College Exam: Day #2 For One-and-Only NCAA Tournament Trivia Challenge

March 18th, 2024 - 7:00

Unless you're busy hoarding toilet paper or cowering in fetal position prepping for next pandemic, 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.

Emphasizing a "one-and-only" theme for a "one-and-only" event, here is Day 2 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. Who is the only individual selected the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player three times? Hint: His real first name was Ferdinand and he is the only player to couple three unanimous first team All-American seasons with three NCAA championships. He is also the only player to hit better than 70% of his field-goal attempts in two NCAA title games.

2. Who is the only coach to twice guide three different schools to the NCAA playoffs in the same decade? Hint: He achieved the feat in a span of six straight seasons and is the only coach to have two different sons play for him in the tourney with two different schools.

3. Who is the only one of the 40 Final Four Most Outstanding Players from 1972 through 2011 not to play for the championship team? Hint: He never led his college team in scoring average in any of his three seasons at the school.

4. Who is the only coach to guide a school to the Final Four as many as five times and never capture the national championship? Hint: He lost each time at the Final Four to the eventual titlist and served as captain for the school's first team in 1946.

5. Name the only current Pacific-12 Conference member never to reach the Final Four. Hint: The school has made more tournament appearances than seven Pac-12 members, but lost three West Regional finals by a total of 40 points before joining the conference. It absorbed the largest margin of defeat for the 14 No. 1 or 2 seeds losing their playoff opener since seeding started in 1979.

6. Name the only conference to have five teams all lose their opening-round game in a single tourney. Hint: The league has had four different schools lose first-round games by more than 20 points against squads with double-digit seeds since seeding started in 1979.

7. Who is the only coach to win a tournament game for four different schools? Hint: He was the only coach in 20th Century to direct four different universities to NCAA playoffs.

8. Who is the only individual to win NCAA titles in his first two seasons as head coach at a school? Hint: He achieved the feat the first year after the eligibility expired for the school's most illustrious player, a three-time UPI Player of the Year who led the nation in scoring each season.

9. Who is the only active coach to take two different schools to the NCAA playoffs in his maiden voyage with them after they posted a losing mark the previous campaign? Hint: He posted the nation's best winning percentage by a first-year major college head coach in 1987-88 when he went 20-10 (.667) in his lone season with yet another school.

10. Name the only school to reach the Final Four in its one and only NCAA Tournament appearance in the 20th Century. Hint: The coach of the Final Four team is only individual to win more than 30 games in earning a trip to national semifinals in his first season.

Answers (Day 2)
Day 1 Questions and Answers

Been There and Done That: North Carolina Accorded #1 Seed For 18th Time

March 17th, 2024 - 19:23

Former national champions Marquette (42 victories) and Utah (38) have won a significant number of NCAA playoff games yet never received a No. 1 seed since seeding was introduced in 1979. It's virgin territory for a majority of DI institutions, but the top spot is old hat for North Carolina as the Tar Heels are revisiting the pedestal for 18th time - highest for any school.

Duke, accorded a No. 1 seed eight times in a nine-year span from 1998 through 2006, and Kentucky are connected with North Carolina and Kansas among the following four universities seeded #1 at least a dozen times:

18 - North Carolina (1979-82-84-87-91-93-94-97-98-05-07-08-09-12-16-17-19-24)
16 - Kansas (1986-92-95-97-98-02-07-08-10-11-13-16-17-18-22-23)
14 - Duke (1986-92-98-99-00-01-02-04-05-06-10-11-15-19)
12 - Kentucky (1980-84-86-93-95-96-97-03-04-10-12-15)

From Here to Futility: March Madness Turns to Sadness Via Single Setback

March 17th, 2024 - 18:59

The alluring "Road to the Final Four" is a highway already lined with daydreamers and potholes. Indiana State (28-6) was burned this season despite a superb NET. Does anyone with a functioning brain believe plodding Virginia deserved an at-large bid over entertaining ISU? The same held true for Appalachian State (27-6) although the Mountaineers didn't assemble nearly as impressive NET. It defies logic why so many mid-majors have been consigned to NIT participation at the expense of power-league members with mediocre or non-winning conference records.

Rather than automatically focusing on underachieving middle-of-the-pack power-alliance affiliates with non-winning league records, shouldn't teams capturing undisputed regular-season crowns in a Division I conference warrant more extensive consideration as at-large entrants to the NCAA playoffs? Season-long excellence needs to count more than always paying homage to mediocre members of a power league.

Davidson had two of 11 teams from mid-major conferences - Lafayette '78, American '81, Temple '82, William & Mary '83, Coppin State '94, Davidson '96, Austin Peay '04, Davidson '05, Norfolk State '13, Murray State '15 and North Carolina Central '15 - going undefeated in league round-robin regular-season competition but not participating in the NCAA playoffs after losing by a single-digit margin in their conference tournament since at-large bids were issued to schools other than conference champions in 1975.

Saint Mary's is a classic example depicting why many mid-level schools have an inferiority complex. The Gaels six years ago, UNC Greensboro five seasons ago and Coastal Carolina in 2010-11 were three teams winning 28 games like Indiana State and still be ignored by the committee. Utah State was shunned in 2003-04 despite winning nearly 90% of its games (25-3 record). Would Stephen F. Austin had been shunned four years ago with 30 wins if it lost in Southland Conference Tournament title tilt? Ditto McNeese State and James Madison this campaign.

Prior to joining the Big East Conference, Creighton's splendid season 15 years ago was downplayed. Know-it-all national media types and committee members may haughtily belittle mid-major achievements because they're from the other side of the tracks, but following is an alarmingly long track record listing chronologically eligible teams winning more than 25 games yet failing to earn invitations to the NCAA playoffs since the field expanded to at least 64 in 1985:

Season Mid-Major School Conference Coach W-L Pct.
1986-87 Howard University Mid-Eastern Athletic A.B. Williamson 26-5 .839
1989-90 Southern Illinois Missouri Valley Rich Herrin 26-7 .788
2006-07 Akron Mid-American Keith Dambrot 26-7 .788
2007-08 IUPUI Summit League Ron Hunter 26-7 .788
2007-08 Robert Morris Northeast Mike Rice Jr. 26-7 .788
2007-08 Stephen F. Austin Southland Danny Kaspar 26-5 .839
2008-09 College of Charleston Southern Bobby Cremins 26-8 .765
2008-09 Davidson Southern Bob McKillop 26-7 .788
2008-09 Creighton Missouri Valley Dana Altman 26-7 .788
2008-09 Niagara Metro Atlantic Athletic Joe Mihalich 26-8 .765
2008-09 Saint Mary's West Coast Randy Bennett 26-6 .813
2010-11 Cleveland State Horizon League Gary Waters 26-8 .765
2010-11 Coastal Carolina Big South Cliff Ellis 28-5 .848
2011-12 Drexel Colonial Athletic Association Bruiser Flint 27-6 .818
2011-12 Oral Roberts Summit League Scott Sutton 27-6 .818
2012-13 Stephen F. Austin Southland Danny Kaspar 27-4 .871
2013-14 Louisiana Tech Conference USA Michael White 27-7 .794
2013-14 Southern Mississippi Conference USA Donnie Tyndall 27-6 .818
2014-15 Colorado State Mountain West Larry Eustachy 27-6 .818
2014-15 Iona Metro Atlantic Athletic Tim Cluess 26-8 .765
2015-16 Akron Mid-American Keith Dambrot 26-8 .765
2015-16 Monmouth Metro Atlantic Athletic King Rice 27-7 .794
2015-16 Saint Mary's West Coast Randy Bennett 27-5 .844
2015-16 UAB Conference USA Jerod Haase 26-6 .813
2015-16 Valparaiso Horizon League Bryce Drew 26-6 .813
2016-17 Akron Mid-American Keith Dambrot 26-8 .765
2016-17 Illinois State Missouri Valley Dan Muller 27-6 .818
2016-17 Monmouth Metro Atlantic Athletic King Rice 27-6 .818
2017-18 Louisiana Sun Belt Bob Marlin 27-6 .818
2017-18 Saint Mary's West Coast Randy Bennett 28-5 .848
2017-18 South Dakota Summit League Craig Smith 26-8 .765
2017-18 Vermont America East John Becker 27-7 .794
2018-19 Hofstra Colonial Athletic Association Joe Mihalich 27-7 .794
2018-19 UNC Greensboro Southern Wes Miller 28-6 .824
2020-21 Belmont Ohio Valley Casey Alexander 26-4 .867
2021-22 Toledo Mid-American Tod Kowalczyk 26-7 .788
2022-23 Liberty Atlantic Sun Ritchie McKay 26-8 .765
2022-23 UMass Lowell America East Pat Duquette 26-8 .765
2022-23 North Texas Conference USA Grant McCasland 26-7 .788
2022-23 Toledo Mid-American Tod Kowalczyk 27-7 .794
2023-24 Appalachian State Southern Dustin Kerns 27-6 .818
2023-24 Indiana State Missouri Valley Josh Schertz 28-6 .824

NOTE: Cleveland State (defeated Indiana and Wake Forest), College of Charleston (Maryland), Colorado State (Colorado, Florida and Missouri), Creighton (Alabama, Florida, Louisville and Texas), Davidson (Georgetown, St. John's and Wisconsin), Illinois State (Alabama, Southern California and Tennessee), Indiana State (Arkansas, DePaul, Oklahoma and Virginia Tech), Liberty (Mississippi State), Louisiana-Lafayette (Oklahoma and Texas), Louisiana Tech (Ohio State and Pittsburgh), North Texas (Purdue), ORU (Louisville and Syracuse), Saint Mary's (Villanova), SIU (Arizona, Georgia, Texas Tech and Virginia Tech), Stephen F. Austin (West Virginia), Toledo (Iowa), UAB (Indiana, Iowa State, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan State, Missouri, Virginia and Washington), Valparaiso (Florida State and Mississippi) and Vermont (Syracuse) collectively won NCAA playoff games in other years against a total of 37 different power-conference members (including 14 in this year's event).

Famine Relief: Duquesne Ends Long NCAA Tournament Appearance Dry Spell

March 17th, 2024 - 14:37

If your RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) isn't satisfactory, then it's time to R.I.P. (Rest in Peace). That certainly was the case for Duquesne, a Rip Van Winkle of college basketball, until the Dukes woke up and secured its first NCAA playoff berth since losing an East Regional opener in in 1977. They promptly posted their first tourney triumph since 1969.

Stanford and Wisconsin, a pair of relatively recent Final Four schools, were tied with Brown for the longest dry spell in NCAA Tournament history for prior playoff participants until Harvard ended its 65-year drought in 2012. Following are the 12 schools - with Baylor, Iowa State, Wisconsin and Yale joining Duquesne in this year's event - to participate in the tourney at least once before enduring playoff appearance droughts of at least 37 years (length of dry spells denoted in parentheses):

School Years Failing to Appear Years Without a Victory
Harvard 1947 through 2011 (65) Won first game in 2013.
Yale 1963 through 2015 (53) Only victory in 2016 until upsetting Auburn in 2024.
Brown 1940 through 1985 (46) Never won a playoff game.
Stanford 1943 through 1988 (46) 1943 through 1994 (52).
Duquesne 1978 through 2023 (46) 1970 through 2023 (54).
Wisconsin 1948 through 1993 (46) 1948 through 1993 (46).
Furman 1981 through 2022 (43) Won only game in 1974 (48).
Air Force 1963 through 2003 (41) Never won a playoff game.
Lafayette 1958 through 1998 (41) Never won a playoff game.
Iowa State 1945 through 1984 (40) 1945 through 1985 (41).
Washington State 1942 through 1979 (38) 1942 through 1982 (41).
Baylor 1951 through 1987 (37) 1951 through 2009 (59).
Canisius 1958 through 1994 (37) Hasn't won since 1957.
Miami (FL) 1961 through 1997 (37) Won first game in 1999.

NOTE: Miami suspended its basketball program for 14 seasons from 1971-72 through 1983-84.

College Exam: Day #1 For One-and-Only NCAA Tournament Trivia Challenge

March 17th, 2024 - 9:22

Unless you're busy hoarding toilet paper for the next Dr. Fraudci pandemic, siphoning gas or cowering in fetal position from college basketball version of Orson Welles' War of the Worlds "dark winter" waiting for Plagiarist Biledumb to finally do something incisive or traverse up Air Force One steps without trepidation, 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.

Well, is that your final answer? Do you have the wit, guile and endurance to be a "Survivor" answering 10 daily questions about "The Amazing Race" otherwise known as the NCAA Tournament?

Standardized testing is controversial, but it's time to put your NCAA playoff knowledge on the line and attempt a free shot at CollegeHoopedia.com's challenging tourney-time questions. Your "scoring ability" on these one-of-a-kind trivia quizzes will reflect retention of critical knowledge, jogging your memory, exhibiting your lack of attention to detail or revealing once and for all you didn't major in "Hoopology" or take an advanced course in Basketball History.

As you're aware, many participants in the NCAA playoffs believe it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Similarly, more and more all-around sports fans probably would pick the Final Four over the World Series and Super Bowl if they were forced to choose one of the prestigious events they could attend.

In accordance with that "one-and-only" theme, following are a treasure-trove of tantalizing NCAA Tournament trivia questions by CollegeHoopedia.com dealing with the only coach, conference, player or school to be linked to a distinguished or dubious achievement (click here for answers or conduct PhD degree-like research digesting historical morsels in CollegeHoopedia's year-by-year highlights):

1. Name the only NCAA champion to have three players eventually score more than 15,000 points apiece in the NBA. Hint: Each of the trio was named an All-American at least two seasons and helped the school compete in 27 consecutive NCAA playoffs.

2. Name the only NBA team to have two teammates go on to coach teams in the Final Four. Hint: They were among the top three scorers for their team the first three seasons in NBA history. Their team posted the best regular-season record in the league's inaugural campaign and participated in the 1949 NBA Finals.

3. Name the only state currently with at least 10 Division I schools never to send a team to the Final Four. Hint: Just one school from the state won any NCAA playoff games from 1974 through 1996.

4. Who is the only individual to play and coach in both the NCAA and NBA playoffs? Hint: He played for a 28-5 Oregon State playoff team and on the frontline of an NBA champion with Dolph Schayes and Red Kerr. The leading scorer for his NBA playoff team was Gene Shue and the leading scorer for his NCAA tourney team was Bob Nash.

5. Who is the only coach to direct teams to Final Fours in four different decades in the 20th Century? Hint: He is the only coach to lose more than seven Final Four games and his first three NCAA Tournament championship games. His Final Four defeats were by an average of 15 points.

6. Name the only school to lose against UCLA as many as four times during the Bruins' 38-game winning streak in the NCAA playoffs from 1964 to 1974. Hint: The subject school is one of six other than UCLA to successfully defend a national championship.

7. Name the only All-American to go winless in more than five NCAA Tournament games. Hint: He played for a school winning the NCAA championship earlier in the decade he appeared in the playoffs.

8. Name the only school to reach the Final Four despite compiling a losing record in conference competition and being eliminated in the first round of its league tournament. Hint: The school's leading scorer that year had the lowest team-leading scoring average of any Final Four team since Kansas '74 had five players average from 11.3 to 12.4 points per game. Moreover, it's the only school to have as many as four at-large bids to the tournament despite compiling losing records in league play.

9. Name the only school to be top-ranked entering back-to-back tournaments but lose both opening playoff games. Hint: Two of the team's starters played more than 10 years in the NBA and one of them was on a third team for the school that lost its opening playoff game as a No. 1 seed. One of the two starters was a consensus national player of the year.

10. Name the only top-ranked team to decline a berth in the NCAA playoffs since the AP started conducting polls in 1949. Hint: The school was unbeaten the year it rejected a bid, defeated the national champion-to-be by 13 points and had only two games closer than a 12-point decision.

Day 1 answers.

Premier School Individual Single-Game Scoring Standards in NCAA Playoffs

March 17th, 2024 - 9:08

If you peer around the corner, someone better can always be found. Did you know NCAA playoff scoring highs for Arizona State's James Harden (10), Auburn's Charles Barkley (23), Cincinnati's Kenyon Martin (16; DNP as senior because of broken leg), DePaul's Mark Aguirre (34), Duke's Grant Hill (25)/Kyrie Irving (28)/Christian Laettner (31), Florida State's Dave Cowens (11), Georgetown's Alonzo Mourning (23), Houston's Clyde Drexler (21)/Hakeem Olajuwon (29), Illinois' Eddie Johnson (19), Indiana's Isiah Thomas (30)/Mike Woodson (26), Kansas' Paul Pierce (27)/Jo Jo White (22), Kentucky's Karl Anthony-Towns (25)/Rex Chapman (30)/John Wall (19), Marquette's Jimmy Butler (15), Louisville's Pervis Ellison (25)/Wes Unseld (25), Maryland's Len Elmore (14)/Buck Williams (19), Memphis' Penny Hardaway (24), Miami's Dick Hickox (17)/Shane Larkin (17), Michigan's Phil Hubbard (22), Michigan State's Magic Johnson (29)/Morris Peterson (21), Missouri's Anthony Peeler (28), North Carolina's Vince Carter (24)/Antawn Jamison (21)/Michael Jordan (27), Notre Dame's Adrian Dantley (34), Ohio State's John Havlicek (25)/Jim Jackson (24)/Clark Kellogg (14), Oklahoma's Ryan Minor (24), South Carolina's Alex English (22), Syracuse's Derrick Coleman (19), Temple's Mark Macon (32), Tennessee's Bernard King (23), Texas' LaMarcus Aldridge (26)/Kevin Durant (30), Texas A&M's John Beasley (13)/Sonny Parker (14)/Robert Williams (13), UCLA's Reggie Miller (32)/Russell Westbrook (22), Utah's Tom Chambers (26)/Keith Van Horn (27) and Villanova's Ed Pinckney (24) all are more than 10 points fewer than all-time single-game tournament record for their respective alma maters? Incredibly, the highest-scoring NCAA tourney game for luminaries Martin (40 fewer than UC's all-time mark), Drexler (28), Dantley (27), Wall (25), Coleman (24), Butler (22), Harden (22), Kellogg (22), Westbrook (22), White (22), Hickox (21), Larkin (21) and Peterson (20) are at least 20 points lower than the existing standard for their school.

Among power-conference members and mid-major universities reaching Final Four at some point in their history, an average of two players annually set school NCAA playoff single-game scoring records the previous seven years. Only two freshmen - Massachusetts' Marcus Camby in 1994 and Oregon's Tajuan Porter in 2007 - hold the existing NCAA playoff scoring standard for their school among the 109 universities in question. Six individuals among these schools - Gabe DeVoe (Clemson), Juan Dixon (Maryland), Jim McDaniels (Western Kentucky), Glenn Robinson (Purdue), Byron Scott (Arizona State) and Reggie Williams (Georgetown) - established their NCAA tourney single-game marks against Kansas.

Teddy Allen shattered New Mexico State's playoff record with 36 points against Connecticut in opening round two years ago. There were 18 schools in the following alphabetical list to have their existing NCAA playoff single-game scoring mark set more than 60 years ago:

School Record Holder Class HG NCAA Playoff Opponent Date
Alabama Antonio McDyess Soph. 39 Penn (First Round) 3-16-95
Arizona Khalid Reeves Sr. 32 Loyola MD (First Round) 3-18-94
Arizona Derrick Williams Soph. 32 Duke (Regional Semifinal) 3-24-11
Arizona State Byron Scott Soph. 32 Kansas (Second Round) 3-15-81
Arkansas Mario Credit Jr. 34 Loyola Marymount (First Round) 3-16-89
Auburn Chris Morris Sr. 36 Bradley (First Round) 3-17-88
Baylor LJ Cryer Jr. 30 Creighton (Second Round) 3-19-23
Boston College John Bagley Soph. 35 Wake Forest (Second Round) 3-15-81
Bradley Hersey Hawkins Sr. 44 Auburn (First Round) 3-17-88
Butler Shelvin Mack Jr. 30 Pittsburgh (Second Round) 3-19-11
California Lamond Murray Soph. 28 Duke (Second Round) 3-20-93
Charlotte Cedric Maxwell Sr. 32 Central Michigan (First Round) 3-13-77
Cincinnati Oscar Robertson Soph. 56 Arkansas (Regional Third) 3-15-58
Clemson Gabe DeVoe Sr. 31 Kansas (Regional Semifinal) 3-23-18
Colorado Cliff Meely Soph. 32 Colorado State (Regional Semifinal) 3-13-69
Connecticut Ray Allen Soph. 36 UCLA (Regional Final) 3-25-95
Connecticut Ben Gordon Jr. 36 Alabama (Regional Final) 3-27-04
Connecticut Kemba Walker Jr. 36 San Diego State (Regional Semifinal) 3-24-11
Creighton Ryan Kalkbrenner Jr. 31 North Carolina State (First Round) 3-17-23
Dartmouth Audie Brindley Jr. 28 Ohio State (Regional Final) 3-25-44
Dayton Roosevelt Chapman Sr. 41 Oklahoma (Second Round) 3-17-84
DePaul Dave Corzine Sr. 46 Louisville (Regional Semifinal in 2OT) 3-17-78
Drake Jonathan Cox Jr. 29 Western Kentucky (First Round) 3-21-08
Duke Jeff Mullins Sr. 43 Villanova (Regional Semifinal) 3-13-64
Duquesne Jim Tucker Soph. 29 Illinois (Regional Final) 3-22-52
Florida KeVaughn Allen Soph. 35 Wisconsin (Regional Semifinal in OT) 3-24-17
Florida State Sam Cassell Sr. 31 Tulane (Second Round) 3-20-93
George Mason George Evans Sr. 27 Maryland (First Round) 3-15-01
Georgetown Reggie Williams Sr. 34 Kansas (Regional Semifinal) 3-19-87
Georgetown Charles Smith Sr. 34 Notre Dame (Second Round) 3-19-89
Georgia Willie Anderson Jr. 35 Kansas State (First Round in OT) 3-12-87
Georgia Tech Dennis Scott Jr. 40 Minnesota (Regional Final) 3-25-90
Gonzaga Brandon Clarke Jr. 36 Baylor (Second Round) 3-23-19
Gonzaga Drew Timme Sr. 36 UCLA (Regional Semifinal) 3-23-23
Holy Cross Togo Palazzi Jr. 32 Wake Forest (Regional Semifinal) 3-13-53
Houston Elvin Hayes Sr. 49 Loyola of Chicago (First Round) 3-9-68
Illinois Deron Williams Soph. 31 Cincinnati (Second Round) 3-21-04
Indiana Don Schlundt Soph. 41 Notre Dame (Regional Final) 3-14-53
Indiana State Larry Bird Sr. 35 DePaul (National Semifinal) 3-24-79
Iowa Bill Logan Sr. 36 Temple (National Semifinal) 3-22-56
Iowa Luka Garza Sr. 36 Oregon (Second Round) 3-22-21
Iowa State Lafester Rhodes Sr. 34 Georgia Tech (First Round) 3-18-88
Iowa State Dedric Willoughby Sr. 34 UCLA (Regional Semifinal) 3-20-97
Iowa State Dustin Hogue Jr. 34 Connecticut (Regional Semifinal) 3-28-14
Jacksonville Artis Gilmore Jr. 30 Western Kentucky (First Round) 3-7-70
Jacksonville Artis Gilmore Jr. 30 Iowa (Regional Semifinal) 3-12-70
Kansas Clyde Lovellette Sr. 44 St. Louis (Regional Final) 3-22-52
Kansas State Jacob Pullen Sr. 38 Wisconsin (Second Round) 3-19-11
Kentucky Dan Issel Sr. 44 Notre Dame (Regional Semifinal) 3-12-70
La Salle Michael Brooks Soph. 35 Villanova (First Round) 3-12-78
Louisiana State Bob Pettit Jr. 36 Washington (National Third) 3-18-53
Louisiana State Shaquille O'Neal Jr. 36 Indiana (Second Round) 3-21-92
Louisville Junior Bridgeman Sr. 36 Rutgers (First Round) 3-15-75
Loyola of Chicago Jerry Harkness Sr. 33 Illinois (Regional Final) 3-16-63
Marquette Terry Rand Jr. 37 Miami of Ohio (First Round) 3-9-55
Maryland Juan Dixon Sr. 34 Kansas (National Semifinal) 3-30-02
Massachusetts Marcus Camby Fr. 32 Maryland (Second Round) 3-19-94
Memphis Roburt Sallie Soph. 35 Cal State Northridge (First Round) 3-19-09
Miami (Fla.) Jack McClinton Jr. 38 Saint Mary's (First Round) 3-21-08
Michigan Glen Rice Jr. 39 Florida (Second Round) 3-19-88
Michigan State Adreian Payne Sr. 41 Delaware (First Round) 3-20-14
Minnesota Willie Burton Sr. 36 Northern Iowa (Second Round) 3-18-90
Minnesota Bobby Jackson Sr. 36 Clemson (Regional Semifinal) 3-20-97
Mississippi Stefan Moody Jr. 26 Brigham Young (First Four) 3-17-15
Mississippi State Charles Rhodes Sr. 34 Oregon (First Round) 3-21-08
Missouri Willie Smith Sr. 43 Michigan (Regional Final) 3-20-76
Nebraska Eric Piatkowski Jr. 29 New Mexico State (First Round) 3-19-93
New Mexico State Teddy Allen Sr. 37 Connecticut (First Round) 3-17-22
North Carolina Lennie Rosenbluth Sr. 39 Canisius (Regional Semifinal) 3-15-57
North Carolina Al Wood Sr. 39 Virginia (National Semifinal) 3-28-81
North Carolina State David Thompson Jr. 40 Providence (Regional Semifinal) 3-14-74
North Carolina State Rodney Monroe Soph. 40 Iowa (Second Round) 3-19-89
Northwestern Ryan Langborg Sr. 27 Florida Atlantic (First Round) 3-22-24
Notre Dame Austin Carr Jr. 61 Ohio University (First Round) 3-7-70
Ohio State Jerry Lucas Soph. 36 Western Kentucky (Regional Semifinal) 3-11-60
Oklahoma Stacey King Jr. 37 Auburn (Second Round) 3-19-88
Oklahoma Buddy Hield Sr. 37 Oregon (Regional Final) 3-26-16
Oklahoma State Bob Mattick Jr. 35 Texas Christian (Regional Semifinal) 3-13-53
Oregon Tajuan Porter Fr. 33 UNLV (Regional Semifinal) 3-23-07
Oregon State Gary Payton Sr. Jr. 31 Evansville (First Round) 3-17-89
Penn Keven McDonald Sr. 37 St. Bonaventure (First Round) 3-12-78
Penn State Andrew Funk Sr. 27 Texas A&M (First Round) 3-16-23
Pittsburgh John Riser Sr. 34 Notre Dame (Regional Third) 3-16-57
Pittsburgh Billy Knight Sr. 34 Furman (Regional Semifinal) 3-14-74
Princeton Bill Bradley Sr. 58 Wichita (National Third) 3-20-65
Providence Austin Croshere Sr. 39 Marquette (First Round) 3-14-97
Purdue Glenn Robinson Jr. 44 Kansas (Regional Semifinal) 3-24-94
Rutgers Phil Sellers Jr. 29 Louisville (First Round) 3-15-75
St. Bonaventure Fred Crawford Soph. 34 Rhode Island (First Round) 3-14-61
St. Bonaventure Bill Butler Sr. 34 Boston College (First Round) 3-9-68
St. John's Bob Zawoluk Sr. 32 Kentucky (Regional Final) 3-22-52
St. Joseph's Jack Egan Sr. 42 Utah (National Third) 3-25-61
San Francisco Ollie Johnson Sr. 37 UCLA (Regional Final) 3-13-65
Santa Clara Dennis Awtrey Sr. 37 Long Beach State (Regional Third) 3-14-70
Seattle Johnny O'Brien Sr. 42 Idaho State (First Round) 3-10-53
Seton Hall John Morton Sr. 35 Michigan (National Final) 4-3-89
South Carolina Tom Riker Jr. 39 Fordham (Regional Third) 3-20-71
Southern California John Rudometkin Soph. 31 Utah (First Round) 3-7-60
Southern Methodist Jim Krebs Sr. 33 St. Louis (Regional Third) 3-16-57
Stanford Brook Lopez Soph. 30 Marquette (Second Round) 3-22-08
Syracuse Gerry McNamara Soph. 43 Brigham Young (First Round) 3-18-04
Temple Hal Lear Sr. 48 Southern Methodist (National Third) 3-23-56
Tennessee Dalton Knecht Sr. 37 Purdue (Regional Final) 3-31-24
Texas Travis Mays Sr. 44 Georgia (First Round) 3-17-90
Texas A&M Acie Law IV Sr. 26 Louisville (Second Round) 3-17-07
Texas A&M Josh Carter Jr. 26 Brigham Young (First Round) 3-20-08
Texas Christian Lee Nailon Jr. 32 Florida State (First Round) 3-13-98
Texas-El Paso Jim Barnes Sr. 42 Texas A&M (First Round) 3-9-64
Texas Tech Jarrett Culver Soph. 29 Northern Kentucky (First Round) 3-22-19
UCLA Bill Walton Jr. 44 Memphis State (National Final) 3-26-73
UNLV Armon Gilliam Sr. 38 Wyoming (Regional Semifinal) 3-20-87
UNLV Freddie Banks Sr. 38 Indiana (National Semifinal) 3-28-87
Utah Jerry Chambers Sr. 40 Pacific (Regional Semifinal) 3-11-66
Vanderbilt Matt Freije Sr. 31 North Carolina State (Second Round) 3-21-04
Villanova Howard Porter Sr. 35 Penn (Regional Final) 3-20-71
Virginia Richard Morgan Sr. 33 Providence (First Round) 3-16-89
Virginia Richard Morgan Sr. 33 Middle Tennessee (Second Round) 3-18-89
Virginia Commonwealth Rolando Lamb Sr. 30 Marshall (First Round) 3-15-85
Virginia Commonwealth JeQuan Lewis Sr. 30 Saint Mary's (First Round) 3-16-17
Virginia Tech Glen Combs Jr. 29 Indiana (Regional Semifinal) 3-17-67
Wake Forest Len Chappell Sr. 34 St. Joseph's (Regional Semifinal in OT) 3-16-62
Washington Bob Houbregs Sr. 45 Seattle (Regional Semifinal) 3-13-53
Washington State Paul Lindemann Sr. 26 Creighton (Regional Semifinal) 3-21-41
West Virginia Rod Thorn Sr. 44 St. Joseph's (Regional Semifinal) 3-15-63
Western Kentucky Jim McDaniels Sr. 36 Kansas (National Third) 3-27-71
Wichita State Dave Stallworth Jr. 37 Kansas State (Regional Final) 3-14-64
Wisconsin Michael Finley Jr. 36 Missouri (Second Round) 3-19-94
Wyoming Fennis Dembo Jr. 41 UCLA (Second Round) 3-14-87
Xavier Jordan Crawford Soph. 32 Kansas State (Regional Semifinal) 3-25-10

Champs Can Be Chumps: Ex-Kingpins UNLV & UTEP Aim to Rekindle Respect

March 17th, 2024 - 8:51

San Francisco made significant strides striving to keep up with gaudy Gonzaga in the WCC before stalling out. But USF, with the Dons' previous appearance occurring in 1998 after winning their first 11 playoff assignments in the 1950s, was the only one of total of 35 different current NCAA DI schools capturing a national championship never to appear in the playoffs in the 21st Century until securing an at-large bid two years ago. UNLV is out of the playoffs for the 11th consecutive campaign and UTEP is absent for the 14th straight season while 20 of the ex-NCAA titlists were absent from the NCAA playoffs at least 15 consecutive years when institutions were down in their doldrums.

Villanova is one of five different NCAA titlists never to be out of the playoffs at least 10 consecutive campaigns. The longest champ-to-chump stint was endured by Stanford, which captured the 1942 crown before missing the next 46 tournaments. Oklahoma, which has never won an NCAA title, boasts the most tourney losses this century in the tourney against national champion (six; 2003-07-09-13-16-19). The Sooners aren't on the following gory-years list of the longest tourney famines (shortest to longest) for former champions since the inaugural event in 1939:

Years MIA Previous Titlist NCAA Debut Longest NCAA Playoff Drought Coach(es) During Tournament Dry Spell
3 Kentucky 1942 1939 through 1941 Adolph Rupp
3 Kentucky 1942 1989 through 1991 Eddie Sutton and Rick Pitino
9 Kansas 1940 1943 through 1951 Phog Allen and Howard Engleman
9 Ohio State 1939 1951 through 1959 Floyd Stahl and Fred Taylor
9 Villanova 1939 1940 through 1948 Alex Severance
10 North Carolina 1941 1947 through 1956 Tom Scott and Frank McGuire
10 Utah 1944 1967 through 1976 Jack Gardner, Bill E. Foster and Jerry Pimm
11 North Carolina State 1950 1939 through 1949 Ray Sermon, Bob Warren, Leroy Jay and Everett Case
11 UCLA 1950 1939 through 1949 Caddy Works, Wilbur Johns and John Wooden
11 UNLV 1975 2014 through 2024 Dave Rice, Marvin Menzies, T.J. Otzelberger and Kevin Kruger
12 Connecticut 1951 1939 through 1950 Don White, Blair Gullion and Hugh Greer
12 Indiana 1940 1941 through 1952 Branch McCracken and Harry Good
12 Louisville 1951 1939 through 1950 Laurie Apitz, John Heldman, Harold Church/Walter Casey and Peck Hickman
13 Wyoming 1941 1968 through 1980 Bill Strannigan, Moe Radovich, Don DeVoe and Jim Brandenburg
13 Wyoming 1941 1989 through 2001 Benny Dees, Joby Wright, Larry Shyatt and Steve McClain
14 Texas-El Paso 1963 2011 through 2024 Tim Floyd, Rodney Terry and Joe Golding
15 Michigan 1948 1949 through 1963 Ernie McCoy, Bill Perigo and Dave Strack
16 Duke 1955 1939 through 1954 Eddie Cameron, Gerry Gerard and Harold Bradley
16 Marquette 1955 1939 through 1954 Bill Chandler, Tex Winter and Jack Nagle
17 Oklahoma State 1945 1966 through 1982 Hank Iba, Sam Aubrey, Guy Strong, Jim Killingsworth and Paul Hansen
18 Arkansas 1941 1959 through 1976 Glen Rose, Duddy Waller, Lanny Van Eman and Eddie Sutton
18 Michigan State 1957 1939 through 1956 Ben VanAlstyne, Alton Kircher, Pete Newell and Forddy Anderson
18 Michigan State 1957 1960 through 1977 Forddy Anderson, John Benington, Gus Ganakas and Jud Heathcote
18 Syracuse 1957 1939 through 1956 Lew Andreas and Marc Guley
19 Cincinnati 1958 1939 through 1957 Walter Van Winkle, Clark Ballard, Bob Reuss, Ray Famham, Socko Withe and George Smith
19 Maryland 1958 1939 through 1957 Howard Burton Shipley, Flucie Stewart and Bud Millikan
20 Holy Cross 1947 1957 through 1976 Roy Leenig, Frank Oftring, Jack Donohue and George Blaney
20 La Salle 1954 1993 through 2012 Speedy Morris, Billy Hahn and John Giannini
23 San Francisco 1955 1999 through 2021 Philip Mathews, Jessie Evans, Eddie Sutton, Rex Walters, Kyle Smith and Todd Golden
24 Arizona 1951 1952 through 1975 Fred A. Enke, Bruce Larson and Fred Snowden
29 California 1946 1961 through 1989 Rene Herrerias, Jim Padgett, Dick Edwards, Dick Kuchen and Lou Campanelli
31 Georgetown 1943 1944 through 1974 Ken Eagles, Elmer Ripley, Buddy O'Grady, Harry Jeannette, Tommy Nolan, Tom O'Keefe, Jack Magee and John Thompson Jr.
32 Loyola of Chicago 1963 1986 through 2017 Gene Sullivan, Will Rey, Ken Burmeister, Larry Farmer, Jim Whitesell and Porter Moser
33 Oregon 1939 1962 through 1994 Steve Belko, Dick Harter, Jim Haney, Don Monson and Jerry Green
37 Virginia 1976 1939 through 1975 Gus Tebell, Evan "Bus" Male, Billy McCann, Bill Gibson and Terry Holland
46 Stanford 1942 1943 through 1988 Everett Dean, Robert Burnett, Howie Dallmar, Dick DiBiaso, Tom Davis and Mike Montgomery
46 Wisconsin 1941 1948 through 1993 Bud Foster, John Erickson, John Powless, Bill Cofield, Steve Yoder and Stu Jackson
48 Florida 1987 1939 through 1986 Sam McAlister, Spurgeon Cherry, John Mauer, Norm Sloan, Tommy Bartlett and John Lotz

NOTE: UTEP moved up to major-college status in 1951 and UNLV moved up to major-college status in 1970.

Celebrity Gospel: "What's My Line?" Trivia Yields NCAA Tourney Knowledge

March 17th, 2024 - 8:43

Fans fond of the NCAA playoffs argue the incredibly popular event is 100% perfection. That's gospel; not gossip. But can you promptly name two of the four NFL tight ends with more than 10,000 receiving yards who led their college basketball teams in scoring in victories against power-conference opponents in a six-year span from 1997 through 2002? Whatever your level of expertise, CollegeHoopedia.com guarantees you a 100% score is impossible for any brave soul willing to take our "Who Am I" quiz. With the tourney commencing 85 years ago, you can occasionally stumble across familiar faces (including celebrities) in non-basketball endeavors by browsing through old rosters and tourney box scores. Here is an old game show "What's My Line?" format testing your NCAA Tournament acumen or helping you "Stump a Chump." You'll need a PhD in "Hoopology" to secure a passing grade correctly discerning the following individuals who made a name for themselves elsewhere in endeavors other than as a hooper before or after appearing in the NCAA Division I Tournament (broken down by categories - Baseball, Football, Entertainers/Newsmakers, Clergy/Military Leaders/Politicians, Businessmen/Educators/Physicians and Secondary Sports):

MLB

  • I appeared in the same NCAA playoffs as eventual Super Bowl running back Terry Kirby and MLB outfielder Terrell Lowery.
  • I was a junior college recruit who missed a three-point attempt while playing briefly in a 111-92 defeat against Bo Kimble-led Loyola Marymount in the first round of 1990 NCAA Tournament West Regional.
  • One of my New Mexico State teammates was 12-year NBA guard Randy Brown.
  • I was a reliever who posted a 9-6 record for the Oakland A's in four seasons from 1994 through 1997 before my contract was sold to a Japanese team. My MLB teammates on Tony LaRussa-managed club as a rookie included Ron Darling, Rickey Henderson, Mark McGwire and Ruben Sierra.
  • I compiled a 5-1 record in the strike-shortened 1994 MLB campaign when I was considered heir apparent to assume Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley's closer role.

Who am I? MARK ACRE

  • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as pro quarterback Joe Kapp (California).
  • I played in the NCAA playoffs against Kansas State All-Americans Bob Boozer and Jack Parr.
  • I was a college teammate of Eddie Sutton before he coached four different schools in the NCAA Tournament.
  • I was the second-leading scorer for Oklahoma State's NCAA Tournament team reaching 1958 Midwest Regional final under Hall of Fame coach Hank Iba.
  • I hit .254 in 1,165 games in 13 major league seasons from 1958 through 1970 with the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals before playing one year in Japan.
  • My teammates with the Orioles included former college basketball players Dick Hall (attended Swarthmore PA), Robin Roberts (Michigan State) and Norm Siebern (Southwest Missouri State). My successor as second baseman with the O's was former college hooper Davey Johnson (Texas A&M).
  • I participated in 1967 World Series with the Red Sox before leaving them following the next season in the expansion draft.
  • I set major league records for highest fielding average (.994) and fewest errors (five) by a 2B in a season in 1964 and for consecutive errorless games by a 2B (89 in 1964 and 1965).

Who am I? JERRY ADAIR

  • I collected eight rebounds in a loss against Utah State and 10 points in a victory against Jerry Tarkanian-coached Long Beach State in the 1970 NCAA playoffs.
  • My Santa Clara teammates included center Dennis Awtrey, who went on to play 12 NBA seasons with six different franchises.
  • I was selected in second round of 1972 MLB draft ahead of John Candelaria, Dennis Eckersley and Gary Carter among the next 20 choices.
  • Representing the Mariners the only time Seattle hosted the Midsummer Classic, I knocked in a run with a single off Gaylord Perry in All-Star Game in 1979 when I finished 10th in batting average (career-high .316) and eighth in doubles (career-high 38) along with a career-high 100 RBI.
  • I was named team MVP the next year.
  • I was a lefthanded first baseman-outfielder who hit .282 with the California Angels, Cleveland Indians, Mariners and Oakland A's in 12 seasons from 1974 through 1986 (missed 1983).

Who am I? BRUCE BOCHTE

  • I competed in NCAA playoffs against members from four different power conferences (including Jim Calhoun-coached UConn from the Big East).
  • I averaged 5.6 ppg and 2.4 rpg in five NCAA tourney games (including 16 points and 6 rebounds as a freshman starter against UNC Charlotte in my first national postseason contest.
  • I was a 6-10 power forward who averaged 7.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg with North Carolina State in 2004-05 and 2005-06 for a couple of NCAA playoff teams.
  • As a righthanded pitcher, I was a first-round selection in 2007 MLB amateur draft (30th pick overall; four selections ahead of 3B Todd Frazier) who signed four-year, $4.55 million deal with the New York Yankees before undergoing Tommy John surgery.
  • I was a candidate for one of two openings in the Yankees' starting rotation during spring training in 2011, but a groin issue put those plans on hold although I appeared in three games as a reliever.
  • After leading two different minor leagues in wild pitches, I was released by the Yanks following the 2011 campaign.
  • I am a Cincinnati native who signed with the Reds in 2012 and Chicago White Sox in 2013, toiling in their minor league systems.

Who am I? ANDREW BRACKMAN

  • I played in the NCAA Tournament against Southern California's Jerry Pimm, who went on to coach my alma mater in the playoffs five times in a seven-year span from 1977 through 1983.
  • I scored 25 points in three NCAA playoff games in 1960 as a teammate of All-American Billy McGill.
  • I was Utah's co-captain as a senior under coach Jack Gardner.
  • I was Pacific Coast League MVP in 1963 with the Salt Lake City Bees.
  • I was an outfielder who was traded by the Chicago Cubs to the New York Mets for first baseman George Altman in 1965.
  • My only year as a regular was 1964 when I posted career highs of 16 doubles, 19 homers and 50 RBI as the Cubs center fielder and ranked among the National League top 10 in stolen bases with 12.
  • I hit .236 with the Cubs, Mets, Milwaukee Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees and California Angels in eight seasons (1963 through 1965, 1967 and 1969 through 1972).

Who am I? BILLY COWAN

  • I averaged 8.8 ppg and 3.4 rpg as starting junior guard for Georgia Tech's 1960 NCAA Tournament team from SEC posting a 22-6 record.
  • As a teammate of All-American Roger Kaiser, I scored nine points in Mideast Regional final loss against eventual NCAA champion Ohio State (led by Jerry Lucas, John Havlicek and Larry Siegfried; also including reserve Bob Knight).
  • As a minor-league utilityman, I was Class AAA teammate of former college hoopers George Kernek (Oklahoma) and Ted Savage (Lincoln MO).
  • I spent nearly 15 seasons as a player and manager in the St. Louis Cardinals' farm system before joining the Atlanta Braves' organization.
  • I was Southern League Manager of the Year in 1978 for Savannah club including pitcher Jim Bouton, shortstop Rafael Ramirez and outfielder Terry Harper.
  • I was a coach with the parent Braves' MLB franchise for a total of 14 years mostly under Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox.

Who am I? BOBBY DEWS

  • I scored six points in NCAA playoff contest against eventual national runner-up La Salle and four points against Villanova in 1955 East Regional third-place game.
  • I averaged 5.9 ppg with Princeton from 1952-53 through 1954-55 under coach Cappy Cappon, including a career-high 8 ppg as a junior.
  • I struck out each of my three at-bats with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1959 after serving as a pinch-runner for them in one game in 1955.
  • After my Organized Baseball career was interrupted by a stint serving in U.S. Navy, I led the Eastern League in batting average (.321) in 1958 as an outfielder with Williamsport.
  • One of my EL teammates was righthander Art Mahaffey, who went on to lead Philly in victories in 1962 with 19.

Who am I? JOHN EASTON

  • I played in the same NCAA tournament as eventual NFL linebacker Fred Carr and punter Ron Widby.
  • I scored two points against eventual NCAA champion UCLA in the 1967 West Regional final.
  • I was a teammate of Pacific All-American Keith Swagerty.
  • I appeared in two World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1974 and 1978).
  • I ranked among the National League's top eight in bases on balls in 1973 and 1977.
  • I paced the N.L. in sacrifice flies in 1973 with 10 and catchers in fielding average.
  • I was Al Downing's batterymate on April 8, 1974, when LHP yielded Hank Aaron's MLB record-setting 715th home run surpassing Babe Ruth.
  • I hit .240 with 122 homers and 445 RBI for the Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros and California Angels in 14 seasons from 1970 through 1983.

Who am I? JOE FERGUSON

  • I was among top two scorers for back-to-back Final Four teams.
  • I was a two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection who averaged 11.3 points in four NCAA Tournament games for Ohio State.
  • I was an NCAA consensus second-team All-American in 1944 and 1945.
  • I signed a pro baseball contract with the Philadelphia Phillies prior to my senior season.
  • My MLB teammates included former college hoopers Lefty Hoerst (La Salle), Andy Karl (Manhattan), Tony Lupien (Harvard) and Jim Tabor (Alabama).
  • I pitched briefly for Philly in 1945 and 1946 (1-1 record with 9.37 ERA).

Who am I? DON GRATE

  • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as U.S. Congressman Hank Nowak (Canisius).
  • I played in the NCAA Tournament against Marshall's Hal Greer and Pittsburgh All-American guard Don Hennon.
  • I grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds against Iowa All-Americans Carl Cain and Bill Logan when my team was eliminated by the national runnerup-to-be in the 1956 Midwest Regional semifinals.
  • I was a 6-7, 195-pound forward-center who averaged 18.5 points for Morehead State in four NCAA Tournament games in 1956 and 1957.
  • I was an All-Ohio Valley Conference selection as a freshman in 1954-55.
  • I am the only athlete to play in a World Series and an NBA Finals (rookie in 1959 when the Lakers were swept by the Boston Celtics) after participating in the NCAA playoffs.
  • I was a lefthanded pitcher who compiled a 40-31 record, 3.05 ERA and 42 saves in 421 games during 12 seasons from 1961 through 1972 with the Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs.
  • I was traded by the Senators to the Yankees for pitcher Jim Coates in April, 1963.
  • My teammates with the Yankees included former college basketball players Gene Michael (Kent State) and Rollie Sheldon (Connecticut).
  • I was a reliever in the 1963 and 1964 World Series for the Yankees.

Who am I? STEVE HAMILTON

  • I played against All-Americans John Pilch (Wyoming), Allie Paine (Oklahoma), Gerry Tucker (Oklahoma) and Irwin Dambrot (CCNY) in NCAA Tournament.
  • My basketball teammates included All-American John Hargis and eventual Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Slater Martin.
  • I was a freshman forward who averaged 3.3 ppg for Texas' 1947 national third-place basketball team. As a senior, I led the Longhorns in scoring average with 15.1 ppg.
  • I hit a SWC-leading .474 for the Longhorns' 1949 baseball squad winning the first of school's four College World Series championships. I contributed a homer and four RBI in championship game win against Wake Forest en route to capturing CWS Most Outstanding Player award.
  • I was a first baseman who played briefly with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1952 and 1953 under manager Jimmy Dykes and as teammate of standout outfielders Dave Philley and Gus Zernial.
  • I was involved in an 11-player swap between the Athletics and New York Yankees.

Who am I? TOM HAMILTON

  • I was the leading rebounder for Washington State's team that competed against Boston College in the 1994 East Regional.
  • I was the Cougars' leading rebounder each of my four seasons.
  • I am a two-time All-Pacific-10 Conference selection who was WSU's second-leading scorer as a junior and senior.
  • I finished my college career as my alma mater's all-time second-leading rebounder (927) and third-leading scorer (1,496 points).
  • I was a second-round NBA draft pick of the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996 before playing for the Sixers, Sacramento Kings, New Jersey Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers.
  • I was selected six times in baseball's June draft.
  • I am a 6-9 lefthanded pitcher who posted a 3-0 record and 2.45 ERA for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2002. The next year, I became the first pitcher in Blue Jays' history to hit a home run.
  • My best season was 2005 when I went 11-8 with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays before being traded the next year to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Who am I? MARK HENDRICKSON

  • I scored 12 points in the 1969 NCAA playoffs against coach Lou Henson and All-American-to-be New Mexico State guard Jimmy Collins.
  • One of my college teammates, Paul Ruffner, was Collins' teammate with the Chicago Bulls in 1970-71.
  • I was a second-team All-WAC guard as a junior and senior when I led Brigham Young in scoring each of those seasons.
  • I am a son of BYU Hall of Famer Orin Howard.
  • I was on roster of BYU's 1968 College World Series squad before selection in eighth round of 1970 MLB draft (one round ahead of eventual Hall of Fame reliever Rich "Goose" Gossage).
  • I played in the major leagues with Frank Robinson as a teammate and under him when he was a manager.
  • I played five years in the majors as a first baseman-outfielder with the California Angels, St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Indians from 1972 through 1976.

Who am I? DOUG HOWARD

  • I missed all three of my Final Four field-goal attempts for UCLA's first two national titlists under coach John Wooden (1964 final against Duke, 1965 national semifinal against Wichita and 1965 title contest against Michigan).
  • I was MLB's chief publicist for a quarter century under four commissioners until retiring in 2010.
  • I previously was a sportswriter with the Los Angeles Herald Examiner before joining the commissioner's office in 1985 under Peter Ueberroth after writing a book with him and working as his assistant press secretary at the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee.

Who am I? RICH LEVIN

  • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as NFL linebacker James Francis (Baylor) and NFL quarterback Brad Johnson (Florida State).
  • I was an Arizona teammate of All-Americans Sean Elliott and Steve Kerr.
  • I was a member of the Wildcats' team that compiled a 35-3 record and reached the 1988 Final Four.
  • I outscored Texas-El Paso guard Tim Hardaway, 12-2, in the 1987 West Regional.
  • I led the American League in stolen bases in 1992 with 66, a record for an American League rookie.
  • I was a Gold Glove outfielder who led the Cleveland Indians with a .325 batting mark (fourth in the A.L.) and paced the majors with 70 stolen bases in 1993.
  • I played in the major league All-Star Game in 1994 and 1995, when I led the A.L. in stolen bases with 60 and 54, respectively.
  • Considered the premier leadoff hitter of the 1990s, I am a six-time All-Star who hit a career-high .349 in 1994 with the Indians.
  • I stole six bases in the 1995 World Series against the Atlanta Braves before hitting .333 for them in 1997 after I was traded in a deal involving former basketball player David Justice (Thomas More).
  • I was traded to contending teams (the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs, respectively) midway through the 2002 and 2003 campaigns.
  • I tied a major league record by scoring a run in 18 consecutive games with the Giants.
  • Longtime standout Bernie Williams became a designated hitter upon my acquisition by the New York Yankees as their center fielder in 2004.
  • I finished my 17-year MLB career with a .299 batting average and 622 stolen bases.

Who am I? KENNY LOFTON

  • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as NFL running back Terry Kirby (Virginia).
  • I was a Loyola Marymount teammate of eventual All-Americans Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble in 1988-89 when the Lions (181) and U.S. International (150) competed in the highest-scoring game in NCAA history.
  • I scored at least 16 points as a sophomore in each of the last three NCAA playoff outings for Loyola Marymount's 1990 West Regional runner-up (against Michigan, Alabama and UNLV). I had 23 in as many minutes against Michigan (149-115 victory) in the highest-scoring game in NCAA playoff history.
  • I was a two-time All-WCC first-team selection and league-leading scorer.
  • I scored a career-high 48 points against Idaho State as a junior in 1990-91 when I finished among the top five nationally in scoring (28.5 ppg) and assists (9.1 apg). During that season, I tallied a team-high 34 points when the Lions set an NCAA single-game scoring record in a 186-140 victory over USIU.
  • I am an Oakland product who ranked eighth in the country in scoring as a senior with 26 points per game.
  • I played in the same major league outfields with Sammy Sosa and Bobby Bonds.
  • I hit .282 with the Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and San Francisco Giants from 1997 through 2000 after previously being in the farm systems of the Texas Rangers and New York Mets.
  • I went 15-for-34 from the plate (.441) with the Giants in 2000.

Who am I? TERRELL LOWERY

  • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as did Green Bay Packers linebacker Fred Carr (Texas Western) and Dallas Cowboys punter Ron Widby (Tennessee).
  • I was a backup guard to eventual Princeton athletic director Gary Walters.
  • I was a teammate of All-American Bill Bradley when the presidential candidate-to-be scored a Final Four-record 58 points against Wichita State in the 1965 national third-place game.
  • I scored 14 points in three NCAA Tournament games in 1967 against coaches Bucky Waters (West Virginia), Dean Smith (North Carolina) and Lou Carnesecca (St. John's).
  • I was employed by the U.S. Congress along with Hillary Clinton as part of a litigation team during the Watergate hearings.
  • I survived non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the 1980s and prostate cancer in the 1990s.
  • I was a key major-league baseball executive with the Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox for more than 20 years.
  • I was a driving force behind the construction of Camden Yards before becoming a minority owner of the Padres.
  • I was instrumental in hiring Theo Epstein in November 2002 as the youngest general manager in baseball history.

Who am I? LARRY LUCCHINO

  • I was a college teammate of Steve Ehlmann, a state legislator and circuit judge who contemplated running for Congress to fill Jim Tallent's seat when Tallent ran for Governor of Missouri in 2000.
  • I was a junior college transfer who played for two different head coaches at Furman (Frank Selvy and Joe Williams).
  • I was named MVP in the Southern Conference Tournament before collecting five points and two rebounds for the Paladins in their inaugural NCAA Tournament game, a 105-74 defeat against Digger Phelps-coached Fordham in the 1971 East Regional.
  • I was an outfielder who hit .251 in 11 years from 1974 through 1984 with the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Kansas City Royals and New York Mets.
  • My major league teammates included Dick Allen, George Brett, Steve Carlton, Dave Kingman, Mike Schmidt, Darryl Strawberry and Bruce Sutter.
  • I was a valuable backup who hit three pinch homers for the Phillies in 1978 in my last year with three consecutive divisional champions.
  • I was involved in an eight-player trade including Ted Sizemore and Manny Trillo between the Phillies and Cubs during the winter before the 1979 season.
  • I was a regular with the Cubs, collecting 42 homers and 146 RBI.
  • I was a free-swinger who was suspended in 1984 for involvement with drugs.
  • I served a three-month sentence in the Fort Worth Correctional Institute with Royals teammate Willie Wilson.

Who am I? JERRY MARTIN

  • I played against Congressman-to-be Henry Hyde (Georgetown) in the NCAA playoffs.
  • I was named to the first five on the All-Metropolitan New York team as a sophomore in 1942-43 when I was NYU's leading scorer in the NCAA Tournament (losses against Georgetown and Dartmouth).
  • I played for two different major league teams in a single season four times in a seven-year span, including two tours of duty as a teammate of Hall of Famer Ted Williams.
  • I was an outfielder who hit .267 in a 10-year playing career from 1947 through 1956 with six teams before becoming manager of the Minnesota Twins for seven years from 1961 through 1967.
  • I led the American League with 36 doubles for the Washington Senators in 1951 and drove in six runs in one inning in a 1952 game for the Chicago White Sox.
  • I managed the Twins in 1965 when they won the A.L. title.

Who am I? SAM MELE

  • I played in the same NCAA tourney as NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens (Tennessee-Chattanooga) and NFL defensive back Percy Ellsworth (Virginia).
  • I played in the 1996 NCAA Tournament against Temple coach John Chaney after my team was upset by Manhattan in the playoffs the previous year.
  • I hold Oklahoma's record for consecutive successful free throws with 30.
  • I was an All-Tournament Team selection as first baseman for the 1994 College World Series champion before becoming a second-round draft choice of the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996 (32nd pick overall ahead of 10-plus year NBA veterans Randy Livingston, Jeff McInnis and Malik Rose).
  • I was a forward who averaged 16.5 ppg en route to finishing my career No. 6 on the Sooners' all-time scoring list (1,946 points).
  • I was a two-time All-Big Eight Conference first-team selection and league player of the year as a junior when I averaged 23.6 ppg and 8.4 rpg.
  • I was selected in three different MLB June amateur drafts - 1992 15th round (17 picks ahead of OF Jose Cruz), 1995 7th round (28 picks ahead of RHP A.J. Burnett) and 1996 33rd round (12 picks behind 2B Orlando Hudson).
  • I was a third baseman who replaced Cal Ripken Jr. in the Baltimore Orioles' lineup on September 20, 1998, ending Ripken's major league record of 2,632 consecutive games played.
  • I no longer was Ripken's teammate during his final season in 2001 because I was traded to the Montreal Expos.

Who am I? RYAN MINOR

  • I participated in same NCAA tourney when ESPN analyst LaPhonso Ellis grabbed a playoff-high 18 rebounds for Notre Dame against fellow SEC member Vanderbilt.
  • I appeared in the NCAA Tournament against Texas-El Paso's Tim Hardaway.
  • I averaged 8.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore in 1988-89 for LSU coach Dale Brown.
  • I started in the same backcourt with All-American Chris Jackson in the West Regional of the 1989 NCAA playoffs.
  • I was a two-time All-Tournament Team selection in College World Series, smacking two homers for eventual champion in 1991 CWS opener against Florida.
  • I was the player to be designated in a trade when pitcher Jack McDowell went from the Chicago White Sox to the New York Mets.
  • My MLB teammates included Hall of Famers Frank Thomas and Cal Ripken Jr.
  • I was an outfielder who hit .287 for the White Sox from 1995 through 1997 before my contract was sold to a team in Japan.

Who am I? LYLE MOUTON

  • I participated in inaugural NCAA tourney in 1939 with admiral John Dick (Oregon) and world-famous heart surgeon Denton Cooley (Texas).
  • I was a backup guard and longest-surviving member for Oregon's legendary "Tall Firs" team winning first NCAA championship.
  • I was a leadoff hitter who had four games with four hits as MLB rookie. My infielder teammates with the Philadelphia Phillies included Granny Hamner and former Harvard hoops captain Tony Lupien.
  • I was a lefthanded-swinging second baseman who hit .267 in 1944.

Who am I? FRED "MOON" MULLEN

  • I played in the same NCAA Tournament as eventual Pennsylvania Governor Robert Casey, Massachusetts U.S. Congressman Joe Early and World Series of Poker legend Doyle Brunson.
  • I averaged 15.3 ppg in three NCAA playoff contests in 1953 before becoming 58th pick overall in NBA draft.
  • I was a third-team All-American selection on Converse and United Press All-American squads as a senior when I finished second in the nation in field-goal shooting (54%).
  • I was a MLB bonus baby ($40,000) who hit .238 in 89 contests as a rookie with seven-game hitting streak in mid-July in 1953.
  • My twin brother was a basketball All-American who went on to play six seasons of major league baseball.
  • I was an infielder-outfielder who played five seasons (1953 and 1955 through 1958) with the Pittsburgh Pirates, hitting .236 in 231 games.

Who am I? EDDIE O'BRIEN

  • I played in the same NCAA Tournament as eventual Pennsylvania Governor Robert Casey, Massachusetts U.S. Congressman Joe Early and World Series of Poker legend Doyle Brunson.
  • I was a a two-time NCAA consensus All-American who averaged 32 ppg in three NCAA playoff games in 1953 after scoring 51 points in a regular-season game against Gonzaga.
  • I became the first college player to crack the 1,000-point plateau in a single season by scoring 1,051 in 37 games in 1951-52.
  • I was the 49th pick overall in 1953 NBA draft.
  • I was a MLB bonus baby ($40,000) who hit .247 with 17 extra-base hits in 89 contests and had a nine-game hitting streak as rookie in 1953.
  • My twin brother was a basketball All-American who went on to play five seasons of major league baseball.
  • I was an infielder/pitcher who played 339 games in six seasons (1953 and 1955 through 1959) with the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Braves, hitting .250 and compiling a 1-3 pitching record.
  • I was traded by the Pirates with Gene Freese to the Cardinals for Dick Schofield and cash.
  • I was a teammate of Hank Aaron in my final MLB season.
  • I was a second baseman for the Pirates on July 3, 1956, when I became the last N.L. position player to earn a victory on the mound until catcher Brent Mayne achieved the feat for the Colorado Rockies against the Atlanta Braves in August 2000.

Who am I? JOHNNY O'BRIEN

  • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as major league pitcher Rollie Sheldon.
  • I was a West Virginia teammate of All-American Jerry West.
  • I was a backup guard for the Mountaineers in 1960 when they lost to NYU, 82-81, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament despite my five of six field-goal shooting.
  • I was an infielder who hit .233 in 11 seasons (1964 and 1966 through 1975) with the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates.
  • My major league teammates included Ernie Banks, Don Drysdale, Dave Parker, Willie Stargell, Don Sutton and Billy Williams.
  • I was traded with Ron Fairly by the Dodgers to the Montreal Expos for Maury Wills and Manny Mota during the 1969 campaign.
  • I went three-for-three in pinch-hitting appearances for the Pirates in the 1974 N.L. Championship Series.

Who am I? PAUL POPOVICH

  • I played in the NCAA playoffs against Seattle All-American Elgin Baylor.
  • I was a California teammate of future pro quarterback Joe Kapp.
  • I averaged 15.5 points in four NCAA Tournament games in 1957 and 1958 under coach Pete Newell, leading the Bears in scoring in two of the four playoff contests.
  • I was a three-time all-conference second-team basketball selection.
  • I was a shortstop for Cal's 1957 College World Series champion.
  • I was an outfielder who hit .268 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles in four seasons from 1958 to 1964.
  • I was purchased by the Orioles from the Dodgers during the winter of 1960.
  • My major league teammates included former college basketball players Jerry Adair (Oklahoma State), Dick Hall (Swarthmore), Gil Hodges (Oakland City), Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati), Robin Roberts (Michigan State) and Norm Siebern (Southwest Missouri State).

Who am I? EARL ROBINSON

  • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as major league infielder Paul Popovich.
  • I was Connecticut's third-leading scorer with 13.5 points per game as a 6-4 sophomore forward for a 1960 NCAA Tournament team that was eliminated by Satch Sanders-led NYU, which advanced to the Final Four.
  • As a rookie, I had front-row seat when Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle went after Babe Ruth's single-season home run record.
  • I compiled a 38-36 pitching record in five seasons (1961, 1962 and 1964 through 1966) with the New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics and Boston Red Sox.
  • I was 11-5 as a rookie with the A.L. champion Yankees after going 15-1 in Class D ball the previous year.
  • I appeared in two games for the Yanks in the 1964 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
  • I was traded by the Yanks with Johnny Blanchard to K.C. for Doc Edwards during the 1965 season.

Who am I? ROLLIE SHELDON

  • I averaged 8.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg and 3.6 apg for Miami (Ohio) from 1974-75 through 1977-78, leading team in assists as a sophomore and junior.
  • I tied eventual Ohio State and NBA coach Randy Ayers with a team-high 20 points in an opening-round 84-81 victory over defending NCAA champion Marquette before Miami was eliminated in the next round by eventual 1978 titlist Kentucky.
  • I was selected by the Chicago Bulls in sixth round of 1978 NBA draft (119th pick overall) three rounds after Ayers was chosen by same franchise. The Bulls' first-round choice that year was Reggie Theus.
  • I was a 26th-round pick by the San Francisco Giants in 1974 MLB amateur draft out of high school (two rounds ahead of Hall of Fame INF Paul Molitor) and 35th-round choice by Los Angeles Dodgers in 1977 (one round ahead of reliever Tom Niedenfuer).
  • I was an infielder who hit .282 in the Dodgers' farm system in four years from 1977 through 1980.
  • My .322 batting average with Class A Clinton (Midwest League) in 1977 was higher on club than eventual big leaguers Mickey Hatcher (.309), Max Venable (.271), Ron Roenicke (.256), Mike Scioscia (.253) and Ron Kittle (.189).
  • I was on the California League All-Star team with .317 batting average in 1978 for North Division champion Lodi.
  • I compiled more than 1,600 career victories as a minor-league manager in the Dodgers' organization from 1987 through 2021.
  • My roster while managing Class AA San Antonio (Texas League) included pitchers Orel Hershiser and Pedro Martinez, 1B Eric Karros and OF Henry Rodriguez.
  • I was named to Southern League Hall of Fame in 2016 after managing five years in the Class AA circuit at turn of the century.

Who am I? JOHN SHOEMAKER

  • I played in NCAA Tournament against eventual U.S. Congressman Henry Hyde (Georgetown) and Phelps Dodge Corporation CEO George Munroe (Dartmouth).
  • I was a starting guard who averaged 8.7 ppg for NYU's 1943 NCAA playoff team, scoring a total of 11 points in two postseason contests.
  • I was a college teammate of Sam Mele, who led the American League in doubles in 1951 before driving in six runs in one inning in a 1952 game and managing the Minnesota Twins to 1965 A.L. title.
  • I also was an outfielder who hit .215 in 62 games with the Washington Senators in 1949.

Who am I? JOHN SIMMONS

  • I played in the NCAA playoffs against future All-American Dick Ricketts of Duquesne.
  • I was a starting forward, teammate of eventual Maryland Senator Paul Sarbanes and All-Ivy League second-team selection with Princeton's first NCAA Tournament squad in 1952.
  • I was on roster of Princeton's 1951 College World Series participant.
  • I was a major league pitcher who compiled a 38-44 record in seven seasons (1956 through 1962) with the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Washington Senators and Cincinnati Reds.
  • My batterymate when I broke in with the Red Sox was former college basketball player Sammy White (Washington).
  • I was traded with cash by the Senators to the Reds for pitcher Claude Osteen near the end of the 1961 campaign.
  • I am a son of a Hall of Fame first baseman and brother of a former Cincinnati Reds manager.
  • After graduating magna cum laude, I became an executive vice president, vice chairman of the board, and branch director of St. Louis-based A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., the largest brokerage firm headquartered outside New York, with 5,300 investment brokers in over 500 branch locations throughout 48 states and the District of Columbia.

Who am I? DAVE SISLER

  • I averaged 7.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg in four-year hoops career, leading Furman in assists as a freshman when the Paladins participated in the 1975 NCAA tourney against Boston College.
  • In 1977-78, I was senior captain of a hoops squad that beat ACC members Clemson, North Carolina and N.C. State in 10-day span in mid-season before losing against Bob Knight-coached Indiana, 63-62, in the NCAA playoffs.
  • I was a ninth-round selection by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1977 MLB draft, playing four seasons of Organized Ball as an infielder, advancing as high as Class AAA.
  • In Class AA, one of my teammates was Julio Franco, who went on to play 32 seasons of professional baseball (23 at MLB level).
  • I am my alma mater's all-time winningest baseball coach, compiling a 580-693-3 record in 23 years from 1994 through 2016 and appearing in 2005 NCAA Tournament.

Who am I? RON SMITH

  • I arrived at Tennessee in same recruiting class as eventual All-American Ernie Grunfeld under coach Ray Mears.
  • I collected two points and one rebound in 1976 NCAA playoff defeat against VMI (81-75) despite Grunfeld's 36 points.
  • I was a righthanded pitcher selected in 1976 MLB draft ahead of eventual teammate Wade Boggs.
  • I compiled a 76-86 record and 4.58 ERA with the Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox in eight American League seasons from 1982 through 1989.
  • I hurled 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the Red Sox in Game 4 of 1988 ALCS against the Oakland Athletics.
  • I led A.L. hurlers in games started in 1984 and 1985 with the Twins when posting 15 victories both years.

Who am I? MIKE SMITHSON

  • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as eventual major league outfielder Jerry Martin (Furman).
  • I played in the NCAA playoffs against All-Americans Ed Ratleff (Long Beach State) and Kresimir Cosic (Brigham Young).
  • I averaged 22 ppg for Pacific's freshman squad in 1967-68 before averaging 8.7 ppg and 2.9 rpg in my three-year varsity basketball career from 1968-69 through 1970-71.
  • I hit seven-of-eight field-goal attempts en route to scoring 21 points in two playoff games as a senior in 1971 after averaging a career-high 10.9 ppg as a junior.
  • My Pacific basketball teammates included eventual NCAA Division I head coaches Bob Thomason and Pat Douglass and All-American center John Gianelli.
  • I was a fifth-round selection by the Chicago Cubs in 1971 MLB amateur draft.
  • My major league baseball teammates included Cesar Cedeno, Bill Madlock, J.R. Richard, Bruce Sutter, Bob Watson and Billy Williams.
  • I was involved in a trade between the Cubs and San Francisco Giants before the 1977 season that included Madlock and Bobby Murcer.
  • I was an infielder who hit .211 with the Cubs and Houston Astros in four years from 1974 through 1977.

Who am I? ROB SPERRING

  • I played in the NCAA playoffs against standouts Marvin Barnes (Providence), Billy Knight (Pittsburgh), Maurice Lucas (Marquette) and UCLA's Walton Gang.
  • I had a game-high seven assists for North Carolina State in a victory over Providence in the 1974 East Regional.
  • I was the starting forward opposite national player of the year David Thompson for the Wolfpack's 1974 NCAA champion.
  • I had a part as a menacing pitcher in a comedy film (Rookie of the Year).
  • I was on major league pitching staffs with Dennis Eckersley, Goose Gossage, Ron Guidry and Jim Palmer.
  • I appeared in 485 games, all as a reliever, in 13 seasons (1975 and 1978 through 1989) with the Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians.
  • I compiled a 41-35 record with 3.95 ERA and 76 saves, recording 26 of the saves for the Orioles in 1980 the year after being the winning pitcher for them in Game Four of the 1979 World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates when I became the only player with a WS RBI in my first big league at-bat by singling in eighth inning.
  • I was traded by the Padres to the Yankees for pitcher Ed Whitson during the 1986 season.
  • I am one of only two versatile athletes to play in the Final Four before competing in a World Series.

Who am I? TIM STODDARD

  • I scored a team-high 16 points and contributed game highs of 8 rebounds and 3 steals in a 2004 NCAA playoff opening-round setback against Texas.
  • I was an All-Ivy League first-team selection as a junior and second-team choice as a senior under Princeton coach John Thompson III.
  • I didn't play baseball my freshman year in college.
  • I am the son of a 12-year major league outfielder who spent most of his career in the National League and was involved in a trade from the San Francisco Giants to the Montreal Expos for Al Oliver.
  • I am a lefthanded outfielder who hit .264 in 28 games for the San Diego Padres during a September call-up in 2008, hitting a triple in my first at-bat.
  • I was a regular for the Padres from 2010 through 2014 before being traded midway through the next season, finishing among the top 10 in the National League in triples a couple of years.
  • I have been a coach for the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers since 2018.

Who am I? WILL VENABLE

  • I was Washington's second-leading scorer as a junior forward behind All-American center Jack Nichols in two 1948 NCAA Tournament games.
  • I was named to the first five on the All-Pacific Coast Conference Northern Division basketball team as a junior and senior. * My major league baseball teammates included Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, George Kell, Eddie Mathews, Warren Spahn and Ted Williams.
  • I was a catcher who hit .262 in 11 seasons with the Boston Red Sox (1951 through 1959), Milwaukee Braves (1961) and Philadelphia Phillies (1962).
  • I was a 1953 All-Star who hit over .280 three times with the Red Sox.
  • On June 18, 1953, I scored three runs in one inning when the Red Sox tallied 17 in the seventh against the Detroit Tigers.
  • A trade including Russ Nixon and Jim Marshall between the Red Sox and Cleveland Indians before the 1960 campaign was cancelled when I announced my retirement.

Who am I? SAMMY WHITE

  • I was a Minnesota teammate of All-American forward Jim Brewer under coach Bill Musselman.
  • I played the entire game, collecting eight points and eight rebounds against eventual national runner-up Florida State, in the Gophers' first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1972.
  • I was named Most Outstanding Player in 1973 College World Series after fanning a total of 29 batters in two pitching starts (14 vs. Oklahoma and 15 vs. USC).
  • I didn't play college football, but was chosen in the 17th round of 1973 NFL draft by Minnesota Vikings. That same year, I was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in fifth round of NBA draft (ahead of ABA-bound "Super" John Williamson and Tim Bassett) and by the Utah Stars in sixth round of ABA senior draft (ahead of All-Americans Richie Fuqua and Henry Wilmore).
  • My major league baseball teammates included former college basketball players Bill Almon (Brown), Kenny Lofton (Arizona), Graig Nettles (San Diego State) and Dennis Rasmussen (Creighton).
  • I was an outfielder who hit .283 with 465 home runs, 1,833 RBIs and 3,110 hits in 22 seasons (1973 through 1988 and 1990 through 1995) with the San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, California Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians.
  • I participated in the World Series with the Yankees (1981) and Blue Jays (1992).
  • I am a baseball Hall of Famer who appeared in 12 All-Star Games after never playing in the minors (fourth selection overall in 1973 MLB amateur draft behind David Clyde, John Stearns and Robin Yount).

Who am I? DAVE WINFIELD

NFL AND GRIDIRON PROSPECTS

  • I appeared in the same NCAA tourney as eventual network broadcaster Curt Gowdy (Wyoming).
  • I was an Arkansas hoop teammate of eventual San Francisco 49ers coach Red Hickey.
  • I was third-leading scorer with six points when the Hogs lost against Washington State in 1941 NCAA Tournament national semifinals.
  • In my NFL debut, I returned an interception 66 yards for the decisive score in the New York Giants' 14-7 win against the Washington Redskins in 1942. Two weeks later, I caught two touchdown passes in a victory against the Philadelphia Eagles.
  • My NYG teammates included fellow Arkansas hoopers Jim Lee Howell and Harry Wynne.
  • I caught 28 passes for 494 yards and five TDs in four years with the Giants through 1945 before playing a couple of seasons in AAFC with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Who am I? O'NEAL ADAMS

  • I scored 20 points and also contributed game highs of eight rebounds and three blocked shots in an NCAA Tournament victory against Oregon State in 2016.
  • I averaged 7.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg and 1.8 bpg for Virginia Commonwealth's four NCAA playoff squads from 2013-14 through 2016-17.
  • I finished my college career as VCU's all-time leader in shooting percentage (57.4%).
  • I was named to the Atlantic 10 Conference's All-Defensive Team three times and also received an all-league third-team citation as a junior.
  • I was a tight end who caught two touchdown passes as a rookie in 2018 for the NFL playoff-bound Indianapolis Colts.
  • I led Colts TEs in pass receptions in 2020 with 31 and was runner-up overall in receptions in 2021.

Who am I? MO ALIE-COX

  • I played in the NCAA playoffs against John Tresvant (Seattle), Ollie Johnson (San Francisco), Joe Caldwell (Arizona State), Ron Bonham (Cincinnati), Tom Thacker (Cincinnati), George Wilson (Cincinnati) and Jeff Mullins (Duke).
  • I was an Oregon State teammate of All-American center Mel Counts.
  • I was an All-West Regional selection in the NCAA Tournament in 1962 and 1963.
  • I was the second-leading scorer for the Beavers' 1963 Final Four team.
  • My 99-yard run from scrimmage for a touchdown accounted for the only points in a 6-0 victory against Villanova in the 1962 Liberty Bowl.
  • I was a college quarterback who became a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
  • I was the first Heisman Trophy winner west of the Mississippi River after rushing 115 times for 538 yards (4.7 per carry), completing 112 of 203 passes for a nation-leading 1,738 yards and 15 touchdowns.
  • I was first selection overall in 1963 NFL draft who played with the Los Angeles Rams (1963 through 1965) before going to the Canadian Football League with Edmonton (1967).
  • Two of my teammates with the Rams were former college basketball standout rebounders Charley Cowan (New Mexico Highlands) and Lamar Lundy (Purdue).

Who am I? TERRY BAKER

  • I played in the NCAA playoffs against teams coached by Lou Carnesecca, Bob Knight, Bill Foster, Larry Brown and Lute Olson.
  • I was a Purdue teammate of All-American center Joe Barry Carroll for the Boilermakers' 1980 national third-place team.
  • My NFL teammates as a rookie included former college basketball player Al "Bubba" Baker (Colorado State) and All-Pro halfback Billy Sims.
  • I was a linebacker with the Detroit Lions for four seasons from 1982 through 1985 after being a 10th-round draft pick.

Who am I? ROOSEVELT BARNES

  • I averaged 3.1 ppg and 2.2 rpg for Houston's 1968 Final Four squad featuring All-American Elvin Hayes.
  • I collected nine points and five rebounds in seven minutes against Lew Alcindor-led UCLA in the national semifinals after contributing seven points and three rebounds in nine minutes against TCU in regional final.
  • As a two-year football letterman for UH, I rushed 121 times for 830 yards and seven touchdowns while also catching one TD pass.
  • I rushed for a college career-high 125 yards against Cincinnati in 1968.
  • I played tight end in one game with the New Orleans Saints in 1971 after being their fourth-round selection in NFL draft (82nd pick overall; 17 choices ahead of QB Joe Theismann and 22 ahead of DE Dwight White).

Who am I? CARLOS BELL

  • I declared for the 2005 NBA draft out of high school before withdrawing my name.
  • I played in the 2008 NCAA playoffs and grabbed five rebounds in 10 minutes against an eventual Final Four participant (LSU).
  • I played under Texas A&M coach Billy Gillispie before he accepted a similar position with Kentucky.
  • I had a career-high of 133 yards and 2 TDs against Baylor as a sophomore when earning All-Big 12 Conference second-team honors.
  • I was an NFL second-round draft choice by the Dallas Cowboys in 2008 as an undergraduate (4th tight end selected).
  • I was fined $22,000 by the Cowboys in 2009 for an occasionally profane rap video mentioning several teammates and front-office personnel.
  • I also played for the New York Giants and Chicago Bears en route to 348 receptions for 3,586 yards and 23 touchdowns in my first eight years from 2008 through 2015 before trade to the New England Patriots. I am the last DI hooper of note to go on and participate in the Super Bowl, competing with the Patriots in SB 51 before signing as free agent with the Green Bay Packers. I finished by 10-year NFL career with 433 catches for 4,573 yards and 30 TDs.

Who am I? MARTELLUS BENNETT

  • I was a Virginia teammate of future NBA players Bryant Stith and John Crotty.
  • I averaged 4.7 points and 5.6 rebounds in seven NCAA Tournament games from 1989 through 1991 while battling on the boards in the playoffs against LaPhonso Ellis (Notre Dame), Derrick Coleman (Syracuse) and Billy Owens (Syracuse).
  • I appeared in three bowl games - Florida Citrus (vs. Illinois), Sugar (vs. Tennessee) and Gator (vs. Oklahoma)--the same three years I competed in the NCAA playoffs.
  • I was named ACC offensive football player of the year as a senior when I threw 224 passes over the entire regular season without incurring a single interception.
  • I was a quarterback who became a second-round NFL draft selection of the Kansas City Chiefs in 1992 (40th pick overall ahead of fellow hooper Brad Johnson in ninth round) after passing for 2,696 yards and 25 touchdowns in my college career (including nine 200-yard passing games).
  • I was a backup to Joe Montana with the Chiefs.

Who am I? MATT BLUNDIN

  • I averaged 6.3 ppg and 4.2 as an occasional starter for Georgia's 1998 NIT team. The previous year, I averaged 4.6 ppg and 3.3 rpg while shooting team-high 60.3% from the floor for Bulldogs' 24-9 NCAA playoff squad coached by Tubby Smith, collecting 8 points and 6 rebounds in 15 minutes in opening-round defeat against Chattanooga.
  • I scored the winning basket with three seconds remaining in UGA's 1997 SEC Tournament quarterfinal victory against Arkansas after supplying 18 points in an earlier game against league regular-season champion South Carolina.
  • I played against QB Donovan McNabb of eventual NCAA tourney runner-up Syracuse in a 1996 West Regional semifinal overtime game.
  • As a football teammate of Champ Bailey and Hines Ward, I provided three pass receptions in 1998 Peach Bowl against Virginia.
  • I was a two-time All-SEC second-team selection and four-year starting tight end who caught 80 passes for 1,077 yards and six touchdowns with the Dawgs from 1995 through 1998.
  • I was a reserve who played nine games with the NFL's Tennessee Titans in 1999 and was on their roster for Super Bowl XXXIV.

Who am I? LARRY BROWN

  • I participated in the 1982 and 1983 NCAA Tournaments.
  • I played briefly in a playoff game against an Oklahoma team featuring first-team All-American freshman Wayman Tisdale.
  • My college basketball teammates included Indiana All-Americans Ted Kitchel and Randy Wittman.
  • My stepfather, Tom Harp, was the head football coach for Indiana State in the mid-1970s.
  • I was an assistant football coach for Michigan under Bo Schembechler before becoming an assistant for three years with the Washington Redskins.
  • I played quarterback in college before becoming my alma mater's head football coach for five years from 1997 through 2001.
  • I was head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2007 when they posted a franchise-worst 1-15 record between stints as an assistant coach with the San Diego Chargers and Baltimore Ravens.
  • I was LSU's offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach several seasons during the previous decade.

Who am I? CAM CAMERON

  • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as major league baseball executive Larry Lucchino (Princeton) and Dallas Cowboys punter Ron Widby (Tennessee).
  • I played in the NCAA Tournament against Pacific All-American center Keith Swagerty. One of my Texas Western teammates was All-American center David "Big Daddy" Lattin.
  • I collected 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds when the defending NCAA champion Miners were eliminated by Pacific, 72-63, in the 1967 West Regional semifinals before contributing eight points and five rebounds in a 69-67 victory over Wyoming in a third-place game.
  • I was an NFL first-round draft choice (fifth pick overall) who played 10 seasons with the Green Bay Packers (1968 through 1977).
  • My fellow linebacker as an NFL rookie was Ray Nitschke.
  • I had eight career interceptions (including a touchdown in 1976) and participated in the 1972 NFL playoffs after being selected as the outstanding lineman in the 1971 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl.

Who am I? FRED CARR

  • I am my school's all-time leading rebounder who played in the NCAA playoffs in 1981 against North Carolina standouts James Worthy, Sam Perkins and Al Wood.
  • I played in two West Regional games for Pittsburgh (game highs of 22 points and 13 rebounds in a 70-69 overtime victory against Idaho and 16 points, six rebounds and game-high five steals in a 74-57 defeat against eventual national runner-up North Carolina).
  • I was a two-time All-Eastern 8 first-team selection.
  • I was a third-round draft choice of the Phoenix Suns in the 1981 NBA draft five selections behind Frank Brickowski, who played 12 years in the league.
  • I was a defensive end who had 49 sacks in 11 seasons in pro football with the Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts in the NFL and Pittsburgh and Memphis in the USFL.
  • My NFL teammates included Eric Dickerson, Steve Largent and Ozzie Newsome and former college basketball players Al "Bubba" Baker (Colorado State), Pete Metzelaars (Wabash) and Brad Van Pelt (Michigan State).
  • I was a 6-6 pass rushing specialist who played in two AFC championship games with the Browns.
  • I was defensive line coach for the Barcelona Dragons in NFL Europe when they won the 1997 World Bowl.
  • My son with the same name was the leading scorer and rebounder for Southern California's East Regional runner-up in the 2001 NCAA Tournament.

Who am I? SAM CLANCY

  • I was an All-Big Six Conference first-team selection who scored a team-high 10 points in Missouri's first-ever NCAA tourney game (setback against eventual 1944 titlist Utah).
  • I was an all-league back who scored a team-high 10 touchdowns for Mizzou as senior captain in 1944.
  • I was a second-round selection in 1945 NFL draft (14th pick overall) and made one start that year with the Chicago Cardinals.

Who am I? PAUL COLLINS

  • I collected 16 points and 10 assists in two NCAA playoff contests in 2001.
  • I led my team in assists that season when I directed North Carolina to a No. 1 national ranking and an 18-game winning streak.
  • I was Most Outstanding Offensive Player in the 2001 Peach Bowl.
  • I was a basketball/football teammate of Julius Peppers, the nation's top defensive lineman in 2001.
  • I was a four-year starter in football who set school career records for total offense, passing yards, rushing yards by a quarterback and rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.
  • I was activated for Super Bowl XXXVII with the Oakland Raiders as a defensive back before becoming a wide receiver for them the next year in 2003.
  • I succeeded all-time great Tim Brown as a starter in 2004.
  • I led the Raiders in receptions and receiving yards in 2006.
  • I have been an assistant coach with the New Orleans Saints since 2016 after serving in same capacity for the San Francisco 49ers in 2014 and 2015.

Who am I? RONALD CURRY

  • In 1999 NCAA playoffs under Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson Jr., I scored four points in West Regional against Siena before collecting two blocked shots and two rebounds in defeat against Iowa.
  • I was a 6-6 tight end who caught 49 passes for 554 yards and six touchdowns with the Razorbacks from 1996 through 1999.
  • I caught a fourth-quarter, go-ahead TD pass against Michigan before losing 1998 Citrus Bowl, 45-31.
  • I was an All-SEC second-team selection before participating in the Senior Bowl.
  • I played three years with the Indianapolis Colts, catching a career-high three passes from Peyton Manning against the Denver Broncos in 2002 in coach Tony Dungy's inaugural campaign with Indy.

Who am I? JOE DEAN DAVENPORT

  • I played in three consecutive NCAA playoff games against coaches capturing national titles in other seasons (Jim Calhoun, Dean Smith and Steve Fisher).
  • I was an Ohio State teammate of All-American Jim Jackson.
  • I collected three points and five rebounds in a 78-55 victory over Connecticut in the second round for the Buckeyes' 1992 Southeast Regional runner-up.
  • I averaged 13.3 points and 7.5 rebounds as a senior in 1994-95 when I led OSU in rebounding and finished third in scoring.
  • I was Offensive MVP in the 1996 Florida Citrus Bowl.
  • I am a tight end who was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the first round (9th pick overall) of the 1996 NFL draft ahead of RB Eddie George, WR Marvin Harrison and LB Ray Lewis in opening round.
  • I caught 29 touchdown passes in five seasons with the Raiders before hooking on with the Cleveland Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
  • I was a member of Tampa Bay's Super Bowl XXXVII champion.

Who am I? RICKEY DUDLEY

  • I grabbed three rebounds in eight minutes of playing time in NCAA playoff opening-round victory against Valparaiso before briefly appearing in 1996 Midwest Regional semifinal setback against Kansas.
  • I averaged 1 ppg in 1994-95 and 1995-96 under Arizona coach Lute Olson in same backcourt with eventual Final Four Most Outstanding Player Miles Simon.
  • I was a short-yardage specialist who rushed 145 times for 532 yards and Pacific-10-Conference-leading 16 touchdowns with 12-1 Holiday Bowl team in 1998 (beat Nebraska, 23-20, on my one-yard plunge midway through final quarter).
  • The previous year I rushed 19 times for 75 yards and two TDs in 20-14 win vs. New Mexico in Insight Bowl.
  • I was a fullback who finished by UA career with 284 carries for 1,037 yards and 21 TDs along with 31 pass receptions for 275 yards and two TDs.

Who am I? KELVIN EAFON

  • I scored eight points against Seattle in the 1964 NCAA playoffs and a total of 19 points in two West Regional contests in 1966 (vs. Houston and Utah).
  • One of my Oregon State teammates in 1964 was All-American center Mel Counts. Two years later when I was the Beavers' third-leading scorer with 9.9 ppg, one of my teammates was eventual NFL defensive end Harry Gunner.
  • I shared OSU's Paul Valenti Award with Gunner in 1966, given annually to the player who displays the most desire and determination.
  • I was an eighth-round draft choice by the New York Giants in 1967 (one round ahead of DB Ken Houston by the Houston Oilers).
  • My NFL teammates all five years of my stint with the Giants included Tucker Frederickson, Pete Gogolak, Carl Lockhart and Fran Tarkenton.
  • I was a defensive back who intercepted 11 passes.

Who am I? SCOTT EATON

  • I played in the NCAA playoffs against Holy Cross All-American guard Bob Cousy.
  • I was a second-team pick on the Helms All-American team in 1947-48 when I scored a team-high 15 points in Michigan's first NCAA Tournament victory, a 66-49 decision over Columbia in the Eastern Regional third-place game.
  • I earned All-American honors as a senior quarterback for the Wolverines' 1948 national champion before becoming an All-Big Ten second-team selection in basketball.
  • I was head football coach at Nebraska (1956), California (1957 through 1959), Illinois (1960 through 1966) and Miami FL (1973 and 1974), guiding Cal and the Illini to Rose Bowl berths.
  • I became executive director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Who am I? PETE ELLIOTT

  • I played in the same NCAA tourney as NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens (Tennessee-Chattanooga).
  • I played in all four of Virginia's playoff games for the 1995 Midwest Regional finalist that was eliminated by eventual national runner-up Arkansas.
  • I was a safety who intercepted future NFL teammate Danny Kanell twice in the Cavaliers' victory over Florida State during my senior season.
  • I made the New York Giants' roster as a rookie free agent and became a significant contributor as a part-time starter and in nickel-and-dime packages.
  • I had a team-leading and career-high five interceptions for the Giants in 1998.
  • I intercepted 20 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns with the Giants and Cleveland Browns in six years from 1996 through 2001.

Who am I? PERCY ELLSWORTH

  • I was a four-year basketball letterman for Kansas who was the second-leading scorer for the Jayhawks in the 1942 NCAA Tournament as a teammate of All-American forward Charles Black.
  • I was a two-time All-Big Seven Conference first-team selection in basketball.
  • I am the only Kansas athlete to earn All-American honors in football and basketball.
  • I am a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and had my jersey No. 15 retired in 1997.
  • I led the nation's major-college players in passes attempted (200) and completed (101) and interceptions (10) in 1942 for a rare triple crown.
  • I paced Kansas to the Big Six championship and a trip to the 1948 Orange Bowl after returning from World War II.
  • One of my basketball and football teammates was fellow military veteran Otto Schnellbacher, who went on to become an All-Pro defensive back who led the NFL in interceptions in 1951.
  • I was a first-round NFL draft choice (9th pick overall in 1944 five selection behind Otto Graham) who played with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1948 before becoming a prominent Kansas City bank official.

Who am I? RAY EVANS

  • I averaged 10.7 ppg and 5.7 rpg with Western Kentucky in three NCAA tourney contests in 2012 and 2013.
  • As a freshman, I was named Sun Belt Conference Tournament MVP before appearing in 2012 playoffs against eventual champion Kentucky after grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds in First Four outing.
  • I averaged 12.6 ppg and 6.9 rpg through 2014-15, leading the Hilltoppers in rebounding each of my last three seasons.
  • I was an All-Sun Belt Conference third-team choice as sophomore and junior before becoming All-CUSA second-team selection as senior.
  • I played one year of football with WKU, appearing in two games with one reception as tight end for seven yards on offense and a pair of tackles on defense.
  • I was an undrafted prospect trying out as a left tackle with Seattle Seahawks in 2016 before starting 10 games as rookie.
  • I signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the New York Jets in 2020.

Who am I? GEORGE FANT

  • As a teammate of Avery Johnson, I collected 5 points and 2 rebounds in 1985 NCAA playoff opening-round loss against eventual Final Four participant St. John's.
  • I played with two brothers at various times for Southern (La.), where I averaged 6.1 ppg and 3.2 rpg from 1982-83 through 1985-86.
  • I was an All-Arena League first-team selection in 1988 with the Chicago Bruisers.
  • I was a defensive end who registered a total of 5 1/2 sacks with six different NFL teams (Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Phoenix Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins and New York Jets) in six years from 1987 to 1996.
  • I am recognized as the first Virgin Islander to compete in the NFL.

Who am I? JEFF FAULKNER

  • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as NFL quarterback Brad Johnson (Florida State) and major league outfielder Kenny Lofton (Arizona).
  • I hit two of four field-goal attempts for Baylor in a 75-60 defeat against Memphis State in the opening round of the 1988 Midwest Regional.
  • I was an All-American linebacker before becoming an NFL first-round draft choice (12th pick overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1990 five selections ahead of RB Emmitt Smith).
  • Alfred Williams, my fellow LB with the Bengals, also played college basketball (for Colorado). Our teammates included Boomer Esiason and Anthony Munoz.
  • I registered 33 sacks and returned three of my 11 interceptions for touchdowns with the Bengals in nine years from 1990 through 1998.

Who am I? JAMES FRANCIS

  • I collected eight points and four rebounds against Final Four-bound North Carolina in the 2000 NCAA playoffs.
  • I played against NCAA champion-to-be Duke in the 2001 NCAA Tournament, incurring four fouls in seven minutes.
  • I was a Missouri teammate of eventual NBA first-round draft choice Kareem Rush.
  • After beginning my college football career as a quarterback, I became a wide receiver who caught a then school-record 13 passes vs. Baylor in November 2001 en route to finishing my junior campaign one reception shy of the school single-season mark of 75.
  • I set new standards the next year as a senior with 16 catches against Bowling Green and 82 receptions overall for 1,075 yards and nine touchdowns before competing in the East-West Shrine Game.
  • I am a two-time first-team All-Big 12 Conference selection who set virtually every Mizzou career receiving record, including receptions (200), receiving yards (2,704), touchdown passes (18) and consecutive games with a reception (34).
  • I caught two touchdown passes as a rookie with the Chicago Bears after being their fifth-round pick in the 2003 NFL draft.
  • I signed with the Tennessee Titans as a free agent in 2007 and promptly caught a career-high 55 passes before managing a career-high 6 TD receptions the next year.
  • I had 10 receptions for 135 yards with the Titans in a 13-10 playoff loss against the Baltimore Ravens following the 2008 season.

Who am I? JUSTIN GAGE

  • I briefly played against Dean Smith-coached North Carolina in 1967 East Regional final.
  • Eventual All-American Terry Driscoll was one of my Boston College teammates under coach Bob Cousy.
  • I coached Northeastern football to a 38-60-1 record in nine years from 1991 through 1999.
  • I was a wide receiver who set subsequently-broken school pass reception career records with 87 catches and 1,325 yards (for eight touchdowns) from 1966 through 1968.
  • I led BC in pass receptions as a junior and senior before becoming 11th-round pick by the Boston Patriots in 1969 NFL draft (seven selections before Frenchy Fuqua).

Who am I? BARRY GALLUP

  • I was the leader in rebounding and field-goal percentage for the only Mid-American Conference member ever to win three games in a single NCAA Tournament.
  • I played against opponents in the 2002 NCAA playoffs from elite conferences such as the Big 12 (Oklahoma State), SEC (Alabama), Big East (Pittsburgh) and Big Ten (Indiana), leading my team in scoring in two of those games.
  • I began my college career at Michigan State but never played there before transferring to junior college and subsequently to Kent State.
  • I caught two touchdown passes as a rookie free-agent tight end with the San Diego Chargers in 2003 before setting an NFL record for TD receptions by a tight end the next year with 13.
  • I was the only unanimous choice to the AP All-Pro team in 2005 when I caught 89 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 TDs.
  • I am a seven-time All-Pro (consecutive seasons) who managed a career-high 1,157 receiving yards in 2009 before signing a lucrative five-year, $36 million deal ($20 million guaranteed).
  • I have the most career TD receptions than any TE in NFL history with 116.

Who am I? ANTONIO GATES

  • My two NCAA Tournament victories were against schools from Nebraska. I averaged 6.8 ppg and 6.2 rpg in five NCAA playoff games from 2014 through 2016.
  • I am a two-time All-Big 12 Conference selection who averaged 8.6 ppg and 8 rpg in four-year career with Baylor under coach Scott Drew.
  • I led the Big 12 in rebounding as a junior with 11.6 rpg en route to becoming the Bears' all-time leader in that category.
  • I was an undrafted free-agent tight end who caught three passes for 45 yards with the Dallas Cowboys in total of 15 games in 2018.
  • My first NFL reception was a 32-yard pass from Dak Prescott.

Who am I? RICO GATHERS

  • I was a teammate of Washington State All-American center Paul Lindemann.
  • I was WSU's fifth-leading scorer as a senior in 1941 when I averaged 5.8 ppg as an All-PCC second-team selection for the NCAA Tournament runner-up.
  • I was an All-West Coast first-team selection who earned football All-American first-team honors by the New York Sun as an end.
  • I played in the annual East-West Shrine Game before earning All-Pro second-team honors my first two years with the Los Angeles Dons.
  • Fellow end and former Great Northwest college basketball player Dick Wilkins (Oregon) joined the Dons the year after I left the team.

Who am I? DALE GENTRY

  • I played in two NCAA playoff games for Georgia under coach Jim Harrick.
  • As a freshman flanker, I became the first Bulldogs football player ever to have four consecutive 100-yard games in receiving.
  • I returned a kickoff for 91 yards and a touchdown against Clemson the first time I touched the ball as a sophomore.
  • I was the second-leading receiver the next season (43 catches for 758 yards and four TDs) with 2002 team that compiled the Bulldogs' first 13-win season, first SEC title in 20 years, a Sugar Bowl victory over Florida State and a final national ranking of #3 (highest since 1980).
  • I caught two first-quarter TD passes against Purdue in a 34-27 overtime victory in the First Capital One Bowl following the 2003 campaign.
  • I received All-SEC first-team honors as a senior when hauling in career-high 49 receptions.
  • I was instrumental in helping Georgia post three straight seasons of 10 or more victories, three consecutive bowl victories and three national top six rankings in a row.
  • I was a fourth-round NFL draft choice by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2005; one selection behind return specialist Darren Sproles.

Who am I? FRED GIBSON

  • I played in the East Regional against North Carolina standouts Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison.
  • I was a teammate of California All-Americans Sharef Abdur-Rahim and Ed Gray.
  • I averaged 18 points and shot 61% from the floor in the Bears' first two NCAA Tournament games in 1997, including a team-high 23 points in an East Regional second-round victory against Villanova.
  • I declared early for the NFL draft after becoming a first-team All-American. After catching 53 passes for 768 yards and five touchdowns as a junior in 1996 for Cal's Aloha Bowl squad, I was selected in the first round by the Kansas City Chiefs.
  • I became the Chiefs' all-time leader in pass receptions by a tight end midway through the 2000 season en route to becoming a 12-time All-Pro selection.
  • I set an NFL single-season record for most receptions by a tight end with 102 in 2004.
  • After I was traded to the Atlanta Falcons, I became the NFL's all-time runner-up in receptions behind Jerry Rice before falling to #3 when passed by Larry Fitzgerald.
  • I hold the NFL career tight end records for touchdowns (111) and receiving yardage (15,127). My 1,325 catches are most-ever by a former college hooper.

Who am I? TONY GONZALEZ

  • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as Congressman Scotty Baesler (Kentucky) and CBS analyst Billy Packer (Wake Forest).
  • I played in the NCAA playoffs against Arizona State's Joe Caldwell and UCLA's Walt Hazzard.
  • I averaged 24.3 points per game in three NCAA Tournament contests and was named to the All-West Regional team.
  • I was an all-league first-team selection the last three years of the Mountain States Conference.
  • I was held under 10 points only once in college career and scored 46 against New Mexico on March 3, 1962.
  • I remain Utah State's all-time leading rebounder and set a single-season record with 403 boards in 1959-60.
  • My brother, Pumpsie, was the first black player for the Boston Red Sox, the major leagues' last integrated team.
  • My NFL teammates included former college basketball players Mike Ditka (Pittsburgh), Pete Gent (Michigan State), Too Tall Jones (Tennessee State), Roger Staubach (Navy), Ron Widby (Tennessee) and Rayfield Wright (Fort Valley State).
  • I intercepted 34 passes as a defensive back with the Dallas Cowboys in 13 years from 1962 through 1974.
  • I played in five Pro Bowl games and two Super Bowls (V and VI).

Who am I? CORNELL GREEN

  • I started second half for Southern California as a freshman in the Trojans' 2002 NCAA playoff first-round overtime loss against UNC Wilmington.
  • I was a part-time starter who averaged 5.5 ppg and 4.6 rpg for USC from 2001-02 through 2004-05.
  • I was a tight end with the Tennessee Titans in 2005 (two catches for 13 yards) after catching 24 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns with the Men of Troy in 2002 and 2003.
  • I started seven games on USC's 2003 national championship team and had one reception for 19 yards from Matt Leinart in the Rose Bowl.
  • In 2002, I caught a TD pass from Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer against UCLA. I rejoined Palmer with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2006.

Who am I? GREGG GUENTHER

  • I grabbed a total of five rebounds in two NCAA playoff games in 1966 against Elvin Hayes-led Houston and Jerry Chambers-led Utah.
  • One of my Oregon State teammates was eventual NFL defensive back Scott Eaton.
  • I was a junior college transfer who averaged 4.4 ppg and 4.5 rpg with the Beavers in 1965-66 and 1966-67.
  • I shared OSU's Paul Valenti Award with Eaton in 1966, given annually to the player who displays the most desire and determination.
  • I was an eighth-round draft choice by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1968 three selections behind safety George Atkinson.
  • My NFL teammates with the Bengals included Bruce Coslet, Bob Trumpy and Sam Wyche.
  • I was a defensive end who recorded a safety as a rookie and returned an interception for 70 yards and a touchdown in 1969.
  • My teammates when I played for the Chicago Bears in 1970 included Dick Butkus, Bobby Douglass and Gale Sayers.

Who am I? HARRY GUNNER

  • I tied teammate and Final Four Most Outstanding Player Bob Kurland for total points in 1945 national semifinals and final with 37.
  • I was a forward who led Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State) in scoring in 1945 NCAA Tournament when the Aggies captured the national basketball title.
  • I was a two-way back and leading pass receiver with 474 yards for the school's football squad trouncing TCU, 34-0, in Cotton Bowl the same academic school year.
  • I scored a touchdown in 33-13 victory against St. Mary's (Calif.) in Sugar Bowl following 1945 campaign.

    • Who am I? CECIL HANKINS

    • I had a team-high 14 points in outscoring Illinois guard Derek Harper in my first NCAA playoff game with Utah before the Utes were eliminated in the West Regional by champion-to-be North Carolina State.
    • My last college game was in the NCAA tourney against North Carolina coach Dean Smith and eventual first-team All-American Kenny Smith.
    • I led the Utes in assists with 5.1 per game as a sophomore before finishing my college basketball career in 1986 as the seventh-leading scorer in school history.
    • As a senior, I was an All-WAC second-team selection along with Wyoming sophomores Fennis Dembo and Eric Leckner.
    • One of my NFL teammates was former college basketball player Too Tall Jones (Tennessee State).
    • I was a defensive back who had two interceptions with the Dallas Cowboys during my six seasons with them from 1986 through 1991.
    • I recorded a safety in 1991 before the Cowboys were eliminated in the second round of the NFL playoffs by the Detroit Lions.

    Who am I? MANNY HENDRIX

    • I played against long-time network broadcaster Curt Gowdy and former All-Pro wide receiver Dale Gentry in the 1941 NCAA Tournament.
    • I was a 6-2, 195-pound guard who earned basketball honors as a second-team All-Southwest Conference choice as a sophomore and junior and a first-team selection as a senior.
    • I was a member of Arkansas' 1941 team that won the SWC title with a 12-0 record, finished 20-3 overall and reached the Final Four in its NCAA Tournament debut.
    • I finished sixth in the NFL in pass receptions as a rookie.
    • I was a member of the Rams' 1945 NFL title team and finished my pro career with 75 receptions for 1,378 yards and 16 touchdowns.
    • I was coach of the San Francisco 49ers (27-27-1 record from 1959 through 1963) after playing end with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland/Los Angeles Rams for five years (1941 and 1945 through 1948).
    • Among the players I coached with the 49ers were former college basketball players Billy Kilmer (UCLA), R.C. Owens (College of Idaho) and Billy Wilson (San Jose State).

    Who am I? HOWARD "RED" HICKEY

    • I appeared briefly for UCF in 1994 NCAA playoff pounding by Southeast Regional #1 seed Purdue (coached by Gene Keady).
    • I was a quarterback who passed for 437 yards against Valdosta in 1993 season opener before losing to Youngstown State in FCS Playoffs.
    • I completed 614-of-1,112 passes for 9,000 yards and 82 touchdowns from 1991 through 1994, setting multiple UCF career passing records (subsequently broken by NFL draft first-rounder Daunte Culpepper).
    • I was a quarterbacks/wide receivers coach for Tennessee from 2010 through 2012 and quarterbacks coach for Kentucky from 2016 through 2020.

    Who am I? DARIN HINSHAW

    • I appeared in a total of five NCAA playoff games for North Carolina in 2004 and 2005 (national champion under coach Roy Williams).
    • I caught 126 passes for 1,760 yards and seven touchdowns with the Tar Heels from 2003 through 2006.
    • I caught five passes for 66 yards in a 37-24 defeat against Boston College in 2004 Continental Tire Bowl.
    • In 2005, I led UNC in pass receptions with 47.
    • I caught seven passes for 169 yards with the Dallas Cowboys in 2010 and 2011.

    Who am I? JESSE HOLLEY

    • I played in the NCAA playoffs against teams coached by Joe B. Hall, Al McGuire and Digger Phelps. Among the opposing players were All-Americans Kevin Grevey (Kentucky), Maurice Lucas (Marquette), Adrian Dantley (Notre Dame) and John Shumate (Notre Dame).
    • I was a 6-4 forward who averaged seven points and seven rebounds per game in four NCAA Tournament contests in 1973 and 1974 as an Austin Peay teammate of celebrated James "Fly" Williams.
    • I was an All-Ohio Valley Conference basketball selection as a senior.
    • I became a wide receiver who caught a 34-yard touchdown pass from Dallas Cowboys legend Roger Staubach for their final TD in a 21-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl X.

    Who am I? PERCY HOWARD

    • I played in the NCAA playoffs against teams coached by Jack Kraft, Jack Ramsay, Fred Taylor and John Wooden.
    • I was a 6-6, 245-pound forward for the 1962 Wake Forest squad featuring Len Chappell and Billy Packer that finished third in the NCAA Tournament. Eventual five-time Pro Bowl defensive back Cornell Green (Utah State) was one of the top scorers in the same tourney.
    • I was the first athlete in ACC history to start in both football and basketball.
    • One of my pro football teammates was Hall of Fame-to-be quarterback Len Dawson, who briefly played basketball for Purdue.
    • I was an All-ACC defensive end who became a third-round pick of the NFL's Chicago Bears in 1962, but chose to play with the AFL's Dallas Texans after being their fifth-round selection.
    • In my only pro season, I intercepted a George Blanda pass and returned it 23 yards to help set up the game-winning field goal in second overtime of a 20-17 victory over Houston in 1962 AFL championship game.

    Who am I? BILL HULL

    • I committed one foul in one minute of playing time in 2005 NCAA tourney second-round defeat against Villanova.
    • I averaged 1.4 ppg in 19 contests under Florida coach Billy Donovan.
    • I was a teammate of eight future NBA players (Corey Brewer, Taurean Green, Al Horford, David Lee, Joakim Noah, Chris Richard, Anthony Roberson and Matt Walsh).
    • I was a football quarterback redshirt before becoming a tight end catching 64 passes for 888 yards and eight touchdowns for the Gators in 2006 and 2007.
    • I caught four passes for 58 yards in a 41-24 win against Ohio State in BCS national championship game in Glendale, Ariz., following the 2006 campaign.
    • I had seven touchdown receptions from Tim Tebow in 2007 when Aaron Hernandez was my backup.
    • I was an All-SEC second-team choice as a junior before missing senior season because of knee injury.
    • I was a fifth-round selection by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009 NFL draft two rounds ahead of TE David Johnson, who played seven years in the league.

    Who am I? CORNELIUS INGRAM

    • I played in waning moments of three NCAA tourney games for 1998 West Regional runner-up.
    • Top five scorers among my Lute Olson-coached Arizona basketball teammates were eventual NBA players Mike Bibby, A.J. Bramlett, Michael Dickerson, Miles Simon and Jason Terry.
    • I was a quarterback who completed 488-of-717 passes for 5,424 yards and 42 touchdowns from 1997 through 2000, leading the Wildcats in passing yardage as a freshman (including 348 yards vs. Washington) and senior.
    • I was principal signal caller as freshman and threw 19 TD passes during regular season but only played for a few snaps in fourth quarter of 20-14 win against New Mexico in Insight.com Bowl.
    • Primary receiver my first three years with UA was Dennis Northcutt, a second-round draft selection by the Cleveland Browns who played 10 seasons in the NFL.
    • I played briefly with CFL's British Columbia Lions.

    Who am I? ORTEGE JENKINS

    • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as NFL linebacker James Francis (Baylor) and major league outfielder Kenny Lofton (Arizona).
    • I was a Florida State teammate of All-American George McCloud.
    • I hit all three of my three-point field-goal attempts in a 102-98 opening-round loss to B.J. Armstrong-led Iowa in the 1988 NCAA Tournament.
    • I am a quarterback who received a four-year, $15 million contract from the Minnesota Vikings in 1996 despite being their ninth-round draft choice in 1992.
    • I became a pro starter when Warren Moon was injured and directed Minnesota to the NFL playoffs.
    • An injury led me to losing my starting job to Randall Cunningham in 1998 before I was traded by the Vikings to the Washington Redskins, where I set a club single-game record with 471 yards passing at San Francisco on December 26, 1999.
    • I guided the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the NFL playoffs following the 2001 season after signing with them as a free agent.
    • I threw a career-high five touchdown passes against the Minnesota Vikings in 2002 before leading the Bucs to a victory in Super Bowl XXXVII.
    • I returned to the Vikings in 2005 for two seasons.

    Who am I? BRAD JOHNSON

    • I was a member of coach John Wooden's first NCAA tourney team in 1949-50.
    • My UCLA teammates included George Stanich (bronze medalist in high jump at 1948 Olympics) and Eddie Sheldrake (eventual restauranteur).
    • I was a tailback who led Bruins in scoring in 1946 and rushing yards in 1948.
    • I was first-team all-conference choice who rushed for career-high 118 yards against Oregon as senior.
    • I was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles in 10th round of 1950 NFL draft (eight choices behind QB Eddie LeBaron).

    Who am I? ERNIE JOHNSON

    • I appeared in 1997 NCAA Tournament as did NFL Hall of Fame TE Tony Gonzalez (California) and 2000 NCAA playoffs as did NFL Pro Bowl DL Julius Peppers (North Carolina).
    • My Iowa State teammates included All-Americans Marcus Fizer and Jamaal Tinsley.
    • I averaged 7.2 ppg and 4.8 rpg from 1996-97 through 1999-00 under coaches Tim Floyd and Larry Eustachy.
    • As a senior, I collected a total of 37 points and 16 rebounds in back-to-back Midwest Regional outings against Auburn and UCLA.
    • After my hoop eligibility expired, I played linebacker for one of best football teams in the Cyclones' history, posting school's first bowl victory (37-29 over Pitt in Insight.com in 2000).

    Who am I? STEVIE JOHNSON

    • I scored eight points in 10 minutes in a second-round victory against St. Joseph's in 2001. It was one of four times in six NCAA playoff games that I scored eight points.
    • I was a teammate of Stanford All-American Casey Jacobsen when we were eliminated by national champion-to-be Maryland in the 2001 West Regional final and eventual Final Four participant Kansas in the second round of the 2002 Midwest Regional.
    • I was an occasional starting forward who had career averages of 4.9 points and 3 rebounds per game with the Cardinal.
    • After redshirting in 2000 as a quarterback, I became co-freshman of the year in the Pacific-10 Conference in 2001 when I caught 38 passes for 565 yards and seven touchdowns, including a TD in the Seattle Bowl against Georgia Tech.
    • I am a 6-7, 240-pound wide receiver who declared for the NFL draft with two years of eligibility remaining after catching 41 passes for 467 yards and eight TDs in 2002.
    • I was a second-round draft choice of the Oakland Raiders in 2003 six selections ahead of fellow TE Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys).

    Who am I? TEYO JOHNSON

    • I appeared in opening round of 2011 NCAA playoffs against Clemson. My teammates included two All-CUSA first-team selections.
    • I played in 24 UAB basketball games in 2008-09 and 2010-11 under a Final Four coach (Mike Davis previously with Indiana).
    • I was a wide receiver who had 38 receptions for 531 yards and team-leading seven touchdowns with the Blazers in 2010.

    Who am I? MIKE JONES

    • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as major league second baseman Jerry Adair (Oklahoma State).
    • I was a teammate of California All-American forward Larry Friend.
    • I participated as a backup forward in back-to-back West Regional finals in 1957 and 1958.
    • I finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1958 when I led Cal to a Rose Bowl berth.
    • I coached my alma mater and appeared as a bit actor in a dozen movies.
    • I became a member of the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame after quarterbacking Calgary (1959 and 1960) and Vancouver (1961 through 1966).
    • I was an NFL Pro Bowl selection following the 1969 season with the Minnesota Vikings.
    • I am the only QB to start in the Rose Bowl, Super Bowl and Grey Cup.
    • I was the last QB to throw seven touchdown passes in a single NFL game.
    • My teammates with the Vikings included former college basketball players Dale Hackbart (Wisconsin), King Hill (Rice) and Art Powell (San Jose State).

    Who am I? JOE KAPP

    • I averaged 5.5 ppg for national third-place team in 1949.
    • My teammate, Dwight Eddleman, played in 1947 Rose Bowl before winning silver medal in the high jump in 1948 Olympics in London.
    • I scored a team-high nine points for Illinois in Eastern Regional final defeat against eventual NCAA champion Kentucky.
    • I was an All-Big Ten Conference second-team end in 1948 when leading Illini in pass receptions with 22 for 329 yards.
    • I was a four-year football letterman selected in 23rd round of 1949 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams (two choices behind eventual University of Washington coach Jim Owens).

    Who am I? WALT KERSULIS

    • I averaged 1.9 ppg and 1.7 rpg for North Carolina A&T from 1993-94 through 1996-97.
    • I competed in same NCAA tourneys as eventual MLB starting pitcher Mark Hendrickson and NFL Hall of Fame receiver Terrell Owens.
    • I played against eventual national champion Arkansas in 1994 Midwest Regional first round before collecting two points and two rebounds in seven minutes against Tim-Duncan-led Wake Forest in 1995 NCAA tourney East Regional opener.
    • I became top punter in A&T history as All-MEAC first-team selection in 1996 when setting school record with 43.4 yards per punt (runner-up nationally in Division I-AA). In addition to punting duties, I was used on punt- and kick-blocking special teams that season, blocking one of each.
    • I was also a javelin and discus thrower on the Aggies' track squad.

    Who am I? MONTY KEY

    • I was a Virginia teammate of future NBA players Bryant Stith and John Crotty.
    • I became the Cavaliers' career rushing record with 3,348 yards on 567 carries, including a total of 14 100-yard games.
    • I participated in three football bowls and scored a touchdown against Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl.
    • I was scoreless in two 1990 NCAA Tournament games against Notre Dame and Syracuse before becoming a starting running back as a rookie for the Miami Dolphins in 1993.
    • I was the Dolphins' leading pass receiver and second-leading rusher after being a third-round pick in the 1993 NFL draft four selections ahead of SS John Lynch.
    • I led the Dolphins in pass receptions with 66 for 618 yards in 1995 and was again the team's second-leading rusher before I was traded to the San Francisco 49ers.
    • I played with the Oakland Raiders after previously being in the same backfield with quarterbacks Dan Marino and Steve Young.
    • I missed Super Bowl XXXVII because of an injury.

    Who am I? TERRY KIRBY

    • I made all three of my field-goal attempts and grabbed a total of four rebounds as walk-on freshman in first two NCAA playoff games for 2001 national champion Duke. Four years later, I hauled down a total of seven boards in 13 minutes of playing time in back-to-back Austin Regional contests against Mississippi State and Michigan State.
    • I was suspended from coach Mike Krzyzewski's 2001-02 squad following incidents involving underage drinking and embarrassing photographs after getting drunk and passing out at a UNC fraternity party.
    • I started 26 of 40 career football games with the Blue Devils as a wide receiver, making 75 receptions for 895 yards and six touchdowns. In 2003 for their only team posting more than three victories in an eight-year span from 1995 through 2002, I led them in catches (27), receiving yards (290) and TD receptions (four).
    • I signed as a free-agent outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme with the Dallas Cowboys although I failed to earn a spot on their squad.
    • I became Barack Obama's "body man" from 2007 to 2011, acting as something of a traveling valet in the President's entourage, making sure his personal needs were met.
    • I was a constant presence in the West Wing and by the president's side during every trip away from home. Thus, I was in the background of numerous official photos.
    • I became an editor-at-large for Vice Sports in 2016.

    Who am I? REGGIE LOVE

    • I appeared in 33 basketball games with Massachusetts from 1995-96 through 1998-99.
    • As a freshman for John Calipari-coached Final Four team, I played briefly in opening-round win vs. UCF and East Regional rout of Georgetown.
    • I was a four-year football letterman the second half of 1990s who still holds school career records for most punt yards and attempts plus longest punt (78 yards vs. Boston University in 1997).
    • I was an All-Atlantic 10 Conference third-team selection as senior for Division I-AA national football champion.

    Who am I? ANDY MACLAY

    • I participated in four NCAA playoff games, including one where I made all four of my field-goal attempts and dished out a team-high five assists in a first-round loss against Jack Hartman-coached Kansas State in 1981.
    • My San Francisco teammates included All-Americans Bill Cartwright and Quintin Dailey.
    • I averaged 8.5 points per game during my career with the Dons.
    • My NFL teammates during five seasons in the mid-1980s with three different teams included former college basketball players Sam Clancy, Ronnie Lott and Pete Metzelaars.
    • I had two interceptions and four sacks as LB-DB for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1984.

    Who am I? KEN McALISTER

    • I was a member of Maryland's 2002 NCAA titlist before becoming a part-time starter for the Terrapins' defending champion the next season.
    • I played in the same 2001 NCAA basketball tourney as NFL defensive end Julius Peppers (North Carolina).
    • I participated in two 2000 NCAA Tournament games, including one against UCLA.
    • My Maryland teammates included All-ACC first-team selections Lonny Baxter, Juan Dixon and Terence Morris.
    • In 1999, I finished No. 2 among Division I-A freshman quarterbacks (behind Virginia Tech's Michael Vick) in passing efficiency and total offense.

    Who am I? CALVIN McCALL

    • I played in the same NCAA tourney as eventual Indiana football coach Cam Cameron.
    • I was a defensive specialist who fouled out when I collected seven points and five rebounds in a 1982 West Regional first-round loss against Wyoming.
    • One of my Southern California teammates was Kentucky transfer Dwight Anderson. Another one of my USC teammates was Ken Johnson, who transferred after the season to Michigan State.
    • My NFL teammates with the Los Angeles Rams included Eric Dickerson, Dennis Harrah, Jackie Slater, Jack Youngblood and Jim Youngblood.
    • I was a tight end who caught 14 passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns with the Rams and Detroit Lions in four years from 1983 to 1987.

    Who am I? JAMES McDONALD

    • I scored two points in two 1996 NCAA Tournament games for the eventual national runner-up.
    • One of my Syracuse teammates was NBA first-round draft choice John Wallace.
    • I am a former Gator Bowl MVP who was a high school basketball teammate of eventual Boston Celtics star Antoine Walker for Mount Carmel (Ill.), an all-male Catholic institution on the southside of Chicago.
    • I participated in bowl games all four years in college - Gator, Liberty, Fiesta and Orange.
    • I am a quarterback who completed 58.4% of my college passes with 77 TDs, including one as a freshman for 96 yards to eventual NFL standout Marvin Harrison against West Virginia in 1995.
    • I finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting before becoming the second pick overall in the 1999 NFL draft.
    • I finished runner-up to Marshall Faulk in voting for MVP in the NFL in 2000.
    • A Super Bowl appearance climaxed my leading the Philadelphia Eagles to five consecutive NFL playoff appearances from 2000 through 2004 as a Pro Bowler each year in that span while completing 58% of my passes with twice as many touchdowns as interceptions.
    • I set an an NFL record with 24 consecutive completions over a two-game span in 2004 when I had five games with at least four touchdown passes and established the Eagles' single-game record with 464 passing yards against Green Bay.
    • I am the Eagles' all-time leader in career wins, pass attempts, pass completions, passing yards and passing touchdowns.
    • I finished my career with the Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings.
    • No former college hooper has more NFL career passing yards (37,276) and rushing touchdowns as QB (29) than myself.

    Who am I? DONOVAN McNABB

    • I participated in same NCAA tourney when league rival Arkansas became the first SWC member in 22 years to reach the Final Four.
    • I appeared in the NCAA playoffs against Notre Dame's Kelly Tripucka, Bill Hanzlik and Bill Laimbeer.
    • I played briefly for Houston in the Cougars' 100-77 opening-round setback to the Fighting Irish in the 1978 Midwest Regional after leading the Cougars in QB sacks with eight.
    • I was a defensive end who became a first-round NFL draft choice (27th pick overall).
    • I played seven pro seasons (1981 through 1987) with the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons.
    • One of my teammates with the Eagles was former college basketball player Harold Carmichael (Southern).

    Who am I? LEONARD MITCHELL

    • I made my only field-goal attempt in two minutes of playing time for Mike Montgomery-coached Stanford against Texas-San Antonio in the opening round of the 2004 NCAA playoffs.
    • As a wide receiver with the Cardinal, I caught 103 passes for 1,555 yards and 12 touchdowns from 2003 through 2007. I was runner-up on the team in pass receptions with 39 in 2004 (led club with six TD catches) and 2007.
    • I missed much of 2005 with a dislocated hip suffered in season opener at Navy and was restricted to a part-time role in 2006 because of a stress fracture in my right foot.
    • I caught 62 passes for 804 yards and five TDs as mainly a tight end with the Cleveland Browns from 2009 through 2011 before playing with the Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks in 2012.
    • I had three pass receptions for a career-high 87 yards in 2010 NFL season opener.
    • I caught a TD pass from Colt McCoy in each of first two games in 2011.

    Who am I? EVAN MOORE

    • I was scoreless in one minute for Tennessee-Chattanooga against No. 2 seed Connecticut in the 1995 West Regional.
    • I played in the Senior Bowl after becoming UTC's all-time leading receiver (143 catches for 2,320 yards and 19 TDs).
    • I started more games at receiver (10) than any San Francisco 49ers rookie since Gene Washington in 1969.
    • I caught 162 passes for 2,553 yards and 26 touchdowns in my first three NFL seasons after being the 49ers' third-round draft choice in 1996.
    • I became the heir apparent to Hall of Fame-bound Jerry Rice as the 49ers' go-to wide receiver after catching 15 touchdown passes in 1998, including at least one in each of the last eight regular-season games.
    • My dramatic 25-yard touchdown catch from Steve Young with three seconds remaining lifted the 49ers to a 30-27 victory against the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers in an NFC wild-card game following the 1998 season.
    • I set an NFL single-game record with 20 receptions in 2000 against the Chicago Bears.
    • I led the Super Bowl-bound Philadelphia Eagles in receiving in 2004.
    • I am a six-time Pro Bowl selection who finished my 15-year NFL career with 1,078 pass receptions for 15,934 yards and 153 touchdowns and became a Hall of Fame selection. The receiving yardage and TDs are most ever by a former college hooper.

    Who am I? TERRELL OWENS

    • I played in the NCAA Tournament against All-Americans Arnold Short (Oklahoma City), Bob Mattick (Oklahoma A&M), Bob Houbregs (Washington) and Don Schlundt (Indiana).
    • I was a football/basketball teammate of All-American defensive back Gil Reich.
    • I was a starting forward and second-leading rebounder for Kansas' 1953 national runner-up.
    • I was named to the NJCAA All-Tournament team in 1952 when I averaged 20 points per game for Garden City (Kan.) before enrolling with the Jayhawks.
    • I was an All-Big Seven Conference first-team basketball selection as a senior.
    • After catching 10 passes for 179 yards with KU in 1953, I was a 14th-round selection in 1954 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles as a back (nine picks ahead of 1955 Jim Thorpe Trophy winner WR Harlon Hill).
    • I scored 54 touchdowns in my 14-year CFL career and had 34 games with at least 100 yards in pass receptions.
    • I became a member of the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame after averaging 20.6 yards per pass reception with 460 catches for 9,473 yards and 64 touchdowns.

    Who am I? HAL PATTERSON

    • Hitting a three-pointer just before the final buzzer, I was a tri-captain who collected nine points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals for Northern Illinois in one-point, first-round loss (74-73) against once-beaten Texas Tech in 1996 East Regional.
    • I was NIU's top wide receiver in 1994 with 34 catches for 578 yards and four touchdowns, finishing my football career with 93 pass receptions for 1,564 yards and eight TDs.
    • I led the Big West Conference in punt return yards in 1994 with 252.
    • I averaged at least 17 yards per reception in each of my last two seasons, catching a 32-yard TD pass against Illinois and 48-yarder against Oklahoma State.

    Who am I? VAURICE "REESE" PATTERSON

    • I was a member of a 2000 Final Four squad.
    • I made 13 of 15 shots from the floor in NCAA playoff competition en route to leading North Carolina in field-goal shooting in 2000-01 (64.3%).
    • I started both of my NCAA Tournament games in 2001, including my first double-double (10 rebounds and career-high 21 points against Penn State).
    • I was a basketball/football teammate of Ronald Curry, a four-year starting quarterback.
    • I was a first-team All-American as a defensive end who led the nation in sacks with 15 in 2000.
    • I won the Lombardi Award as the nation's top lineman and Chuck Bednarik Trophy as the nation's top defensive player in 2001 (finishing 10th in Heisman Trophy voting) before becoming the second pick overall in the NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers.
    • I was named NFL defensive rookie of the year in 2002 after registering 54 tackles and 12 sacks (including a pair of three-sack games) in 12 contests in 2002.
    • The next year, I played in Super Bowl XXXVIII for Charlotte.
    • I am an eight-time NFL Pro Bowl selection who signed a lucrative free-agent contract with the Chicago Bears in 2010 and Green Bay Packers in 2014. Most recent Pro Bowl appearance was in my 14th NFL season before returning to Panthers.
    • I am the only player in NFL history to accrue 100-plus sacks and 10-plus interceptions.

    Who am I? JULIUS PEPPERS

    • I collected six points and a team-high nine rebounds for Texas Tech in a 1961 Midwest Regional semifinal loss against eventual NCAA Tournament champion Cincinnati.
    • I averaged 12.1 ppg and 10.5 rpg as a junior as part of Tech's first SWC championship team in a major sport.
    • I averaged 8 ppg for the Red Raiders in five NCAA playoff contests in 1961 and 1962.
    • My NFL teammates included standouts such as Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers and Roger Staubach.
    • I was a placekicker who scored 466 points with the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys in eight years from 1967 through 1974.
    • In 1970, I had three consecutive NFL contests with at least three field goals.
    • I led the league with 25 field goals for the Bears in 1968 when I tied for third place in scoring with 100 points.

    Who am I? MAC PERCIVAL

    • I participated in 1998 NCAA tourney against Northern Arizona and West Virginia.
    • I averaged 2.5 ppg and 2.2 rpg while shooting 64.4% from the floor for Cincinnati in 1997-98 under coach Bob Huggins.
    • I competed three campaigns as backup quarterback with the Bearcats from 1994 through 1996 before catching 10 passes for 254 yards and one touchdown as tight end my senior season.
    • I played for UC's first bowl team in 46 years (Humanitarian victory vs. Utah State).
    • I played one season as QB with the New York Dragoons of the Arena Football League (threw three TD passes and rushed two more).

    Who am I? BRENT PETRUS

    • I averaged 11.8 ppg and 7.8 rpg in four NCAA tourney contests for Midwest Regional runner-ups in 1959 (competed against national player of the year Oscar Robertson of Cincinnati) and 1961 (tied for game-high honors with 12 rebounds against Houston).
    • I was an All-Big Eight Conference first-team selection as a senior when runner-up for Kansas State in scoring (16.9 ppg) and rebounding (10 rpg) under coach Tex Winter before becoming an eight-round pick by the New York Knicks in NBA draft.
    • I was a wide receiver who finished runner-up in the Big Seven Conference in pass receptions (17) and receiving yards (230) in 1958.
    • I was a 30th-round choice by the Dallas Texans in 1961 AFL draft.

    Who am I? CEDRIC PRICE

    • I played in the 1999 NCAA playoffs against St. John's All-American Ron Artest.
    • I was a backcourt teammate of Indiana basketball All-American A.J. Guyton.
    • I was a 14th-round selection as outfielder by Chicago Cubs in 1997 MLB amateur draft out of high school (one pick ahead of A.L. pitcher Ryan Drese).
    • I was 1998 Big Ten Conference freshman of the year in football before becoming the first league football player to accumulate 5,000 total yards the next season as a sophomore.
    • I was a 5-11 college quarterback who compiled 3,000 passing yards and 1,500 yards rushing through my first 19 games, which is faster than anyone in NCAA Division I-A history.
    • I became the first player in NCAA Division I-A history to pass for 6,000 yards and rush for 3,000, finishing sixth in 2001 Heisman Trophy voting.
    • I became the only "40-40 Man" in major-college history (more than 40 passing touchdowns and more than 40 rushing/receiving touchdowns).
    • I was a regular wide receiver as a rookie for the playoff-bound Pittsburgh Steelers in 2002 after being their second-round draft choice (ahead of fellow second-round WRs Antonio Bryant and Deion Branch). The next year, I caught 37 passes for 364 yards and returned two punts for touchdowns.
    • I signed a seven-year, $31 million contract with the Washington Redskins as an unrestricted free agent entering the 2006 campaign before being cast adrift by Mike Shanahan in 2010 and returning to the Steelers.
    • I made a two-point conversion on a run for the Steelers in Super Bowl XIV and threw flea flicker 43-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward to cap off scoring in Super Bowl XL.

    Who am I? ANTWAAN RANDLE EL

    • I played in the same NCAA tourney as 1996 volleyball Olympian Mike Whitmarsh.
    • I was a Washington teammate of All-American forward Detlef Schrempf.
    • I was a 6-6, 260-pounder when I hit four of five field-goal attempts in the Huskies' 80-78 second-round victory over Duke in 1984 in Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski's first NCAA playoff game.
    • I was a first-team All-American defensive lineman who became a first-round draft choice of the Detroit Lions in 1987 (seventh pick overall).
    • Placekicker Eddie Murray was my teammate on two NFL teams. Among my other NFL teammates were QB Jim Kelly, LB Chris Spielman, DE Bruce Smith, QB Vinny Testaverde and RB Thurman Thomas.
    • I also played with the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a six-year NFL career.
    • My older brother, Don, an outstanding safety for UCLA, was a starting defensive back for the Cleveland Browns when he died tragically.

    Who am I? REGGIE ROGERS

    • I appeared in 1947 NCAA Tournament for Oregon State against eventual runner-up Oklahoma.
    • I was an All-Coast football selection in 1948.
    • I was a second-round NFL draft choice as a back by the Los Angeles Rams in 1946 (25th pick overall; 15 choices ahead of three-time Pro Bowl LB Don Paul).
    • I rushed for a 31-yard touchdown in my rookie debut with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1949.

    Who am I? DON SAMUEL

    • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as Navy Admiral John Dick, world famous heart surgeon Denton Cooley and Ernst and Ernst CEO Dick Baker.
    • I made a free throw for runner-up Ohio State in inaugural national championship contest in 1939.
    • As a sophomore, I was a tackle on OSU's offensive and defensive lines while also punting and kicking extra points.
    • As a junior and senior, I became a two-time football All-American as left halfback in single-wing formation offense, essentially making me the Buckeyes' primary ball handler (quarterback).
    • Big Ten Conference opponent Tom Harmon won Heisman Trophy my senior year and was first choice in 1941 NFL draft - eight selections before I was picked ninth overall in opening round by the Chicago Bears although I chose to volunteer to fight in Europe during WWII.
    • I died in fall of 1943 when bomber I piloted crashed in England while in training after already completing nine bombing missions.

    Who am I? DON SCOTT

    • I collected four points and three rebounds in a 69-57 setback against Mike Montgomery-coached Stanford in opening round of 1999 NCAA playoffs.
    • I was a 6-8 center who averaged 4.3 ppg and team-high 5.9 rpg for Alcorn State team coached by Davey Whitney.
    • My NFL career began as a practice squad member of the Dallas Cowboys in 2000.
    • I was an offensive lineman who played four seasons with the Oakland Raiders, starting six games in 2006 under coach Art Shell (former UMES hooper).
    • I played with the Baltimore Ravens' AFC runner-up in 2008, blocking for QB Joe Flacco and RBs Ron McClain, Willis McGahee and Ray Rice.

    Who am I? CHAD SLAUGHTER

    • I played in same NCAA basketball tourney as former St. Louis Blue hockey franchise owner Bill Laurie (Memphis State).
    • I was a member of Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight's first two 20-win teams with Indiana.
    • I was a backup freshman forward for Knight's first Final Four squad in 1973.
    • My IU hoop teammates included All-Americans Quinn Buckner, Steve Downing and Steve Green.
    • Buckner also was a college football teammate of mine when leading the squad in interceptions and fumble recoveries.
    • I caught 36 passes for five touchdowns as a sophomore split end when I was an AP All-Big Ten Conference second-team selection.
    • I finished my college gridiron career under coach Lee Corso with 1,488 receiving yards and 15 TDs, leading the Hoosiers in catches three straight seasons.
    • I was an NFL 15th-round draft choice by the Detroit Lions in 1976 (14 picks ahead of Chattanooga/Clemson/Memphis head football coach Tommy West).

    Who am I? TRENT SMOCK

    • I scored eight points for St. Louis' first NCAA tourney team in 1952 West Regional final setback against eventual champion Kansas.
    • I was an NFL referee (head linesman) for 11 years from 1967 through 1977.
    • I officiated in "The Sea of Hands" AFC Divisional playoff game between the Oakland Raiders and Miami Dolphins on 12-21-74 when scrambling QB Ken Stabler's lefthanded pass floated into the end zone toward four players, three of them defenders, before RB Clarence Davis yanked it away from them for game-winning touchdown (28-26 success for Raiders over two-time defending Super Bowl champion).

    Who am I? RAY SONNENBERG

    • I made both of my field-goal attempts and committed four fouls in seven minutes of playing time against eventual NCAA kingpin Kansas in 2008 NCAA playoff opener.
    • I averaged 6.8 ppg and 4.3 rpg while shooting 66.3% from the floor with Portland State from 2006-07 through 2009-10 under eventual Washington State coach Ken Bone.
    • I hold school records for FG% in a career and single season (71.4 as sophomore).
    • I was an All-Big Sky Conference first-team selection in my only college football campaign (29 receptions for 453 yards and two touchdowns) before catching a TD pass in East-West Shrine Game.
    • I started NFL season opener as a rookie after being the Denver Broncos' fourth-round draft choice (129th pick overall; 25 selections ahead of Stanford CB Richard Sherman).
    • I caught four passes from QB Peyton Manning in Super Bowl XLVIII.
    • I was a two-time All-Pro tight end who caught 226 passes for 2,406 yards and 36 TDs with the Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins in seven years from 2011 through 2017.

    Who am I? JULIUS THOMAS

    • I averaged 11.5 ppg and 9.5 rpg in two tournament games for Kansas in 1967 as teammate of Jo Jo White.
    • I led the Jayhawks in rebounding in both of their 1967 playoff contests against Elvin Hayes (Houston) and Wes Unseld (Louisville).
    • I averaged 6.1 ppg and 4.9 rpg in 1966-67 and 1967-68 under coach Ted Owens.
    • I was a third-round pick as defensive lineman in 1969 NFL draft (60th pick overall) three selections ahead of Miami Dolphins running back Mercury Morris.
    • I played for the New York Giants (1971), Green Bay Packers (1972) and Houston Oilers (1973), starting three games as defensive tackle with the Packers. In mid-November 1972, I had personal-foul, 15-yard penalties for whacking opponent on the helmet on back-to-back plays against the Oilers.
    • In my first NFL start with the Pack, I registered two sacks, got partial credit for a third and nearly got a fourth in 16-13 upset win against the Dallas Cowboys in 1972.

    Who am I? VERNON VANOY

    • I played against Bob Knight-coached Indiana in the 1992 NCAA playoffs before averaging 8.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.5 apg and 3.3 spg in four tournament games for the 1993 Southeast Regional runner-up.
    • I held my school's career record for steals when my eligibility expired in 1993-94.
    • I passed and rushed for 6,636 yards in my college football career.
    • I was named Orange Bowl MVP in back-to-back victories over Nebraska.
    • I led Florida State to 1993 national title by passing for 3,032 yards and 27 touchdowns and rushing for 339 yards and four touchdowns.
    • I was a Heisman Trophy winner and consensus All-American quarterback who captured the 1993 Sullivan Award as the nation's premier amateur athlete.

    Who am I? CHARLIE WARD

    • I averaged 2.9 ppg and 5.7 rpg for Idaho under coach Tim Floyd in 1987-88 after playing two seasons for Texas-El Paso when Floyd was aide under Don Haskins.
    • I collected one foul and one turnover in one minute of playing time for UTEP in an 86-73 setback against Jim Valvano-coached North Carolina State in second round of 1985 West Regional.
    • I was a defensive end who registered 40 1/2 sacks and 386 tackles with the New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos in 11 NFL seasons from 1989 through 1999 after entering league as sixth-round draft choice.
    • I had a team-high 8 1/2 sacks with the Jets in 1992 (including Hall of Fame QB Dan Marino for safety) and career-high 71 tackles with them the following campaign.
    • I earned Super Bowl XXXIII ring with the Broncos after securing sack in win against the Miami Dolphins in AFC playoffs following 1998 season.
    • In 2017, I was part of a lawsuit filed against Attorney General Jeff Sessions, seeking to overturn the classification of cannabis as a Schedule I drug.

    Who am I? MARVIN WASHINGTON

    • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as Green Bay Packers linebacker Fred Carr (Texas Western) and major league baseball executive Larry Lucchino (Princeton).
    • I was a teammate of Tennessee center Tom Boerwinkle.
    • I outscored All-American forward Don May, 20-9, in the NCAA playoffs to become an all-regional selection.
    • I was the game-high scorer in the Volunteers' NCAA Tournament debut although it wasn't enough to prevent a 53-52 setback against eventual national runner-up Dayton in the 1967 Mideast Regional semifinals.
    • I was a two-time All-SEC first-team basketball selection and led the league in scoring the season before LSU's Pete Maravich arrived at the varsity level.
    • Larry Brown and Doug Moe were two of my ABA teammates with the New Orleans Buccaneers in 1967-68.
    • I was the first selection in fourth round of 1967 NFL draft (81st pick overall) by the New Orleans Saints.
    • My NFL teammates included former college basketball players Fred Carr (Texas Western), Mike Ditka (Pittsburgh), Pete Gent (Michigan State), Cornell Green (Utah State) and Roger Staubach (Navy).
    • I averaged 42 yards per punt in six seasons (1968 through 1973) with the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers.
    • I posted the longest punt in the NFL in 1968 (84 yards as a rookie).
    • I played in the Pro Bowl following the 1971 season and appeared in two Super Bowls with the Cowboys (V and VI).

    Who am I? RON WIDBY

    • I played in the NCAA playoffs against Arkansas All-American center George Kok.
    • I am the only freshman to lead a single NCAA tourney in scoring average (22 ppg).
    • I scored a game-high 23 points for Oregon in a 79-76 loss to Arkansas in a 1945 West Regional semifinal before scoring a team-high 21 points in a 69-66 win over Utah in a third-place game.
    • The next season, I became the first Oregon player to crack the 1,000-point plateau and repeated as an All-PCC North Division first-team selection.
    • I was the leading pass receiver (27 catches for 520 yards and five touchdowns) on the 1948 Oregon team that featured quarterback Norm Van Brocklin, compiled a 9-2 mark and won the Pacific Coast Conference championship. The Ducks lost to SMU, 21-13, in the Cotton Bowl that season despite my four receptions for 57 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown pass from Van Brocklin.
    • I was a 25th-round selection by the New York Giants in 1948 NFL draft (16 picks ahead of eventual LSU/Army/South Carolina coach Paul Dietzel).
    • I led the Dallas Texans of the All-America Football Conference with 32 catches in 1952. Fellow end and former Great Northwest college basketball player Dale Gentry (Washington State) left the AAFC's Los Angeles Dons the year before I joined the team.
    • Quarterbacks on my NFL teams included Don Heinrich and Frank Tripucka.

    Who am I? DICK WILKINS

    • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as 1952 Olympic gold-medal winning high jumper Buddy Davis (Texas A&M).
    • I played in the NCAA Tournament against Brigham Young All-Americans Mel Hutchins, Roland Minson and Joe Richey.
    • I collected two points and seven rebounds for San Jose State in a 68-61 opening-round loss to BYU in 1951.
    • I caught 10 touchdown passes my last three years for the football Spartans after spending 19 months in the Pacific with the Navy.
    • I was a 22nd-round selection by the San Francisco 49ers in 1950 NFL draft.
    • I was a split end who caught 407 passes for 5,902 yards in 10 seasons (1951 through 1960) with the 49ers.
    • I was a Pro Bowl selection six consecutive seasons (1955 through 1960) and named to wire-service All-Pro teams in 1955 and 1957.
    • I led the NFL in receptions three consecutive years - 1955 (60 catches), 1956 (60) and 1957 (52).
    • I caught passes from NFL standout quarterbacks Y.A. Tittle and John Brodie.
    • A fellow receiver with the 49ers was R.C. Owens, who led the nation's small colleges in rebounding in 1953-54 with the College of Idaho.
    • I was named player of the game in the 1955 Pro Bowl after catching 11 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown.

    Who am I? BILLY WILSON

    • I participated in the same NCAA basketball tourney as Hank Nowak (represented Buffalo area in U.S. House of Representatives for nine terms), MLB lefthanded reliever Steve Hamilton and Coppin State President Calvin Burnett.
    • I averaged 4.8 points per game for Michigan State from 1954-55 through 1956-57.
    • In the Spartans' NCAA playoff debut, I played against celebrated coaches Adolph Rupp, Frank McGuire and Phil Woolpert.
    • I collected a total of eight points and five rebounds in two Final Four games in 1957.
    • I shared quarterback/defensive back role in the era of single-platoon football with two future NFL signal callers - Earl Morrall and Jim Ninowski.
    • I was a three-year football letterman under coach Duffy Daugherty, substituting in as DB for Morrall (my roommate) in 17-14 win against UCLA in 1956 Rose Bowl.
    • As a senior, I rushed for four touchdowns and completed 20-of-39 passes (one for TD).

    Who am I? PAT WILSON

    • I played against Guy Lewis' Houston squad featuring Elvin Hayes and Don Chaney.
    • I was Colorado State's leading scorer for NCAA Tournament teams in 1965 and 1966.
    • I was a sixth-round selection by the St. Louis Hawks in 1966 NBA draft (54th pick overall).
    • I was a cornerback who had a total of five interceptions in two seasons (1966 and 1967) with the AFL's Denver Broncos although I never played a down of college football.
    • One of my teammates with the Broncos was receiver Lionel Taylor, who led New Mexico Highlands' basketball team in scoring average with 13.6 ppg in 1955-56 and 20.3 in 1956-57.
    • I became the first player in professional sports history to simultaneously compete in football and basketball (Denver Rockets).

    Who am I? LONNIE WRIGHT

    ENTERTAINERS AND NEWSMAKERS

    • I competed in back-to-back Mideast Regionals, playing briefly in setbacks against Tom Hawkins-led Notre Dame and eventual 1958 national champion Kentucky.
    • As a Miami (Ohio) teammate of rebounder deluxe Wayne Embry, I averaged 1.2 ppg in 1956-57 and 1957-58.
    • I am a storied Merry Prankster who became one of the psychedelic leaders of the 1960s.
    • I along with best friend and Prankster leader, Ken Kesey, whom I befriended in grad school writing class at Stanford, wrote the book "Last Go Round" about the oldest and largest rodeos in America.
    • I am best known for my participation in the Acid Tests (inspired from meeting the Grateful Dead with whom I was onstage at Woodstock) and on the 1939 International Harvester school bus named Furthur.
    • The most famous "happening" of the Pranksters was a nationwide trip in 1964 to New York's World Fair with me as sound engineer for the bus.
    • Acknowledged as the "Intrepid Traveler," I was mostly credited for the sound systems I created for the Trips Festival, a 1966 three-day music extravaganza conducted in San Francisco.
    • It took me 45 years to finish writing, but I published in 2011 a coming-of-age novel about the Vietnam War ("Who Shot the Water Buffalo?"). In 2022, I published my memoir ("Cronies").

    Who am I? KEN BABBS

    • I played in NCAA Tournament games against coaches Denny Crum (Louisville), Tom Davis (Iowa), Rick Pitino (Kentucky) and Roy Williams (Kansas).
    • I was a Wake Forest teammate of future NBA MVP Tim Duncan.
    • I was a swingman who averaged 4.3 points and 2.1 rebounds per game in my four-year career with the Demon Deacons before playing professionally for one year in England.
    • I co-starred in the romantic comedy "First Daughter" as the guy the college-aged daughter of the President of the United States falls for before discovering things aren't quite what they appear to be on the surface.
    • I was a regular on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" episodes playing the role of Riley Finn, Buffy's one-time love interest.
    • I played the role of Matthew Donnelly in the USA Network show "Necessary Roughness."

    Who am I? MARC BLUCAS

  • I played in the same NCAA tournament as eventual Pennsylvania Governor Robert Casey, Massachusetts U.S. Congressman Joe Early and Canadian Football League Hall of Famer Hal Patterson.
  • I was an All-Border Conference first-team selection who played in 1953 NCAA playoffs against future All-American Ken Sears.
  • I was Hardin-Simmons' second-leading scorer during the season (12.5 ppg as a junior) and the team's #2 scorer with nine points in a first-round loss against eventual West Regional finalist Santa Clara.
  • My promising basketball career ended because of a summer job accident when my leg was broken in two places while unloading some sheetrock.
  • I was the first participant to earn $1 million in sanctioned poker tournaments.
  • I am the author of several poker books, including Super/System and Poker Wisdom of a Champion.
  • I am the winner of 10 World Series of Poker bracelets, including the main event in back-to-back years in 1976 and 1977.

    • Who am I? DOYLE BRUNSON

    • I appeared in 1961 NCAA Tournament against Wake Forest squad featuring All-American Len Chappell and eventual network analyst Billy Packer.
    • I was a playmaker who averaged 7.6 ppg and 1.9 rpg for St. John's from 1960-61 through 1962-63 under coach Joe Lapchick after playing in high school under Lou Carnesecca.
    • As a college junior, I was starter for NIT runner-up.
    • I was known for my performances in Broadway musicals (Hair, The American Clock and The Tap Dance Kid).
    • My roles in several movies - The Pawnbroker, Shaft and Without a Trace - earned favorable reviews.
    • I had an American soul album (The Swingin' Sound of Soul) released in Europe and was manager of a band called Entourage.

    Who am I? DONNIE BURKS

  • As a teammate of All-American Bill Cartwright, I scored four points in a 1979 NCAA playoff game victory against Danny Ainge-led Brigham Young in West Regional.
  • I am a stand-up comedian who opened for luminaries Dana Carvey, Mark Curry and Robin Williams.
  • I put out a 2007 video called "Comedy Ain't for the Money."
  • I am a past winner of the Sacramento Gold Rush Comedy Competition.

    • Who am I? MARVIN DELOATCH JR.

    • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as eventual NFL All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates (Kent State).
    • As a Texas Tech freshman in 2001-02, I played under coach Bob Knight and scored eight points in 11 minutes in East Regional defeat against Southern Illinois.
    • After Red Raiders advanced to 2003 NIT semifinals, I transferred to Gonzaga under coach Mark Few.
    • In high-stakes poker, I twice earned more than $200,000 in Vegas events later that decade.
    • My highest winnings was $260,261 (finishing third in 39th WSP/No Limit Hold'em in June 2008) before earning $214,289 (fourth in 40th WSP one place ahead of 10-time bracelet winner Johnny Chan/Heads-Up in June 2009).

    Who am I? NATHAN DOUDNEY

    • As a Long Beach State senior, I made both of my field-goal attempts in four minutes of action in 2007 NCAA playoff setback against Tennessee.
    • I am one of the first bisexual players in NCAA history to come out of the closet.
    • After trying stand-up comedy, I commenced a comedy-writing career that saw me write for shows including Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.
    • For a while, I was the only black writer on staff at the Daily Show, eventually winning two Emmys. I worked on movie called "Two Distant Strangers," earning me an Oscar for "Best Live Action Short Film," at the 2021 Academy Awards.
    • An untitled action feature I wrote (romantic spy thriller set in Africa) starring Idris Elba was purchased at auction by Apple TV+.

    Who am I? TRAVON FREE

    • I played against NFL coach-to-be Red Hickey in the 1941 NCAA Tournament.
    • I was scoreless in two West Regional defeats (against Arkansas in regional semifinal and Creighton in regional third-place game).
    • One of my teammates was eventual All-American Kenny Sailors.
    • I played in the NCAA playoffs for my beloved state of Wyoming.
    • I was host of American Sportsman and also broadcast the Super Bowl and NCAA Tournament.
    • I was a network broadcaster who worked two of the more memorable World Series on NBC (Miracle Mets' upset of Baltimore in 1969 and the seven-game Cincinnati-Boston series in 1975 that is credited with reviving baseball in the American sports consciousness).

    Who am I? CURT GOWDY

    • I missed a three-point attempt with Princeton in 2001 NCAA playoff South Regional opener against #2 seed North Carolina squad featuring eventual NFL regulars Ronald Curry and Julius Peppers.
    • Eight of my 11 career field goals for the Tigers were three-pointers.
    • I served as an infantry platoon leader in Iraq and was a leading candidate for head of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs in the Trump Administration.
    • I was CEO of Concerned Veterans for America while serving as a FOX News Channel contributor, providing analysis and commentary across FNC's daytime and prime-time programming. I subsequently became a Fox and Friends morning show co-host.
    • In mid-November 2024, I was nominated by president-elect Donald Trump to become Secretary of Defense.

    Who am I? PETE HEGSETH

    • I competed in NCAA playoffs against opponents coached by luminaries P.J. Carlesimo, Dr. Tom Davis, Cliff Ellis, Don Haskins, Dean Smith, Jerry Tarkanian and Billy Tubbs.
    • I was a member of three consecutive Arizona clubs seeded #1 or #2 in the NCAA bracket.
    • I averaged 3.9 ppg and hit 42.4% of my three-point field-goal attempts under coach Lute Olson.
    • My Final Four teammates in 1988 included Sean Elliott, Steve Kerr and eventual MLB All-Star outfielder Kenny Lofton.
    • I am one-half of the hit-making production team "The Underdogs," whose past work includes films such as Dreamgirls, The Help, Pitch Perfect 2 and blockbuster hit Straight Outta Compton.
    • I served as executive producer on the film More Than a Game - a documentary featuring NBA all-time great LeBron James.
    • I am a six-time Grammy Award-winning songwriter/music producer (with Beyonce, Chris Brown, Jennifer Hudson and Justin Timberlake) elected as chairman of The Recording Academy in June of 2019.

    Who am I? HARVEY MASON JR.

    • I scored one point against Bob Kurland-led Oklahoma A&M for Baylor's first-ever NCAA tourney team in 1946.
    • I was a C-LB who started five of 11 games with the AAFC's Baltimore Colts in 1948, returning one interception for five yards.
    • At the conclusion of a defeat against the Buffalo Bills featuring a controversial incomplete-pass call, I helped escort the head linesman away from unruly fans to the dressing room. A young son for one of the other referees at the contest was Fay Vincent, who said the mob experience impacted his crowd management when later becoming MLB Commissioner.
    • As Midland, Tex., city attorney, one of my teammates for a local businessmen football squad (called the Misfits) playing against other town clubs was George H.W. Bush, the future 41st President of the U.S. I also taught Laura Bush's mom and dad in Sunday School class at a Methodist church.
    • In 1958, I purchased a 320,000-acre ranch, a large portion of which later became Big Bend Ranch State Park.
    • I was a pall bearer for FBI founder/director J. Edgar Hoover.
    • My storied life formed the basis of a film titled "The Wheeler Dealers" starring James Garner.

    Who am I? LEN "TUFFY" McCORMICK

    • I played in same NCAA basketball tourney as eventual Congressman Scotty Baesler (Kentucky) and Dallas Cowboys defensive back Cornell Green (Utah State).
    • I was the second-leading scorer for Wake Forest's only Final Four squad (behind All-American Len Chappell).
    • I outscored Ohio State's Bob Knight 17-0 and UCLA All-American Walt Hazzard 22-15 at the 1962 Final Four.
    • After earning a spot on the All-East Regional team, I scored a total of 39 points in two Final Four games for the national third-place Demon Deacons to finish the season with a 14.1-point scoring average.
    • I hit just 1-of-10 field-goal attempts in a 97-74 victory over St. John's in the first round although Wake still became the only team to ever trail by as many as 10 points at halftime of a tournament game (46-36) and then win the contest by more than 20.
    • I was an All-ACC first-team selection as a junior in 1960-61 with Chappell and three other All-Americans (Art Heyman, York Larese and Doug Moe).
    • My son, Mark, is known as the radio host of syndicated "PrimeTime with the Packman," the most listened-to sports radio show in the Carolinas from late 1990s through next decade. Due to his fondness for college football, Mark coined the phrase "Southern Fried Football."
    • I was the color commentator at the Final Four for two different broadcast networks.

    Who am I? BILLY PACKER

    • I played in the same NCAA Tournament as eventual NFL players Ron Curry, Justin Gage, Teyo Johnson and Julius Peppers.
    • I participated in 2001 NCAA playoff victory against Hampton as a Georgetown teammate of eventual NBA players Mike Sweetney and Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje.
    • I became an Oscar-nominated cinematographer and director for my first movie, a 2018 documentary called "Hale County This Morning, This Evening."

    Who am I? RaMELL ROSS

    • I was named to All-NCAA Tournament team in 1967 and 1968 as third-leading scorer for national titlists, averaging 13.6 ppg and 4.9 rpg in eight playoff contests.
    • I was runner-up in scoring for UCLA as a sophomore in 1965-66 with 16.6 ppg before becoming a two-time All-American under coach John Wooden.
    • I am the father-in-law of actress Jessica Alba.
    • I am a television actor with numerous credits but known primarily for portraying Officer Bobby Hill on hit series Hill Street Blues.

    Who am I? MIKE WARREN

    CLERGY, MILITARY LEADERS AND POLITICIANS

    • I played in the NCAA playoffs against La Salle All-American Tom Gola.
    • I was a teammate of Canisius All-America guard John McCarthy and U.S. Congressman-to-be Hank Nowak.
    • I was the third-leading scorer (9.2 points per game) as a senior for Canisius' first NCAA Tournament team in 1955.
    • I served in the U.S. Army for 31 years, retiring with the rank of Major General.
    • I was appointed Commissioner of the New York State Office of General Services by Governor Mario Cuomo.
    • I was listed in Who's Who in America and Who's Who of American Business Leaders.

    Who am I? ROBERT ADAMS

    • I was a pre-law major who scored a total of eight points in three NCAA playoff games in 1955.
    • I was a member of Tom Gola-led La Salle teams in 1954 (national champion) and 1955 (runner-up to San Francisco).
    • I never got off the bench at the Final Four those two years although I was the only Explorer player to hit more than three-fourths of my free throws the season they won the NCAA title.
    • I joined the Central Intelligence Agency and worked my way up the chain of command to become the Director of the CIA's Office of Analysis of the Near East and South Asia, toiling closely with both the Carter and Reagan administrations.
    • I was killed in Beirut in 1983 when a truck loaded with TNT on a suicide mission rammed into the facility where I was staying while serving as a liaison trying to allay contacts among the Lebanese, Syrians and Israelis in hopes of calming the escalating discord.

    Who am I? BOB AMES

    • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as Dallas Cowboys defensive back Cornell Green (Utah State) and CBS analyst Billy Packer (Wake Forest).
    • I twice played in the NCAA playoffs against Bob Knight (Ohio State).
    • I was a Kentucky teammate of All-American Cotton Nash.
    • I played for NCAA Tournament regional runner-up teams as a sophomore and junior before pacing UK in assists my final season with 4.3 per game.
    • I was mayor of Lexington, Ky., for 10 years before representing Kentucky's Sixth District in the U.S. House of Representatives after getting more than 60 percent of the vote in 1992.
    • I am a Democrat who ran for governor in 1994 and narrowly lost against Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Bunning for a Senate seat in 1998.

    Who am I? SCOTTY BAESLER

    • I hit .315 as the first baseman for Princeton's baseball team my sophomore year.
    • Among the coaches I played against in NCAA Tournament East Regionals were Jack Ramsay, Jack Kraft, Press Maravich and Joe Mullaney.
    • I was an NCAA unanimous first-team All-American as a junior and senior and ranked among the nation's top five scorers all three of my varsity seasons.
    • I hold the NCAA playoff record for most points in a single Final Four game (58 against Wichita State in 1965 national third-place game) en route to becoming Final Four Most Outstanding Player.
    • I am a Rhodes Scholar who was a member of the gold-medal winning U.S. basketball team in the 1964 Olympic Games.
    • I was a three-term U.S. Senator (Democrat-N.J.) until 1995.
    • I was a presidential candidate in 2000 who authored two basketball books (Life on the Run in 1976 and Values of the Game in 1998).

    Who am I? BILL BRADLEY

    • I played in the 1953 NCAA Tournament against LSU All-American Bob Pettit.
    • Among my Holy Cross teammates were All-American forward Togo Palazzi and U.S. Congressman-to-be Joe Early.
    • I authored a book called Fighting for Life.
    • I was Pennsylvania's 42nd governor who served from 1987 to 1995 after winning in my fourth attempt for the office.
    • I was a heart-and-liver transplant recipient and pro-life candidate in a Democratic presidential primary.
    • I am the father of a U.S. Senator with the same name.

    Who am I? ROBERT P. CASEY

    • I contributed one field goal for North Carolina in both Final Four games in 1969 as a sophomore. One of my teammates was eventual Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany.
    • I became a part-time starter who averaged 5.9 ppg and 2.9 rpg through 1970-71 with the Tar Heels under coach Dean Smith, scoring a career-high 30 points against Clemson.
    • Following in the footsteps of my father, I became a pastor for more than 40 years, writing eight books.
    • Worship attendance at my non-denominational church (Forest Hill) increased from 180 in 1980 to a mega-church of more than 6,000 with six Charlotte-area campuses, budget of $25 million and staff of 150.
    • I presided over the wedding of former Charlotte Hornets guard Tony Bennett before he coached Washington State and subsequently Virginia to the 2019 NCAA title.
    • My son with the same name played for Rice and Valparaiso from 2010-11 through 2014-15 and founded Real Recruit, now RealResponse, a digital outlet partnering with in excess of 100 collegiate institutions and athletic organizations providing more than 50,000 athletes a safe space to deliver concerns and feedback to their administration.

    Who am I? DR. DAVID CHADWICK

    • I scored a total of 14 points in three NCAA playoff games in 1983 and 1984, including a high of six against Memphis State squad featuring All-American Keith Lee.
    • I averaged 4.1 ppg as a freshman with Utah in 1978-79 before transferring to Purdue, where I averaged 5.2 ppg for three national postseason tournament teams from 1981-82 through 1983-84 under coach Gene Keady.
    • I was a senior co-captain who made the first three-point field goal in the Boilermakers' history.
    • I was the former chief executive of a Michigan-based automobile wheel and brakes supplier after serving as President and COO of American National Can (world's largest manufacturer of beverage cans).
    • I am a Republican who served as U.S. representative for Florida's 19th congressional district from 2014 to 2017.
    • I delivered the Tea Party response to President Obama's State of the Union Address in 2015.

    Who am I? CURT CLAWSON

    • I played in the same NCAA tournament as eventual AFL/NFL players Scott Eaton, Harry Gunner and Lonnie Wright.
    • I played in the NCAA playoffs against All-American Dick Snyder.
    • I scored 19 points under former Rhode Island All-American Ernie Calverley in a first-round loss against Lefty Driesell-coached Davidson.
    • In 1971, my wife and I took over leadership of the Brooklyn Tabernacle, a small struggling congregation of some 30 people gathered in a run-down building in the inner city. It went on to become a megachurch numbering more than 10,000 members from all walks of life.
    • I was nominated for a 2002 Dove Award for Musical of the Year (Light of the Year) and had three books on the best-selling list of the national religious clothbound non-fiction books (including Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire).

    Who am I? JOE CYMBALA

    • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as open-heart surgeon Denton Cooley (Texas).
    • I was a starting junior forward for the first NCAA Tournament champion in 1939 when I led Oregon in scoring in two of three playoff contests, including a game-high 15 points in the final against Ohio State.
    • I was an NCAA consensus first-team All-American the next season when I paced the Pacific Coast Conference Northern Division (forerunner of the Pacific-10) in scoring with 183 points in 16 games.
    • I retired with the rank of Admiral after 32 years of service in the U.S. Navy.
    • I commanded the aircraft carrier Saratoga for two years and served as chief of staff for all carrier forces in the Western Pacific.

    Who am I? JOHN DICK

    • I was a Holy Cross teammate of Pennsylvania governor-to-be Robert Casey.
    • I scored six points for the Crusaders in their 81-73 East Regional final loss to Bob Pettit-led LSU in the 1953 NCAA Tournament.
    • I was a portly, rumpled cigar smoker who served in the Massachusetts state House from 1963-75.
    • I am a Democrat who was a U.S. Congressman from Massachusetts' Third Congressional District (1975-93).
    • I lost to Republican Peter Blute in the 1992 election after being tainted by 140 overdrafts in the wake of an ethics committee investigation of members who overdrew their House bank accounts.
    • By Massachusetts standards, I was a conservative who prided himself on my independence from any Democratic faction.
      I was against abortion and busing and skeptical about foreign aid but when it came to labor and domestic spending, I was a New Deal Democrat.

    Who am I? JOE EARLY

    • I played in the NCAA playoffs against All-Americans Dennis DuVal (Syracuse) and Marvin Barnes (Providence).
    • I was a Furman teammate of All-American forward Clyde Mayes.
    • I scored a total of 14 points in five East Regional games from 1973 through 1975.
    • I was an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1990, when I narrowly lost to Dan Coats.
    • I am a Democratic Congressman who was a member of the Indiana House from 1982 until succeeding retiring Lee Hamilton in the U.S. House of Representatives in a widely-watched open-seat contest in 1998.
    • After losing my House seat, I recaptured it in 2006 before losing it again in 2010.

    Who am I? BARON HILL

    • I appeared in NCAA playoffs as a junior and senior, scoring a total of 15 points in 1954 East Regional victories against Connecticut and Cornell before tallying seven in defeat against eventual titlist La Salle led by All-American Tom Gola.
    • I averaged 4.3 ppg and 4.6 rpg from 1951-52 through 1953-54 under Navy coach Ben Carnevale.
    • I had three combat tours during the Vietnam War.
    • I was Rear Admiral/Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk after serving in similar capacity of USS Kawishiwi.

    Who am I? EDWARD "NED" HOGAN

    • I played in the NCAA tourney against future major league outfielder and manager Sam Mele of NYU.
    • I was a forward-center for Georgetown's 1943 NCAA Tournament runner-up that compiled a 22-5 record.
    • I scored two points in a 53-49 victory over DePaul, a team from my Chicago hometown, and fellow freshman George Mikan in the Eastern Regional final (playoff semifinals) before going scoreless in a championship game loss to Wyoming.
    • I started out as a Democrat before becoming a 12-term Republican Congressman from Illinois and eventual chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
    • My towering stature as a lawmaker (6-3) made me the ideal GOP pointman to lead an impeachment inquiry of President Clinton, who earned his diploma from my alma mater 21 years after I did.

    Who am I? HENRY HYDE

    • I was the leading scorer in the Mountain States (Big Seven) Conference with 16.4 points per game for Colorado's 1946 NCAA Tournament team.
    • I am reputedly the first player selected in the NBA's first college draft in 1947 after enrolling at Washington and Jefferson (Pa.) to play on a 16-4 team with two of my brothers.
    • I never appeared in the then-fledgling NBA, which doesn't have any official draft records prior to 1949. The franchise that selected me, the Pittsburgh Ironmen, folded shortly after the draft, and my rights reverted to the New York Knicks.
    • I chose not to play in an uncertain situation for little money after the Knicks mailed a contract offer to me in the mail for just $3,500.
    • My son, Chris, coached American University for seven seasons from 1990-91 through 1996-97.
    • I was recalled to the military during the Korean War, where I was assigned to intelligence work for the Navy and later embarked on a civilian career that led to a job with the Central Intelligence Agency.
    • I was the CIA's deputy director under George Bush in 1976.

    Who am I? HANK KNOCHE

    • I averaged 9.1 ppg and 6.2 rpg for Seattle from 1964-65 through 1966-67.
    • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as did Green Bay Packers linebacker Fred Carr (Texas Western) and Dallas Cowboys punter Ron Widby (Tennessee) plus MLB catcher Joe Ferguson.
    • As a senior, I grabbed a team-high seven rebounds in 62-54 defeat against defending national champion Texas Western in West Regional of 1967 NCAA tourney before becoming 54th pick overall in NBA draft by the SuperSonics (nine choices ahead of 10-year veteran Dale Schlueter).
    • I was a Justice for the Supreme Court of Kings County in Brooklyn from 1996 to early 2009, presiding primarily over felony cases.
    • One of my best-know cases involved a con man who posed as film legend Sidney Poitier's son, inspiring the play "Six Degrees of Separation" and a 1994 film adaptation of the same name.
    • I was appointed as a Justice of the Appellate Division in spring of 2009.

    Who am I? PLUMMER LOTT

    • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as six-year NFL defensive back Manny Hendrix.
    • I played in the 1986 NCAA playoffs against All-Americans Rony Seikaly and Pearl Washington.
    • I scored seven points for Brown's first-ever Ivy League champion in an opening-round loss against Jim Boeheim-coached Syracuse before leading the Bears in scoring the next season with 17.3 ppg.
    • I assumed office as Rhode Island's Attorney General in January, 2003. Six weeks later, I oversaw a criminal investigation for the state after a pyrotechnics display burned a nightclub to the ground, killing 99 people and injuring 186.
    • After endorsing Barack Obama over Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2008, I competed for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2010 before bowing out.

    Who am I? PATRICK LYNCH

    • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as major league pitcher Steve Hamilton (Morehead State).
    • I played in the NCAA playoffs against North Carolina's undefeated 1957 team and All-Americans Tom Gola (La Salle), Ronnie Shavlik (N.C. State), Guy Rodgers (Temple) and Hot Rod Hundley (West Virginia).
    • I was a teammate of Canisius All-America guard John McCarthy.
    • I was the leading rebounder for the first three Canisius teams to participate in the NCAA Tournament.
    • I was the leading scorer and rebounder for one of the winningest teams in Canisius history (22-6 record in 1956-57).
    • I became a two-time NCAA Tournament All-East Regional selection (1956 and 1957) by averaging 19.4 points per game in nine NCAA playoff contests.
    • I was selected in the fourth round of 1957 NBA draft by St. Louis Hawks (Woody Sauldsberry was chosen in eighth round).
    • I am a Democrat who never received less than 75 percent of the general electorate vote while representing the Buffalo area for nine terms (1975-93) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

    Who am I? HANK NOWAK

    • I participated in the same NCAA basketball tourney as eventual NFL players Fred Carr (linebacker), Vernon Vanoy (defensive tackle) and Ron Widby (punter).
    • I contributed a field goal in Princeton's 78-58 victory against Lou Carnesecca-coached St. John's in 1967 East Regional third-place game.
    • I played for the Tigers under coaches Butch van Breda Kolff and Pete Carril.
    • My law firm was a major financial contributor to Bill Bradley's failed campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.
    • I hosted one of the first fundraisers for future President Barack Obama.
    • Obama traveled to my hometown of Jacksonville, Fla., as a groomsman in wedding of my daughter to Obama's Travel Director and confidant (Marvin Nicholson/body guy for Sen. John Kerry during his White House bid).
    • I was Democratic nominee for governor of Florida in 1986 (lost to Bob Martinez).

    Who am I? STEVE PAJCIC

    • I played in NCAA playoffs against Dayton team featuring eventual Flyers coach Don Donoher and James Paxson (eventual NBA first-round draft choice with two sons - Jim and John - who also became #1 picks).
    • I was a teammate of eventual MLB pitcher Dave Sisler on Princeton's first NCAA Tournament squad in 1952.
    • I was a Democrat who served as a member of U.S. House of Representatives from 1971 to 1977 and Maryland Senator from 1977 to 2007.
    • My son, John, held dad's old House seat.

    Who am I? PAUL SARBANES

    BUSINESSMEN, EDUCATORS AND PHYSICIANS

    • I appeared in same NCAA tourney as two eventual fourth-round picks in NFL draft as tight ends - Mickey McCarty (Texas Christian) and Carlos Bell (Houston).
    • I was a 6-5 forward who played in the NCAA playoffs against New Mexico State center Sam Lacey and guard Jimmy Collins.
    • I was Weber State's leading scorer with 14 points in the Wildcats' NCAA Tournament debut, a 68-57 defeat in the first round of 1968 West Regional against Lou Henson-coached New Mexico State.
    • I was an All-Big Sky Conference second-team selection as a senior.
    • I was on the Board of Directors of ITT.
    • I was President and Chief Executive Officer of Black & Decker.

    Who am I? NOLAN ARCHIBALD

    • I was a three-year letterman and Ohio State's second-leading scorer as a starting senior forward for a team that finished runner-up to Oregon in the inaugural NCAA Tournament in 1939.
    • I scored a game-high 25 points for the Buckeyes in their tourney opener, a 64-52 victory over Wake Forest.
    • I was managing partner and CEO of major accounting firm Ernst and Ernst for 13 years, starting in 1964.
    • I was a member of the Accounting Hall of Fame who served on the board of directors of such distinguished enterprises as General Electric, Anheuser-Busch and Hershey Foods.

    Who am I? DICK BAKER

    • I grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds for Texas A&M in a loss against Final Four-bound Drake in 1969 Midwest Regional.
    • I averaged 14.2 ppg and 7.6 rpg from 1966-67 through 1968-69 under coach Shelby Metcalf, posting career highs of 32 points against Texas and 16 rebounds against Arkansas.
    • I was a two-time All-SWC selection who led the Aggies in scoring as a senior after pacing them in FG% as a sophomore.
    • I also lettered as a defensive end in football in 1969 under coach Gene Stallings before becoming a third-round choice of the Kansas City Chiefs in 1970 NFL draft (61st pick overall and five ahead of Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl safety Charlie Waters).
    • I served as a political consultant to Texas Governor Rick Perry, who also attended A&M and was a senior yell leader.
    • I was founder of country and western nightclub Billy Bob's Texas, which was billed as the world's largest honky tonk in the spring of 1981 when opening in historic district of the Ft. Worth Stockyards with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and The Gatlin Brothers playing that opening weekend.
    • I was also involved in the entertainment-venue development of Dallas Alley, The Cat's Meow on Bourbon Street in New Orleans and The Bucket in Austin.

    Who am I? BILLY BOB BARNETT

    • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as major league pitcher Dave Sisler (Princeton).
    • I participated in the 1952 NCAA Tournament as a freshman for a St. Louis team that was eliminated by champion-to-be Kansas when Jayhawks All-American Clyde Lovellette scored 44 points.
    • I was an All-American whose career scoring average of 19.2 points per game is best in SLU history (minimum of three seasons).
    • I was a three-time All-Missouri Valley Conference first-team selection who earned a gold medal while playing for the 1956 U.S. Olympic team in Melbourne, Australia.
    • I was named president of Vickers Petroleum Corporation in 1963 at the age of 29.
    • I became the ninth president of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
    • In December 2002, I pleaded guilty in federal court in Wichita, Kan., to defrauding a bank of more than $17 million.

    Who am I? DICK BOUSHKA

    • I played in the same NCAA tourney as MLB reliever Steve Hamilton (Morehead State) and U.S. Congressman Hank Nowak (Canisius).
    • I played in 1957 NCAA playoffs against SMU All-American center Jim Krebs.
    • I was a St. Louis University teammate of future NBA center and executive Bob Ferry.
    • I was a 6-5, 190-pound forward who led SLU in rebounding with 14.9 per game as a sophomore (19th in nation in rebound percentage) and retrieved a team-high 18 missed shots in two 1957 NCAA playoff games.
    • I was listed in Who's Who in America.
    • I was president of Coppin State in Baltimore in 1997 when the Eagles upset No. 2 seed South Carolina in the East Regional.

    Who am I? DR. CALVIN W. BURNETT

    • I scored three points in a 74-59 East Regional final defeat against Satch Sanders-led NYU in 1960.
    • I wrote a book about that Vic Bubas-coached Duke team called "These Devils Wore Blue" (school's first ACC championship club).
    • I am a cardiologist who was one of the team doctors for the Atlanta Braves for more than 40 years and served as president of MLB team physicians.
    • My interest in adventure travel has taken me and my family to all seven continents, including a trek to the Mt. Everest base camp, a hike on the Inca trail and a search for Noah's Ark on Mount Ararat.
    • I served as the chief medical officer for the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 overseeing the health care of 10,000 athletes and more than 1.5 million spectators.

    Who am I? DR. JOHN CANTWELL

    • I grabbed a team-high 14 rebounds for TCU in 1968 when the Horned Frogs lost to Elvin Hayes-led Houston in the Midwest Regional final.
    • I was the first African-American to play in the Southwest Conference.
    • I was an All-SWC second-team selection as a junior when TCU won the league championship.
    • I became the first black-tenured professor at Harvard in 1976.
    • I was named chairman of the Harvard Business School MBA program in 1992.

    Who am I? JAMES CASH

    • I played in the NCAA playoffs against West Virginia's Gale Catlett.
    • I was a Connecticut teammate of future NBA center Toby Kimball.
    • I was a 5-9, 150-pound guard who scored as many points (17) as NCAA consensus second-team All-American Rod Thorn in the Huskies' 77-71 first-round setback against West Virginia in 1963.
    • I was an All-Yankee Conference second-team selection as a senior when three of my teammates were first-team picks.
    • I earned more than $1 million per year as Executive Vice President of ITT, a conglomerate with global sales in excess of $23 billion specializing in diversified products and services in three areas--financial and business, manufactured products and Sheraton Hotels.

    Who am I? DALE COMEY

    • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as Admiral John Dick (Oregon).
    • I was a three-year letterman from 1938-39 through 1940-41 on Texas teams combining for a 51-21 record.
    • I saw action in both of the Longhorns' games in inaugural NCAA Tournament in 1939 after they captured the Southwest Conference championship.
    • I was a world-famous surgeon based in Houston who performed in excess of 20,000 open-heart operations.

    Who am I? DR. DENTON COOLEY

    • I was a member of Providence team reaching 1997 Southeast Regional final, playing at the end of a 22-point, opening-round victory against Marquette.
    • I was a walk-on who collected five points and four rebounds in 17 games with the Friars from 1995-96 through 1997-98 under coach Pete Gillen.
    • I was named NBC Sports' president in fall of 2023, overseeing all business linked to NBC Sports, NBCU's Olympics broadcasts, the Golf Channel and NBC Sports' digital operations.
    • I previously was enmeshed in developing streaming products for NBC Universal.

    Who am I? RICK CORDELLA

    • I scored a total of 12 points for Connecticut in three NCAA playoff contests from 1957 through 1959.
    • Prior to 1962, the FBI had no African-American special agents who attended the FBI Academy. I was among four blacks breaking through the color barrier.
    • I headed up the investigation into the May 1980 attempted assassination of Vernon Jordan, then-president of the National Urban League.
    • I was one of the FBI's earliest black executives (25-year career included supervisory role in Indianapolis, Detroit and Philadelphia).

    Who am I? WAYNE DAVIS

    • I played in same 1992 Southeast Regional as eventual NFL first-round draft choice Rickey Dudley (tight end from Ohio State).
    • I was third-leading scorer for Mike Montgomery-coached Stanford team spearheaded by All-American Adam Keefe. My 12 points were in vain as we lost playoff opener against Alabama.
    • I have held several director's positions for Seattle-based Starbucks including Urban Markets.
    • I was product manager in 2003 when leading the development of Pumpkin Spice Latte, which became the company's most popular seasonal beverage.

    Who am I? PETER DUKES

    • I played in 1952 NCAA playoffs, scoring six points in East Regional third-place game defeat against Dayton.
    • I averaged 3.1 ppg with Princeton from 1949-50 through 1951-52.
    • Following military service, I joined McGraw-Hill Publishing, eventually becoming president of the periodical division before resigning suddenly early in 1976.
    • I subsequently joined Macmillan and American Business Press, retiring in 1995.

    Who am I? JOHN EMERY

    • I appeared in 1951 NCAA playoffs as a Columbia sophomore, scoring two points in loss against Final Four-bound Illinois.
    • I was a newspaper executive at Hearst Corporation and former publisher of the San Francisco Examiner (succeeded William Randolph Hearst III), The Denver Post, Dallas Times Herald, plus president of USA Today and Detroit Free Press.
    • My final journalism article was published in the Examiner about the 1999 John F. Kennedy Jr. plane crash in which I drew upon my own experiences as a licensed pilot commuting summer weekends from New York City to Martha's Vineyard.

    Who am I? LEE GUITTAR

  • I played in the same NCAA Tournament as eventual major league second baseman Jerry Adair and NFL quarterback Joe Kapp.
  • I collected 7 points and 7 rebounds in Boston College's NCAA playoff debut, an 86-63 defeat against Maryland in the 1958 East Regional.
  • I was BC's senior captain in 1957-58, averaging 12.5 ppg and 5.9 rpg.
  • I was a Navy SEAL who created the New England Sports Network, which was one of the first successful cable channels.
  • I was Executive Director and Trustee of the Yawkey Foundation and Boston Red Sox CEO in January 2002 when spearheading the selling of the Red Sox to a consortium led by former Florida Marlins owner John Henry for $660 million, doubling the previous record price for a pro baseball franchise.

    • Who am I? JACK HARRINGTON

    • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as major league outfielder Dave Winfield (Minnesota).
    • I participated in three consecutive Final Fours for NCAA championship teams under legendary coach John Wooden.
    • My UCLA teammates included five All-Americans - Henry Bibby, Curtis Rowe, John Vallely, Bill Walton and Sidney Wicks.
    • I scored 10 points as a senior against Weber State in the 1972 West Regional semifinals before scoring six points against Denny Crum-coached Louisville in the national semifinals.
    • I am author of a book titled with one of Wooden's most famous quotes: "Be Quick - But Don't Hurry."
    • As president of CBS Productions from 1991 to 1996, I was responsible for the development and production of such successful prime time programming as Touched by an Angel, Walker Texas Ranger, Rescue 911, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman and Dave's World.
    • After CBS Entertainment President Leslie Moonves refused to release me from contract to join MCA Inc., I became president of programming for Channel One News from 1997 until 2000.

    Who am I? ANDY HILL

    • I played one minute in 2000 NCAA tourney final for championship club, missing lone field-goal attempt.
    • I also played one minute in Final Four the following year for Michigan State.
    • I was a walk-on who collected 28 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists in 48 games from 1999-00 through 2001-02 under coach Tom Izzo.
    • I am Chairman, President and CEO of Pontiac, Mich.-based United Wholes Mortgage, the second-largest mortgage lender in the U.S.
    • After taking company public in September of 2020, its value increased to in excess of $16 billion, making me one of the 25 richest people in the country.
    • I received distinction of ringing the bell on New York Stock Exchange the first day of said trading.
    • I committed to donating an individual record $32 million to my alma mater's athletic department in 2021.

    Who am I? MAT ISHBIA

    • I played in the NCAA playoffs against future college and NBA head coaches Mike Dunleavy (South Carolina), Larry Farmer (UCLA), Lon Kruger (Kansas State) and Brian Winters (South Carolina).
    • I was a Memphis State teammate of All-Americans Larry Finch and Larry Kenon.
    • I was a 5-10 guard who averaged 3.9 points per game for the Tigers' team that lost to UCLA's Walton Gang in the 1973 NCAA Tournament final.
    • I breed and train horses at Crown Center Farms, south of Columbia, Mo.
    • I presented Missouri with the largest single, private gift in the school's history - $10 million, which was earmarked as seed money for a new 17,000-seat, $50 million arena.
    • My wife, Nancy, is the daughter of the late Bud Walton and niece of the late Sam Walton, the brothers who founded Wal-Mart. My wife and I owned the NHL's St. Louis Blues and the Kiel Center arena in St. Louis.
    • I had two deals fall through while trying to purchase NBA franchises (Denver Nuggets and Vancouver Grizzlies) before courting the Charlotte Hornets.
    • I was named to the state of Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.

    Who am I? BILL LAURIE

    • I scored 12 points for Yale in overtime loss against Final Four-bound Wake Forest in 1962 East Regional.
    • I was an All-Ivy League second-team selection in 1962-63 and 1963-64 who averaged 13.1 ppg and 4.1 rpg in three-year varsity career under coach Joe Vancisin.
    • I was captain of 1964 college tennis team and Yale-Harvard squad playing Oxford-Cambridge in the Prentice Cup Matches that year.
    • Longtime singles and doubles champion of the Seabright Lawn Tennis Cricket Club, the Asbury Park Press voted me second-best player in history of Jersey Shore tennis in 2000.
    • I was a VP at Smith, Barney & Co. before co-founding Lynch & Mayer, a large-cap investment advisory group with approximately $6 billion in assets in 1996.

    Who am I? DENNIS LYNCH

    • I was a 6-0 All-American forward as a junior for Dartmouth.
    • I was the leading scorer for the 1942 NCAA Tournament runner-up (22-4 record) and averaged 12.6 points in seven NCAA Tournament games from 1941 through 1943.
    • I was a trustee and chairman of the Finance Committee of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.
    • I had a 29-year career as an executive (vice president in 1962, president/director in 1966, CEO in 1969 and chair/CEO from 1975-87) with the Phelps Dodge Corp., a Fortune 500 company and the nation's leading copper producer.

    Who am I? GEORGE MUNROE

    • I participated in NCAA playoffs same year as eventual Olympic high jump gold medalist Walter "Buddy" Davis (Texas A&M), Hearst Corporation newspaper executive Lee Guittar (Columbia) and Pro Bowl split end Billy Wilson (San Jose State).
    • I collected eight points and four rebounds in a two-point defeat against eventual 1951 national runner-up Kansas State.
    • I was a juco recruit who averaged 9.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 3 apg as All-Border Conference second-team selection for Arizona's first NCAA tourney team.
    • My company thrived in Las Vegas, constructing the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in the late 1980s before doing earnest business in Sin City working on the Holiday Casino expansion, Flamingo Hilton and Holiday Riverboat. Later, my firm rehabbed the Tropicana Hotel, MGM Grand Hotel & Casino and Boulder Station Hotel & Casino before building the Texas Gambling Hall, Arizona Charlie's Casino and Hard Rock Cafe Hotel.
    • I was founder of an Arizona-based steel company with my last name that was one of the nation's largest and most experienced structural steel fabricators (atop steel erector company rankings in 1995 Top 600 Specialty Contractors List).

    Who am I? DAVE SCHNUFF

    • One of my teammates, George Stanich, was a bronze medalist in the high jump in the 1948 Olympics.
    • I scored 11 points in UCLA's first-ever NCAA Tournament game (73-59 setback against Bradley in 1950) before scoring a team-high 21 points in an 83-62 loss to Brigham Young in the Western Regional third-place contest.
    • I was an All-PCC South Division selection as a senior when averaging 10.4 ppg as team captain for coach John Wooden.
    • I opened the first Polly's Pie Restaurant in 1968 with my brother.
    • I am a restauranteur who was the largest holder of Kentucky Fried Chicken and Anaheim-based Polly's Pies franchises in the country, operating as many as 15 KFCs and 13 Polly's in Southern California.

    Who am I? EDDIE SHELDRAKE

    SECONDARY SPORTS

    • I averaged 19 points and 5.2 rebounds in five NCAA tourney games with Arizona from 2007 through 2009.
    • My three NCAA playoff defeats came against celebrated coaches Matt Painter, Bob Huggins and Rick Pitino.
    • I was Pacific-10 Conference Rookie of the Year before becoming a two-time all-league selection.
    • I averaged 17 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.8 apg and 1.3 spg with the Wildcats before declaring as an undergraduate (after junior year) for the NBA draft.
    • Devin Booker, a 2024 U.S. hoops Olympian, was a Phoenix Suns rookie teammate of mine in my final NBA campaign in 2015-16.
    • I joined the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) in 2018 and promptly earned Rookie of the Year plus Most Improved Player awards, winning first AVP crown in 2019.
    • My older sister and brother also played professional volleyball.
    • I am the first individual to play in the NBA (seven seasons) and compete in an Olympic beach volleyball match (reached round of 16 in 2024 Paris Games).

    Who am I? CHASE BUDINGER

    • I played in two NCAA tourney games in 2012, collecting three points and three rebounds in Midwest Regional defeat against #1 seed North Carolina.
    • I was an occasional starting center who averaged 2.8 ppg and 2 rpg for Vermont from 2009-10 through 2012-13.
    • I took up professional wrestling in 2019 after dabbling at Australian Rules Football.
    • I boast the stage name of "Big Trouble" Ben Bishop.

    Who am I? BEN CRENCA

    • I played in the same NCAA basketball tourney as Pro Bowl split end Billy Wilson (San Jose State).
    • I played in the 1951 NCAA Tournament against Washington All-American Bob Houbregs when Texas A&M made its first playoff appearance.
    • I was a two-time first-five selection on the All-Southwest Conference team and held school season (362 points) and career (952 points) scoring records when I graduated in 1952.
    • I was named to the Helms Foundation All-American third team as a junior before becoming a member of two NBA championship teams - Philadelphia Warriors in 1956 and St. Louis Hawks in 1958.
    • I won AAU high jump titles in 1952 and 1953.
    • I was winner of the gold medal in the 1952 Olympic Games high jump with a leap of 6'-8 1/2".
    • I set the then-world high jump record of 6'-11 1/2" in 1953.

    Who am I? WALTER "BUDDY" DAVIS

    • As senior captain, I scored a game-high 23 points for Princeton in 1952 East Regional reversal against Duquesne.
    • I was a prominent tennis player who never lost a singles or doubles match in three years of varsity tennis.
    • I played in two U.S. Nationals (now called U.S. Open) in the early 1950s.
    • My most impressive tennis moment came when entering the 1966 Western Tennis Championship in Indianapolis as a 36-year-old businessman. My first-round opponent and victim was 21-year-old Puerto Rican phenom Charles Pasarell (just off reaching Wimbledon quarterfinals) as I won in two sets (6-2, 9-7).
    • I held 11 Indiana state open singles titles and later claimed numerous national seniors crowns.
    • My brother, Stephen, is a former director of professional tennis for the U.S. Tennis Association and tournament director for the U.S. Open.
    • I was a co-founder of the ABA's Indiana Pacers.

    Who am I? LESLIE "CHUCK" DeVOE

    • I was a 6-4 forward who played briefly for Kansas State under coach Lon Kruger in 1989 NCAA playoff loss against Minnesota.
    • Prior to attending K-State, I hit the game-winning basket for Hutchinson (Kan.) in 1988 NJCAA Tournament final.
    • My wife, Suzie, became coach of women's volleyball team for my Manhattan-based alma mater.
    • I was a decathlete who placed runner-up to Jim O'Brien in the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1996 before finishing fourth at the Olympics in Atlanta.
    • I won the Big Eight Conference decathlon title in 1989 and 1990 prior to finishing runner-up in 1994 Goodwill Games at St. Petersburg, Russia.

    Who am I? STEVE FRITZ

    • I played in same NCAA tourney as eventual MLB players Billy Cowan (Utah), Paul Popovich (West Virginia) and Rollie Sheldon (Connecticut).
    • I scored 12 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds for Idaho State in 1960 West Regional defeat against eventual national runner-up California.
    • I averaged 12.2 ppg and 7.5 rpg with New Mexico in 1956-57 and 1957-58 (runner-up in scoring and rebounding averages both seasons) before transferring to ISU, where I averaged a team-high 16.4 ppg in 1959-60.
    • I won Seniors World Championship Steer Roper titles in 1992, 1998 and 2000.

    Who am I? MYRL GOODWIN

    • I am a foreigner who participated in NCAA playoffs each of my first three seasons for New Mexico, averaging 5.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 2 apg in four tourney contests.
    • I averaged 7.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 2.9 apg in my career with the Lobos from 2011-12 through 2014-15 under coaches Steve Alford and Craig Neal.
    • I scored a career-high 24 points against Boston College.
    • I have been an Australian Rules Football player in my native country since 2017.
    • I am an inside midfielder who led the AFL in total tackles and tackles per game in 2020.

    Who am I? HUGH GREENWOOD

    • I scored a field goal in the 1998 NCAA playoffs for a #1 seed in South Regional opener before later playing against Jim Boeheim-coached Syracuse in Sweet 16.
    • I was a 5-9, 155-pound walk-on point guard from Massachusetts who played in four seasons for Duke from 1995-96 through half of the 1998-99 campaign under coach Mike Krzyzewski.
    • I was a four-time All-ACC soccer selection, tallying 45 goals during my college career.
    • I earned the Missouri Athletic Club Sports Foundation Collegiate Men's Soccer Player of the Year Award.
    • I was a first-team All-American before becoming the No. 2 pick in 1999 Major League Soccer (MLS) college draft.
    • I became the league's rookie of the year with the Miami Fusion before winning Defender of the Year in 2009 for the New England Revolution.
    • I coached the Revolution from 2011 to 2017 before serving as president and general manager of Birmingham Legion FC.

    Who am I? JOHN "JAY" HEAPS

    • I led UCLA in scoring in two seasons under coach John Wooden, including his second NCAA tourney team in 1952.
    • I was an All-PCC South Division first-team selection as a senior in 1953-54.
    • I helped the Bruins' tennis squad win PCC titles from 1952 through 1954.
    • I joined fellow tennis co-captain Bob Perry to capture the NCAA doubles crown in 1954.

    Who am I? C. "RON" LIVINGSTON

    • I played in the NCAA playoffs against Notre Dame (Kelly Tripucka, Orlando Woolridge, Bill Hanzlik and Bill Laimbeer) and Maryland (Albert King and Buck Williams).
    • I was a Tennessee teammate of All-Americans Reggie Johnson and Dale Ellis.
    • I collected a total of 19 points and 14 rebounds in just 36 minutes in four NCAA Tournament games in 1979 and 1980.
    • I am one of the most popular figures in recent wrestling history who quietly began my career in 1990 as a WCW undercard wrestler, including billing as Oz (dressed in green cape and claimed to be "great and powerful") and Vinnie Vegas (wise guy in a pink suit and sunglasses).
    • I am a former bouncer who went from a hanger-on to a 6-10, 350-pound hero in about seven months. My pin of Bob Backlund completed an unprecedented trifecta, giving me the WWF World tag team title, International title, and World title in the same calendar year.
    • I was known as "Diesel" when I won the World Wrestling Federation championship in a record-setting eight-second bout in 1994.

    Who am I? KEVIN NASH

    • I was a Drake teammate of Willie McCarter and Willie Wise.
    • I blocked one of UCLA star Lew Alcindor's shots in the Bulldogs' 85-82 defeat in the 1969 national semifinals.
    • I outscored ex-Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany and former Wichita State/Vanderbilt/South Carolina coach Eddie Fogler, 11-9, in the national third-place game when they were North Carolina teammates.
    • I won the decathlon title at the 1971 Pan American Games, 1971 National AAU meet and 1970 NCAA meet.

    Who am I? RICK WANAMAKER

    • I played in the same NCAA tourney as Washington's Reggie Rogers, an All-American defensive tackle and NFL first-round draft choice of the Detroit Lions.
    • I scored a team-high 17 points for San Diego in a 65-56 loss to Pete Carril-coached Princeton in the preliminary round of the 1984 NCAA Tournament.
    • I set a school DI single-game scoring record with 37 points at Loyola Marymount in 1982-83.
    • I was an All-WCAC selection as a junior and senior.
    • I was a fifth-round draft choice of the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1984 NBA draft.
    • I joined Miller Lite/AVP Professional Beach Volleyball Tour in 1989, when I was rookie of the year.
    • I aligned with Mike Dodd in 1993 and we subsequently became one of the premier pairs on the volleyball tour before earning a silver medal in the 1996 Olympics when two-man beach volleyball made its debut.

    Who am I? MIKE WHITMARSH

    Second to None: First For Knowledge About NCAA Tourney Groundbreakers

    March 16th, 2024 - 20:40

    Iowa State became the first school to earn a seed as high as #2 after going winless in conference competition only three years earlier (0-18 in in 2020-21). Any time you're the first to do something, it's a thrill. Truism is especially accurate when it comes to the following achievements in the NCAA playoffs:

    • The first NCAA Tournament game was on March 17, 1939, when Villanova defeated Brown, 42-30, in Philadelphia.
    • The first player and only one in first 11 years of the event to score more than 30 points in a playoff game was North Carolina's George Glamack, who supplied 31 points in a 60-59 loss against Dartmouth in the 1941 East Regional third-place game.
    • Kentucky's first game in an NCAA Tournament resulted in a 46-44 triumph against Big Ten Conference champion Illinois in 1942.
    • DePaul's Ray Meyer became the first individual to reach the national semifinals in his initial season as a head coach in 1942-43.
    • In 1944, Dartmouth became the first school to participate in four consecutive NCAA tourneys. The Big Green won at least one playoff game each of those years.
    • The first time two members of the same league earned invitations to the NCAA playoffs occurred when Iowa State and Missouri of the Big Six Conference competed in the 1944 Western Regional.
    • Oklahoma A&M, which won the Cotton Bowl, became the first school to win a football bowl game and the NCAA basketball tournament in the same academic year (1945).
    • Oklahoma A&M was the NCAA's first repeat national champion (1945 and 1946).
    • The only one of the first 18 NCAA playoffs through 1956 where North Carolina won a tourney game came in 1946.
    • George Kaftan, a forward-center with an 11.1-point average for Holy Cross' 1947 NCAA champion, became the first player to score 30 points in a Final Four game (60-45 victory over CCNY in East Regional final before tossing in a team-high 18 in 58-47 triumph over Oklahoma in national final).
    • In 1947, Navy's Ben Carnevale became the first coach to guide two different schools to the NCAA playoffs in back-to-back seasons. He directed North Carolina to the 1946 championship game.
    • In 1948, Michigan's Ozzie Cowles became the initial coach to direct two different schools to the NCAA playoffs for the first time. He guided Dartmouth to its initial tourney appearance in 1941.
    • In 1949, Wyoming's John Pilch became the first and only All-American to go winless in more than three NCAA Tournament games (0-6).
    • In 1950, CCNY was the first NCAA champion to have black players in its starting lineup - Floyd Layne and Ed Warner.
    • UCLA made its first NCAA playoff appearance in 1950. The Bruins lost their initial tourney game (73-59 decision against Bradley).
    • The first year of automatic qualification was in 1951.
    • In 1952, North Carolina State finished in second place in the Southern Conference but won the league postseason tournament to become the first automatic qualifier for the NCAA playoffs instead of the regular-season champion.
    • In 1952, St. Louis' Eddie Hickey became the first coach to direct two different schools to NCAA playoff victories in their initial tourney appearances. He guided Creighton to the 1941 NCAA Tournament.
    • In 1952, Elmer Gross became the first individual to coach his alma mater in the NCAA playoffs after playing in the tourney (Penn State in 1942).
    • Games were televised regionally for the first time in 1952.
    • The first player to reach the 40-point barrier in a playoff game was Kansas' Clyde Lovellette, who supplied 44 points in a 74-55 triumph against St. Louis in one of the two 1952 West Regional finals.
    • Branch McCracken is the first and only NCAA consensus first-team All-American (1930) to later coach his alma mater to an NCAA championship (1953).
    • In 1953, Kansas' B.J. Born became the first Final Four Most Outstanding Player not to play for the national champion.
    • The first championship game televised nationally in 1954 was for a broadcast rights fee of $7,500.
    • San Francisco was the first team to start three African-American players in a championship game (1955).
    • In 1955, Bradley (7-19) became the only school to enter the tourney with a won-loss record more than than 10 games below .500.
    • In 1955, Oklahoma City's Gerald Bullard became the first player to appear in four consecutive NCAA Tournaments. He scored a total of seven points in five playoff games.
    • In a 1955 West Regional third-place game, Utah became the first school to reach triple digits in a playoff contest by defeating Seattle, 108-85.
    • In 1956, San Francisco became the first undefeated champion in NCAA history.
    • In 1956, UCLA posted its only NCAA Tournament triumph in coach John Wooden's first 13 years as coach of the Bruins (94-70 over Seattle in Far West Regional third-place game). Later, Wooden won 10 NCAA championships in a 12-year span including record seven in a row.
    • Temple's Fred Cohen became the first player to grab at least 25 rebounds in a tourney game by retrieving 34 missed shots in 1956 East Regional semifinals against Connecticut.
    • In 1957, North Carolina's Frank McGuire became the first coach to take two different schools to the NCAA championship game. He guided St. John's to a second-place finish in 1952.
    • In 1957, Oklahoma City became the first school to participate in six consecutive NCAA playoffs.
    • The first player to reach the 50-point barrier in a playoff contest was Cincinnati's Oscar Robertson, who supplied 56 points in a 97-62 triumph against Arkansas in 1958 Midwest Regional third-place game.
    • Kentucky clobbered Marquette, 98-69, in the 1959 Mideast Regional consolation game to become first school to post at least one victory in five consecutive NCAA Tournaments.
    • In 1959, Navy's Ben Carnevale became the first coach to oppose a school in the tourney he previously guided to the playoffs (2-1 mark with North Carolina in 1946).
    • In 1960, Idaho State became the only school to make as many as eight consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from the year it participated in event for first time.
    • Duke posted its first NCAA tourney victory in 1960 after going winless in the first 21 years of the event.
    • In 1962, Cincinnati's Ed Jucker became the only individual to win an NCAA title in his first two seasons as head coach for a major university.
    • Ohio State became the first school to reach the Final Four three consecutive years on two separate occasions (1944 through 1946 and 1960 through 1962).
    • In 1962, Wake Forest became the only school to win back-to-back tourney games by double-digit margins in overtime (10-point victory against Yale and 11-point triumph against St. Joseph's in East Regional).
    • Loyola of Chicago was the first team to defeat an opponent by at least 50 points in a tournament game (111-42 over Tennessee Tech in first round of 1963 Mideast Regional).
    • In 1966, Texas Western became the first school with an all-black starting lineup, despite three of them 6-1 or shorter, to win the NCAA championship. The Miners stunned top-ranked and all-white Kentucky, 72-65.
    • Notre Dame guard Austin Carr became the only player to score more than 60 points in a single playoff game (61 against Ohio University in first round of 1970 Southeast Regional). The only playoff game in history when each squad supplied a player scoring more than 40 points was Kentucky (Dan Issel 44) beating Notre Dame (Carr 52) in 1970 regional semifinals.
    • Dwight "Bo" Lamar collected 35 points and a tourney-high 11 assists and Roy Ebron contributed 33 points and 20 rebounds in Division I newcomer Southwestern Louisiana's 112-101 victory over Marshall in the opening round of 1972 Midwest Regional when the Ragin' Cajuns scored the most points in tourney history for a school in its first playoff game.
    • In 1972, Hawaii coach Ephraim "Red" Rocha became the only individual to play and coach in both the NCAA and NBA playoffs. Rocha played for Oregon State in the 1947 NCAA Tournament before appearing in 39 NBA playoff games (including '56 champion Syracuse Nationals) and coaching the Detroit Pistons in the 1959 NBA playoffs.
    • In 1974, the NCAA Tournament bracket rotation changes for the first time, eliminating East vs. West bracketing in effect since the event's inception.
    • A 32-team bracket is adopted for the 1975 NCAA Tournament allowing teams other than the conference champion to be chosen on an at-large basis from same league for first time.
    • Syracuse, the first and only school to play in as many as three overtime games in a single tournament, reached the 1975 Final Four for the only time in first 47 years of NCAA playoffs.
    • The 1976 championship game pitting unbeaten Indiana against Michigan was the first intra-conference matchup in NCAA playoff history.
    • Fred Snowden-coached Arizona opposed John Thompson Jr.-coached Georgetown in 1976 West Regional first round in the first NCAA playoff game where both coaches were African-Americans. Snowden defeated Thompson to earn distinction as initial black coach to win an NCAA playoff contest.
    • In 1979, California became the only state to have at least five schools represented in a single tourney before the field expanded to at least 48 teams (Pacific, Pepperdine, San Francisco, Southern California and UCLA). USC became the first power-conference member in the seeding era to go from winless in league competition (0-14 in 1975-76) to participate in the tourney in fewer than four years.
    • In 1979, DePaul forward Mark Aguirre became the first freshman named to an NCAA All-Tournament team.
    • In 1981, the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), a computer ranking system, was used for the first time as an aid in evaluating teams for at-large selections and seeding.
    • In 1983, North Carolina State became the first titlist with a double-digit defeat total.
    • In 1984, Georgetown's John Thompson Jr. became the first and only person to play for an NBA championship team (Boston Celtics '65) before coaching an NCAA titlist. He was the first African-American mentor to guide his team to the title. Two years earlier, Thompson had become the first black coach to advance his club to the Final Four.
    • In 1985, Villanova became the first title team to have a coach with a son on his roster, although guard R.C. Massimino played sparingly under his father (Rollie).
    • In 1987, Indiana became the first school to win an NCAA championship in four different decades (previous titles were in 1940, 1953 and 1976).
    • In 1987, Florida's 82-70 first-round victory over North Carolina State enabled Norman Sloan to become the first coach to post an NCAA playoff victory against a school he previously guided to the national title. Sloan directed the Wolfpack to the 1974 crown. The Gators were appearing the tourney for the first time.
    • The ACC became the first league to have two Final Four teams in back-to-back seasons - 1990 (Duke and Georgia Tech) and 1991 (Duke and North Carolina).
    • In 1991, Duke forward Greg Koubek became the first player to participate in four Final Fours.
    • In 1991, North Carolina's Dean Smith became the first coach to direct teams to Final Fours in four different decades.
    • In 1993, Dean Smith became the first coach in NCAA Tournament history to reach the 50-win plateau in playoff competition when he raised his record of playoff appearances to 23 and North Carolina won its opening game for the 13th consecutive year.
    • Nolan Richardson Jr. became the only coach to win national championships in junior college (1980 with Western Texas), the NIT (1981 with Tulsa) and the NCAA (1994 with Arkansas).
    • In 1994, Arkansas celebrated its third season in SEC by becoming the first league member other than Kentucky to win a Final Four game.
    • In 1994, Skip Prosser of Loyola (Md.) became the only active coach to engineer a turnaround including an NCAA playoff appearance in his first full year at a new job although the school registered a record of more than 20 games below .500 the previous season. The Greyhounds, 2-25 in 1992-93, improved by 13 1/2 games when Prosser assumed control and compiled a 17-13 mark.
    • Gary Williams, leading Maryland to the 1994 Midwest Regional semifinals, became the only individual to win games while coaching schools from the three conferences with the best winning percentages in NCAA Tournament history reflecting actual membership - ACC, Big East and Big Ten. He is also the only coach to win games with as many as three different schools (Boston College, Maryland and Ohio State) although they were seeded ninth or worse.
    • In 1994, Duke's Mike Krzyzewski became the only coach to win his first seven NCAA regional finals.
    • In 1995, the Big Ten Conference didn't have a representative among the Sweet 16 for the first time since the NCAA field expanded to at least 16 entrants in 1951.
    • In 1996, first-year Georgia mentor Tubby Smith became the only coach to guide three consecutive clubs to regional semifinals despite failing to be accorded a top four seed during the span. His two previous tourney teams were with Tulsa.
    • In 1996, San Jose State's Stan Morrison became the only coach to guide three different schools to the NCAA playoffs but never post a 20-win season. He previously coached Pacific and Southern California.
    • In 1997, Arizona's Mike Bibby became the first freshman point guard to lead a team to a crown since the NCAA made freshmen eligible in the 1972-73 campaign.
    • In 1998, Kentucky's Tubby Smith became the first coach to win an NCAA title only two years after his predecessor (Rick Pitino) achieved the feat.
    • Texas' turnaround in 1998-99 (19-13 record after going 14-17 in 1997-98 under Tom Penders) enabled Rick Barnes to become the only active coach to guide two different schools to the NCAA playoffs in his maiden voyage with them after they posted a losing mark the previous campaign. He previously achieved the feat with Providence in the late 1980s.
    • In 1999, Connecticut's Jim Calhoun became the first coach to make more than a dozen NCAA playoff appearances before reaching the Final Four.
    • In 2001, Duke became the first school in history to earn a No. 1 seed in four consecutive years and Gonzaga became the first school to advance to regional semifinals three consecutive years despite having a double-digit seed each time.
    • In 2002, Missouri became the first #12 seed to reach the Elite Eight. Mizzou became the first school to appear in the NCAA Tournament at least 20 times and never reach the Final Four.
    • In 2002, the state of California set a record with as many as seven different entrants (Cal, UC Santa Barbara, Pepperdine, San Diego State, Southern California, Stanford and UCLA).
    • In 2005, Rick Pitino became the first coach to guide three different schools to the Final Four after directing Providence, Kentucky and Louisville to the Promised Land.
    • In 2008, Coppin State (16-20) became the first school entering the tourney with as many as 20 defeats. Liberty (15-20) matched the setback total five years later.
    • UMBC became the first #16 seed to defeat a #1 seed (74-54 over Virginia in 2018). This year also marked the first time four schools entered a single tourney with at least 15 defeats - Alabama (19-15), LIU (18-16), North Carolina Central (19-15) and Texas Southern (15-19).
    • In 2022, Mike Krzyzewski became the first coach to reach 100-win plateau in playoff history and broke tie with John Wooden to set record for most Final Four appearances with 13.
    • In 2022, Iowa State became the first school to reach the Sweet 16 the year after going winless in a power conference (0-18 in Big 12 in 2020-21).
    • In 2022, Big Ten became the first conference securing at least nine entrants in single tournament and have none of them advance to a regional final.
    • In 2022, Jim Larranaga of #10 seed Miami (Fla.) became the first coach to direct two different programs with double-digit seeds to a regional final. He guided #11 George Mason to 2006 Final Four.

    Great Expectations: Coach K Failed Posting 1st NCAA Tourney Win 'Til Year 10

    March 16th, 2024 - 13:16

    Not everyone is like Tobin Anderson, who won his initial NCAA playoff contest as Fairleigh Dickinson's first-year coach a year ago before switching to Iona after Rick Pitino left for St. John's. Unrealistic expectations spread like a virus across the country when a young pup such as Brad Stevens becomes a big dawg by winning 11 NCAA Tournament games in his first four seasons coaching mid-major Butler before departing for the NBA's Boston Celtics at the conclusion of the 2012-13 campaign. But many school administrations and boosters, unaware that UCLA legend John Wooden notched only one tourney triumph in his first 13 years with the Bruins, need to exercise a little patience in this era of instant gratification.

    As a misguided media surveys landscape seeking another overnight success, they need to take a cue from ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg, who is deemed an expert after winning a grand total of one NCAA playoff game in 22 years as a DI head coach. While ESPN canonizes coaches to secure exclusive interviews and extensive foundation donations, it should be pointed out power-league luminaries John Beilein (formerly West Virginia and Michigan), Tony Bennett (Virginia), Jim Boeheim (formerly Syracuse), Mike Brey (formerly Notre Dame), Tom Izzo (Michigan State), Lon Kruger (formerly Kansas State, Florida, Illinois and Oklahoma), Mike Krzyzsewski, (formerly Duke), Matt Painter (Purdue), Bill Self (Kansas) and Jay Wright (formerly Villanova) combined to lose in the NCAA playoffs this century against mid-majors Bradley, Bucknell, FDU, George Mason, Lehigh, Maryland-Baltimore County, Mercer, Middle Tennessee State, Nevada, North Dakota State, Ohio University, Old Dominion, Rhode Island, Saint Mary's, Vermont, VCU, Wichita State and Winthrop. Some Purdue fans are annoyed Painter didn't reach the Final Four in his first 17 opportunities (no national tourney in 2020 because of COVID pandemic), but elite bench bosses Pete Carril, Marv Harshman and Mike Montgomery didn't even win an NCAA playoff game until at least their 17th campaign.

    Starter-kit supporters for some schools should take a chill pill if their coach such as K's successor remains winless in NCAA Tournament competition. Krzyzewski was frustrated by the tourney long before losing against Mercer. Impatient supporters should take a long look at how long it took for the following alphabetical list of high-profile coaches, including all-time leader Krzyzewski, to secure their first NCAA playoff victory.

    Prominent Coach Season Posting First NCAA Tournament Victory
    Dana Altman 10th season as a DI head coach (1998-99 with Creighton against Louisville)
    Rick Barnes 10th season (1996-97 with Clemson against Miami of Ohio)
    P.J. Carlesimo 12th season (1987-88 with Seton Hall against Texas-El Paso)
    Pete Carril 17th season (1982-83 with Princeton against North Carolina A&T)
    Bobby Cremins 10th season (1984-85 with Georgia Tech against Mercer)
    Tom Davis 10th season (1980-81 with Boston College against Ball State)
    Don DeVoe eighth season (1978-79 with Tennessee against Eastern Kentucky)
    Cliff Ellis 14th season (1988-89 with Clemson against Saint Mary's)
    Tim Floyd ninth season (1994-95 with Iowa State against Florida)
    Bill E. Foster 15th season (1977-78 with Duke against Rhode Island)
    Hugh Greer 10th season (1955-56 with Connecticut against Manhattan)
    Leonard Hamilton 13th season (1998-99 with Miami FL against Lafayette)
    Marv Harshman 26th season (1983-84 with Washington against Nevada-Reno)
    Terry Holland 12th season (1980-81 with Virginia against Villanova)
    Ben Howland eighth season (2001-02 with Pittsburgh against Central Connecticut State)
    Bob Huggins eighth season (1991-92 with Cincinnati against Delaware)
    Maury John 11th season (1968-69 with Drake against Texas A&M)
    Bob Knight eighth season (1972-73 with Indiana against Marquette)
    Mike Krzyzewski 10th season (1984-85 with Duke against Pepperdine)
    James "Babe" McCarthy eighth season (1962-63 with Mississippi State against Bowling Green)
    Greg McDermott 11th season (2011-12 with Creighton against Alabama)
    Ralph Miller 13th season (1963-64 with Wichita against Creighton)
    Mike Montgomery 17th season (1994-95 with Stanford against UNC Charlotte)
    Joe Mullaney 10th season (1964-65 with Providence against West Virginia)
    Pete Newell 11th season (1956-57 with California against Brigham Young)
    C.M. Newton eighth season (1975-76 with Alabama against North Carolina)
    Johnny Orr ninth season (1973-74 with Michigan against Notre Dame)
    Tom Penders 14th season (1987-88 with Rhode Island against Missouri)
    George Raveling 11th season (1982-83 with Washington State against Weber State)
    Nolan Richardson Jr. ninth season (1988-89 with Arkansas against Loyola Marymount)
    Kelvin Sampson 12th season (1998-99 with Oklahoma against Arizona)
    Norm Sloan 14th season (1969-70 with North Carolina State against Niagara)
    Norm Stewart ninth season (1975-76 with Missouri against Washington)
    John Thompson Jr. eighth season (1979-80 with Georgetown against Iona)
    Jim Valvano eighth season (1979-80 with Iona against Holy Cross)
    Butch van Breda Kolff 13th season (1963-64 with Princeton against Virginia Military)
    Jim Williams 15th season (1968-69 with Colorado State against Dayton)
    Ned Wulk 10th season (1960-61 with Arizona State against Seattle)

    NOTE: Victories for retired Greer, McCarthy and Newton were the only one they posted in NCAA playoff participation.

    Power Failures: Majority of #1 Seeds Don't Win Power-League Tournaments

    March 15th, 2024 - 18:13

    More than half of #1 seeds from each of the six power conferences failed to win their respective league tournaments since the Big Ten introduced its postseason event in 1998. The Big Ten is the last power alliance to have its #1 seed win three consecutive postseason tourneys (2010 through 2012). Can you imagine the level of despair among fans of power-league members if the field didn't significantly expand commencing with a 32-team bracket adopted for the 1975 NCAA playoffs allowing teams other than the conference champion to be chosen on an at-large basis from same league? Despite the field subsequently more than doubling to 68, bubble-team dialogue is always a hot topic during conference tournament competition.

    After Tennessee was toppled by Mississippi State this season, each of the last seven years of tourneys included at least one #1 seed in a power alliance losing to an opponent seeded #8 or #9. Blueblood programs such as Kansas and North Carolina have struggled from time to time as top dog in conference tourneys thus far in the 21st Century. KU was eliminated seven times as a top seed since 2002 while Carolina bowed out as #1 seed five times in 12-year span from 2001 through 2012 prior to doing so again this year as the ACC's #1 seed didn't win event for the fifth straight time.

    Elsewhere, a total of eight #1 seeds in the Big East succumbed to foes seeded seventh or worse in a 15-year span from 2000 through 2014, helping to mitigate Providence's embarrassment for losing to #4 seed Creighton by a whopping 27 points (85-58) two seasons ago. PC's setback was the most lopsided for a #1 seed in a power league this century until Iowa State humiliated Houston by 28 points this season.

    A total of five power-league #1 seeds faltered in seven different years this century (2002-03-05-09-12-21-24). Eleven of the last 15 #1 seeds in the unraveling Pac-12 Conference failed to win the league tourney. Following in reverse order are the top seeds losing in power-conference tournaments during the past 27 years (events cancelled in 2020 due to pandemic):

    Year Power-League #1 Seeds Failing to Win Conference Tournaments
    2024 Arizona (lost to #4 seed Oregon in Pac-12), Houston (#2 Iowa State in Big 12), North Carolina (#10 North Carolina State in ACC), Purdue (#5 Wisconsin in Big Ten) and Tennessee (#9 Mississippi State in SEC)
    2023 Kansas (#2 Texas in Big 12), Miami (#4 Duke in ACC) and UCLA (#2 Arizona in Pac-12)
    2022 Auburn (#8 Texas A&M in SEC), Duke (#7 Virginia Tech in ACC), Illinois (#9 Indiana in Big Ten) and Providence (#4 Creighton in Big East)
    2021 Baylor (#5 Oklahoma State in Big 12), Michigan (#5 Ohio State in Big Ten), Oregon (#5 Oregon State in Pac-12), Villanova (#8 Georgetown in Big East) and Virginia (#4 Georgia Tech advanced because of pandemic-related no contest in ACC)
    2020 league tourneys cancelled due to pandemic considerations
    2019 Kansas State (#5 Iowa State in Big 12), Louisiana State (#8 Florida in SEC), Virginia (#4 Florida State in ACC) and Washington (#6 Oregon in Pac-12)
    2018 Auburn (#9 Alabama in SEC), Michigan State (#5 Michigan in Big Ten) and Xavier (#5 Providence in OT in Big East)
    2017 Kansas (#8 Texas Christian in Big 12), North Carolina (#5 Duke in ACC), Oregon (#2 Arizona in Pac-12) and Purdue (#8 Michigan in OT in Big Ten)
    2016 Indiana (#8 Michigan in Big Ten), Texas A&M (#2 Kentucky in OT in SEC) and Villanova (#3 Seton Hall in Big East)
    2015 Kansas (#2 Iowa State in Big 12) and Virginia (#5 North Carolina in ACC)
    2014 Arizona (#2 UCLA in Pac-12), Kansas (#4 Iowa State in Big 12), Michigan (#3 Michigan State in Big Ten) and Villanova (#8 Seton Hall in Big East)
    2013 Florida (#3 Mississippi in SEC), Georgetown (#5 Syracuse in Big East), Indiana (#4 Wisconsin in Big Ten) and UCLA (#3 Oregon in Pac-12)
    2012 Kansas (#4 Baylor in Big 12), Kentucky (#3 Vanderbilt in SEC), North Carolina (#3 Florida State in ACC), Syracuse (#4 Cincinnati in Big East) and Washington (#9 Oregon State in Pac-12)
    2011 Alabama (#E2 Kentucky in SEC), Arizona (#3 Washington in Pac-10), Florida (#E2 Kentucky in SEC), North Carolina (#2 Duke in ACC) and Pittsburgh (#9 Connecticut in Big East)
    2010 California (#3 Washington in Pac-10) and Syracuse (#8 Georgetown in Big East)
    2009 Kansas (#9 Baylor in Big 12), Louisiana State (#W3 Mississippi State in SEC), Michigan State (#5 Ohio State in Big Ten), North Carolina (#4 Florida State in ACC), Tennessee (#W3 Mississippi State in SEC) and Washington (#4 Arizona State in Pac-10)
    2008 Georgetown (#7 Pittsburgh in Big East), Mississippi State (#E6 Georgia in SEC), Tennessee (#W2 Arkansas in SEC) and Texas (#2 Kansas in Big 12)
    2007 UCLA (#8 California in OT in Pac-10)
    2006 Connecticut (#9 Syracuse in OT in Big East), Louisiana State (#E2 Florida in SEC), Ohio State (#2 Iowa in Big Ten), Tennessee (#E5 South Carolina in SEC) and Texas (#2 Kansas in Big 12)
    2005 Alabama (#E2 Florida in SEC), Arizona (#2 Washington in Pac-10), Boston College (#8 West Virginia in Big East), Kentucky (#E2 Florida in SEC), North Carolina (#5 Georgia Tech in ACC) and Oklahoma (#4 Texas Tech in Big 12)
    2004 Duke (#6 Maryland in ACC), Illinois (#2 Wisconsin in Big Ten) and Pittsburgh (#2 Connecticut in Big East)
    2003 Arizona (#8 UCLA in OT in Pac-10), Kansas (#5 Missouri in Big 12), Wake Forest (#4 North Carolina State in ACC), Wisconsin (#8 Ohio State in Big Ten) and both divisional #1 seeds lost in semifinals in Big East
    2002 Alabama (#W2 Mississippi State in SEC), Georgia (#W4 Louisiana State in SEC), Kansas (#2 Oklahoma in Big 12), Maryland (#4 North Carolina State in ACC), Oregon (#4 in Pac-10) and Wisconsin (#9 Iowa in Big Ten)
    2001 Illinois (#4 Indiana in Big Ten), Iowa State (#8 Baylor in Big 12) and North Carolina (#2 Duke in ACC)
    2000 Louisiana State (#W3 Arkansas in SEC), Ohio State (#9 Penn State in Big Ten), Syracuse (#9 Georgetown in Big East) and Tennessee (#E5 South Carolina in SEC)
    1999 Auburn (#E2 Kentucky in SEC), Tennessee (#W4 Mississippi State in SEC) and Texas (#5 Oklahoma State in Big 12)
    1998 Duke (#2 North Carolina in ACC) and Michigan State (#8 Minnesota in Big Ten)

    NOTE: A Pac-10 Tournament wasn't conducted for 11 years from 1991 through 2001.

    Father Knows Best: Ranking Premier Combos Where Son Played Under Dad

    March 14th, 2024 - 14:55

    After deciding to return to Detroit for his unique fifth season of eligibility as senior graduate due to COVID-19 considerations last season, Antoine Davis eventually became runner-up to LSU's Pete Maravich as the all-time leading men's scorers in NCAA history? This campaign, Drake's DeVries clan (Darian and Tucker) was the most successful father-son, coach-player combination when Tucker became the ninth different individual to average more than 21 ppg playing under his dad. Winning more than 3/4 of their games the past three seasons, they may move up the all-time family totem poll (including Maravich and his dad) with a victory or two in the NCAA playoffs and Tucker scored only three points on 1-of-13 field-goal shooting in last year's opening-round defeat against Miami.

    The Davis' worksheet together (59-88 previous five years) resembled the modest marks manufactured by the Houstons (Tennessee) and Berrys (San Jose State) more than the the regal records registered by the McDermotts (Creighton) and Drews (Valparaiso). The following list of luminaries details the best players under dear old dad (with emphasis on winning percentage and longevity):

    Rank Coach/Father School(s) Record Player/Son Pos. Son's Career Summary Under Father
    1. Greg McDermott Creighton 107-38 Doug McDermott F Doug was three-time NCAA first-Team All-American from 2011-12 through 2013-14 after originally signing with old MVC rival Northern Iowa. As a sophomore and junior, he was MVC MVP before earning same award when Bluejays moved to the Big East Conference.
    2. Press Maravich Louisiana State 49-35 Pete Maravich G Pete, a three-time unanimous NCAA first-team All-American, became the NCAA's career record holder for total points (3,667 in three years from 1967-68 through 1969-70) and scoring average (44.2 ppg). In his senior season, the Tigers had their highest SEC finish (2nd) and only postseason tournament appearance (NIT) in a 24-year span from 1955 through 1978.
    3. Wade Houston Tennessee 60-68 Allan Houston G Allan, a four-time All-SEC first-team selection, averaged more than 20 ppg each of his four seasons en route to becoming the Volunteers' all-time leading scorer (2,801 points from 1989-90 through 1992-93). They participated in the NIT in his freshman and junior campaigns.
    4. Bill Berry San Jose State 46-41 Ricky Berry G-F Ricky, after playing his freshman season with Oregon State, averaged 21 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 3.2 apg for the Spartans from 1985-86 through 1987-88 en route to becoming their all-time leading scorer (1,767 points). He was a three-time All-Big West Conference first-team selection.
    5. Dick Acres Oral Roberts 47-34 Mark Acres C Dick coached his sons (including Jeff) from midway through the 1982-83 campaign through 1984-85. Mark, a three-time All-Midwestern City Conference first-team selection, averaged 18.5 ppg and 9.6 rpg and shot 56.4% from the floor. Mark was a two-time Midwestern City MVP who led the Titans in scoring and rebounding all four seasons. ORU participated in the 1984 NCAA Tournament.
    6. Homer Drew Valparaiso 88-36 Bryce Drew G Bryce, who averaged 17.7 ppg, 5.2 apg and 1.5 spg from 1994-95 through 1997-98 en route to becoming the school's all-time leader in scoring and assists, was the Mid-Continent Conference MVP his last two seasons. The Crusaders won the MCC regular-season and league tournament championships all four years.
    7. Dick Bennett Wisconsin-Green Bay 87-34 Tony Bennett G Tony, a three-time All-Mid-Continent Conference first-team selection, averaged 19.4 ppg and 5.1 apg from 1988-89 through 1991-92, finishing as UWGB's all-time leading scorer (2,285 points). He holds the NCAA career record for highest three-point field-goal percentage (.497/minimum of 200 made) and won the Frances Pomeroy Award his senior year as the nation's top player shorter than six feet tall. The Phoenix won the 1991 MCC Tournament and 1992 regular-season title.
    8. Ron Hunter Georgia State 65-35 R.J. Hunter G R.J. became the most prolific freshman scorer in Panthers history, averaging 17 ppg in 2012-13. Finished his three-year career with averages of 18.4 ppg and 4.8 rpg before declaring early for the NBA draft.
    9. Sonny Allen SMU/Nevada-Reno 64-48 Billy Allen G Billy averaged 13.1 ppg and 8.2 apg in 1981-82 and 1982-83 after transferring from SMU. The two-time All-Big Sky Conference selection set a UNR single-season record with 8.6 apg as a junior when he was a second-team choice before moving up to first-team status the next year. Billy led the SWC in assists as a freshman in 1978-79 (9 apg) and sophomore in 1979-80 (9.1 apg). He also paced the Mustangs in free-throw percentage both years. In his sophomore season, SMU tied its highest win total (16) in a 15-year span from 1967-68 through 1981-82.
    10. Mike Davis Detroit 59-88 Antoine Davis G Five-time Horizon League scoring leader tallied 3,664 points in five seasons from 2018-19 through 2022-23. The Titans won only one game in 2023-24 following Antoine's departure.
    11. Darian DeVries Drake 80-25 Tucker DeVries F Two-time Missouri Valley Conference MVP has averaged 21.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 3.6 apg in his three seasons entering 2024 NCAA playoffs.
    12. Steve Alford UCLA 96-45 Bryce Alford G Won nearly 2/3 of games from 2013-14 through 2016-17 when Bryce averaged 13.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg and 3.9 apg. As part of the Alfords boosting the Bruins back to national prominence, Bryce supplied school-record nine three-pointers at Colorado.
    13. Jerry Tarkanian UNLV 77-19 Danny Tarkanian G Danny led the Rebels in assists and steals each of his three seasons from 1981-82 through 1983-84 after transferring from Dixie Junior College (Utah). The All-Pacific Coast Athletic Association second-team selection finished second in the nation with 8.5 apg as a senior. UNLV participated in the NIT in 1982 and NCAA Tournament in 1983 and 1984. The Rebels captured the PCAA regular-season championship in 1983 and 1984.
    14. Fred A. Enke Arizona 60-18 Fred W. Enke G Fred W., a future NFL quarterback, was a three-time All-Border Conference first-team selection from 1945-46 through 1947-48. The Wildcats participated in the 1946 NIT after their first of three consecutive league championships.
    15. Juwan Howard Michigan 18-16 Jett Howard F Jett averaged 14.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg and 2 apg while shooting 36.8% from beyond the arc as freshman in 2021-22. Declared early for the NBA draft (11th pick overall).

    Ricky Berry, Allan Houston and Tony Bennett each averaged more than 20 points per game in at least two campaigns in six-year span from 1986-87 through 1991-92. Last season, dynamo Davis (playing under father Mike Davis) joined Maravich as the only individuals averaging more than 27 ppg in a single season as a son playing under his father:

    Pitcher-Hitting Futility Between Legendary Babe and Revolutionary Ohtani

    March 13th, 2024 - 18:32

    When it came to major league pitchers excelling as batters until rule change a couple of seasons ago, there were only a few pitcher/hitters resembling Babe Ruth and Shohei Ohtani. Facing the cold hard facts, it was textbook futility for nearly 50 years as N.L. pitchers tried to hit MLB hurlers. The gap between pitchers' hitting and remainder of MLB players grew exponentially over the years. A couple of years removed from the N.L. joining the designated-hitter fold as part of MLB's latest CBA (A.L. embraced DH since 1973), it turned out that 2021 was final trip around the bases for N.L. hurlers.

    Versatile former college basketball players - majority of them from small schools - were among the minority of big-league pitchers who knew how to handle a bat (only a handful of them since the 1950s). In the aftermath of adopting a universal DH, it might be a good time amid Ohtani switching leagues to not only adjust to a pitch clock but also remember the following alphabetical list of perhaps the 20 best-hitting MLB pitchers previously playing college basketball (including a couple from Swarthmore PA):

    Ex-College Hooper School(s) Summary of MLB Pitcher's Batting Prowess
    Elden Auker Kansas State Collected two homers and five RBI in single game in mid-August 1937 en route to 30 extra-base hits and 72 RBI in 10-year career. He had three 3-hit games in 1936 with the Detroit Tigers.
    Ray Benge Sam Houston State Seven straight seasons from 1928 through 1934 with at least a dozen hits. Went 4-for-4 with Philadelphia Phillies vs. Chicago Cubs in mid-August game in 1931.
    Jack Coombs Colby ME Collected total of 15 extra-base hits in 1908 (nine doubles/five triples/one homer). Switch-hitter posted .319 batting average in 1911 en route to A.L.-leading 28 victories for Philadelphia Athletics. Went 4-for-4 with three RBI and scored three runs in mid-May 1911 game against the Detroit Tigers en route to posting A.L.-leading 28 victories. Managed 23 RBI in both 1908 and 1911.
    Jean Dubuc Saint Michael's VT/Notre Dame Minimum of 20 hits in each of five straight seasons with the Detroit Tigers from 1912 through 1916 (including high of 36 in 1913 when amassing nine two-hit outings). Posted .230 batting average in nine-year career.
    George Earnshaw Swarthmore PA Hit .230 in nine-year career with more than 25 hits three consecutive campaigns for Philadelphia Athletics from 1930 through 1932. Contributed four hits in each of back-to-back games in June of 1931.
    Boo Ferriss Mississippi State Hit .250 in six-year career with Boston Red Sox featuring at least 24 hits in each of his first three seasons from 1945 through 1947.
    Bob Gibson Creighton Contributed 24 HRs (one of them in 1967 World Series) and 144 RBI in 17-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals. While posting microscopic 1.12 ERA in 34 starts in 1968, Gibby allowed opposing hitters to reach base at precisely the same rate he got on base himself. Hammered five HRs in 1965 and 1972 (also six doubles). Provided 19 RBI in 1965 and 1970 plus 20 ribbies in 1963. Registered .303 batting average with 12 multiple-hit games in 1970.
    Vern Kennedy Central Missouri State Lefthanded swinger hit .244 in 12-year career with seven different franchises. Posted batting average of .283 or higher three times in A.L. in a five-year span (1936-38-40). He had three safeties in back-to-back games in 1935 and hit safely in seven straight starts the next year with the Chicago White Sox.
    Thornton Lee Cal Poly Assembled eight-game hitting streaks with Chicago White Sox in 1940 and 1941. Posted batting averages over .250 three times in four-year span with more than 90 plate appearances (1938-40-41). Collected four HRs and 16 RBI in 1938.
    Ted Lyons Baylor Switch-hitter hit .233 with 63 extra-base safeties and 149 RBI in 21-year career with the Chicago White Sox. Compiled .311 batting average with 38 safeties in 1930 to cap off streak of five straight seasons with at least 20 hits. Assembled eight-game hitting streak in 1942 with five of them including multiple safeties. Supplied three three-hit games in span of a month in 1928. He had four hits in a single game in back-to-back seasons (1940 and 1941).
    Christy Mathewson Bucknell Career batting average of .215 with 69 extra-base hits and 167 RBI. Posted batting average of at least .263 in three seasons with the New York Giants (1906-09-12). Provided 20 RBI in 1903 and eight extra-base hits in 1904. He had six multiple-hit games in last seven weeks of 1912.
    Curly Ogden Swarthmore PA Hit .244 in five-year A.L. career. In 1924, he hit safely in nine of 12 starts for the Washington Senators from end of May to late August.
    Claude Passeau Millsaps MS Pounded 15 career HRs in 13-year N.L. career. Hit .282 as Philadelphia Phillies rookie in 1936. His grand slam in mid-May 1941 was first of three homers in span of five starts. A year later, he homered in back-to-back starts for the Chicago Cubs.
    Jim Perry Campbell Compiled eight-game hitting streak as rookie starter for the Cleveland Indians in 1959 through all of August until mid-September, provided eight two-hit outings in 1960 with the Tribe and posted a .556 batting average in six of his starts for the Minnesota Twins in June of 1970.
    Gary Peters Grove City PA Lefthander collected 19 HRs and 102 RBI in 14-year career. Belted multiple HRs in six different seasons (1963-64-67-68-69-71). He had 19 RBI along with 11 extra-base hits (seven doubles and four HRs) in 1964. Homered in nine consecutive campaigns from 1963 through 1971. Eleven-game hitting streak as starting pitcher with the Chicago White Sox in 1966.
    Nelson "Nels" Potter Mount Morris IL/Manchester IN Eight multiple-hit games with the St. Louis Browns in 1945 when posting a .304 batting average (28-of-92).
    Hal Schumacher St. Lawrence NY Accumulated 15 homers and 102 RBI in 13-year career with the New York Giants. Smacked six HRs in 1934 along with six other extra-base hits. Hit safely in all but one of 12-game starting span in mid-season of 1935. Provided pair of homers and five RBI in a game early in 1934.
    Joe "Lefty" Shaute Mansfield PA Eight-game hitting streak in 1924, igniting a streak of hitting over .300 for the Cleveland Indians three times in a four-year span with at least 20 safeties. Also had eight-game hitting streak in 1926. Posted .258 batting average in 13-year career.
    Wilfred "Sonny" Siebert Missouri Secured six HRs and 15 RBI while posting .266 batting average in 1971 as All-Star with the Boston Red Sox. Went "batty" against the Baltimore Orioles in two games in 1971 with five RBI in late-June game before smacking pair of round-trippers just over two months later in early September.
    Tom Zachary Guilford NC Hit .226 in 19-year career with annual average of 19 safeties in seven-season span from 1920 through 1926. Manufactured six-game hitting streak in 1928. Went 4-for-4 with the Washington Senators in a game in back-to-back seasons (1921 and 1922).

    Recipe For Success: Helpful Hints Filling Out Your 2024 NCAA Playoff Bracket

    March 12th, 2024 - 14:53

    Participating in pools for major sporting events, whether for money or not, has become as American as apple pie. Everyone who has ever visited a water cooler or copy room knows that no office pool spawns emotional involvement more than the invigorating NCAA Tournament. The allure of the office anarchy can be attributed to the futility of the exercise. Still, a little sophisticated guidance is better than none at all as you strive to meet the deadline for submitting your final NCAA playoff bracket.

    If you're among the ardent fans who adore the Final Four and are starving for a handicapping guide to answer vital questions, here is a sane approach for surviving March Madness. Sixty-eight is a magic number for the incisive tips because that is the number of teams in the original NCAA field. If you want to merrily maneuver through mine field to Phoenix when pool results are posted on the bulletin board, pay close attention to these time-honored 68 dos and don'ts on how to fill out your bracket. In deference to the number of entrants, they might not all be applicable this year but these handy-dandy points to ponder should help steer you away from potholes on the Road to the Final Four.

    SEEDING CLEARLY
    * Pick all No. 1 seeds to win their first-round games. This one's a gimme: Top-seeded teams have lost only one opening-round game since the field was expanded to at least 64 teams in 1985.
    * Pick two teams seeded 13th or worse to defeat teams seeded one through four.
    * Pick one No. 3 seed to lose in the first round.
    * Pick at least one No. 2 seed to lose in the first two rounds.
    * Don't pick a No. 1 seed to reach the Final Four, let alone win the national tournament, if the school wasn't in the NCAA playoffs the previous year.
    * Don't automatically pick a perennial power to defeat an opponent with a double-digit seeding.
    * Pick a team seeded No. 1 or No. 2 to win the national title.
    * Don't pick more than two of the four regional No. 1 seeds to reach the Final Four.
    * Pick the better-seeded team to win any second-round game pitting two double-digit seeds against each other.
    * Pick one team with a double-digit seed to reach a regional semifinal.
    * Don't pick more than one regional to have its top four seeds reach the regional semifinals.
    * If two members of the same conference earn No. 1 seeds, don't pick both teams to reach the Final Four. Only once has two #1 seeds from the same league advanced to the national semifinals (Georgetown and St. John's from the Big East in 1985).
    * Don't pick all four No. 1 seeds to reach regional finals.

    CONFERENCE CALL
    * Pick at least one Big East team to lose in the opening round.
    * Pick at least two teams from the Big Ten and/or SEC to incur opening-round defeats.
    * Don't pick a team from the Big South to win a first-round game.
    * Don't pick an at-large team with a losing conference record to get beyond the second round.
    * Pick at least two ACC teams to reach a regional semifinal and at least one to reach the Final Four.
    * If an ACC school wins both the league's regular-season and tournament titles, pick the team to reach the Final Four.
    * Don't be swayed by a postseason conference tournament title or a poor performance in an elite league tourney. Disregard the "hot team" factor because a defeat in a league tournament is often a better motivational tool than a complacency-inducing victory. * Double your pleasure by picking two teams from the same conference to reach the Final Four.
    * Don't choose a different member from the same league as the previous year's champion (Duke in the ACC) to capture the crown. There has been just seven times in NCAA playoff history for two different schools from the same conference to win the title in back-to-back years - Big Ten (Indiana '40 and Wisconsin '41); ACC (North Carolina '82 and N.C. State '83); Big East (Georgetown '84 and Villanova '85), ACC (Duke '92 and North Carolina '93); ACC (Duke '01 and Maryland '02); Big East (Syracuse '03 and Connecticut '04) and ACC (North Carolina '09 and Duke '10). Three different members from the same alliance capturing the crown over a three-year span has never happened.
    * Don't pick an undisputed Big Ten champion (Wisconsin this year) to reach the Final Four.
    * The Big Ten occasionally is the nation's premier conference but don't get carried away with that credential when picking a national titlist. Only one Big Ten member (Michigan State in 2000) captured an NCAA crown in the previous 25 years.
    * Two of your Final Four picks should be teams that didn't finish atop their regular-season conference standings.
    * Burnout has a tendency to set in. Remember that the odds are against a conference tournament champion reaching the NCAA Tournament final.
    * Don't pick a team to reach the Final Four if it lost in the first round of a postseason conference tournament.
    * Don't be too concerned about a regular-season defeat against a conference rival with a losing league record.
    * Don't get carried away with the Pac-12 Conference. A Pac-12 team regularly loses an opening-round game to an opponent seeded 12th or worse.
    * Don't pick a conference tournament champion winning four games in four nights to reach a regional semifinal.
    * Pick one league to have four members reach the regional semifinals. It happened a total of 13 times in a 15-year span from 1989 through 2003.
    * Don't be overwhelmed by quantity because six or seven bids for a league is not a recipe for success. Less than half conferences in this category finished with cumulative playoff records better than two games above .500.
    * Don't pick a MEAC or SWAC representative to reach the Sweet 16. It has never happened.

    NUMBERS GAME
    * Enjoy the "mid-major" Cinderella stories but know that the clock eventually strikes midnight. Gonzaga faces a challenge because no "mid-major" since San Francisco in 1956 won the NCAA title after entering the tourney ranked atop the national polls.
    * If there are as many as four first-time entrants, pick one of the novices to win its opening-round game.
    * Don't pick a team with 30 or more victories entering the tournament to win the national title.
    * Don't develop an aversion for coaches with impoverished playoff records. Remember: Legendary John Wooden lost his first five playoff games as coach at UCLA by an average of 11.4 points and compiled an anemic 3-9 record from 1950 through 1963 before the Bruins won an unprecedented 10 national titles in 12 years from 1964 through 1975.
    * Don't be obsessed with comparing regular-season scores. Two-thirds of the NCAA champions weren't exactly invincible as they combined to lose more than 50 games by double-digit margins.
    * Pick a team with at least 25 victories entering the tournament to win the championship. Villanova, entering the 1985 playoffs with 19 triumphs, was the only national champion in more than 35 years to enter the tourney with fewer than 20 wins until Arizona won it all in 1997 after also entering with 19 victories.
    * Don't pick the nation's top-ranked team entering the tournament to reach the national championship game, let alone capture the crown. Also, Gonzaga has never reached the Final Four.
    * The best place to start selecting the Final Four is in the previous year's round of 16. More than half of the teams reaching the national semifinals since 1988 advanced to a regional semifinal the previous season.
    * Don't tamper with a "curse" by picking a team with the nation's leading scorer on its roster to reach the Final Four. No national champion has had a player average as many as 30 points per game.
    * Make certain your Final Four picks include at least one 30-game winner and one team with a minimum of six defeats.
    * After choosing your Final Four schools, don't automatically select the winningest remaining team to go ahead and capture the title.
    * Don't pick a team to win the championship if an underclassman guard is leading the squad in scoring.
    * Don't pick a team to win the championship if its top two scorers are Caucasians.
    * Don't pick a team with as many as 12 defeats entering the tourney to reach a regional semifinal.
    * Don't pick a team entering the tournament undefeated to go ahead and win the title. Of the first 17 teams to enter the playoffs with unblemished records, just seven were on to capture the national championship. Excluding UCLA's dominance under coach John Wooden, the only other unbeaten NCAA champion since North Carolina in 1957 is Indiana in 1976.
    * Don't overdose on senior leadership. A senior-laden lineup is not a prerequisite for capturing a national championship. An average of only two seniors were among the top seven scorers for NCAA Tournament titlists since the playoff field expanded to at least 64 teams in 1985. Half of the NCAA champions since the early 1990s had only one senior among their top seven scorers.

    PICKS AND PANS
    * Pick any team defeating North Carolina or Duke in the bracket to already be in or on its way to the Final Four.
    * Pick Duke to advance in the bracket if they oppose members of the Big East and Big Ten. Despite Indiana's success against the Blue Devils in the 2002 South Regional and Connecticut's victory over them in the 2004 Final Four, the Dynasty in Durham rarely loses a playoff game against Big East and Big Ten competition.
    * Don't pick a member of the MAC or former member of the SWC to reach the Final Four. No Mid-American member has ever reached the national semifinals and the SWC Final Four teams all failed to come home with the national championship trophy.
    * Don't pick a Conference USA member to reach a regional final.
    * Pick Kansas to win a regional final if the Jayhawks advance that far. KU went to the Final Four six straight times the Jayhawks reached a regional championship game (1971-74-86-88-91-93) until they were upset by Syracuse in the 1996 West Regional. Kansas has continued regional final success much of 21st Century.
    * Don't pick a team to win the national title if its coach is in his first season at the school.
    * Make certain the coach of your championship team has at least five years of head coaching experience.
    * Don't pick a team to capture the title if it is coached by a graduate of the school.
    * Pick at least one Final Four team with a coach who will be making his debut at the national semifinals. Just four Final Fours (1951, 1968, 1984 and 1993) had all four coaches arrive there with previous Final Four experience.
    * Don't pick the defending champion to repeat as national titlist.
    * Don't pick the defending national runner-up to win the championship the next season. The only teams ever to finish national runner-up one year and then capture the title the next season were North Carolina (1981 and 1982) and Duke (1990 and 1991).
    * Don't put any stock into justifying a preseason No. 1 ranking. The runner-up won each of the four times the preseason No. 1 and No. 2 teams met on the hallowed ground of the NCAA final.
    * Pick one team not ranked among the national top 10 entering the tournament to reach the championship game.
    * Pick at least a couple of teams coached by African Americans to advance a minimum of two rounds in the tournament.
    * Don't pick a school to reach the Final Four if you think a vital undergraduate defector from last season will become a pro star. Of the 10 individuals to score more than 20,000 points in the NBA or be named to at least five All-NBA teams after participating in the NCAA Division I playoffs and then leaving college with eligibility remaining, none of their schools reached the Final Four the year or years they could have still been in college - Auburn (Charles Barkley departed early), Houston (Hakeem Olajuwon), Indiana (Isiah Thomas), Kansas (Wilt Chamberlain), Louisiana Tech (Karl Malone), Michigan State (Magic Johnson), North Carolina (Bob McAdoo and Michael Jordan), Notre Dame (Adrian Dantley) and Seattle (Elgin Baylor).
    * Don't be infatuated by a Final Four newbie. Before UConn in 1999, the last team to win a championship in its initial national semifinal appearance was Texas Western (now Texas-El Paso) in 1966.
    * Pick at least one of your Final Four teams to have a transfer starter but don't choose a squad in that category to win the title.
    * Don't be infatuated with first-team All-Americans when deciding Final Four teams because a majority of NCAA consensus first-team All-Americans failed to reach the national semifinals since seeding was introduced.
    * Your star search should focus more on pro prospects. Select Final Four teams that each have a minimum of one player who'll eventually become a No. 1 NBA draft choice with one of the squads reaching the championship game to have at least three players who'll become a No. 1 NBA draft pick.

    TIME-TESTED TIEBREAKERS
    * The vast majority of NCAA Tournament office pools have a tiebreaker category or two. One of them might be designating a player for most points in a single game of the tournament. If so, avoid selecting a player from the championship team because the highest output normally is achieved by a member of a non-titlist.
    * Another possible tiebreaker is projecting the total number of points in the championship game. To get your bearings, you should know the average point total is more than 150 since the inception nationwide of both the shot clock and three-point field goal.

    Jumping in Office Pool: Sweet 16 Dos & Don'ts Filling Out 2024 NCAA Bracket

    March 11th, 2024 - 12:22

    Participating in office pools for major sports events, whether for money or not, has become as American in the national workplace as filling out your vacation schedule. Both forms can be perplexing because you frequently second guess yourself on where to go, when to go and exactly what to do. More often than not, you want to modify the submissions moments after turning them in. You feel as if you've flunked Office-Pool Economics 101.

    No office pool heightens your frustration more than the NCAA Tournament. The allure of the office anarchy can be attributed to the futility of the exercise. Just ask Pete Rose when he was relaxing at spring training. Still, a little sophisticated guidance is better than none at all as you strive to meet the deadline for submitting your final NCAA playoff bracket.

    If you're among the ardent fans who adore the Final Four and are starving for relevant handicapping tips, a sane approach to surviving March Madness has arrived. It is time to start chewing on historical nuggets to avoid making another April Fool appearance when results are posted on the bulletin board. Pay close attention to these sweet 16 dos and don'ts on how to fill out your bracket. As events unfold in 2024, you might want to rekindle old memories by assessing CollegeHoopedia.com's most magical playoff moments and All-Time All-NCAA Tournament teams.

    1. SEEDING CAPACITY
    DO pick a top three seeded team to win the national title.
    In the first 35 years since the NCAA Tournament embraced seeding, 31 of the champions were seeded No. 1 (20 titlists), 2 (six) or 3 (five). The only championship game without at least one No. 1 or No. 2 seed was 1989, when a pair of No. 3 seeds clashed (Michigan and Seton Hall), until when #3 Connecticut opposed #8 Butler.

    DON'T pick more than two of the four regional No. 1 seeds to reach the Final Four.
    No. 1 seeds always look tempting (especially after all four advanced to national semifinals in 2008). But the Final Four did not have more than two of them any year from 1979 through 1992.

    2. DOUBLE TROUBLE
    DO pick two teams seeded 13th or worse to defeat teams seeded two through four and one team seeded 12th to reach a regional semifinal.
    Since the seeding process started in 1979, never have all of the top four seeds in each regional survived their opening round. A No. 12 seed advanced to the round of 16 five consecutive years from 1990 through 1994.

    DON'T automatically pick a perennial power to defeat a team with a double-digit seed.
    More than 100 different coaches have lost at least one tournament game to an opponent with a double-digit seed since the seeding process was introduced. Playoff newcomers shouldn't be shunned if they get any break at all in the seeding process. First-time entrants assert themselves when they receive a decent draw. Of the schools making their tournament debuts since the field expanded to at least 52 teams, almost one-fourth of them survived the first round.

    3. SCORING SUMMARY
    DO shun a potential championship team if an underclassman guard is leading the squad in scoring.
    The only freshmen to lead a national champion in scoring were Utah forward Arnie Ferrin in 1944 and Syracuse forward Carmelo Anthony in 2003. Of the sophomores to lead national titlists in scoring average, the only guards were Indiana's Isiah Thomas (16 ppg in 1981) and Duke's Jason Williams (21.6 ppg in 2001).

    DON'T tamper with a "curse" by picking a team with the nation's leading scorer on its roster to reach the Final Four.
    No national champion has had a player average as many as 30 points per game. The only player to lead the nation in scoring average while playing for a school to reach the NCAA Tournament championship game was Clyde Lovellette, who carried Kansas to the 1952 title. The only other player to lead the nation in scoring average while playing for a team advancing to the Final Four was Oscar Robertson, who powered Cincinnati to the national semifinals in 1959 and 1960 before the Bearcats were defeated both years by California. The Bears restricted the Big O to a total of 37 points in the two Final Four games as he was just nine of 32 from the floor.

    4. PICKS AND PANS
    Unless vital criteria is met to suffice otherwise, DO go with better-seeded teams to win games in the four regionals.
    The better-seeded teams win a little over 2/3 of the games in regional competition. However, Final Four games have virtually broken even in regard to the original seedings.

    DON'T pick a team to capture the NCAA title if the club lost its conference tournament opener.
    No team ever has won an NCAA championship after losing a conference postseason tournament opener.

    5. DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS
    DO remember the cliche "East is Least."
    No Eastern school won the East Regional and the national title in the same season since the tournament went to four regionals until Syracuse achieved the feat in 2003. The first seven national champions from the East Regional since 1956 were all ACC members (North Carolina '57, N.C. State '74, North Carolina '82, Duke '92, North Carolina '93, Duke '01 and Maryland '02) before Carolina won the East Regional again in 2005.

    DON'T accept the axiom that the "West is Worst."
    What does the Left Coast have to do to shed a misguided image? The Pacific-12 Conference supplied two NCAA champions in a three-year span (UCLA '95 and Arizona '97) before Stanford and Utah reached the 1998 Final Four. Arizona was runner-up in 2001 before UCLA participated in three straight Final Fours from 2006 through 2008. Although the Pac-12 struggled this season, the multiple-bid Mountain West and/or West Coast could take up the slack.

    6. MATHEMATICAL ODDS
    DO pick two of the ten recognizable schools with the all-time best playoff records to reach the Final Four.
    There is a strong possibility some familiar faces will arrive in Phoenix since at least two of the ten winningest schools by percentage (minimum of 50 playoff games) usually appear at the Final Four.

    DON'T be too wary of first-rate coaches with dime-store playoff results.
    High-profile coaches are occasionally grilled because of their dismal tournament resumes. But they're due to eventually turn things around and shouldn't be written off altogether. Remember: Legendary John Wooden lost his first five playoff games as coach at UCLA by an average of more than 11 points and compiled an anemic 3-9 record from 1950 through 1963 before the Bruins won an unprecedented 10 national titles in 12 years from 1964 through 1975. It doesn't seem possible, but additional elite coaches who didn't win their first NCAA playoff game until their 10th DI season or longer include Dana Altman, Rick Barnes, P.J. Carlesimo, Pete Carril, Bobby Cremins, Tom Davis, Cliff Ellis, Bill E. Foster, Hugh Greer, Leonard Hamilton, Marv Harshman, Terry Holland, Maury John, Mike Krzyzewski, Ralph Miller, Mike Montgomery, Joe Mullaney, Pete Newell, Tom Penders, George Raveling, Kelvin Sampson, Norm Sloan, Butch van Breda Kolff and Ned Wulk.

    7. GO WITH MIGHTY MO?
    DO remember the odds about a conference tournament champion reaching the NCAA Tournament final.
    There is a theory that burnout has a tendency to set in. But more than half of the NCAA titlists since seeding started in 1979 also won their conference postseason tournament the same year.

    DON'T be swayed by a postseason conference tournament title or a poor performance in an elite league tourney.
    Disregard the "hot team" factor because a defeat in a league tournament is often a better motivational tool than a complacency-inducing victory.

    8. LOOKING OUT FOR NO. 1
    DO look for a school other than the defending champion (Connecticut) to become national titlist.
    Duke was fortunate to repeat in 1992 when they reached the Final Four on Christian Laettner's last-second basket in overtime in the East Regional final against Kentucky. Florida repeated in 2007 despite winning its last five contests by 10 or fewer points.

    DON'T pick the top-ranked team entering the tournament to reach the national championship game, let alone capture the crown.
    There is a clear and present danger for pole sitters. Only three of the 29 schools atop the national rankings entering the NCAA playoffs from 1983 through 2011 went on to capture the national championship and only six No. 1 squads in the last 25 seasons of that span reached the title game.

    9. NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
    DO pick at least one Final Four team with a coach making his debut at the national semifinals.
    Just four Final Fours (1951, 1968, 1984 and 1993) had all four coaches arrive there with previous Final Four experience. There has been at least one fresh face among the bench bosses at the national semifinals all but one of the last 27 years. In 1993, coaches Steve Fisher (Michigan), Rick Pitino (Kentucky), Dean Smith (North Carolina) and Roy Williams (Kansas) returned to familiar surroundings at the Final Four.

    DON'T pick a team to win the national title if its coach is in his first season at the school.
    Steve Fisher guided Michigan to the 1989 title after succeeding Bill Frieder just before the start of the playoffs. But the only individual to capture an NCAA crown in his first full campaign as head coach at a university was Ed Jucker (Cincinnati '61 after seven years at King's Point and Rensselaer). The average championship team head coach has been at the school almost 13 years and has almost 17 years of college head coaching experience overall. The only championship head coaches with less than five years of experience were Fisher and Fred Taylor (second season at Ohio State '60).

    10. SENIORS AND SHEEPSKINS
    DO realize that senior experience needs to be complemented by the vigor from undergraduates.
    A senior-laden lineup is not a prerequisite for capturing a national championship. An average of only two seniors were among the top seven scorers for NCAA Tournament titlists since the playoff field expanded to at least 64 teams in 1985. Eight of the 16 NCAA champions from 1991 through 2006 boasted no more than one senior among its top seven scorers. Only three NCAA champions since Indiana '87 - UCLA (1995), Michigan (2000) and Maryland (2002) - had seniors as their top two scorers.

    DON'T pick a team to capture the title if it is coached by a graduate of the school.
    A champion is almost never guided by a graduate of that university.

    11. CHANGE OF ADDRESS
    DO pick at least one of your Final Four teams to have a transfer starter.
    Almost every Final Four features at least one starter who began his college career at another four-year Division I school.

    DON'T pick schools that lost a vital undergraduate to reach the Final Four if you think the defectors will become pro stars.
    Ten individuals scored more than 20,000 points in the NBA or were named to at least five All-NBA teams after participating in the NCAA Division I playoffs and then leaving college with eligibility remaining - Charles Barkley (departed Auburn early), Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston), Isiah Thomas (Indiana), Wilt Chamberlain (Kansas), Karl Malone (Louisiana Tech), Magic Johnson (Michigan State), Bob McAdoo and Michael Jordan (North Carolina), Adrian Dantley (Notre Dame) and Elgin Baylor (Seattle). None of their schools reached the Final Four the year or years they could have still been in college.

    12. CONFERENCE CALL
    DO pick two teams from the same conference to reach the Final Four, with at least one of them advancing to the championship game.
    Double your pleasure: A pair of members from the same conference frequently advance to the Final Four.

    DON'T be condescending and overlook quality mid-major conference teams.
    It's not a question of if but where will David defeat Goliath. There have been more than 100 Big Boy losses against members of lower-profile conferences seeded five or more places worse than the major university which is currently a member of one of the current consensus top six leagues. A total of 74 different lower-profile schools and current members of 23 different mid-major conferences (all but Northeast and Summit) have won such games since seeding started in 1979.

    13. REGULAR-SEASON REVIEW
    DO pick two of your Final Four teams from schools failing to finish atop their regular-season conference standings.
    The best is yet to come for a team or two that might have been somewhat of an underachiever during the regular season. Almost half of the entrants since the field expanded to 48 in 1980 did not win outright or share a regular-season league title.

    DON'T put much emphasis on comparing regular-season scores.
    A striking number of NCAA champions lost at least one conference game to a team with a losing league mark. Many NCAA champions weren't exactly invincible as a majority of them lost a regular-season games by a double-digit margin.

    14. AT-LARGE ANSWERS
    DO avoid picking an at-large team with a losing conference record to go beyond the second round.
    An at-large team with a sub-.500 league mark almost never wins more than one NCAA Tournament game.

    DON'T pick an at-large team compiling a mediocre record to reach the regional semifinals.
    Only a handful of at-large entrants winning fewer than 60 percent of their games manage to reach the second round.

    15. RACIAL PROFILING
    DO pick at least a couple of teams coached by African Americans to advance a minimum of two rounds in the tournament.
    More often than not, at least two teams coached by African Americans reach the regional semifinals (round of 16).

    DON'T pick a team to win the championship if its top two scorers are white athletes.
    Duke had the only two teams in recent memory to win the NCAA title with white players comprising its top two point producers that season. In 1991, the two two scorers were Christian Laettner and Billy McCaffrey, who subsequently transferred to Vanderbilt. In 2010, Jon Scheyer and Kyle Singler were Duke's top two scorers. Laettner also led the Blue Devils in scoring when they captured the 1993 crown. The only other white players ranked among the top three scorers for NCAA championship teams since the field expanded to at least 40 teams included: Randy Wittman (third for Indiana '81), Steve Alford (led Indiana '87), Kevin Pritchard (third for Kansas '88), Eric Montross (led North Carolina '93), Jeff Sheppard/Scott Padgett (first and third for Kentucky '98), Gerry McNamara (third for Syracuse '03) and Tyler Hansbrough (led North Carolina '09).

    16. LAW OF AVERAGES
    DO pick one "sleeper" team not ranked among the top ten in either of the final wire-service polls entering the tournament to reach the championship game.
    There likely will be a Rip Van Winkle finally waking up to advance to the national final after not being ranked among the top ten in an AP final poll.

    DON'T pick the national runner-up from one year to win the championship the next season.
    The only three teams ever to finish national runner-up one year and then capture the title the next season were North Carolina (1981 and 1982), Duke (1990 and 1991) and Kentucky (1997 and 1998).

    They Had Game: "Oscar" Ali Designated Among 25 Greatest Actors of Century

    March 10th, 2024 - 20:21

    At least LeBron James didn't win Will Smith slap-happy woke award for vilifying law enforcement. Deceased Kobe Bryant, who didn't study film making in college because he went straight to the NBA from high school, won an Oscar six years ago for "best animated short" (Dear Basketball). Seven years ago, former Saint Mary's guard Mahershala Ali became the first Muslim actor to win an Oscar and also won an Academy Award for his best supporting actor role as a Miami drug dealer named Juan in Moonlight. Among his credits was role as Remy Danton in House of Cards. Ali, named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019, secured his second Academy Award for Supporting Actor stemming from his portrayal of Dr. Don Shirley in Green Book.

    Ali, previously known as Hershal Gilmore, averaged 3.6 points and 1.1 rebounds per game from 1992-93 through 1995-96 under coach Ernie Kent including 7 ppg as a senior. Said one of the 25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century according to New York Times: "When I graduated, I no longer thought of myself as an athlete. Honestly, I kind of resented basketball by the end of my time there. I'd see guys on the team get chewed up, spat out, and I was personally threatened with being shipped off to the University of Denver. All in the name of wins and productivity."

    While Plagiarist Biledumb tries to remain cogent as "windy" presidential actor by sniffing hair trying to ascend Stair Farce One, no one including Chris Rock seems to boast the credentials satisfying everyone to host the overtly-political Oscars these days although Dr. Fraudci and Karl Malone wannabe Jimmy Kimmel probably crave the visibility. Nonetheless, legendary Oscar Robertson would definitely be accurate in a rambling, self-absorbed speech to describe their game as inferior to his era. In deference to woke-inundated 96th Academy Awards this weekend, following is an alphabetical list of movie actors/directors nominees who "had game" as well-rehearsed college basketball players before becoming famous entertainers:

    DAVID ADKINS, Denver
    Comedian known as Sinbad had a show by that name on the Fox Network and was a lead actor in the movie Houseguest. He vaulted to TV prominence as a co-star on the hit series A Different World and later briefly hosted Vibe, a late-night talk show.

    Adkins averaged 4.2 ppg and 4.4 rpg for Denver in his varsity career from 1974-75 through 1977-78 when the Pioneers were classified as a major-college independent. He shot at least 50% from the floor all four seasons.

    MARC BLUCAS, Wake Forest
    Regular on Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes playing the role of Riley Finn, Buffy's one-time love interest. Co-starred in romantic comedy First Daughter as the guy the college-aged daughter of the President of the United States falls for before discovering things aren't quite what they appear to be on the surface.

    Swingman averaged 4.3 ppg and 2.1 rpg for the Demon Deacons from 1990-91 through 1993-94. They appeared in the NCAA playoffs all four seasons.

    LLOYD VERNET "BEAU" BRIDGES, UCLA
    Actor with the hit movie Fabulous Baker Boys among his credits. He is the son of Lloyd Bridges and brother of Jeff Bridges.

    The 5-9 guard averaged 0.6 ppg and 1.4 rpg for UCLA's 1960-61 freshman team compiling a 20-2 record. He was a frosh teammate of Fred Slaughter, the starting center for the Bruins' first NCAA championship team in 1964.

    DONNIE BURKS, St. John's
    Boyish-appearing Burks was known for his performances in Broadway musicals (Hair, The American Clock and The Tap Dance Kid). His roles in several movies earned favorable reviews - The Pawnbroker, Shaft and Without a Trace. He had an American soul album (The Swingin' Sound of Soul) released in Europe and was manager of a band called Entourage.

    Playmaker averaged 7.6 ppg and 1.9 rpg from 1960-61 through 1962-63 under coach Joe Lapchick after playing in high school under Lou Carnesecca. Burks appeared in 1961 NCAA Tournament against Wake Forest squad featuring All-American Len Chappell and eventual network analyst Billy Packer.

    TED CASSIDY, Stetson
    Actor played the role of Lurch in The Addams Family comedy television series before he died prematurely during a heart bypass operation in 1975.

    The 6-9, 245-pounder played four seasons for Stetson in the first half of the 1950s after a mysterious brief stint at West Liberty State College. When his college career was interrupted one year because of academic problems, he served as a disc jockey for two different radio stations. Cassidy, a sophomore member of the Hatters' squad that participated in the 1953 NAIA Tournament, was their leading scorer (17.7 ppg) and rebounder (10.7 rpg) as a senior in 1954-55.

    JIM CAVIEZEL, Bellevue (Wash.) Community College
    Former Gap model played Jesus in Mel Gibson-directed The Passion of the Christ (2004) and was in Bobby Jones Stroke of Genius the same year. Also played the part of Slovnik in GI Jane (1997) with Demi Moore, Private Wit in Thin Red Line (1998), Catch in Angel Eyes (2001) with Jennifer Lopez, and Ashley Judd's husband in High Crimes (2002) with Morgan Freeman. In the TV drama Person of Interest on CBS, he played the role of Reese, a former member of the elite Special Forces who is now drinking heavily and at the end of his rope in New York City. In Sound of Freedom (2023), Caviezel played Tim Ballard, a former U.S. government agent who embarked on a mission to rescue children from sex traffickers in Colombia.

    Bellevue coach Ernie Woods called Caviezel the hardest worker he had in 30 years. Caviezel's younger brother, Tim, played for the University of Washington, averaging 3.6 ppg in 1990-91 as a freshman and 4.2 ppg in 1991-92 as a sophomore before transferring to Long Beach State. Tim, a 6-7 swingman, subsequently transferred again to Western Washington, where Jim's wife, Kerri, ranks among the career leaders in five statistical categories for the women's basketball squad.

    "Basketball taught me to train for every possible situation but always stay in the moment," Caviezel said.

    CHEVY CHASE, Haverford (Pa.)
    After a one-year stint on Saturday Night Live, Chevy quit to move to Los Angeles. Following mixed success in a variety of films, he became one of the biggest box-office draws in the U.S. in the 1980s with hits such as Caddyshack and National Lampoon's Vacation. One of his popular movie roles was as "Fletch" when he played for the Los Angeles Lakers in a dream sequence.

    Chase was a JV basketball and soccer player as a freshman in 1962-63 before transferring to Bard (N.Y.).

    RAY RAY CHASE, Southern (La.)/Cal Poly-Pomona
    Known for his roles in Good Girls (2017), Bad Comic (2019) and Murder in the Thirst (2019). He was an Improv performer at LA Connection Theatre.

    The 6-8 Chase averaged 2.7 ppg and 2.5 rpg in 2010-11 for Southern before averaging 1.3 ppg and 1.4 rpg with Pomona in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

    NICK CHINLUND, Brown
    Often cast as a gun-toting mercenary or smarmy bad guy. He got his start as Hatchett in the third installment of Mel Gibson's famed action franchise, Lethal Weapon, and played one of a gang of escaped super villains in 1997 air-disaster thriller Con Air. Chinlund also played a trigger-happy member of Denzel Washington's gang of corrupt cops in the award-winning police drama Training Day. He found himself again behind the business end of an automatic weapon in the 2003 war film Tears of the Sun with Bruce Willis, and played a bounty hunter pursuing Vin Diesel in the sci-fi action flick The Chronicles of Riddick. Usually a supporting actor, Chinlund go the opportunity to play the lead in two independent films - as a troubled priest in Sinner (named best actor in a leading role at 41st Annual Brooklyn Arts Council International Film & Video Festival) and as an amnesiac accused of spying in the thriller The Fifth Patient. Guest starred on The X-Files second-season episode Irresistible playing serial killer Donnie Pfaster. In 2000, he had a recurring role in two episodes of Buffy the Vampire.

    Chinlund averaged 2.8 ppg in 10 contests in 1980-81 under coach Joe Mullaney before career was sidetracked by a shoulder injury.

    MIKE CONNORS, UCLA
    Real name of Armenian-descent actor, who had a hit TV series (Mannix) is Kerker J. Ohanian.

    The 6-1, 180-pounder, nicknamed "Touch," averaged 4.6 ppg for UCLA's 1946-47 freshman squad compiling a 15-3 record.

    JAMES DEAN, Santa Monica City College (Calif.)
    Cultural icon of teenage disillusionment died at the age of 24 on September 30, 1955, in crash in his Porsche Spyder, which he owned for nine days. Social estrangement depicted by Dean was expressed in the title of his most celebrated film (Rebel Without a Cause/1955). After his demise, he became the first actor receiving a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor stemming from his role in East of Eden

    "He was concise, authoritative, perceptive and alert to all that was around him (on the court)," community coach Samuel Crumpacker said. By the time Indiana native's freshman year was over, he transferred to UCLA to major in theater arts. "He was not a rebel," said Jim Grindle, a high school basketball teammate when Dean was the squad's leading scorer in all three sectional games his senior season. "Jimmy was an ordinary person with a tremendous amount of talent. A very good athlete."

    DANE DiLIEGRO, New Hampshire
    Actor as the Predator in the film Prey (2022).

    The 6-9 DiLiegro averaged 6.9 ppg and 7.4 rpg from 2007-08 through 2010-11, leading the Wildcats in rebounding average all four seasons. His brother, Ross, was a seldom-used forward with Syracuse from 2003-04 through 2006-07.

    MICHAEL CLARKE DUNCAN, Kankakee (Ill.) Community College/Alcorn State
    Former bodyguard appeared in four films with Bruce Willis: Armageddon (1998; cast as Bear), Breakfast of Champions (1999), The Whole Nine Yards (2000) and Sin City (2005; cast as Manute, a powerful mobster). Breakout role occurred when he earned an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe nomination in The Green Mile. Voiced a dog Sam in Cats & Dogs (2001) and played Colonel Attar, a gorilla, in Planet of the Apes (2001). Starred alongside his friend, The Rock, in The Scorpion King (2002) and was the criminal mastermind behemoth Kingpin in Daredevil (2003).

    The 6-5 Duncan was a teammate of eventual Chicago State coach Kevin Jones with Kankakee's 31-4 squad in 1980-81 before enrolling at Alcorn State under coach Davey Whitney. An excerpt in the Braves' 1983-84 media guide said: "He adds size, speed and excellent jumping ability to the roster. A very hard worker, he'll add tremendous depth to the bench." After dropping out of college because of family problems, he spent several years digging ditches for a gas company in his hometown of Chicago. "He was a tough, physical player," Whitney told CBSSports.com. "He was undersized and didn't weigh much back then, but he was very strong and powerful. He was just tough. He'd knock guys around."

    TIMON KYLE DURRETT, Alcorn State
    Played role of Davis West in "Queen Sugar," a drama premiering in 2017 on Oprah Winfrey's OWN network.

    The 6-6 Durrett averaged 1.8 ppg and 1.4 rpg in 12 contests in 1995-96, making 9-of-11 field-goal attempts.

    BILL ENGESSER, Southern California
    Film actor's roles included Jerry Reed's bodyguard in Gator (1976), Richard/"Bigfoot" in The Secrets of Isis (1975), Krakow the Werewolf in House on Bare Mountain (1962) and a bit part as a man in a gym in The Nutty Professor (1963).

    Seven-foot-plus Engesser collected eight points and five rebounds in four basketball games in 1958-59.

    TRAVON FREE, Long Beach State
    After trying stand-up comedy, he commenced a comedy-writing career that saw him write for The Daily Show and Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. For a while, he was the only black writer on staff at the Daily Show, eventually winning two Emmys. He worked on movie called "Two Distant Strangers," earning him an Oscar for "Best Live Action Short Film," at the 2021 Academy Awards. An untitled action feature he wrote (romantic spy thriller set in Africa) starring Idris Elba was purchased at auction by Apple TV+.

    The 6-7 Free averaged 2.9 ppg and 2.3 rpg from 2003-04 through 2006-07 (medical redshirt in 2005-06). He made both of his field-goal attempts in four minutes of action in 2007 NCAA playoff setback against Tennessee. Free is one of the first bisexual players in NCAA history to come out of the closet.

    DON GIBB, New Mexico/San Diego
    Best known for his roles as the hulking, dimwitted outrageous fraternity brother "Ogre" in several installments of the Revenge of the Nerds film series, as Kumite fighter Ray Jackson in Bloodsport and as Leslie "Dr. Death" Krunchner on the HBO sitcom 1st & Ten. He left acting and went into the brewing business as co-owner of "Trader Todd's Adventure Beer. "

    The 6-4 Gibb scored five points in two UNM basketball games in 1972-73 before transferring to USD and averaging 5 ppg plus 2.9 rpg with the Toreros in 1975-76 and 1976-77.

    LOUIS GOSSETT JR., New York University
    The son of a porter and maid, he turned to acting in high school after a leg injury temporarily impeded his hopes for a basketball career. Following his Broadway debut at 17, he attended NYU on an athletic scholarship while continuing to perform on TV and the stage. He won an Emmy in 1977 for his role in the TV miniseries Roots-Part I before winning an Oscar in 1982 as supporting actor in the box-office hit An Officer and a Gentleman.

    Gossett played for NYU's freshman squad in the late 1950s.

    JEROD HAYNES, Idaho
    Actor and producer known for Project Blue Book (2019), The Village (2019) and Native Son (2019).

    Chicago native was starter much of 2004-05 season when he finished runner-up for the Vandals in assists with 3 apg.

    JASON JANEGO, Bucknell
    Cofounder and co-president of RADiUS-TWC, the boutique arm of the Weinstein Company that was the first studio division dedicated to both multi-platform video on demand (VOD) and theatrical distribution. In February 2014, its film 20 Feet From Stardom won the Oscar for best documentary (feature). The company's first hit was 2012's Bachelorette.

    Janego averaged 1.3 ppg from 1991-92 through 1993-94 under coach Charlie Woollum.

    DENNY MILLER, UCLA
    Miller became the first blond Tarzan in Tarzan, the Ape Man (1959), which lifted most of its footage from earlier Johnny Weissmuller movies. "Playing Tarzan is like being in a circus," says the 6-4 Miller on his web site. "Go ride that elephant, play with that chimp, swing on that vine. It's a terrific job for a guy who grew up to be a kid." Miller was a regular on Wagon Train in the early 1960s as Duke Shannon (his name was then Scott Miller) and played Juliet Prowse's husband in the TV series Meet Mona McClusky in 1965. For years, he was the "Gorton Fisherman," appearing in numerous commercials in his yellow rain gear.

    Denny (7.4 ppg and 5.3 rpg in only eight games) and his brother Kent (7.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg) Miller were on the same Bruins squad in 1958-59 (16-9 record under coach John Wooden) as teammates of decathlete Rafer Johnson and eventual Hall of Fame coach Denny Crum. Denny Miller spent three years in the U.S. Army between averaging 4 ppg in 1954-55 and 3.1 ppg and 2.3 rpg in 1957-58.

    NYAMBI NYAMBI, Bucknell
    His most prominent acting role has been Samuel (Senegalese waiter) as original cast member of CBS sitcom "Mike and Molly." Played law firm investigator Jay DiPersia in the CBS All Access legal drama The Good Fight since 2017.

    Played for Bucknell from 1997-98 through 2000-01. His most productive season was as a freshman when he collected 12 points and 7 assists in 17 games.

    PAUL ROBESON, Rutgers
    World renowned orator and baritone was a 6-3, 215-pound two-way end who finally was named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995. Valedictorian when he graduated in 1919, learned to speak 15 languages and forge a glorious international career as a singer and actor. Earned law degree from Columbia, financing way through school by playing pro football with the Akron Pros and Milwaukee Badgers (scored two touchdowns). Robeson, son of a runaway slave, was an outspoken antifascist and champion of racial equality and socialist causes who remained enough of a supporter of the Soviet Union to get him blacklisted on Broadway. Founder of the Progressive Party played roles in 11 films and established works such as The Emperor Jones and Show Boat and became the first black to play Othello with a white cast.

    Robeson was a center for Rutgers' basketball team.

    LEON ROBINSON, Loyola Marymount
    Goes by the stage name "Leon." He was a lover-boy idol in Waiting to Exhale, and played a similar character in Tim Reid's acclaimed Once Upon a Time ... When We Were Colored. Robinson was the ruthless killer, Kinette, in Cliffhanger and was Derice, the sweet and charming captain of the Jamaican bobsled team, in the surprise comedy hit, Cool Runnings. Leon appeared as a football teammate of Tom Cruise in All the Right Moves, and was the leading man as New York high school hoop sensation Earl (The Goat) Manigault in Above the Rim. Leon starred opposite Robin Givens in the TV mini-series, The Women of Brewster Place and was cast as Jesus in Madonna's controversial 1989 music video Like a Prayer. Received critical acclaim for his portrayal of two legendary singers in made-for-TV movies: David Ruffin in the 1998 NBC miniseries The Temptations and Little Richard in the self-titled 2000 NBC production based on the life of the rock-and-roll pioneer.

    Robinson lettered for the Lions in 1978-79 when he averaged 2.9 ppg and 1.4 rpg. The Bronx native also attended Orange Coast Community College (Calif.).

    NED ROLSMA, Iona/Tennessee-Martin
    In CBS' "How I met Your Mother," he played the recurring bit role of Marcus Eriksen, brother of Marshall Eriksen (Jason Segel), one of the lead characters.

    Seven-footer averaged 2.6 ppg and 1.8 rpg from 1997-98 through 2001-02.

    RaMELL ROSS, Georgetown
    Oscar-nominated cinematographer and director for his first movie, a 2018 documentary called Hale County This Morning, This Evening.

    The 6-5 Ross averaged 1.7 ppg for the Hoyas from 2000-01 through 2004-05. Participated in 2001 NCAA playoffs (vs. Hampton as teammate of eventual NBA players Mike Sweetney and Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje) and 2005 NIT.

    LAMMAN RUCKER, Duquesne
    Began his career on daytime soap operas As the World Turns and All My Children before roles in Tyler Perry films Why Did I Get Married? (2007), Why Did I Get Married Too? (2010) and Meet the Browns (2008), plus its TV adaptation. In 2016, Rucker began starring as Jacob Greenleaf in the Oprah Winfrey Network drama series, Greenleaf. He also had a recurring guest spot on the fourth and final season of the hit UPN sitcom, Half & Half.

    The 6-3 Rucker grabbed four rebounds in eight games in 1993-94.

    TOM SELLECK, Southern California
    Television and movie star won an Emmy in 1984 for his work in Magnum, P.I. He had a two-year stint (1974-75) on The Young and the Restless. His big-screen career got a major boost with the box-office hit Three Men and a Baby in 1987.

    Selleck was a 6-4, 200-pound forward for Southern California. After serving as captain of the basketball team at Los Angeles Valley Community College, he scored four points in seven games for the Trojans in 1965-66 and was scoreless in three games in 1966-67. Excerpt from USC's school guide: "Agile and quick performer who adds depth on front line. Business administration major is good jumper with fine mobility. Rapidly improving shooter has impressed coaches with his hustle in practice. Needs to work on defense."

    RON SHELTON, Westmont (Calif.)
    Writer-director is synonymous with sports movies such as The Best of Times (high school football/1986), Bull Durham (minor league baseball/1988), White Men Can't Jump (street basketball/1992), Cobb (major league baseball/1994), Blue Chips (college basketball/1994), Tin Cup (golf/1996) and Play It to the Bone (boxing/1999). One of his non-sports films, Blaze, became a personal milestone for him as he went on to marry one of the stars, Toronto-born Lolita Davidovich. In Blue Chips, actor Nick Nolte was coach Pete Bell, who broke the rules in order to get the players he needed to remain competitive. "I played pickup into my 40s, right up until the time I made White Men Can't Jump," Shelton said. "I knew the game. I just loved that world."

    Shelton scored 1,420 points in the mid-1960s, finishing the 20th Century among his alma mater's top 10 career scorers. He went on to play five seasons of Organized Baseball as a second baseman in the Baltimore Orioles' minor league system.

    RON TAYLOR, Southern California
    Best known for his roles as Lothar in The Rocketeer (1991) and Roc in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994). He also played Al, the tall police detective whose face is never seen, in The Naked Gun (1988) and on the TV series Police Squad. Nicknamed "Tiny Ron," the seven-footer also appeared on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in the role of the Hupyrian alien Maihar'du.

    Three-year USC letterman in the late 1960s was a second-round choice by Seattle in the 1969 NBA draft (18th pick overall). He played three seasons in the ABA before competing professionally in Austria in the 1970s before starting his film career.

    SINQUA WALLS, San Francisco
    Breakthrough role in 2012 as Sir Lancelot in ABC fantasy series Once Upon a Time. He played the role of Shawn in the TV series Power and was cast in Clint Eastwood's biopic The 15:17 to Paris about the thwarted 2015 Thalys train attack. Walls has portrayed Don Cornelius in BET's American Soul, a fictionalized drama series based on long-running TV dance show Soul Train. Previously, he was known for appearing in Friday Night Lights and The Secret Life of the American Teenager.

    Played in five games for USF in 2005-06.

    MIKE WARREN, UCLA
    Television star portrayed Officer Bobby Hill on hit series Hill Street Blues. Also appeared in the following movies: The Kid Who Loved Christmas (1990), Heaven is a Playground (1991), Buffalo Soldiers (1997) and After All (1999).

    The 5-11, 160-pound guard averaged 16.6 ppg in 1965-66 as a sophomore, 12.7 in 1966-67 as junior and 12.1 in 1967-68 as senior under coach John Wooden. He was an All-NCAA Tournament selection in 1967 and 1968 when the Bruins won national titles by combining for a 59-1 record. Warren was named to Converse and Helms All-American squads as a junior. In his senior season, he was named to the 10-man United States Basketball Writers Association All-American team and was a third five selection on the Associated Press and United Press International All-American squads. Selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 14th round of 1968 NBA draft. Excerpt from school guide: "Named on the Academic All-American first team. One of UCLA's all-time great ballhandlers as well as being an outstanding driver and jump shooter."

    DENZEL WASHINGTON, Fordham
    Oscar award-winning actor Denzel Washington earned rave reviews for his performance as a high school football coach in Remembering the Titans. Most Hollywood buffs remember Washington's performances as a regular on the TV drama series St. Elsewhere while becoming a critically-acclaimed screen actor and major box-office draw in the 1990s with his performances in hit films Malcolm X, The Pelican Brief, and The Preacher's Wife. The hits continued with Man on Fire (2004).

    But what the most ardent moviegoer doesn't know, let alone remember, is that Washington was a walk-on freshman basketball player for Fordham under coach P.J. Carlesimo. Washington probably was acting when he said "he had game" in describing his basketball ability in an interview about his movie role as the father of the nation's No. 1 player in director Spike Lee's 1998 release He Got Game.

    SEAN WHITESELL, Northern Iowa
    The "Oz" producer and co-executive producer of "The Killing" is a brother of talent agent/WME co-CEO Patrick Whitesell and former Loyola of Chicago and Buffalo coach Jim Whitesell. Sean began his career acting with notable roles including a recurring character on HBO's Oz (portrayed cannibalistic inmate Donald Groves until character's execution) and appearances on Homicide: Life On the Street.

    Walk-on with nickname "S" collected two points and three rebounds with UNI in six games in 1982-83.

    KEEDAR WHITTLE, Norfolk State
    Comedian and cast member of the hit BET comedy, "Hell Date." Actor known for Inglorious Kill Dogs (2014), Future Man (2017) and Life After Beth (2014). Portrayed Sean in AMC's The Walking Dead and Nino in four episodes of the CW's One Tree Hill.

    J.C. product collected 14 points and 10 rebounds in nine games as a 6-8 forward in 2000-01.

    IAN WHYTE, Iona/Clarion (Pa.)
    Carved out a career as film baddie (including playing part of iconic Predator in Sci Fi action film Alien vs. Predator). In 2010, Whyte played Sheikh Sulieman in Clash of the Titans. Portrayed various characters in the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones.

    The 7-1 Whyte collected 9 points and 10 rebounds in 17 games for Iona in 1990-91 and 1991-92 before transferring to Clarion, where he averaged 6 ppg and 5.3 rpg in 1992-93 and 1993-94.

    Power Outage: DePaul and Missouri Go Winless in Elite-League Competition

    March 10th, 2024 - 9:55

    Eight power-conference members in the last 11 seasons have gone winless in league competition after DePaul and Missouri suffered the indignity this campaign. Coach Chris Holtmann has a massive rebuilding job in Chicago. DePaul, sustaining 14 of its 20 league setbacks by at least 23 points, posted the biggest losing margin for a winless power-conference member in the last 69 seasons while Mizzou suffered half of its 18 reversals by fewer than eight points. The Blue Demons, incurring the same Big East Conference fate 15 years ago, joined Clemson (1954 and 1955), Georgia Tech (1954 and 1981), Northwestern (1991 and 2000) and Texas Christian (1964, 1977 and 2014) as current power-league schools in this dubious category multiple times since the formation of the ACC in 1953-54. Tech was winless in two different power leagues (SEC and ACC).

    This is the third season in the last 70 years when two power-conference members were winless in league competition. Previous campaigns with a pair of winless power-league teams in that span were 1953-54 (Clemson and Georgia Tech) and 1985-86 (Colorado and Wake Forest). The ACC and Big East have had the most different members go winless in that stretch with four apiece. Clemson headlines the following list by largest average losing margin in power-league play of winless teams since the ACC's inaugural campaign in 1953-54:

    Winless Power-League Member Conference Season League Mark (Average Losing Margin) Overall Coach
    Clemson ACC 1953-54 0-9 (29.3) 5-18 Banks McFadden
    Clemson ACC 1954-55 0-14 (24.6) 2-21 Banks McFadden
    DePaul* Big East 2023-24 0-20 (23.9) 3-28 Tony Stubblefield/Matt Brady
    Georgia Tech ACC 1980-81 0-14 (23.6) 4-23 Dwane Morrison
    Miami (Fla.) Big East 1993-94 0-18 (20.2) 7-20 Leonard Hamilton
    Northwestern Big Ten 1999-00 0-16 (20.1) 5-25 Kevin O'Neill
    Pittsburgh ACC 2017-18 0-18 (19.1) 8-24 Kevin Stallings
    Oregon State Pac-10 2007-08 0-18 (18.7) 6-25 Jay John/Kevin Mouton
    Georgia Tech SEC 1953-54 0-14 (18.4) 2-22 John "Whack" Hyder
    Texas Christian Big 12 2013-14 0-18 (17.8) 9-22 Trent Johnson
    Colorado Big Eight 1985-86 0-14 (17.2) 8-20 Tom Apke
    Boston College ACC 2015-16 0-18 (16.9) 7-25 Jim Christian
    Northwestern Big Ten 1990-91 0-18 (16.7) 5-23 Bill Foster
    Texas Christian SWC 1976-77 0-16 (16.1) 3-23 Johnny Swaim
    DePaul* Big East 2008-09 0-18 (15.8) 9-24 Jerry Wainwright
    Wake Forest ACC 1985-86 0-14 (15.4) 8-21 Bob Staak
    Texas Tech SWC 1989-90 0-16 (13.8) 5-22 Gerald Myers
    Vanderbilt SEC 2018-19 0-18 (13.3) 9-23 Bryce Drew
    Texas Christian SWC 1963-64 0-14 (13.1) 4-20 Byron "Buster" Brannon
    Iowa State Big 12 2020-21 0-18 (12.6) 2-22 Steve Prohm
    Georgetown Big East 2021-22 0-19 (12.4) 6-25 Patrick Ewing
    Oregon Pac-8 1971-72 0-14 (12.3) 6-20 Dick Harter
    Texas A&M Big 12 2003-04 0-16 (11) 7-21 Melvin Watkins
    Missouri SEC 2023-24 0-18 (10.7) 8-23 Dennis Gates
    Southern California Pac-8 1975-76 0-14 (9.6) 11-16 Bob Boyd
    Providence Big East 1979-80 0-6 (9.5) 11-16 Gary Walters

    *DePaul won opening-round game in 2009 league tourney and lost 2024 tourney opener by one point.

    Conference Kingpins: UConn, UNC and PU Combine For 110 League Titles

    March 10th, 2024 - 8:41

    There is a segment of fans thinking things have been bad over the decades regarding conference championships, but just remember there are fools out there who actually care about the gender of a plastic toy potato and want a grade school kid to be able to choose his or her gender while not allowing an individual's parents to select what school he or she attends.

    By any measure, it shouldn't be a surprise that Connecticut, North Carolina and Princeton became titlists again this season as they are accustomed to capturing conference crowns. After all, the trio are among seven schools boasting at least 30 regular-season crowns.

    Kansas' leads for most championships, collecting 64 regular-season conference titles in illustrious history despite having a streak of 14 straight Big 12 titles come to a halt five years ago. KU and Kentucky are atop the following list of schools with more than 25 regular-season major-college league championships:

    *WKU's total is 42 if include 14 titles won in the KIAC/SIAA in the 1930s and 1940s. All current members of the SEC (except for Arkansas) previously were in the SIAA and six ACC members comprised a portion of the former alliance.

    Runaway Winners: Colgate Brushes Away Patriot League Competition Again

    March 9th, 2024 - 19:44

    Six years ago, Virginia became the first ACC member since Duke in 1999-00 to win the regular-season league title by as many as four games in final standings. The most dominant club in conference competition this season again was Colgate (won Patriot League by six games).

    No power league in the last 10 years has had a team finish atop conference standings by at least five games. Colgate is the first school to be so dominant in back-to-back regular-season conference competition since Stephen Curry-led Davidson to Southern Conference crown by six games in 2007-08. Following is a list of most dominant league titlists in that span finishing at least six games ahead in standings (listed in reverse order):

    Season League Champion (Coach) Conference Mark GA
    2023-24 Colgate (Matt Langel) Patriot League 16-2 +6
    2022-23 Colgate (Matt Langel) Patriot League 17-1 +6
    2021-22 Longwood (Griff Aldrich) Big South/North 15-1 +7
    2021-22 Vermont (John Becker) America East 17-1 +6
    2020-21 Navy (Ed DeChellis) Patriot League/South 12-1 +6
    2019-20 New Mexico State (Chris Jans) Western Athletic 16-0 +6
    2017-18 Buffalo (Nate Oats) Mid-American/East 15-3 +6
    2014-15 Murray State (Steve Prohm) Ohio Valley/West 16-0 +6
    2013-14 Wichita State (Gregg Marshall) Missouri Valley 18-0 +6
    2013-14 Florida (Billy Donovan) SEC 18-0 +6
    2011-12 Kentucky (John Calipari) SEC 16-0 +6
    2011-12 Middle Tennessee State (Kermit Davis) Sun Belt/East 14-2 +6
    2009-10 Butler (Brad Stevens) Horizon League 18-0 +6
    2007-08 Davidson (Bob McKillop) Southern/South 20-0 +7

    How Have Elite Active Coaches Fared in League Tournaments Pre-Big Dance?

    March 7th, 2024 - 14:18

    For quality teams in upper-echelon leagues, conference tournament action is only the beginning of what they hope will be a long postseason experience culminating with memorable success in the NCAA playoffs. Because of their season-long excellence, quality power-league members are virtually immune to exclusion from the NCAA Tournament. Thus, along with trying to win the league tournament title, the squads are tuning up for the main event by jockeying for position in the NCAA bracket.

    Despite winning event a year ago, Purdue's Matt Painter has struggled the most in league tournament play among a total of 16 active coaches appearing in more than a dozen NCAA tourneys by 2024. Following is a look at how these prominent mentors have fared in conference tournament competition through 2023 before attending the Big Dance a majority of the time:

    Celebrated Coach Current School League Tourney Mark Overall Conference Tournament Summary Through 2023
    Mark Few Gonzaga 51-5 (.911) all appearances in West Coast Conference Tournament
    John Calipari Kentucky 55-15 (.786) 14-3 (.824) in Atlantic 10 Tournament, 17-5 (.773) in CUSA Tournament and 24-7 (.774) in SEC Tournament
    Rick Pitino St. John's 52-15 (.776) 4-1 (.800) in ECAC North/ECAC North Atlantic Tournament, 14-7 (.667) in Big East Tournament, 17-1 (.944) in SEC Tournament, 8-2 (.800) in CUSA Tournament, 2-1 (.667) in American Athletic Tournament, 0-2 (.000) in ACC Tournament and 7-1 (.875) in MAAC Tournament
    Bill Self Kansas 47-14 (.770) 4-3 (.571) in Western Athletic Tournament, 5-2 (.714) in Big Ten Tournament and 38-9 (.809) in Big 12 Tournament
    Thad Matta Butler 34-11 (.756) 3-0 (1.000) in Midwestern Collegiate Tournament, 8-1 (.889) in Atlantic 10 Tournament, 23-9 (.719) in Big Ten Tournament and 0-1 (.000) in Big East Tournament
    Sean Miller Xavier 27-11 (.711) 7-3 (.700) in Atlantic 10 Tournament, 18-7 (.720) in Pac-12 Tournament and 2-1 (.667) in Big East Tournament
    Dana Altman Oregon 45-23 (.662) 0-1 (.000) in Southern Conference Tournament, 2-4 (.333) in Big Eight Tournament, 21-9 (.700) in Missouri Valley Tournament and 22-9 (.710) in Pac-12 Tournament
    Tom Izzo Michigan State 34-19 (.642) all appearances in Big Ten Tournament
    Mick Cronin UCLA 25-14 (.641) 6-1 (.857) in Ohio Valley Tournament, 6-6 (.500) in Big East Tournament, 9-4 (.692) in American Athletic Tournament and 4-3 (.571) in Pac-12 Tournament
    Kelvin Sampson Houston 33-19 (.635) 2-3 (.400) in Pacific-10 Tournament, 1-2 (.333) in Big Eight Tournament, 17-7 (.708) in Big 12 Tournament, 0-1 (.000) in Big Ten Tournament and 13-6 (.684) in American Athletic Tournament
    Steve Alford Nevada 36-22 (.621) 6-4 (.600) in Missouri Valley Tournament, 13-6 (.684) in Big Ten Tournament, 10-8 (.556) in Mountain West Tournament and 7-4 (.636) in Pac-12 Tournament
    Fran McCaffery Iowa 31-20 (.608) 4-2 (.667) in ECC Tournament, 7-5 (.583) in Southern Conference Tournament, 11-2 (.846) in MAAC Tournament and 9-11 (.450) in Big Ten Tournament
    Bruce Pearl Auburn 18-13 (.581) 5-2 (.714) in Horizon League Tournament and 13-11 (.542) in SEC Tournament
    Rick Barnes Tennessee 42-33 (.560) 2-1 (.667) in CAA Tournament, 5-5 (.500) in Big East Tournament, 2-4 (.333) in ACC Tournament, 22-17 (.564) in Big 12 Tournament and 11-6 (.647) in SEC Tournament
    Jamie Dixon Texas Christian 20-19 (.513) 12-9 (.571) in Big East Tournament, 3-3 (.500) in ACC Tournament and 5-7 (.417) in Big 12 Tournament
    Matt Painter Purdue 15-15 (.500) 1-1 (.500) in Missouri Valley Tournament and 14-14 (.500) in Big Ten Tournament

    Shooting Stars: NCAA Division League Tourney Single-Game Scoring Records

    March 4th, 2024 - 20:52

    Big Ten Conference Tournament record-setter Terrence Shannon Jr. of Illinois was immersed in off-the-court woes early this season. But did you know the individual boasting highest-scoring game in history in an NCAA Division I conference postseason tournament is a genuine gamebreaker-turned-lawbreaker? You can find him in prison serving a life sentence without parole after facing felony charges stemming from automobile hijacking, kidnapping the driver by holding a gun to his head and robbing a convenience store following a 3 1/2-year stint in prison for a probation violation. Well, it's Marshall guard Skip Henderson, who erupted for 55 points in the 1988 Southern Conference quarterfinals against The Citadel. Marshall (also C-USA) and Texas Tech (Big 12 and SWC) are the only schools to have two players hold existing league tourney scoring marks in two different NCAA Division I alliances.

    After Stetson's Jalen Blackmon in Atlantic Sun this year, four mid-major leagues - America East (twice after three-time MVP Jameel Warney's 18-of-22 field-goal shooting six years ago for Stony Brook), Ivy League (Harvard's Bryce Aiken four years ago) and Horizon League (Detroit's Antoine Davis two years ago) - provide the only players setting existing NCAA DI conference tournament scoring marks in a tourney final. All-Americans Lennie Rosenbluth (North Carolina) and Cliff Hagan (Kentucky) accounted for the two of following DI league tourney scoring standards (ACC and SEC) standing since the 1950s:

    Conference Round Record Holder School HG Opponent Date
    America East Final Taylor Coppenrath Vermont 43 Maine 3-13-04
    America East Final Jameel Warney Stony Brook 43 Vermont 3-12-16
    American Athletic Semifinal Russ Smith Louisville 42 Houston 3-14-14
    Atlantic Coast Quarterfinal Lennie Rosenbluth North Carolina 45 Clemson 3-7-57
    Atlantic Sun Quarterfinal Reggie Gibbs Houston Baptist 43 Georgia Southern 3-7-89
    Atlantic Sun Final Jalen Blackmon Stetson 43 Austin Peay 3-10-24
    Atlantic 10 Quarterfinal Tom Garrick Rhode Island 50 Rutgers 3-7-88
    Big East Quarterfinal Donyell Marshall Connecticut 42 St. John's 3-11-94
    Big Eight Quarterfinal Eric Piatkowski Nebraska 42 Oklahoma 3-11-94
    Big Sky First Randy Onwuasor Southern Utah 43 Montana State 3-7-17
    Big South Quarterfinal Chris Clemons Campbell 51 UNC Asheville 3-2-17
    Big Ten Semifinal Terrence Shannon Jr. Illinois 40 Nebraska 3-16-24
    Big 12 First Mike Singletary Texas Tech 43 Texas A&M 3-11-09
    Big West First Josh Akognon Cal State Fullerton 37 UC Riverside 3-11-09
    Coastal Athletic Semifinal Justin Wright-Foreman Hofstra 42 Delaware 3-11-19
    C-USA Semifinal Trey Freeman Old Dominion 42 Western Kentucky 3-11-16
    Horizon League First Antoine Davis Detroit 46 Robert Morris 2-25-21
    Ivy League Final Bryce Aiken Harvard 38 Yale 3-17-19
    Metro Atlantic Quarterfinal Kevin Houston Army 53 Fordham 2-28-87
    Mid-American Semifinal Ron Harper Miami (Ohio) 45 Ball State 3-8-85
    Mid-Eastern Athletic First Richard Toussaint Bethune-Cookman 49 Morgan State 3-11-03
    Missouri Valley Quarterfinal Hersey Hawkins Bradley 41 Indiana State 3-5-88
    Mountain West Semifinal Jimmer Fredette Brigham Young 52 New Mexico 3-11-11
    Northeast Quarterfinal Rahsaan Johnson Monmouth 40 St. Francis (N.Y.) 3-3-00
    Ohio Valley Quarterfinal Charles "Bubba" Wells Austin Peay 43 Morehead State 2-25-97
    Pac-12 Quarterfinal Klay Thompson Washington State 43 Washington 3-10-11
    Patriot League Quarterfinal Joe Knight Lehigh 45 Colgate 3-4-05
    Southeastern Semifinal Cliff Hagan Kentucky 42 Tennessee 3-1-52
    Southeastern Quarterfinal Melvin Turpin Kentucky 42 Georgia 3-8-84
    Southern Quarterfinal James "Skip" Henderson Marshall 55 The Citadel 3-4-88
    Southland Quarterfinal Kenneth Lyons North Texas 47 Louisiana Tech 3-10-83
    Southwest Semifinal Rick Bullock Texas Tech 44 Arkansas 3-5-76
    Southwestern Athletic unavailable unavailable unavailable TBD unavailable TBD
    Summit League Final Bill Edwards Wright State 38 Illinois-Chicago 3-8-93
    Sun Belt Quarterfinal Dee Brown Jacksonville 41 Old Dominion 3-3-90
    West Coast Quarterfinal Tim Owens San Francisco 45 Loyola Marymount 3-2-91
    Western Athletic Quarterfinal Mike Jones Texas Christian 44 Fresno State 3-6-97

    NOTE: Scoring outbursts by Fredette (Mountain West), Garrick (Atlantic 10), Gibbs (Atlantic Sun), Harper (Mid-American), Henderson (Southern), Houston (Metro Atlantic Athletic), Lyons (Southland) and Piatkowski (Big Eight) are also existing school single-game standards. Warney's output is highest for Stony Brook at DI level.

    Crafty Cliff Clavin: Timeless Trivia Tidbits Trace Tantalizing Tournament Trails

    March 4th, 2024 - 20:48

    The amazing six-overtime thriller between Connecticut and Syracuse in the 2009 Big East Conference Tournament quarterfinals is relatively easy to remember. But one of the most titillating tourney tidbits among all leagues that gets overlooked because the Southwest Conference is defunct remains Texas Tech's Rick Bullock single-handedly outscoring the "Triplets" from Arkansas (Ron Brewer, Marvin Delph and Sidney Moncrief) by seven points, 44-37, when he set the SWC's single-game tournament scoring record in the 1976 semifinals.

    As league tourney action commences, don't hesitate to capitalize on the links for the current Division I conferences cited below to refresh your memory about past champions and events. Following are many of the names and numbers of note only Cliff Clavin knows regarding previous conference tournament competition you can reflect upon as teams tune up for the main event by jockeying for position in the NCAA playoff bracket:

    America East - The 1989 North Atlantic Tournament was dubbed the MIT (Measles Invitational Tourney) because all spectators were banned due to a measles outbreak. Delaware competed for 17 years in the East Coast Conference and never won an ECC Tournament championship. But the Blue Hens entered the AEC predecessor, the North Atlantic, in 1992 and won their first-ever title and went to the NCAA playoffs for the initial time. They successfully defended their crown the next year before closing out the decade with another set of back-to-back tourney titles.

    American Athletic - In their lone season as members of the conference, Louisville (joined ACC) routed Rutgers (Big Ten), 92-31, in 2014 quarterfinals.

    Atlantic Coast - Maryland, ranking fourth in both polls, lost in overtime against eventual NCAA champion North Carolina State, 103-100, in the 1974 final in what some believe might have been the greatest college game ever played. Three players from each team earned All-American honors during their careers - North Carolina State's David Thompson, Tom Burleson and Monte Towe plus Maryland's John Lucas, Len Elmore and Tom McMillen. The Terrapins had four players score at least 20 points - Lucas, McMillen, Owen Brown and Mo Howard - in a 20-point victory over 22-6 North Carolina (105-85) in the semifinals. The Terps, of course, didn't participate in the NCAA playoffs that year because a 32-team bracket allowing teams other than the league champion to be chosen on an at-large basis from the same conference wasn't adopted until the next season. Duke and/or Carolina participated in every tourney final from 1996 until 2021.

    Atlantic Sun - Belmont hit 12-of-19 first-half shots from beyond the arc in the 2007 final against top seed East Tennessee State.

    Atlantic 10 - Temple reached the tourney semifinals 19 consecutive seasons in one stretch. None of the top four seeds reached the semifinals in 2024.

    Big East - St. John's doesn't seem to have any advantage at Madison Square Garden. It lost five consecutive tourney games on its homecourt by an average margin of 11.4 points from 1987 through 1991. DePaul won opening-round league tourney contest in 2009 against Cincinnati after going winless in conference competition during regular season (0-18).

    Big Sky - Montana, capitalizing on a homecourt advantage, overcame a jinx by winning back-to-back tournament titles in 1991 and 1992. The Grizzlies had just two losing regular-season league records from 1976 through 1990, but they didn't win the tournament title in that span, losing the championship game five times from 1978 through 1984.

    Big South - The No. 1 seed won this unpredictable tourney only five times in the first 17 years. Radford failed to reach the postseason tournament final for nine years until capturing the event in 1998.

    Big Ten - Illinois won as many games in the 1999 tourney as the Illini did in regular-season conference competition that season (3-13). Northwestern, en route to its initial NCAA playoff appearance, scored 31 unanswered points in the first half of a 2017 quarterfinal game against Rutgers.

    Big 12 - Kansas won the first three championship games from 1997 through 1999 by at least 14 points. No Texas-based member won tourney title until the Longhorns in 2021.

    Big West - Pacific didn't compile a winning league record from 1979 through 1992, but the Tigers climaxed three consecutive appearances in the tournament semifinals by advancing to the '92 championship game.

    Coastal Athletic - Navy, seeded No. 8 in 1991 in its last year in the tournament before joining the Patriot League, upset top seed James Madison in overtime, 85-82, in the opening round.

    Conference USA - Three of four C-USA Tournament champions from 1997 through 2000 won four games in four days. Cincinnati captured six league tournament titles in seven years from 1992 through 1998 in the Great Midwest and C-USA.

    Horizon League - The first two tournament winners (Oral Roberts '80 and Oklahoma City '81) of the league's forerunner, the Midwestern City, subsequently shed Division I status and de-emphasized to the NAIA level. ORU, which also won the crown in 1984, returned to Division I status in 1993-94. Butler lost its first 12 games in the tourney until breaking into the win column in 1992.

    Ivy League - Harvard aspired to become the fourth different member to win the conference's postseason tournament in the first four years of the event until the alliance tucked tail and ran, cancelling the event due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak.

    Metro Atlantic Athletic - Eight different schools won the tournament title in an eight-year span from 1992 through 1999.

    Mid-American - Bowling Green never has won the MAC Tournament. John Whorton, tourney MVP in 1999 when guiding Kent State to its initial NCAA playoff appearance, won $1.3 million with his wife in late 2016 on a NBC game show, "The Wall," created and produced by Akron native LeBron James.

    Mid-Eastern Athletic - North Carolina A&T won seven consecutive titles from 1982 through 1988. The Aggies defeated Howard in the championship game each of the first six years of their streak with the middle four of them decided by a total of only 17 points.

    Missouri Valley - Indiana State won only two of its next 20 MVC tourney games after All-American Larry Bird led the Sycamores to the 1979 title.

    Mountain West - Not once has Air Force reached the championship game of the WAC or Mountain West.

    Northeast - The final pitted the top two seeds against each other 11 times in a 13-year span from 1983 through 1995.

    Ohio Valley - Former member Western Kentucky reached the championship game in eight of the OVC's first 10 tourneys. Tennessee Tech won only one tournament game from 1975 through 1992.

    Pacific-12 - Arizona won the last three tourney finals from 1988 through 1990 by a minimum of 16 points before the league discontinued the event until reviving it in 2002.

    Patriot League - No seed worse than third reached the championship game in the first 20 years of event from 1991 through 2010.

    SEC - Seven of the 13 tourney MVPs from 1979 through 1991 didn't play for the champion. One of them, LSU's John Williams, didn't even compete in the 1986 title game. Although Kentucky standout center Alex Groza saw limited action in the 1947 tournament because of a back injury, the Wildcats cruised to victories over Vanderbilt (98-29), Auburn (84-18), Georgia Tech (75-53) and Tulane (55-38). UK was also without Converse All-American guard Jack Parkinson (serving in the military), but the five-man all-tourney team was comprised of nothing but Wildcats - forwards Jack Tingle and Joe Holland, center Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones and guards Ken Rollins and Ralph Beard. UK (24) has won more than half of the SEC's tourneys.

    Southern - Furman's Jerry Martin, an outfielder who hit .251 in 11 years with the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Kansas City Royals and New York Mets from 1974 through 1984, was named MVP in the 1971 tournament after the 6-1 guard led the Paladins to the title with 22-, 36- and 19-point performances to pace the tourney in scoring. Two years earlier, former Davidson coach Bob McKillop scored three points for East Carolina against the Lefty Driesell-coached Wildcats in the 1969 SC Tournament championship game.

    Southland - North Texas State's Kenneth Lyons outscored Louisiana Tech's Karl Malone, 47-6, when Lyons established a still existing single-game scoring record in the 1983 tournament quarterfinals. Malone led the SLC in rebounding (10.3 rpg) and steals (1.9 spg) that season as a freshman before going on to score more than 30,000 points in the NBA. Two years earlier, McNeese State won a first-round game after going winless in regular-season conference competition.

    SWAC - Regular-season champion Grambling State lost by 50 points to Southern (105-55) in the 1987 final. An interesting twist that year was the fact Bob Hopkins, Grambling's first-year coach, had coached Southern the previous three seasons.

    Summit League - The first tournament final in 1984 featured two teams with losing league records in regular-season competition (Western Illinois and Cleveland State).

    Sun Belt - South Alabama's stall didn't prevent the Jaguars from losing to New Orleans, 22-20, on Nate Mills' last-second jumper in the 1978 final. The next season, the Sun Belt became the first league to experiment with a 45-second shot clock. The four different schools that accounted for the participants in six consecutive finals from 1980 through 1985 went on to join other conferences - UAB, Old Dominion, South Florida and Virginia Commonwealth. Two-time champion Charlotte also abandoned ship.

    West Coast - Gonzaga has participated in tourney final for the last 26 years from 1998 through 2023. The top two seeds didn't meet in the championship game until 2000. The most tragic moment in the history of any conference tournament occurred in the semifinals of the 1990 event at Loyola Marymount when Hank Gathers, the league's all-time scoring leader and a two-time tourney MVP, collapsed on his home court during the Lions' game with Portland. He died later that evening and the tournament was suspended. The Lions earned the NCAA Tournament bid because of their regular-season crown and advanced to the West Regional final behind the heroics of Bo Kimble, who was Gathers' longtime friend from Philadelphia.

    Western Athletic - The tourney's biggest upset occurred in 1990 when No. 9 seed Air Force defeated No. 1 seed Colorado State in the quarterfinals, 58-51. Hawaii's Carl English, averaging 3.9 points per game as a freshman during the regular season, had a season-high 25 in a 78-72 overtime victory against host Tulsa in the 2001 final.

    Misplaced Priorities: MSU Has History of Failure Living Up to Preseason Hype

    March 3rd, 2024 - 9:19

    Michigan State, incurring at least 13 defeats for the fourth consecutive season, finished out of the AP's Top 20 for the fourth time thus far this century despite the Spartans' ranking among the preseason Top 5. Boasting only two victories against Big Ten Conference teams with a winning league record (Illinois and Northwestern), they clearly were this campaign's biggest disappointment after ranking 4th in the preseason.

    There are additional such tarnished squads failing to live up to enormous preseason hype. The previous 24 teams in this great-expectations category incurred at least double digits in defeats. Following is a chronological list of the first 28 clubs included among preseason Top 5 selections since 1968-69 but finishing out of the AP's final Top 20 poll:

    Preseason Top 5 Team Season Preseason AP Ranking Coach Record Top Players For Disappointing Squad
    Notre Dame 1968-69 4th Johnny Dee 20-7 Austin Carr, Bob Arnzen, Bob Whitmore, Dwight Murphy, Collis Jones and Sid Catlett
    Purdue 1969-70 3rd George King 18-6 Rick Mount, Larry Weatherford, George Faerber, Bob Ford, William Franklin and Tyrone Bedford
    Southern California 1971-72 3rd Bob Boyd 16-10 Paul Westphal, Joe Mackey, Ron Riley, Dan Anderson and Mike Westra
    Florida State 1972-73 2nd Hugh Durham 18-8 Reggie Royals, Lawrence McCray, Otis Cole, Benny Clyde and Otis Johnson
    Indiana 1976-77 5th Bob Knight 14-13 Kent Benson, Mike Woodson, Wayne Radford and Derek Holcomb
    Kansas 1978-79 5th Ted Owens 18-11 Darnell Valentine, Paul Mokeski, John Crawford, Wilmore Fowler and Tony Guy
    DePaul 1984-85 3rd Joey Meyer 19-10 Tyrone Corbin, Kenny Patterson, Dallas Comegys, Marty Embry, Tony Jackson and Kevin Holmes
    Indiana 1984-85 4th Bob Knight 19-14 Steve Alford, Uwe Blab, Stew Robinson, Dan Dakich, Delray Brooks and Daryl Thomas
    Louisville 1986-87 2nd Denny Crum 18-14 Herbert Crook, Pervis Ellison, Tony Kimbro, Mark McSwain, Keith Williams, Kenny Payne and Felton Spencer
    Michigan State 1990-91 4th Jud Heathcote 19-11 Steve Smith, Matt Steigenga, Mike Peplowski and Mark Montgomery
    Clemson 1997-98 5th Rick Barnes 18-14 Greg Buckner, Terrell McIntyre, Harold Jamison and Tony Christie
    Auburn 1999-00 4th Cliff Ellis 24-10 Chris Porter, Doc Robinson, Scott Pohlman, Daymeon Fishback, Mamadou N'diaye and Mack McGadney
    UCLA 2001-02 5th Steve Lavin 21-12 Jason Kapono, Billy Knight, Matt Barnes, Dan Gadzuric and T.J. Cummings
    Arizona 2003-04 4th Lute Olson 20-10 Hassan Adams, Salim Stoudamire, Channing Frye, Andre Iguodala and Mustafa Shakur
    Michigan State 2003-04 3rd Tom Izzo 18-12 Paul Davis, Chris Hill, Kelvin Torbert, Maurice Ager and Alan Anderson
    Missouri 2003-04 5th Quin Snyder 16-14 Arthur Johnson, Rickey Paulding, Linas Kleiza, Jimmy McKinney, Travon Bryant and Jason Conley
    Georgia Tech 2004-05 3rd Paul Hewitt 20-12 Jarrett Jack, B.J. Elder, Will Bynum, Luke Schenscher and Isma'll Muhammad
    Michigan State 2005-06 4th Tom Izzo 22-12 Maurice Ager, Paul Davis, Shannon Brown and Drew Neitzel
    Louisiana State 2006-07 5th John Brady 17-15 Glen Davis, Tasmin Mitchell, Terry Martin, Garrett Temple and Darnell Lazare
    Texas 2009-10 3rd Rick Barnes 24-10 Damion James, Avery Bradley, Dexter Pittman, J'Covan Brown, Gary Johnson and Dogus Balbay
    Kansas State 2010-11 3rd Frank Martin 23-11 Jacob Pullen, Rodney McGruder, Curtis Kelly and Jamar Samuels
    Michigan State 2010-11 2nd Tom Izzo 19-15 Kalin Lucas, Draymond Green, Durrell Summers, Delvon Roe and Keith Appling
    Connecticut 2011-12 4th Jim Calhoun 20-14 Andre Drummond, Jeremy Lamb, Ryan Boatright, Alex Oriakhi, Shabazz Napier, Roscoe Smith and Tony Olander
    Kentucky 2012-13 3rd John Calipari 21-12 Willie Cauley-Stein, Archie Goodwin, Ryan Harrow, Julius Mays, Nerlens Noel, Alex Poythress and Kyle Wiltjer
    Kentucky 2013-14 1st John Calipari 29-11 Willie Cauley-Stein, Aaron Harrison, Andrew Harrison, Dakari Johnson, Marcus Lee, Alex Poythress, Julius Randle and James Young
    Texas 2021-22 5th Chris Beard 22-12 Timmy Allen, Christian Bishop, Marcus Carr, Dylan Disu, Jase Febres, Andrew Jones, Tre Mitchell and Courtney Ramey
    Kentucky 2022-23 4th John Calipari 22-12 CJ Fredrick, Chris Livingston, Antonio Reeves, Jacob Toppin, Oscar Tshiebwe, Cason Wallace and Sahvir Wheeler
    North Carolina 2022-23 1st Hubert Davis 20-13 Armando Bacot, Leaky Black, RJ Davis, Puff Johnson, Caleb Love and Pete Nance
    Michigan State 2023-24 4th Tom Izzo 20-15 Jaden Akins, Coen Carr, Carson Cooper, Malik Hall, A.J. Hoggard, Tre Holloman, Mady Sissoko and Tyson Walker

    Senior Celebrations: Parental Perspective at Heart-Tugging Homecourt Finales

    March 2nd, 2024 - 8:19

    Naturally, coast-to-coast parental pride displayed during Senior Night or Day the end of February and early March doesn't necessarily need to stem from athletics. Amid proper priorities (including not always being offended by characters in Dr. Seuss books), your child didn't have to be the best but he had to try his level best even amid a disruptive coronavirus.

    A parent knows life goes on after the anticipation of a senior salute. But how can a mom and dad express appreciation for all of the memories shared together?

    Adding sports as a factor for authentic student-athletes makes the lessons-learned equation more complex. Culminating at bittersweet senior celebration, it takes a significant amount of resilience to endure withdrawal from all of the devotion and emotion, last-second decisive shots, motivational talks coping with occasional slump, chance to dance in postseason competition, title dream dashed in close contest, team awards banquet, etc., etc., etc.

    Who would have thought the first time he picked up a ball that he would make such a difference and stand so tall? Reflecting on all they've experienced, the parent is fortunate to still have a pulse whether their offspring is a walk-on or walks to center court as team standout.

    In deference to the incomparable Caitlan Clark, it's easy enough to substitute girl for boy in the following poem portraying a parent trying to come to terms with an impending spread-their-wings departure; whether it be from high school to college or from college to the "real world." These reflections might be therapeutic if you went through a similar range of emotions amid whatever success your own flesh and blood enjoyed along the way.

    Lord, there's a little thing I need to know
    Where in the world did my little boy go?
    Perplexed from time to time but one thing I know today
    I'm a proud parent beyond words; what more can I say
    Kids go through stages but not with this sort of speed
    It was only yesterday he was unable to read
    Wasn't it just months ago he went from crawl to walk
    Hard-headed as a mule; certainly knew how to balk
    Took one day at a time raising him the very best we could
    Now inspires those around him just like we believed he would
    High achiever turning a corner in his life
    He has got what it takes to cope with any strife
    Can't carry a tune but set school shooting star records
    Now, the game-of-life clock dwindles from minutes to seconds
    So angels above please watch over him daily
    Although some of his antics may drive you crazy
    He represents everything that I value the most
    For that very reason, I'm offering a toast
    But if he feels sorry for himself and about to give up
    Do not hesitate to give him a gentle kick in the rump
    Remembering what I did wrong but at least a couple things right
    Always said you could do it; just try with all your might
    I just yearn to see all of his grandest plans come true
    God, it's my turn to have a great commission for You
    Be with him, bless him and give him nothing but success
    Aid his climb up that mountain; settle for nothing less
    Guide his steps in the dark and rain
    Pick up the pieces and ease any pain
    Time to share our best with the remainder of the world
    It is much like having a family flag unfurled
    How can a once infant son make grown man cry
    Groping for right words trying to say goodbye
    To me, he'll always be a pure and spotless lamb
    Cradled in our arms or holding his little hand
    If I was Elton John, I'd tell everyone this is "Your Poem"
    Simply sing how wonderful life was with you in our home
    My soul swells with pride at any mention of you
    How long gone are you going to be; wish I knew
    Sure don't believe it is at all out of line
    To seek to rebound for you just one more time
    Although you're going to be many miles away
    I will see you in my heart each and every day
    So go down that windy path; don't you dare look back
    You've found faith; it will keep you on the right track
    He's headed for real world and all it offers
    But first, here are your final marching orders
    Always do the very best you possibly can
    Refuse to lose even when you don't understand
    There's no telling the goals you will be able to reach
    By giving proper respect to instructors who teach
    Aspire each and every day you wake
    Not to waste a single breath you take
    Might as well let all of your ability show
    Because those gifts turn to dust whenever you "go"
    Don't bury your talents in the ground
    Lend helping hand to those you're around
    I'll never forget the times when you were all you could be
    Rose to the occasion and sent playoff game to OT
    Cherish all the moments - the hugs and tears
    For all your passion play through these years
    My little guy is bound far beyond a Final Four
    Poised for more success; prosperity at his door
    All things are possible; he has found out
    How much I love him is what I'm thinking about
    Wherever you go, you'll be best from beginning to end
    To that most truthful statement, I say Amen and Amen
    After Senior Night, I'll stroll into your off-limits room
    Try to keep my composure when it seems like doom and gloom
    You will always be on my mind
    But nothing like gut-wrenching time
    When I ask the Lord a big thing I need to know
    Where in His big world will His maturing man go?

    Hot Stove League: MLB March Transactions Regarding Ex-College Hoopers

    March 1st, 2024 - 9:35

    Former San Diego State hooper Graig Nettles, a six-time All-Star third baseman, was moved from one MLB franchise to another twice in the mid-1980s during March. Fellow All-Stars Gene Conley (Washington State) and Sammy White (Washington) were principals in MLB trades this month after earning All-PCC North Division first-team acclaim as hoopers. Nettles, Conley and White are among the following ex-college hoopers involved in MLB off-season transactions during the month of March:

    MARCH

    1: INF Dick Culler (#9 jersey retired by High Point for Little All-American in 1935 and 1936) traded by the Boston Braves to Chicago Cubs in 1948. . . . C Rick Ferrell (played forward for Guilford NC before graduating in 1928) traded by the St. Louis Browns to Washington Senators in 1944.
    4: OF-DH Champ Summers (led SIU-Edwardsville in scoring in 1969-70 after doing likewise with Nicholls State in 1964-65) traded by the Detroit Tigers to San Francisco Giants in 1982.
    5: RHP Oral Hildebrand (Butler hoops All-American in 1928-29 and 1929-30) purchased from the Pittsburgh Pirates by Indianapolis (American Association) in 1942.
    8: RHP Vince Colbert (averaged 14.3 ppg and 7.3 rpg for East Carolina in 1966-67 and 1967-68) traded by the Texas Rangers to Cleveland Indians in 1973.
    10: OF Lou Piniella (averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.4 rpg as Tampa freshman in 1961-62) traded by the Baltimore Orioles to Cleveland Indians in 1966. . . . LHP Jack Spring (freshman hooper for Washington State in 1951-52) acquired from Dallas (American Association) by the Kansas City Athletics as part of a minor league working agreement.
    11: RHP Ben McDonald (started six times as freshman forward for Louisiana State in 1986-87 under coach Dale Brown) traded by the Cleveland Indians to Milwaukee Brewers in 1998.
    13: C-UTL Billy Sullivan Jr. (Portland hoops letterman in 1927-28) purchased from the Detroit Tigers by Brooklyn Dodgers in 1942.
    14: 3B Wally Gilbert (Valparaiso hoops captain in early 1920s) traded by the Brooklyn Dodgers to Cincinnati Reds in 1932.
    15: RHP Ray Fisher (1910 Middlebury VT graduate was "class" basketball participant) awarded off waivers from the New York Yankees to Cincinnati Reds in 1919. . . . RHP Dave Giusti (made 6-of-10 field-goal attempts in two games for Syracuse in 1959-60) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to Oakland Athletics in 1977. . . . C Art Kusnyer (led Kent State in field-goal percentage in 1965-66 as team's third-leading scorer and rebounder) traded by the Chicago White Sox to California Angels in 1971. . . . RHP Jim Todd (played for Parsons IA before averaging 16 ppg with Millersville PA in 1968-69) shipped by the Chicago Cubs as player to be designated to Seattle Mariners in 1977 to complete trade made six months earlier.
    16: LHP Amir Garrett (averaged 7.4 ppg and 4 rpg for St. John's under coach Steve Lavin in 2011-12 and 2012-13 before redshirt transfer year at Cal State Northridge) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to Kansas City Royals in 2022. . . . 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) purchased from the Philadelphia Athletics by Cincinnati Reds in 1939. . . . C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) traded by the Boston Red Sox to Cleveland Indians in 1960 before deal was voided when he refused to report to his new team.
    17: RHP Mike Barlow (Syracuse hoops substitute from 1967-68 through 1969-70) traded by the California Angels to Toronto Blue Jays in 1980. . . . RHP Marty McLeary (Mount Vernon Nazarene OH academic redshirt), a Rule 5 draft pick, returned by the Montreal Expos to Boston Red Sox in 2000.
    19: RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) traded by the Detroit Tigers to Cleveland Indians as part of three-team swap also involving New York Yankees in 1974. . . . LHP Willie Prall (Upsala NJ hooper) traded by the San Francisco Giants to Chicago Cubs in 1974.
    20: UTL Mel Roach (averaged 9.3 ppg for Virginia in 1952-53) traded by the Cleveland Indians to Philadelphia Phillies in 1962. . . . SS Roy Smalley Jr. (one of top scorers for Drury MO in 1942-43 and 1943-44) traded by the Chicago Cubs to Milwaukee Braves in 1954. . . . LHP Matt Thornton (averaged 5.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg for Grand Valley State MI from 1995-96 through 1997-98) traded by the Seattle Mariners to Chicago White Sox in 2006.
    21: SS Bill Almon (averaged 2.5 ppg in half a season for Brown's 1972-73 team ending school's streak of 12 straight losing records) traded by the New York Mets to Philadelphia Phillies in 1988. . . . OF Bryant Alyea (Hofstra's leading scorer and rebounder in 1960-61 after finishing runner-up in both categories previous season) traded by the Washington Senators to Minnesota Twins in 1970. . . . CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) traded by the Cleveland Indians to Detroit Tigers for OF-1B Tito Francona in 1959. . . . INF Vance Law (averaged 6.8 ppg for Brigham Young from 1974-75 through 1976-77) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to Chicago White Sox in 1982.
    23: INF Jake Flowers (member of 1923 "Flying Pentagon" championship hoops squad for Washington College MD) purchased from Buffalo (International) by the Cincinnati Reds in 1934. . . . OF-1B Jim Hickman (Ole Miss freshman hooper in 1955-56) traded by the Chicago Cubs to St. Louis Cardinals in 1974.
    24: 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) purchased from the Atlanta Braves by Montreal Expos in 1988.
    25: UTL Leo Burke (averaged 9.2 ppg for Virginia Tech in 1952-53 and 1953-54) purchased from the Los Angeles Angels by St. Louis Cardinals in 1963. . . . RHP Bobby Humphreys (four-year hoops letterman graduated from Hampden-Sydney VA in 1958) purchased from the Detroit Tigers by St. Louis Cardinals in 1963. . . . OF David Justice (led Thomas More KY in assists in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) traded with another player by the Atlanta Braves to Cleveland Indians for CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) and another player in 1997. . . . 1B Bill White (two-year hooper with Hiram OH in early 1950s) traded by the San Francisco Giants to St. Louis Cardinals in 1959.
    26: RHP Frank Linzy (listed on Oklahoma State's freshman hoops roster in 1959-60) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1972. . . . OF-1B Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to Chicago White Sox in 1987. . . . INF Rob Sperring (averaged 8.7 ppg and 2.9 rpg for Pacific from 1968-69 through 1970-71) traded by the San Francisco Giants to Houston Astros in 1977. . . . RHP Tim Stoddard (starting forward opposite All-American David Thompson for North Carolina State's 1974 NCAA champion) traded by the Oakland Athletics to Chicago Cubs in 1984.
    27: RHP Dan Fife (averaged 12.6 ppg and 4.9 rpg as Michigan's) third-leading scorer each year from 1968-69 through 1970-71 under coach Johnny Orr) traded with cash by the Detroit Tigers to Minnesota Twins for RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) in 1973. . . . OF-INF Tony Phillips (juco teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd with New Mexico Military) traded by the San Diego Padres to Oakland Athletics in 1981. . . . OF Kite Thomas (averaged 5.1 ppg for Kansas State in 1946-47) traded by the Washington Senators to Chicago White Sox in 1954. . . . RHP Monte Weaver (hoops center for Emory & Henry VA in mid-1920s) purchased from the Washington Senators by Boston Red Sox in 1939.
    29: RHP Andy Karl (Manhattan hoops letterman from 1933 through 1935) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to Boston Braves for C-OF Don Padgett (freshman in 1934 excelled in multiple sports for Lenoir-Rhyne NC) in 1947. . . . RHP Curly Ogden (competed as hoops center for Swarthmore PA in 1919, 1920 and 1922) purchased from the Washington Senators by Baltimore (International) in 1927.
    30: LHP Atlee Hammaker (averaged 5 ppg for East Tennessee State in 1976-77 and 1977-78 under coach Sonny Smith) traded by the Kansas City Royals to San Francisco Giants in six-player swap in 1982. . . . RHP Oral Hildebrand (Butler hoops All-American in 1928-29 and 1929-30) purchased from the New York Yankees by St. Paul (American Association) in 1941. . . . 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) traded by the New York Yankees to San Diego Padres in 1984 for LHP Dennis Rasmussen (sixth-man for Creighton averaged 5.1 ppg from 1977-78 through 1979-80) and a player to be designated. . . . RHP Steve Renko (averaged 9.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg as Kansas sophomore in 1963-64) traded by the Chicago White Sox to Oakland Athletics in 1978. . . . OF Ted Savage (led Lincoln MO in scoring average in 1955-56) traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to Cincinnati Reds in 1969. . . . LHP Eric Stults (hooper for 1999 NAIA D-II Tournament runner-up and 2000 NCCAA Tournament titlist with Bethel IN) purchased from the Los Angeles Dodgers by Hiroshima Toyo Carp (Japan Central) in 2010.
    31: RHP Gene Conley (All-PCC first-team selection led North Division in scoring in 1949-50 as Washington State sophomore) traded with two other players by the Milwaukee Braves in 1959 to Philadelphia Phillies for INF Johnny O'Brien (two-time All-American with Seattle was first college player to crack 1,000-point plateau in single season by scoring 1,051 in 37 games in 1951-52) and two other players. . . . SS Rich Hacker (member of Southern Illinois' 1965-66 freshman hoops squad) traded by the New York Mets to Montreal Expos in 1971. . . . C Duane Josephson (led Northern Iowa in scoring in 1962-63 and 1963-64 under coach Norm Stewart) traded by the Chicago White Sox to Boston Red Sox in 1971. . . . RHP Howie Judson (Illinois' third-leading scorer in 1944-45) purchased from the Cincinnati Redlegs by Seattle (PCL) in 1955.

    OFF-SEASON WHEELING AND DEALING PREVIOUS FOUR MONTHS
    MLB February Transactions Involving Former College Hoopers
    MLB January Transactions Involving Former College Hoopers
    MLB December Transactions Involving Former College Hoopers
    MLB November Transactions Involving Former College Hoopers

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