Southern Living: Seven ACC/SEC Members Among Late Arrivals to NCAA Party

Ten power league members always classified as major colleges - with majority of them from the South - finished in the Top 20 of a final wire-service poll at least twice although they didn't make their initial NCAA appearance until after 1970. Florida, Minnesota, South Carolina and Virginia are among the late arrivals to the NCAA party. Among the late-bloomer group, Nebraska is winless in the NCAA playoffs while Florida is a two-time NCAA champion.

Major School (Power League)	1st NCAA Tourney	Star Player(s) in Playoff Debut
Alabama (SEC)	1975 (0-1)	Leon Douglas and T.R. Dunn
Auburn (SEC)	1984 (0-1)	Charles Barkley and Chuck Person
Clemson (ACC)	1980 (3-1)	Larry Nance
Florida (SEC)	1987 (2-1)	Vernon Maxwell and Dwayne Schintzius
Georgia (SEC)	1983 (3-1)	James Banks, Terry Fair and Vern Fleming
Minnesota (Big Ten)	1972 (1-1)	Jim Brewer, Clyde Turner and Dave Winfield
Nebraska (Big Eight)	1986 (0-1)	Brian Carr and Bernard Day
Seton Hall (Big East)	1988 (1-1)	Mark Bryant and John Morton
South Carolina (ACC)	1971 (0-2)	Kevin Joyce, Tom Owens, Tom Riker and John Roche
Virginia (ACC)	1976 (0-1)	Wally Walker

**NOTE: Nebraska (Big Ten) and South Carolina (SEC) currently are members of other power conferences.