undisputed top five in Big 12 Conference and compiled cumulative losing mark in last three of seven seasons with Missouri
Chuck Swenson DNP lost more than 2/3 of his games in seven seasons with William & Mary
Steve Wojciechowski 0-2 losing Big East Conference record in seven seasons with Marquette before dismissal

NOTE: Duke All-American guard Bobby Hurley, who never served as an assistant coach under Krzyzewski, has compiled a 1-3 NCAA tourney record with Buffalo and Arizona State before the Sun Devils flopped this campaign as Preseason Top 20 club.

Exit Strategy: Will Playoff Coaches Fill Vacancies at Carolina and Texas Tech?

An average of four coaches per tourney leave NCAA playoff teams since seeding started in 1979. The first two tournament mentors to depart this season were Pat Kelsey (Winthrop to College of Charleston) and Shantay Legans (Eastern Washington to Portland). Shortly thereafter, Shaka Smart exited a team coming off a tourney appearance for the second time in six years.

It might be a move up financially for Kelsey and Legans plus probably Porter Moser (Loyola of Chicago), but it's debatable as to whether they'll direct their new teams to immediate respectability simply become the next Archie Miller, who was jettisoned by Indiana only four years after becoming one of 18 mentors since 2012 to be hired by a former or existing power-league member after directing a mid-major to the NCAA playoffs. As for Moser, there is a limit to what he can achieve with the Ramblers. Thus, it's simply time for him to cash in on his playoff success.

In every year since 1968, directing a team to the NCAA Tournament has been a springboard to what many believed was bigger-and-better things at a "poach-a-coach" school. Following are head coaches since the tourney field expanded to at least 64 entrants in 1985 who had a change of heart and accepted similar job at a different major college promptly after directing team to the NCAA playoffs:

1985 (six) - J.D. Barnett (Virginia Commonwealth to Tulsa), Craig Littlepage (Penn to Rutgers), Nolan Richardson Jr. (Tulsa to Arkansas), Andy Russo (Louisiana Tech to Washington), Tom Schneider (Lehigh to Penn), Eddie Sutton (Arkansas to Kentucky)

1986 (four) - Jim Calhoun (Northeastern to Connecticut), Paul Evans (Navy to Pittsburgh), Clem Haskins (Western Kentucky to Minnesota), George Raveling (Iowa to Southern California)

1987 (two) - Jim Brandenburg (Wyoming to San Diego State), Benny Dees (New Orleans to Wyoming)

1988 (two) - Dave Bliss (Southern Methodist to New Mexico), Tom Penders (Rhode Island to Texas)

1989 (four) - Tommy Joe Eagles (Louisiana Tech to Auburn), Bill Frieder (Michigan to Arizona State), Rick Majerus (Ball State to Utah), Lynn Nance (Saint Mary's to Washington)

1990 (five) - Kermit Davis Jr. (Idaho to Texas A&M), Mike Jarvis (Boston University to George Washington), Lon Kruger (Kansas State to Florida), Mike Newell (UALR to Lamar), Les Robinson (East Tennessee State to North Carolina State)

1991 (four) - Tony Barone (Creighton to Texas A&M), Jim Molinari (Northern Illinois to Bradley), Stew Morrill (Montana to Colorado State), Steve Newton (Murray State to South Carolina)

1992 (one) - Charlie Spoonhour (Southwest Missouri State to Saint Louis)

1993 (one) - Eddie Fogler (Vanderbilt to South Carolina)

1994 (eight) - Tom Asbury (Pepperdine to Kansas State), Rick Barnes (Providence to Clemson), Jeff Capel Jr. (North Carolina A&T to Old Dominion), Kevin O'Neill (Marquette to Tennessee), Skip Prosser (Loyola MD to Xavier), Kelvin Sampson (Washington State to Oklahoma), Ralph Willard (Western Kentucky to Pittsburgh), Jim Wooldridge (Southwest Texas State to Louisiana Tech)

1995 (three) - Dick Bennett (Wisconsin-Green Bay to Wisconsin), Scott Edgar (Murray State to Duquesne), Tubby Smith (Tulsa to Georgia)

1996 (one) - Ben Braun (Eastern Michigan to California)

1997 (five) - Ernie Kent (Saint Mary's to Oregon), Mack McCarthy (UT-Chattanooga to Virginia Commonwealth), Jim O'Brien (Boston College to Ohio State), Steve Robinson (Tulsa to Florida State), Al Skinner (Rhode Island to Boston College), Tubby Smith (Georgia to Kentucky)

1998 (seven) - Rick Barnes (Clemson to Texas), Larry Eustachy (Utah State to Iowa State), Rob Evans (Mississippi to Arizona State), Mark Gottfried (Murray State to Alabama), Mike Jarvis (George Washington to St. John's), Melvin Watkins (UNC Charlotte to Texas A&M), Tim Welsh (Iona to Providence)

1999 (four) - Steve Alford (Southwest Missouri State to Iowa), Dave Bliss (New Mexico to Baylor), Jim Harrick (Rhode Island to Georgia), Dan Monson (Gonzaga to Minnesota)

2000 (four) - Barry Collier (Butler to Nebraska), Ray McCallum (Ball State) to Houston), Buzz Peterson (Appalachian State to Tulsa), Bill Self (Tulsa to Illinois)

2001 (five) - Thad Matta (Butler to Xavier), Dave Odom (Wake Forest to South Carolina), Skip Prosser (Xavier to Wake Forest), Gary Waters (Kent State to Rutgers), Jay Wright (Hofstra to Villanova)

2002 (three) - Stan Heath (Kent State to Arkansas), Steve Merfeld (Hampton to Evansville), Jerry Wainwright (UNC Wilmington to Richmond)

2003 (eight) - Cy Alexander (South Carolina State to Tennessee State), Ed DeChellis (East Tennessee State to Penn State), Dennis Felton (Western Kentucky to Georgia), Ben Howland (Pittsburgh to UCLA), Oliver Purnell (Dayton to Clemson), Bill Self (Illinois to Kansas), Dereck Whittenburg (Wagner to Fordham), Roy Williams (Kansas to North Carolina)

2004 (eight) - Jessie Evans (Louisiana-Lafayette to San Francisco), Ray Giacoletti (Eastern Washington to Utah), Billy Gillispie (Texas-El Paso to Texas A&M, Trent Johnson (Nevada to Stanford), Thad Matta (Xavier to Ohio State), Matt Painter (Southern Illinois to Purdue), Joe Scott (Air Force to Princeton), John Thompson III (Princeton to Georgetown)

2005 (two) - Travis Ford (Eastern Kentucky to Massachusetts), Bruce Pearl (Wisconsin-Milwaukee to Tennessee)

2006 (eight) - Mike Anderson (UAB to Missouri), Brad Brownell (UNC Wilmington to Wright State), Mick Cronin (Murray State to Cincinnati), Mike Davis (Indiana to UAB), Fran Dunphy (Penn to Temple), Greg McDermott (Northern Iowa to Iowa State), Kelvin Sampson (Oklahoma to Indiana), Herb Sendek (North Carolina State to Arizona State)

2007 (four) - Ronnie Arrow (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to South Alabama), Todd Lickliter (Butler to Iowa), Billy Gillispie (Texas A&M to Kentucky), Gregg Marshall (Winthrop to Wichita State)

2008 (five) - Jim Christian (Kent State to Texas Christian), Tom Crean (Marquette to Indiana), Keno Davis (Drake to Providence), Darrin Horn (Western Kentucky to South Carolina), Trent Johnson (Stanford to Louisiana State)

2009 (three) - John Calipari (Memphis to Kentucky), Anthony Grant (Virginia Commonwealth to Alabama), Sean Miller (Xavier to Arizona)

2010 (five) - Tony Barbee (Texas-El Paso to Auburn), Steve Donahue (Cornell to Boston College), Bob Marlin (Sam Houston State to Louisiana-Lafayette), Fran McCaffery (Siena to Iowa), Oliver Purnell (Clemson to DePaul).

2011 (seven) - Mike Anderson (Missouri to Arkansas), Patrick Chambers (Boston University to Penn State), Ed DeChellis (Penn State to Navy), Sydney Johnson (Princeton to Fairfield), Lon Kruger (UNLV to Oklahoma), Jim Larranaga (George Mason to Miami FL), Mark Turgeon (Texas A&M to Maryland)

2012 (six) - Larry Eustachy (Southern Mississippi to Colorado State), Jim Ferry (Long Island to Duquesne), John Groce (Ohio University to Illinois), Frank Martin (Kansas State to South Carolina), Tim Miles (Colorado State to Nebraska), Sean Woods (Mississippi Valley State to Morehead State)

2013 (two) - Steve Alford (New Mexico to UCLA), Andy Enfield (Florida Gulf Coast to Southern California)

2014 (three) - Danny Manning (Tulsa to Wake Forest), Cuonzo Martin (Tennessee to California), Saul Phillips (North Dakota State to Ohio University)

2015 (two) - Bobby Hurley (Buffalo to Arizona State), Shaka Smart (Virginia Commonwealth to Texas)

2016 (seven) - Chris Beard (UALR to UNLV to Texas Tech), Jamie Dixon (Pittsburgh to Texas Christian), Scott Nagy (South Dakota State to Wright State), Steve Pikiell (Stony Brook to Rutgers), Tubby Smith (Texas Tech to Memphis), Kevin Stallings (Vanderbilt to Pittsburgh), Brad Underwood (Stephen F. Austin to Oklahoma State)

2017 (six) - Chris Holtmann (Butler to Ohio State), Kevin Keatts (UNC Wilmington to North Carolina State), Archie Miller (Dayton to Indiana), Brad Underwood (Oklahoma State to Illinois), Will Wade (Virginia Commonwealth to Louisiana State), Paul Weir (New Mexico State to New Mexico)

2018 (three) - Mike Davis (Texas Southern to Detroit), Danny Hurley (Rhode Island to Connecticut), Chris Mack (Xavier to Louisville)

2019 (seven) - John Brannen (Northern Kentucky to Cincinnati), Mick Cronin (Cincinnati to UCLA), Ron Hunter (Georgia State to Tulane), Eric Musselman (Nevada to Arkansas), Nate Oats (Buffalo to Alabama), Buzz Williams (Virginia Tech to Texas A&M), Mike Young (Wofford to Virginia Tech)

2021 (eight) - Chris Beard (Texas Tech to Texas), Joe Golding (Abilene Christian to Texas-El Paso), Pat Kelsey (Winthrop to College of Charleston), Shantay Legans (Eastern Washington to Portland), Wes Miller (UNC Greensboro to Cincinnati), Porter Moser (Loyola of Chicago to Oklahoma), Shaka Smart (Texas to Marquette), Craig Smith (Utah State to Utah)

As Good As It Got: Entering NCAA Tournament With Longest Winning Streaks

Gonzaga entered Sweet 16 of NCAA Tournament this year boasting a school-record winning streak (32). The Zags should know the fact numerous other teams had the daunting task of capturing the NCAA championship or watch even longer school-record winning streaks come to a halt. While misguided #MessMedia maintains its intellectually-lazy streak of disparaging Christian-based schools from Liberty to ORU, the following alphabetical list of schools had still existing all-time DI winning streaks of at least 25 consecutive victories broken during the NCAA playoffs:

School Streak Date Ended Opponent Score NCAA Tourney Round
Butler 26 4-5-10 Duke 61-59 Championship Game
College of Charleston 25 3-12-99 Tulsa 62-53 East Regional First
Columbia 32 3-20-51 Illinois 79-71 East Regional First
Davidson 25 3-30-08 Kansas 59-57 Midwest Regional Final
Duke 32 3-29-99 Connecticut 77-74 Championship Game
Florida 30 4-5-14 Connecticut 63-53 National Semifinals
Houston 32 3-22-68 UCLA 101-69 National Semifinals
Indiana 34 3-22-75 Kentucky 92-90 Mideast Regional Final
Indiana State 33 3-26-79 Michigan State 75-64 Championship Game
Kentucky 38 4-4-15 Wisconsin 71-64 National Semifinals
Loyola Marymount 25 3-19-88 North Carolina 123-97 West Regional Second
Marquette 39 3-18-71 Ohio State 60-59 Mideast Regional Semifinals
Memphis 27 3-26-09 Missouri 102-91 West Regional Semifinals
Ohio State 32 3-25-61 Cincinnati 70-65 Championship Game
Rutgers 31 3-27-76 Michigan 86-70 National Semifinals
Stephen F. Austin 29 3-23-14 UCLA 77-60 South Regional Second
Temple 25 3-21-58 Kentucky 61-60 National Semifinals
UNLV 45 3-30-91 Duke 79-77 National Semifinals
Wichita State 35 3-23-14 Kentucky 78-76 Midwest Regional Second

College Exam: Day #13 of One-and-Only NCAA Tournament Trivia Challenge

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 13 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 team-leading scorer of a Final Four team to go scoreless when the school was eliminated from championship contention at the national semifinals? Hint: He was a center who along with four teammates averaged between 11 and 12.5 points per game.

2. Who is the only player to twice lead the nation in scoring average while playing for teams advancing to the Final Four? Hint: He is the only team-leading scorer to twice be more than 10 points below his season scoring mark when his school was eliminated at the Final Four.

3. Name the only school to lose two national championship games by at least 18 points after leading the finals at halftime. Hint: The two opponents, 17 years apart, combined to win 66 of 68 games those seasons.

4. Name the only school to make as many as eight consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from the year it participated in the event for the first time. Hint: The school's last playoff victory wasn't during this streak, but it later handed UCLA its first West Regional defeat in 14 years.

5. Name the only school to lose as many as 15 opening-round games in the NCAA Tournament. Hint: The university also lost a first-round game in 1984 after winning a qualifying round contest when playoff field was 53 teams.

6. Who is the only athlete to collect more than 3,000 major league hits, including 465 homers, after playing the entire basketball game for a school when it appeared in the NCAA Tournament for the first time. Hint: The outfielder appeared in 12 All-Star Games and two World Series after never playing in minors.

7. Who is the only player to have a single-digit point total in a national semifinal game and then increase his output by more than 20 points in the championship game? Hint: The center for two years between two three-time consensus first-team All-Americans shot just over 40% from the floor for the season entering title game where he had a game-high and career-high point total.

8. Who is the only player to have a decrease of more than 25 points from his national semifinal game scoring total to his championship game output? Hint: He was a member of the first undefeated NCAA champion and subsequently became an NBA first-round draft choice.

9. Name the only school to defeat two eventual Final Four teams by double-digit margins in their conference tournament. Hint: The school was handily eliminated in the NCAA playoffs by one of the two Final Four teams it decisively defeated in their league tourney.

10. Name the only school to reach the NCAA championship game in back-to-back seasons it was defeated by double-digit margins in its conference tournament. Hint: The school swept its home-and-home series in regular-season conference competition against the teams defeating it in league tourney.

Answers (Day 13)

Day 12 Questions and Answers

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Day 8 Questions and Answers

Day 7 Questions and Answers

Day 6 Questions and Answers

Day 5 Questions and Answers

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