Purdue's Matt Painter got the monkey off his back in 2024 but Greg McDermott and Sean Miller couldn't duplicate feat this campaign. Nonetheless, Miller became the first coach to twice leave same school (Xavier) promptly after guiding it to the NCAA playoffs when he was hired by Texas after previously leaving X for Arizona in 2009.

The Final Four missing-in-action microscope in recent years focused on a pair of pilots from Indiana universities - Notre Dame's Mike Brey and Painter) - as the most prominent active power-league coaches participating in more than a dozen tourneys never to reach the national semifinals. Brey, prior to departing to the NBA as an assistant, and Painter were in same AWOL category with all-time greats John Chaney, Fran Dunphy, Lefty Driesell, Gene Keady and Norm Stewart - retired luminaries failing to advance to the national semifinals in a total of 81 NCAA Tournaments before Dunphy returned to coaching ranks at his alma mater (La Salle). "It's so difficult not being able to make that final step," said Chaney, who lost five regional finals with Temple.

Driesell made 11 NCAA playoff appearances with Davidson and Maryland from 1966 through 1986. "I always wanted to get to the Final Four, but not as much as some people think," said Driesell, who lost four regional finals. "I'm not obsessed with it."

New Maryland coach Buzz Williams, after directing three other power-conference members to the NCAA Tournament, may join Final Four no-show list the first time he guides the Terrapins to a playoff berth. He has participated in 11 tourneys with a 13-11 mark.

Only four schools - North Carolina, Duke, Georgetown and Syracuse - supplied more NCAA consensus first- and second-team All-Americans from 1982 through 1992 than Stewart-coached Missouri (seven). It was particularly frustrating for Mizzou fans when the Tigers compiled a 4-8 NCAA tourney worksheet in that span.

Some mentors never will receive the accolades they deserve because of failing to reach the Promised Land. Exhibit A much of this century was Purdue, where Keady and Painter combined for 32 NCAA tourney appearances without advancing to national semifinals until Painter took care of business last year in his 15th trip to the playoffs with the Boilermakers. There were 100,000 reasons Sean Miller joined this dubious list after dismal first-round loss against Buffalo in 2018 despite bringing freshman phenom Deandre Ayton to Arizona in some form or fashion (cause or no cause). Miller needed a safe space on campus to curl up in fetal position stemming from eventual fallout from FBI probe prior to returning to Xavier, but the following "Generation Hex" list - with Painter exiting - includes prominent coaches without a Final Four berth on their resume despite at least a dozen NCAA Tournament appearances:

Granted, the Big East Conference's POY was in throes of a dismal shooting performance (3-for-17 from the floor with zero assists in 30 minutes), but questions lingered as to why All-American guard RJ Luis Jr. was benched for final five minutes of St. John's second-round defeat against Arkansas. Even before aggrieved Luis promptly entered transfer portal, it had to be doubly frustrating for coach Rick Pitino as another "Jr." A-A guard Walter Clayton Jr. excelled for Final Four-bound Florida after playing under Pitino at Iona in 2021-22 and 2022-23. Still, there is a long history of current and future All-Americans struggling in the NCAA playoffs. For instance, three-time All-American center Hunter Dickinson went scoreless for Kansas in the second half this year against Arkansas when the Jayhawks incurred an opening-round playoff defeat for the first time since 2006; All-American guard Mark Sears scored a modest six points in regional final loss for Alabama two days after exploding for 10 three-point field goals, and A-A guard Zakai Zeigler contributed only five points for Tennessee in regional final setback.

If the stars were aligned a year ago and rejection of one-and-done was in offing, they could have returned and become conquering heroes. But freshman phenoms Reed Sheppard and D.J. Wagner, after absorbing significant criticism from Kentucky zealots as frosh flops combining for only one field goal in the Wildcats' upset loss against Oakland in South Regional opener, moved on to next chapter of their hoop lives via NBA draft as undergraduate and transfer portal. If it's any consolation to Sheppard and Wagner specifically plus Big Blue Nation generally, they should be aware 1978 Final Four Most Outstanding Player Jack Givens of UK also laid a goose egg by going scoreless in his NCAA Tournament debut. In fact, Sheppard's father, Jeff, scored fewer than five points in half of his first 12 playoff games with UK before becoming 1998 Final Four Most Outstanding Player.

For what it's worth in comparing Big Blue standouts, Reed Sheppard matched consensus All-American Ralph Beard's three-point outputs in two NCAA tourney outings for UK's 1949 national champion and outscored NBA prolific point producer Devin Booker, who had only two points in his debut against Hampton in 2015 before averaging more than 22 ppg each of the past eight seasons with the Phoenix Suns. Additional fizz-free UK luminaries included celebrated center Sam Bowie scoring only two points and fouling out in UK's setback against Duke as a freshman in 1980; Michael Bradley was scoreless in two playoff games as a freshman with 1998 kingpin prior to transferring and becoming an All-American with Villanova in 2000-01; Willie Cauley-Stein going scoreless in Midwest Regional defeat against arch-rival Louisville in 2014 before contributing only two points as All-American the next year in 33 minutes of loss against Wisconsin at Final Four; freshman All-American DeMarcus Cousins contributed only five points in 2010 opener against East Tennessee State; national POY Anthony Davis was named Final Four MOP in 2012 despite his 1-of-10 FG shooting in NCAA Tournament final; Tony Delk going scoreless in 1992 playoff game against Utah and had two other tourney tilts with fewer than five points as freshman for Final Four squad; all-time great Cliff Hagan managed only four points in playoff win against St. John's in 1951; eventual All-American Vern Hatton contributed just four points in tourney setback against Iowa in 1956; Thad Jaracz, an A-A as a sophomore, was limited to two points in playoff game as senior in 1968; three-time All-American Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones scored fewer than five points in two of three tourney games as senior for 1949 NCAA kingpin; freshman All-American Michael Kidd-Gilchrist contributed only two points in second-round victory against Iowa State for 2012 champion; eventual All-American Jim Line was scoreless in 1948 Final Four outing against Holy Cross; All-American Kyle Macy was restricted to two points in 1978 playoff tilt against Miami (Ohio); eventual All-American Ron Mercer was scoreless in 1996 regional final against Wake Forest; eventual All-American Tayshaun Prince scored a total of nine points in 62 minutes in his first three playoff assignments as a freshman in 1999; All-American Frank Ramsey made only 2-of-19 FGAs in 1951 Final Four contest against Illinois; eventual two-time All-American Rick Robey was restricted to two points while fouling out of 1975 NCAA final against UCLA; eventual A-A Jack Tingle was scoreless in 1945 regional third-place outing; freshman A-A Karl-Anthony Towns scored one point in a Sweet 16 outing against West Virginia in 2015; eventual A-A Melvin Turpin tallied only two points as a freshman in 1981 opening-round defeat against UAB; freshman Tyler Ulis scored a total of five points in back-to-back 2015 Midwest Regional contests before becoming consensus first-team A-A the next year; eventual three-time NBA All-Star Antoine Walker scored only two points as a freshman in 1995 regional final loss against North Carolina; eventual All-American Kenny Walker supplied only two points in 1983 regional final loss against Louisville plus four points in 1984 Final Four setback against Georgetown, and eventual A-A Kyle Wiltjer (after transferring to Gonzaga) was scoreless in a pair of UK playoff games as a freshman in 2012.

Additional eventual MOPs joining Givens in a zilch/zero/nada category were Kansas' B.H. Born (1953), Marquette's Butch Lee (1977), UCLA's Ed O'Bannon (1995), UCLA's Richard Washington (1975) and UCLA's Sidney Wicks (1970). Born scored a total of only seven points in four playoff games the year before becoming MOP. Incredibly, Givens and Lee were blanked in the same game in their freshman season when UK mauled Marquette (76-54) in 1975 Mideast Regional opening round. O'Bannon was scoreless as a medical redshirt freshman in 1992 playoff contest against Louisville. Washington was scoreless as a freshman in 1974 West Regional semifinals when the Bruins outlasted Dayton (111-100 in triple overtime). Wicks, after one season in junior college, was blanked as a sophomore in the 1969 West Regional semifinals when UCLA defeated New Mexico State (53-38) and also went scoreless at the national semifinals when the Bruins defeated Drake (85-82).

If it was easy to excel, then everyone would do it every game. Even all-time leading playoff scorer Christian Laettner (Duke) had three tourney games with fewer than nine points. You can also ask ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis of North Carolina after he went 4-for-20 from the floor (missing all nine attempts beyond the three-point arc) in elimination loss against Alabama about the same time a former Tar Heel teammate - Arizona All-American Caleb Love - also went 0-for-9 from three-point territory. Sizzling scorers learn anew it's not always a walk in the park in postseason play. For instance, two-time national Player of the Year Zach Edey went scoreless as a freshman in 2020-21 when Purdue was eliminated by North Texas. Elsewhere, Hall of Famer Bob Cousy scored more than six points only once in his first six playoff games with Holy Cross in 1947 and 1948. UCLA All-American Keith Erickson, after erupting for 57 points in two 1965 West Regional outings, scored a total of five points in two Final Four contests. Shane Battier (Duke) became 2001 POY and MOP after scoring five or six points in four consecutive playoff contests as a sophomore and four points in a tourney tilt as freshman. Gary Bradds, a sophomore backup to national POY Jerry Lucas in 1962 before earning same award himself two years later, was scoreless for Ohio State in Mideast Regional final victory against Kentucky. Consensus national POY Trey Burke scored only six points on 2-of-12 field-goal shooting in Michigan's opening-round win against South Dakota State in 2013. Virginia's Kyle Guy was scoreless as a freshman in 2017 playoff defeat against Florida before becoming an All-American and F4 MOP two years later. Luke Hancock scored a total of 17 points in Louisville's first three playoff games in 2013 before becoming Final Four MOP that year. Kansas' Danny Manning managed only four points in 1986 Final Four setback against Duke before becoming F4 MOP and national POY two years later. Cincinnati's Kenyon Martin was scoreless as a freshman in 1997 playoff loss against Iowa State three years before becoming national POY. Indiana's Scott May, hampered by a broken left arm, scored a total of two points in 11 minutes in three 1975 NCAA playoff games before earning national POY acclaim the next season. Connecticut guard Shabazz Napier scored fewer than five points in four of his last five games as a freshman for 2011 NCAA champion before becoming a consensus first-team All-American and F4 MOP three years later. Connecticut unanimous first-team All-American Emeka Okafor was restricted to two points in 2004 regional final against Alabama before becoming F4 MOP. Houston's Akeem Olajuwon was limited to two points in a pair of 1982 playoff contests before becoming an All-American and F4 MOP two years later. Michigan State's Shawn Respert scored three points in 30 minutes against Missouri State in his first NCAA playoff game as a medical redshirt freshman in 1992 before becoming NABC national POY three years later. Michigan State's Denzel Valentine went scoreless in his playoff debut as a freshman in 2013 prior to becoming national POY in 2016. National POY Bill Walton scored only four points against Weber State in his inaugural playoff game for UCLA as a sophomore in 1972.

Former NBA sensation Clyde Drexler averaged more than 17 points per game each of his last 13 NBA seasons, but he glided to more than 17 points in just one of 11 NCAA Tournament contests for the University of Houston from 1981 through 1983 (including only four in national title game). Elsewhere, eventual All-American Luther Head scored fewer than six points in three of his first five playoff assignments with Illinois in 2002 and 2003; two-time All-American Bobby Hurley (Duke) scored fewer than six points in six of his first eight playoff games; UCLA's Marques Johnson, national POY as a senior, went scoreless as a freshman in Final Four game against North Carolina State; eventual consensus All-American Bobby Jones (North Carolina) scored a total of nine points in his first two playoff games as a sophomore; eventual NCAA unanimous All-American Stacey King contributed only two points in a pair of playoff games as an Oklahoma sophomore in 1987; two-time Kansas State All-American Dick Knostman scored fewer than four points in three of four playoff assignments as a sophomore in 1951; eventual All-American Kyle Korver made only 4-of-23 three-point field-goal attempts in his first two tourney contests (both opening-round losses) with Creighton in 2000 and 2001; eventual All-American Ty Lawson scored a total of nine points on 4-of-19 FG shooting in back-to-back playoff games for North Carolina in 2007; Quincy Lewis contributed only two points on 1-of-9 FG shooting in Minnesota's 1997 Final Four loss against Kentucky before All-American made only 3-of-19 shots from floor in 1999 playoff opener defeat against Gonzaga; eventual UCLA All-American Dave Meyers scored a total of eight points in his last three playoff games for 1973 champion; eventual North Carolina All-American Eric Montross scored one point as freshman in 1991 regional final; premier playmaker Steve Nash struggled while making only one field goal in three of five playoff contests for Santa Clara in the mid-1990s, shooting a paltry 29.2% from the floor in his postseason games; eventual Duke All-American DeMarcus Nelson scored fewer than five points in five playoff games from 2005 through 2008; Connecticut All-American A.J. Price went scoreless in 2008 opening-round loss against San Diego (injured midway through first half), and eventual Marquette A-A Jerome Whitehead supplied only two points in back-to-back games in 1977.

Two-time NBA slam-dunk champion Jason Richardson (5th pick overall in 2001) was grounded by the NCAA playoffs, going scoreless in three consecutive contests as a Michigan State freshman in 2000 before earning All-American acclaim the next year. Ditto eventual All-American Clifford Rozier with North Carolina in 1991 before transferring to Louisville. Eventual All-Americans Clyde Bradshaw (DePaul), Rakeem Christmas (Syracuse), L.J. Cryer (Baylor before transferring to Houston), Rui Hachimura (Gonzaga), Brian Evans (Indiana), Yogi Ferrell (Indiana), Collin Gillespie (Villanova), Brendan Haywood (North Carolina), Al Horford (Florida), Mark Randall (Kansas), Thomas Robinson (Kansas), Jamal Shead (Houston), Charles E. Smith IV (Georgetown), Ken Spain (Houston), Jeff Withey (Kansas) and Tyler Zeller (North Carolina) each went scoreless in two NCAA playoff games. Cole Aldrich (Kansas) had three scoreless outings as freshman for 2008 NCAA champion, eventual All-American Alan Henderson (Indiana) did likewise in consecutive playoff contests as a sophomore in 1993, Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky went scoreless in all three playoff games as a freshman in 2012 before becoming unanimous national POY three years later for tourney runner-up, North Carolina's Luke Maye went scoreless in four playoff outings in 2016 and 2017 before becoming an A-A, eventual A-A Jason Terry (Arizona) went scoreless in a total of three tourney tilts in 1996 and 1998 and eventual A-A Scottie Wilbekin (Florida) went scoreless in three consecutive playoff outings as a freshman in 2011.

Also going scoreless in a tourney game were eventual All-Americans Grayson Allen (Duke), Justin Anderson (Virginia), Udoka Azubuike (Kansas), James Bailey (Rutgers), Keita Bates-Diop (Ohio State), Charlie Bell (Michigan State), A.L. Bennett (Oklahoma A&M), Jim Bredar (Illinois), Mikal Bridges (Villanova), Don Burness (Stanford), Sherron Collins (Kansas), Darren Collison (UCLA), Bonzie Colson (Notre Dame), Brian Cook (Illinois), Marcus Denmon (Missouri), Dan Dickau (Washington before transferring to Gonzaga), Michael Dickerson (Arizona), Chris Duhon (Duke), Mike Dunleavy Jr. (Duke), Mike Farmer (San Francisco), Danny Ferry (Duke), Kendall Gill (Illinois), Ben Gordon (Connecticut), Devonte' Graham (Kansas), Gary Grant (Michigan), Aaron Gray (Pittsburgh), Roy Hamilton (UCLA), Derek Harper (Illinois), Josh Hart (Villanova), Udonis Haslem (Florida), Joe Hassett (Providence), Mark Jackson (St. John's), Corey Kispert (Gonzaga), Ted Kitchel (Indiana), Trajan Langdon (Duke), Rudy Macklin (Louisiana State), Gale McArthur (Oklahoma A&M), Billy McCaffrey (Duke before transferring to Vanderbilt), Derrick McKey (Alabama), Brandon Miller (Alabama), Todd Mitchell (Purdue), Marcus Morris (Kansas), Kris Murray (Iowa), Dikembe Mutombo (Georgetown), Joakim Noah (Florida), Kelly Olynyk (Gonzaga), Mason Plumlee (Duke), Juan "Pepe" Sanchez (Temple), Nik Stauskas (Michigan), Earl Tatum (Marquette), Jordan Taylor (Wisconsin), Deshaun Thomas (Ohio State), Denzel Valentine (Michigan State), Mark West (Old Dominion), Terrence Williams (Louisville) and Andy Zimmer (Indiana) before Alabama freshman phenom Brandon Miller duplicated their inability to dent the scoreboard in 2023 opener against a #16 seed. Miller's goose egg was the most disappointing playoff performance by a Bama standout since eventual four-time NBA All-Star Latrell Sprewell went 2-for-15 from the floor in a reversal against North Carolina in 1992.

Ferry scored fewer than 10 points in six straight tourney tilts before averaging 20 ppg in his last 11 playoff outings; three-time All-American Grant Hill (Duke) failed to tally more than 14 points in all of his first 11 postseason outings in 1991 and 1992; Kirk Hinrich (Kansas) scored fewer than four points in playoff games as an All-American in 2002 and 2003, and Syracuse All-American Kris Joseph never scored more than 12 points in 11 NCAA playoff contests from 2009 through 2012. Sometimes it only matters when you score points. All-American Lorenzo Charles had a woeful four-point game against heavily-favored Houston in 1983 NCAA Tournament final but his second basket (dunk at buzzer) lifted North Carolina State to an upset win. Memo to UK Fans: If Sheppard had returned to UK, you shouldn't have expected him to duplicate Austin Carr's prolific playoff scoring with Notre Dame after a slow start. Carr collected only six points in a loss against Miami (Ohio) in 1969 before averaging 47.2 ppg in his next six tourney contests in 1970 and 1971.

Should I stay or should I go? It's a good thing universities play in mammoth arenas because the egos of their "Pompous Pilots" wouldn't fit any other place. Reverberations will be felt for years after Arkansas' romance prying John Calipari loose from Kentucky.

Much of the excess in the canonization of coaches is perpetuated by coaches-turned-television commentators who shamelessly fawn over their former colleagues. Instead, the analysts should be more concerned about encouraging mentors to spare fans the pious blather about school loyalty and the sanctity of a contract.

Granted, it's survival of the fittest amid the offer-you-can't-refuse backdrop. But in many instances, schools have been little more than convenient steppingstones for "larger-than-life" coaches along their one-way street to success. It's understandable in many instances why mercenaries are leaving the minute they're appointed because coaches are in a distasteful "hired-to-be-fired" vocation, where a pink slip is only one losing season or poor recruiting class away.

If not about the money and perks, why did obsessive Buzz Williams reportedly file FOIA requests annually for the contracts of every basketball and football coach for every NCAA Division I public institution to discern how an agreement should be created?

Whatever the case, it's a black eye on the sport when loyalty seems to have become too much of a one-way street. At times, it makes one wonder how the bench bosses can look themselves in the mirror. Five of Tulsa's six coaches in one stretch - Nolan Richardson, Tubby Smith, Steve Robinson, Bill Self and Buzz Peterson - abandoned ship for more prestigious positions despite each of them having at least three years remaining on their deals.

More than 75 different active coaches had at least three years remaining on their pacts when leaving for greener pastures. Ryan Odom and Will Wade recently joined the following alphabetical list of mentors departing three or four schools before their contracts expired:

• Steve Alford - three years remaining on contract when he left Southwest Missouri State for Iowa; four when left Iowa for New Mexico, and 10 when left New Mexico for UCLA

• Chris Beard - three years remaining on contract when he left UALR for UNLV; five when left UNLV for Texas Tech, and four when left Texas Tech for Texas

• John Calipari - 10 years remaining on contract when he left Massachusetts for the NBA's New Jersey Nets; four when left Memphis for Kentucky, and five when left Kentucky for Arkansas

• Jim Christian - five years remaining on contract when he left Kent State for Texas Christian; three when left TCU for Ohio University, and three when left Ohio University for Boston College

• Trent Johnson - five years remaining on contract when he left Nevada for Stanford; one when left Stanford for Louisiana State, and two when left LSU for Texas Christian

• Lon Kruger - four years remaining on contract when he left Kansas State for Florida; five when left Florida for Illinois; four when left Illinois for the Atlanta Hawks, and two when left UNLV for Oklahoma

• Cuonzo Martin - four years remaining on contract when he left Missouri State for Tennessee; two when left Tennessee for California, and four when left Cal for Missouri

• Ritchie McKay - two years remaining on contract when he left Portland State for Colorado State; four when left Colorado State for Oregon State, and four when left Oregon State for New Mexico

• Ryan Odom - two years remaining on contract when he left UMBC for Utah State; three when left Utah State for Virginia Commonwealth, and four when left Virginia Commonwealth for Virginia

• Kevin O'Neill - three years remaining on contract when he left Marquette for Tennessee; four when left Tennessee for Northwestern, and two when left Northwestern for the New York Knicks (assistant)

• Buzz Peterson - nine years remaining on contract when he left Appalachian State for Tulsa; four when left Tulsa for Tennessee; two when left Coastal Carolina for the Charlotte Bobcats (director of player personnel), and four when left Appalachian State again for UNC Wilmington

• Rick Pitino - five years remaining on contract when he left Providence for New York Knicks; three when left Kentucky for Boston Celtics, and two when left Iona for St. John's

• Bill Self - two years remaining on contract when he left Oral Roberts for Tulsa; five when left Tulsa for Illinois, and five when left Illinois for Kansas

• Kyle Smith - left Columbia for San Francisco; left San Francisco for Washington State, and three years remaining on contract when left Washington State for Stanford

• Tubby Smith - three years remaining on contract when he left Tulsa for Georgia; six when left Georgia for Kentucky; four when left Kentucky for Minnesota, and three when left Texas Tech for Memphis

• Mark Turgeon - two years remaining on contract when he left Jacksonville State for Wichita State; nine when left Wichita State for Texas A&M, and four when left Texas A&M for Maryland

• Will Wade - four years remaining on contract when he left Chattanooga for Virginia Commonwealth; seven when left Virginia Commonwealth for Louisiana State, and four when left McNeese for North Carolina State

• Kevin Willard - left Iona for Seton Hall; three years remaining on contract when left Seton Hall for Maryland, and four when left Maryland for Villanova

• Buzz Williams - involved in lawsuit with New Orleans when he left to become Marquette assistant; six years remaining on contract when left Marquette for Virginia Tech; four when left Virginia Tech for Texas A&M, and three when left Texas A&M for Maryland

Deal or no deal? The length of contracts doesn't seem to carry any weight as a factor in the equation as long as your brain cells or ethical standards don't put any stock into length of an existing pact. Dusty May had nine years remaining on his pact with FAU upon departing for Michigan. Following is an alphabetical list detailing coaches reportedly still having contractual obligations of more than five seasons when they left a school for greener pastures during their careers:

• Steve Alford (10 years remaining on contract) - left New Mexico (following 2012-13 season)/hired by UCLA
• Rick Barnes (6) - Clemson (1997-98)/Texas
• John Beilein (6) - Richmond (2001-02)/West Virginia
• Tony Bennett (6) - Washington State (2008-09)/Virginia
• Dave Bliss (6) - New Mexico (1998-99)/Baylor
• Mike Brey (7) - Delaware (1999-00)/Notre Dame
• John Calipari (10) - Massachusetts (1995-96)/New Jersey Nets
• Jeff Capel III (6) - Virginia Commonwealth (2005-06)/Oklahoma
• Tom Crean (9) - Marquette (2007-08)/Indiana
• Keith Dambrot (6) - Akron (2016-17)/Duquesne
• Kermit Davis (6) - Middle Tennessee State (2017-18)/Mississippi
• Jamie Dixon (7) - Pittsburgh (2015-16)/Texas Christian
• Matt Doherty (6) - Florida Atlantic (2005-06)/Southern Methodist
• Bryce Drew (7) - Valparaiso (2015-16)/Vanderbilt
• Larry Eustachy (6) - Utah State (1997-98)/Iowa State
• Dennis Felton (6) - Western Kentucky (2002-03)/Georgia
• Tim Floyd (6) - New Orleans (1993-94)/Iowa State
• Tim Floyd (8) - Iowa State (1997-98)/Chicago Bulls
• Travis Ford (7) - Massachusetts (2007-08)/Oklahoma State
• Billy Gillispie (8) - Texas A&M (2006-07)/Kentucky
• Brian Gregory (7) - Dayton (2010-11)/Georgia Tech
• Leonard Hamilton (7) - Miami (Fla.) (1999-00)/Washington Wizards
• Fred Hoiberg (8) - Iowa State (2014-15)/Chicago Bulls
• Chris Holtmann (8) - Butler (2016-17)/Ohio State
• Ben Howland (6) - Pittsburgh (2002-03)/UCLA
• Danny Hurley (6) - Rhode Island (2017-18)/Connecticut
• Johnny Jones (6) - North Texas (2011-12)/Louisiana State
• Jeff Lebo (8) - Chattanooga (2003-04)/Auburn
• Gregg Marshall (8) - Winthrop (2006-07)/Wichita State
• Thad Matta (9) - Xavier (2003-04)/Ohio State
• Dusty May (9) - Florida Atlantic (2023-24)/Michigan
• Fran McCaffery (7) - Siena (2009-10)/Iowa
• Bucky McMillan (at least 6 after extension in 2024) - Samford (2024-25)/Texas A&M
• Sean Miller (9) - Xavier (2008-09)/Arizona
• Wes Miller (8) - UNC Greensboro (2020-21)/Cincinnati
• Paul Mills (6) - Oral Roberts (2022-23)/Wichita State
• Dan Monson (10) - Gonzaga (1998-99)/Minnesota
• Lute Olson (7) - Iowa (1982-83)/Arizona
• Buzz Peterson (9) - Appalachian State (1999-00)/Tulsa
• Skip Prosser (6) - Xavier (2000-01)/Wake Forest
• Oliver Purnell (6) - Clemson (2009-10)/DePaul
• Mike Rice Jr. (7) - Robert Morris (2009-10)/Rutgers
• Steve Robinson (7) - Tulsa (1996-97)/Florida State
• Kelvin Sampson (6) - Washington State (1993-94)/Oklahoma
• Shaka Smart (8) - Virginia Commonwealth (2014-15)/Texas
• Tubby Smith (6) - Georgia (1996-97)/Kentucky
• Brad Stevens (9) - Butler (2012-13)/Boston Celtics
• Mark Turgeon (9) - Wichita State (2006-07)/Texas A&M
• Brad Underwood (6) - Stephen F. Austin (2015-16)/Oklahoma State
• Will Wade (7) - Virginia Commonwealth (2016-17)/Louisiana State
• Buzz Williams (6) - Marquette (2013-14)/Virginia Tech

In the first six years of the NCAA tourney seeding process from 1979 through 1984 when the playoff field ranged from 40 to 53 teams, the bottom of the bracket racket included a total of 13 No. 1 and 2 seeds losing their openers. Notwithstanding the misleading media's spin, the NCAA tourney hasn't been saturated with authentic upsets since the playoff field expanded to at least 64 teams in 1985. On the other hand, this year marked only the sixth time in that span failing to provide a first-round shocker from the bottom of the bracket (1994, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2017 and 2025).

Teams seeded 13th or worse defeated teams seeded among the top four in a regional a total of 68 times in the last 40 tourneys. At least Kentucky's stunning reversals against Saint Peter's and Oakland weren't as ugly as a couple of sorry SEC setbacks when Navy overwhelmed LSU by 23 points in 1985 and Siena smothered Vanderbilt by 21 in 2008.

Arizona's similar shocking defeat against Santa Clara in 1993 materialized despite the Wildcats reeling off 25 unanswered points in a stretch bridging the last five minutes of the first half and the first five minutes of the second half. Gary Waters is the only coach to win two opening-round games in this category while in charge of two different schools (Kent State in 2001 and Cleveland State in 2009).

Until Virginia's 1 vs. 16 debacle seven years ago, Michigan State was the only #2 seed to lose its playoff opener after spending a portion of the regular season atop the AP national poll. Following is a rundown of the first 67 first-round knockouts by the bottom of the bracket (#13 through #16 seeds) since the NCAA field expanded to at least 64 teams in 1985:

#16 seed (2 victories)

#15 seed (11 victories)

#14 seed (22 victories)

#13 seed (33 victories)

Unless you're still busy hoarding toilet paper, seeking translator to figure out what Plagiarist Biledumb is talking about or cowering in fetal position because of alleged impending climate-change catastrophe, 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 7 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's year-by-year highlights):

1. Name the only coach to grace the NCAA playoffs in five decades. Hint: He achieved the feat with four different universities.

2. Who is the only player to score a team-high point total in his prominent school's first NCAA Tournament victory the same year he earned All-American honors as a quarterback for a national football champion? Hint: He later became executive director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame after coaching two different universities when they participated in the Rose Bowl.

3. Who is the only individual to be more than 10 games below .500 in his initial campaign as a major-college head coach and subsequently guide a team to a national championship? Hint: He won his last 10 NCAA Tournament games decided by fewer than five points. In his last two playoff appearances with the former titlist, it became the only school to receive at-large bids in back-to-back years with as many as 14 defeats entering the tourney.

4. Name the only school to be denied three NCAA Tournament berths because it was on probation. Hint: The three times the school didn't participate in the national playoffs because of NCAA probation were from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s.

5. Who was the only player to score more than 40 points in his first tournament game? Hint: The university left the Division I level for 28 years and was UCLA's first victim when the Bruins started a 38-game winning streak in the playoffs. He and his twin brother were infielders together with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

6. Name the only school to deploy just five players in an entire championship game. Hint: The school, participating in the playoffs for the first time that year, set a record for largest winning margin with a 69-point victory in its first-round game. The school is the only former NCAA champion never to compete against legendary coaches Bob Knight and Dean Smith.

7. Who is the only individual to go as many as 25 years between coaching teams in the NCAA Tournament? Hint: His first two playoff teams were eliminated in their tourney openers by eventual championship game participants.

8. Name the only school to have more than one two-time first-team All-American never reach the Final Four. Hint: One of the players is the only three-time first-team All-America to fail to appear in the NCAA playoffs. The school is the only top four seed to lose a first-round game by more than 20 points.

9. Who is the only player to have season scoring averages of fewer than 10 points per game in back-to-back years he was named to the All-NCAA Tournament team? Hint: His school reached the national championship game each season and had two different centers named Final Four Most Outstanding Player. Also, he is part of the only set of brothers to play together in two NCAA title games. One of their teammates became a marquee coach.

10. Who is the only individual to play for an NCAA basketball champion and in a major league baseball World Series? Hint: He was primarily a relief pitcher for six different teams in 13 big league seasons from 1975 through 1989.

Answers (Day 7)
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

North Carolina, trailing by 18 points at halftime in eventual seven-point setback against Ole Miss in first round, had researchers scurrying at intermission to discern the Tar Heels' most-lopsided loss in NCAA playoff history. Well, the Tar Heels crashed and burned against Purdue by 27 points at the 1969 Final Four.

In the second round, Baylor, four years removed from an NCAA title, was dumped by Duke by 23 points. An embarrassing NCAA Tournament defeat is almost inevitable. For instance, it was a jolt to Indiana fans when the Hoosiers were smothered by Saint Mary's, 82-53, in the first round of the 2022 East Regional. But their ardent followers could take some solace in fact that 13 other former champions lost an NCAA Tournament game by as many points over the years.

On the other end of the setback spectrum, is a traditional blueblood other than Connecticut, Duke, Georgetown, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, UCLA or Villanova the only former national kingpin never to lose an NCAA playoff game by fewer than 15 points? No, but the ex-champ holding this distinction boasts school colors of Blue and Gold. It's La Salle, the 1954 titlist which subsequently lost three separate tourney games by 14 points.

Ohio State is the lone power-conference member in this group never to incur an NCAA playoff setback by at least 20 points. Former NCAA champions Wyoming (49 points) and UConn (47) sustained the worst reversals on the following list of most-lopsided losses in NCAA Tournament competition among the 37 former titlists:

Prior to coronavirus cancellation five seasons ago, the national tourney in 2020 was expected to be a bonanza year for mid-majors with Dayton (Atlantic 10), Gonzaga (West Coast) and San Diego State (Mountain West) ranked in national Top 10 polls. When given an opportunity via an at-large invitation to the Big Dance, members from 11 different mid-major conferences have more than held their own against opponents from elite leagues. The greatest example was Virginia Commonwealth, which defeated members from five different power leagues en route to the 2011 Final Four. COVID-19 prevented VCU from possibility of duplicating at-large success three years ago.

It's blatantly clear mid-majors should be given more consideration. After Saint Mary's beat Vanderbilt, mid-major at-large entrants since 1992 included the following success totals against power-league members: Big Eight/Big 12 (24), Big East (19), Big Ten (16), SEC (16), ACC (14) and Pac-12 (11). Kansas has incurred six such setbacks against a mid-major at-large entrant since 1992. The following total of 41 different mid-major at-large entrants went on to win in the NCAA playoffs against a total of 55 different power-conference members (listed in reverse chronological order):

NOTE: Butler (Big East), Cincinnati (Big East), Louisville (Big East and ACC), Utah (Pac-12) and Xavier (Big East) subsequently joined a power conference.

In a microwave atmosphere of instant expectations, please be aware that five All-Americans this season failed to generate national headlines in their freshman campaigns by averaging fewer than 4 ppg - Houston's LJ Cryer (3.4 ppg with Baylor in 2020-21), Villanova's Eric Dixon (3 ppg in 2020-21), Memphis' PJ Haggerty (2.8 ppg with TCU in six games in 2022-23), Tennessee's Chaz Lanier (1.7 ppg with North Florida in 10 games in 2020-21) and Wisconsin's John Tonje (3.6 ppg with Colorado State in 2019-20).

Iowa's Kris Murray (0.6 ppg in 2020-21), posting the lowest-ever freshman scoring average for an eventual All-American, isn't the only standout enduring growing pains early in college career. The following alphabetical list of players averaged fewer than three points per game as a freshman before eventually earning All-American acclaim:

Eventual All-American	Pos.	A-A School	Freshman Scoring Average
Cole Aldrich	C	Kansas	2.8 ppg in 2007-08
Lorenzo Charles	F	North Carolina State	2.2 ppg in 1981-82
Rakeem Christmas	F	Syracuse	2.8 ppg in 2011-12
Keith Edmonson	G	Purdue	1.3 ppg in 1978-79
Aaron Gray	C	Pittsburgh	1.7 ppg in 2003-04
Erick Green	G	Virginia Tech	2.6 ppg in 2009-10
Tom Gugliotta	F	North Carolina State	2.7 ppg in 1988-89
Rui Hachimura	F	Gonzaga	2.6 ppg in 2016-17
PJ Haggerty	G	Memphis	2.8 ppg in 2022-23 with TCU
Roy Hamilton	G	UCLA	1.2 ppg in 1975-76
Jeff Jonas	G	Utah	2.8 ppg in 1973-74
Johnny Juzang	G	UCLA	2.9 ppg in 2019-20 with Kentucky
Frank Kaminsky	C-F	Wisconsin	1.8 ppg in 2011-12
Ted Kitchel	F	Indiana	1.7 ppg in 1979-80
Bob Kurland	C	Oklahoma A&M	2.5 ppg in 1942-43
Tom LaGarde	C	North Carolina	2.2 ppg in 1973-74
Jock Landale	C	Saint Mary's	2.1 ppg in 2014-15
Chaz Lanier	G	Tennessee	1.7 ppg in 2020-21 with North Florida
Kenyon Martin	C	Cincinnati	2.8 ppg in 1996-97
Luke Maye	F	North Carolina	1.2 ppg in 2015-16
Kris Murray	F	Iowa	0.6 ppg in 2020-21
John Pilch	G	Wyoming	2.4 ppg in 1946-47
Thomas Robinson	F	Kansas	2.5 ppg in 2009-10
Steve Scheffler	C	Purdue	1.5 ppg in 1986-87
Russ Smith	G	Louisville	2.2 ppg in 2010-11
Earl Tatum	G-F	Marquette	1.5 ppg in 1972-73
Kurt Thomas	F-C	Texas Christian	0.8 ppg in 1990-91
Al Thornton	F	Florida State	2.8 ppg in 2003-04
B.J. Tyler	G	Texas	2.9 ppg in 1989-90 with DePaul
Scottie Wilbekin	G	Florida	2.4 ppg in 2010-11
Jeff Withey	C	Kansas	1.3 ppg in 2009-10

NOTES: Oregon's Wally Borrevik (1.8 ppg in 1940-41), Wisconsin's Gene Englund (2.3 ppg in 1938-39), California's Darrall Imhoff (0.9 ppg in 1957-58), Kansas' Dean Kelley (0.8 in 1950-51), Purdue's Bob Kessler (2.3 ppg in 1933-34), Notre Dame's Leo Klier (2.7 in 1942-43), Oklahoma A&M's Gale McArthur (2.96 ppg in 1948-49), Notre Dame's Bob Rensberger (1.5 ppg in 1940-41) and Stanford's George Yardley (2.9 ppg in 1947-48) averaged fewer than three points per game as sophomores when freshmen weren't eligible to play varsity basketball before becoming All-Americans. . . . Withey originally attended Arizona.

Cooper Flagg is the sixth Duke freshman in the last 12 years to be named a first-team All-American. We may have reached an inflection point in replenishing rosters where experienced transfers - seasoned veterans for "won-and-done" aspirations - are more vital than immature "one-and-done" high school recruits. For instance, Duke and Kentucky ranked 1-2, 1-3 or 2-3 in nine of the previous 11 recruiting classes with the Blue Devils also ranked #1 in 2022 after UK was #2 in 2021. But it didn't mean squat of late in terms of success reaching the Final Four. Duke, which lost in national semifinals in 2022, is the only one of the two bluebloods advancing to the F4 in the previous seven tourneys. Similarly, Memphis ranked atop the recruiting list twice in a three-year span from 2019 through 2021 but the Tigers garnered a grand total of two playoff triumphs since 2014 after winning opener this year.

Prior to pathetic playoff performance two years ago, Brandon Miller (Alabama) was outstanding as a freshman in becoming an NCAA consensus second-team All-American. But he fell short of first-team acclaim. Four years ago, Oklahoma State's Cade Cunningham achieved a distinction luminaries Mark Aguirre, Carmelo Anthony, Stephen Curry, Patrick Ewing, Phil Ford, Tyler Hansbrough, James Harden, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Bernard King, Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O'Neal, Derrick Rose, Ralph Sampson and Russell Westbrook failed to do. Flagg is the 26th yearling on the following chronological list in this rare-air category named first-team A-A:

Clemson bowing to McNeese and Missouri succumbing to Drake exhibited why "The Greatest Show on Earth" is a stage for annual slew of tourney upsets. If upper-crust elite schools smugly look down their noses, they might find their opponents boast the upper hand by looking down the barrel of a gun or in the eye of a blinking Owl (recall Florida Atlantic two years ago). Just ask #1 seed Purdue after the Boilermakers were upset by bottom-of-the-bracket mid-majors three consecutive campaigns earlier this decade.

In 2013, two mid-major at-large entrants reached a regional final (La Salle and Wichita State) after also failing to capture a regular-season league title like UR. Generous doses of humility frequently occur. Nine years ago, #3 seeds Duke and Syracuse were embarrassed by Mercer and Dayton, respectively. They joined Marquette among 20 former national champions losing multiple times in the tourney against members of lower-profile conferences seeded five or more places worse than the major university currently a member of one of the consensus power-six leagues.

Kansas has a high of seven such setbacks as a total of 12 former NCAA titlists have lost three or more such contests. Wisconsin has six after the Badgers' reversal against JMU. Four years ago, Baylor joined KU and four other power-league members (Florida, Georgetown, Indiana and Vanderbilt) in losing playoff games in back-to-back seasons thus far in the 21st Century against mid-major foes with double-digit seeds. In the wake of ACC's mediocre campaign again, has part-time ACC commish/publicist Jay Bilas mentioned on ESPN about 14 ACC members collectively having been victimized by such illegal mid-major aliens crossing over power-league border as much as any power alliance? Would Bilas, also seemingly serving as NCAA executive director in absentia, and other self-anointed national experts have advocated for FAU, FDU, Furman, McNeese, New Mexico State, Oakland, Princeton, Richmond and Saint Peter's as at-large entrants if they didn't win their postseason conference tournaments?

Who did they play (mid-majors in NCAA playoff competition) and who did they beat (power-league members seeded five or more slots better)? Well, a total of 100 different lower-profile schools and current members of 24 different mid-major conferences (all but Northeast) have won 177 such games since seeding was introduced in 1979. The nation's fans simply don't bow down at the power-league altar worshiping mediocrity. The mid-major schools with the most "David vs. Goliath" playoff victories cited in the following list are Richmond and Gonzaga with seven apiece:

ACC (35 defeats against mid-major opponents seeded five or more places worse) - Boston College (lost against #12 seed Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2005); Clemson (#13 Southwest Missouri State in 1987, #11 Western Michigan in 1998 and #12 McNeese in 2025); Duke (#11 Virginia Commonwealth in 2007, #15 Lehigh in 2012 and #14 Mercer in 2014); Florida State (#13 Middle Tennessee State in 1989); Georgia Tech (#13 Richmond in 1988 and #13 Southern in 1993); Louisville (#12 Ball State in 1990, #12 Butler in 2003 and #13 Morehead State in 2011); Miami (#11 Loyola of Chicago in 2018); North Carolina (#9 Penn in 1979, #14 Weber State in 1999 and #11 George Mason in 2006); North Carolina State (#14 Murray State in 1988); Notre Dame (#14 UALR in 1986, #11 Winthrop in 2007 and #11 Old Dominion in 2010); Pittsburgh (#10 Kent State in 2002, #13 Bradley in 2006 and #8 Butler in 2011); Syracuse (#7 Navy in 1986, #11 Rhode Island in 1988, #15 Richmond in 1991, #13 Vermont in 2005 and #11 Dayton in 2014); Virginia (#12 Wyoming in 1987, #12 Gonzaga in 2001, #16 UMBC in 2018, #13 Ohio University in 2021 and #13 Furman in 2023); Wake Forest (#13 Cleveland State in 2009)

BIG EAST (19) - Connecticut (lost to #11 George Mason in 2006, #13 San Diego in 2008 and #12 New Mexico State in 2022); Creighton (#11 Rhode Island in 2017); DePaul (#12 New Mexico State in 1992); Georgetown (#10 Davidson in 2008, #14 Ohio University in 2010, #11 Virginia Commonwealth in 2011 and #15 Florida Gulf Coast in 2013); Marquette (#12 Tulsa in 2002 and #12 Murray State in 2019); Providence (#12 Pacific in 2004 and #11 Dayton in 2015); St. John's (#10 Gonzaga in 2000 and #11 Gonzaga in 2011); Seton Hall (#7 Western Kentucky in 1993 and #11 Gonzaga in 2016); Villanova (#14 Old Dominion in 1995 and #10 Saint Mary's in 2010)

BIG TEN (35) - Illinois (lost to #14 Austin Peay State in 1987, #12 Dayton in 1990, #14 Chattanooga in 1997, #12 Western Kentucky in 2009 and #8 Loyola of Chicago in 2021); Indiana (#14 Cleveland State in 1986, #13 Richmond in 1988, #11 Pepperdine in 2000 and #13 Kent State in 2001); Iowa (#14 Northwestern State in 2006 and #12 Richmond in 2022); Maryland (#12 College of Charleston in 1997); Michigan (#11 Loyola Marymount in 1990 and #13 Ohio University in 2012); Michigan State (#14 Weber State in 1995, #11 George Mason in 2006 and #15 Middle Tennessee State in 2016); Minnesota (#12 Middle Tennessee State in 2017); Nebraska (#14 Xavier in 1991 and #11 Penn in 1994); Ohio State (#12 Utah State in 2001, #9 Wichita State in 2013, #11 Dayton in 2014 and #15 Oral Roberts in 2021); Purdue (#11 Virginia Commonwealth in 2011, #12 UALR in 2016, #13 North Texas in 2021, #15 Saint Peter's in 2022 and #16 Fairleigh Dickinson in 2023); Wisconsin (#12 Southwest Missouri State in 1999, #11 Georgia State in 2001, #7 UNLV in 2007, #10 Davidson in 2008, #12 Cornell in 2010 and #12 James Madison in 2024)

BIG 12 (30) - Baylor (lost to #14 Georgia State in 2015 and #12 Yale in 2016); Brigham Young (#11 Duquesne in 2024); Cincinnati (#12 Harvard in 2014 and #7 Nevada in 2018); Iowa State (#15 Hampton in 2001 and #14 UAB in 2015); Kansas (#9 Texas-El Paso in 1992, #8 Rhode Island in 1998, #14 Bucknell in 2005, #13 Bradley in 2006, #9 Northern Iowa in 2010, #11 Virginia Commonwealth in 2011 and #7 Wichita State in 2015); Kansas State (#11 Tulane in 1993, #13 La Salle in 2013, #13 UC Irvine in 2019 and #9 Florida Atlantic in 2023); Oklahoma (#13 Southwestern Louisiana in 1992, #13 Manhattan in 1995, #13 Indiana State in 2001, #11 Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2006 and #12 North Dakota State in 2014); Oklahoma State (#12 Princeton in 1983, #10 Temple in 1991 and #12 Tulsa in 1994); Texas (#11 Northern Iowa in 2016 and #14 Abilene Christian in 2021); Texas Tech (#11 Southern Illinois in 2002); West Virginia (#14 Stephen F. Austin in 2016)

PACIFIC-12 (22 through 2023-24) - Arizona (lost to #14 East Tennessee State in 1992, #15 Santa Clara in 1993, #12 Miami of Ohio in 1995, #11 Wichita State in 2016, #13 Buffalo in 2018 and #15 Princeton in 2023 before joining Big 12); California (#12 Wisconsin-Green Bay in 1994 and #13 Hawaii in 2016 before joining ACC); Oregon State (#10 Lamar in 1980, #11 Evansville in 1989 and #12 Ball State in 1990 before joining WCC); Southern California (#13 UNC Wilmington in 2002 before joining Big Ten); Stanford (#14 Siena in 1989 and #10 Gonzaga in 1999 before joining ACC); UCLA (#12 Wyoming in 1987, #13 Penn State in 1991, #12 Tulsa in 1994, #13 Princeton in 1996 and #12 Detroit in 1999 before joining Big Ten); Utah (#10 Miami of Ohio in 1999 and #11 Gonzaga in 2016 before joining Big 12); Washington State (#12 Penn in 1980 before joining WCC)

SEC (39) - Alabama (lost to #11 Lamar in 1983, #11 South Alabama in 1989, #10 Kent State in 2002 and #12 Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2005); Auburn (#12 Richmond in 1984 and #13 Yale in 2024); Florida (#12 Creighton in 2002, #12 Manhattan in 2003, #8 Butler in 2011 and #15 Oral Roberts in 2021); Georgia (#14 Chattanooga in 1997 and #11 Southern Illinois in 2002); Kentucky (#7 UAB in 1981, #11 Middle Tennessee State in 1982, #9 UAB in 2004, #15 Saint Peter's in 2022 and #14 Oakland in 2024); Louisiana State (#13 Navy in 1985 and #11 UAB in 2005); Mississippi (#13 Valparaiso in 1998); Mississippi State (#12 Eastern Michigan in 1991, #12 Butler in 2003, #7 Xavier in 2004 and #12 Liberty in 2019); Missouri (#13 Xavier in 1987, #11 Rhode Island in 1988, #14 Northern Iowa in 1990, #15 Norfolk State in 2012, #15 Princeton in 2023 and #11 Drake in 2025); South Carolina (#15 Coppin State in 1997 and #14 Richmond in 1998); Tennessee (#12 Southwest Missouri State in 1999, #7 Wichita State in 2006, #11 Loyola of Chicago in 2018 and #9 Florida Atlantic in 2023); Vanderbilt (#13 Siena in 2008, #13 Murray State in 2010 and #12 Richmond in 2011)

NOTES: Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State were members of the Big Eight until 1997. Mizzou left the Big 12 for SEC in 2013. . . . Notre Dame was an independent in 1986. . . . Florida State, Louisville and Tulane were members of the Metro Conference in 1989, 1990 and 1993, respectively. . . . Butler was a member of the Horizon League in 2003 and 2011. . . . Dayton was a member of the Midwestern Collegiate in 1990. . . . DePaul was a member of the Great Midwest in 1992. . . . Penn State was a member of the Atlantic 10 in 1991. . . . Texas-El Paso and Utah were members of the WAC in 1992 and 1999, respectively. . . . Marquette and Louisville were members of Conference USA in 2002 and 2004, respectively. . . . Tulsa was a member of Missouri Valley in 1994 and 2002. . . . Xavier was a member of Midwestern Collegiate in 1987 and 1991 and Atlantic 10 in 2004. . . . Boston College was a member of the Big East in 2005. . . . Defeats for Cincinnati (Big East), Maryland (ACC), Louisville (Big East), Pittsburgh (Big East) and Syracuse (Big East) came when they were members of another power league.

The hoop lowdown might not rise to the level of aggressive African-American commentary on Donald Trump or previous POTUS #AudacityofHype lecturing Christians rather than unprincipled marauders. Nonetheless, it could be time to proclaim white players matter. Many white-privilege provocateurs, who should seek reparations of their own for being exposed to race hustlers such as MSDNC's Joyless Reid and "Not So" Sharpton clamoring for "R-E-S-P-I-C-T," seem to care as much about the basketball topic, however, as far-left zealots are outraged about Muslim terrorists murdering saints and believers.

Is this DEI in reverse? A milestone won't trigger White History Month, but this season marked the first time since 1967-68 through 1969-70 (Pete Maravich era) for multiple NCAA consensus first-team All-American white players in three consecutive campaigns. From 1980 through 2012, less than one-fifth of the NCAA consensus first- and second-team All-Americans were Caucasian. Struggling as much as Marxist BLM founder purchasing luxury homes in white neighborhoods, Plagiarist Biledumb ascending Stair Farce One, #MSLSD's "Resist We Much" RevAl and #JoylessReid plus confused Congresswoman #(Mad)Maxine Waters may consider this repulsive racist research. However, they probably should be more concerned about paying fair share of taxes on filing deadline day, candor about hacked computer and concocting conspiratorial claptrap more worthy of April Fool's Day about CIA planting drugs in the hood.

All of America needs more critical thinking than critical race theory. Unless there are some closet Rachel Dolezals in the identity mix or Jussie Smollett's air-head attorney is accurate about an outbreak of white-face escapades, Gonzaga (Dan Dickau, Blake Stepp, Adam Morrison, Kelly Olynyk, Kyle Wiltjer, Corey Kispert, Drew Timme and Chet Holmgren) was alone boasting the most white consensus All-Americans thus far in 21st Century with eight. Duke is runner-up with seven after Cooper Flagg. It might be accurate-but-unacceptable information to cancel-culture leftists indoctrinating students in public schools with critical race theory, but the Zags in 2020-21 and 2021-22 became the first school to feature a set of white consensus All-Americans in same season since Missouri's Steve Stipanovich and Jon Sundvold in 1982-83.

It might not reign purple important as a photograph of Prince in a junior high basketball uniform to African-American Studies majors but we could be in the midst of a modest resurgence for the white player represented each year thus far this century. After all, Duke was the nation's only school to supply a white first-team All-American in a nine-year span from 1987-88 through 1995-96 (Danny Ferry in 1989, Christian Laettner in 1992 and Bobby Hurley in 1993). For those monitoring such identity demographics or who might be a dues-paying member of an alternative version of NAACP (National Association for Advancement of Caucasian Players), following is a list of white NCAA consensus first- and second-team All-Americans since Indiana State's Larry Bird was unanimous national player of the year in 1979: