Great to See You Again: No 2023 Playoff Outing Between Fellow League Foes

NCAA Tournament confrontations between members from the same power league are relatively rare. The Duke/North Carolina matchup in national semifinals last year was 31st such intra-conference tourney tilt and first-ever between ACC rivals in the playoffs. Six seasons ago, SEC rivals Florida and South Carolina met in the East Regional final. It was the first such contest between SEC members in a 31-year span.

The Big Ten Conference, taking some solace from at least eight teams eliminated in first two rounds the last three years, accounted for seven of the first 18 NCAA Tournament games pitting league members against each other. Seven campaigns ago marked the first time a league (ACC) generated three intra-conference playoff confrontations in a single tourney.

Year Conference Playoff Round NCAA Tourney Result Between Members of Same League
1976 Big Ten national championship Indiana 86 (May scored team-high 26 points), Michigan 68 (Green 18)
1980 Big Ten regional semifinals Purdue 76 (Edmonson/Morris 20), Indiana 69 (I. Thomas 30)
1980 Big Ten national third-place Purdue 75 (Carroll 35), Iowa 58 (Arnold 19)
1981 ACC national semifinals North Carolina 78 (Wood 39), Virginia 65 (Lamp 18)
1983 ACC regional final North Carolina State 63 (Whittenburg 24), Virginia 62 (Sampson 23)
1985 Big East national semifinals Georgetown 77 (Williams 20), St. John's 59 (Glass 13)
1985 Big East national championship Villanova 66 (McClain 17), Georgetown 64 (Wingate 16)
1986 SEC regional semifinals Kentucky 68 (Walker 22), Alabama 63 (Coner 20)
1986 SEC regional final Louisiana State 59 (Williams 16), Kentucky 57 (Walker 20)
1987 Big East regional final Providence 88 (Donovan/D. Wright 20), Georgetown 73 (Williams 25)
1987 Big East national semifinals Syracuse 77 (Monroe 17), Providence 63 (Screen 18)
1988 Big Eight regional final Kansas 71 (Manning 20), Kansas State 58 (Scott 18)
1988 Big Eight national championship Kansas 83 (Manning 31), Oklahoma 79 (Sieger 22)
1989 Big Ten national semifinals Michigan 83 (Rice 28), Illinois 81 (Battle 29)
1992 Big Ten regional final Michigan 75 (Webber 23), Ohio State 71 (Jackson 20)
1992 Great Midwest regional final Cincinnati 88 (Jones 23), Memphis State 57 (Hardaway 12)
2000 Big Ten regional final Wisconsin 64 (Bryant 18), Purdue 60 (Cardinal/Cunningham 13)
2000 Big Ten national semifinals Michigan State 53 (Peterson 20), Wisconsin 41 (Boone 18)
2001 ACC national semifinals Duke 95 (Battier 25), Maryland 84 (Dixon 19)
2002 Big 12 regional final Oklahoma 81 (Price 18), Missouri 75 (Paulding 22)
2009 Big East regional final Villanova 78 (Anderson 17), Pittsburgh 76 (Young 28)
2013 Big East regional final Syracuse 55 (Southerland 16), Marquette 39 (Blue 14)
2015 ACC regional semifinals Louisville 75 (Harrell 24), North Carolina State 65 (Lacey 18)
2016 ACC regional final North Carolina 88 (Johnson 25), Notre Dame 74 (Jackson 26)
2016 ACC regional final Syracuse 68 (Richardson 23), Virginia 62 (Perrantes 18)
2016 ACC national semifinals North Carolina 83 (Jackson/Johnson 16), Syracuse 66 (Cooney 22)
2017 SEC regional final South Carolina 77 (Thornwell 26), Florida 70 (Leon 18)
2018 ACC regional semifinals Duke 69 (Bagley 22), Syracuse 65 (Battle 19)
2019 Big Ten second round Michigan State 70 (Tillman 14), Minnesota 50 (Coffey 27)
2019 ACC regional semifinals Duke 75 (Williamson 23), Virginia Tech 73 (Blackshear 18)
2019 SEC regional final Auburn 77 (Harper 26), Kentucky 71 (Washington 28)
2021 Pac-12 regional semifinals Southern California 82 (White 22), Oregon 68 (Omoruyi 28)
2022 ACC national semifinals North Carolina 81 (Love 28), Duke 77 (Banchero 20)

College Exam: Day #19 For One-and-Only NCAA Tournament Trivia Challenge

Unless you're busy hoarding toilet paper and face-masks, seeking translator to try to understand Plagiarist Biledumb or cowering in fetal position from climate change claptrap War of the Worlds, it's your opportunity to start taking online tests for 23 quarantined days symbolic of normal time frame from Selection Sunday to Monday evening championship contest.

We need something to occupy our minds during quarantine from much of the invective-infected #MessMedia. Emphasizing a "one-and-only" theme for a "one-and-only" event, here is Day 19 of a treasure-trove of tantalizing NCAA Tournament trivia questions from CollegeHoopedia.com tracking the only coach, conference, player or school to be linked to a distinguished or dubious achievement (click here for answers or conduct research digesting historical morsels in CollegeHoopedia.com's year-by-year highlights):

1. Name the only Final Four team to have a trio all average more than 20 points per game in the same season. Hint: The school won its conference tournament that year although none of threesome shot better than 50% from floor over the three games.

2. Name the only duo to twice reach the Final Four and both players average more than 20 points per game each season. Hint: Their team lost each year at the Final Four by same score. One of the pair is only player to score more than 25 points in Final Four defeats in back-to-back years.

3. Who is the only one of UCLA's eight first-team All-Americans from 1964 through 1975 to fail to earn a spot on an All-NCAA Tournament team when the Bruins won 10 national titles? Hint: He averaged more than 15 points per game in two of his three varsity seasons and went on to coach the Bruins' crosstown rival to a regional final.

4. Who is the only NCAA baseball championship coach to direct a basketball team from the same school to the Final Four? Hint: He is the school's all-time winningest basketball coach.

5. Who is the only championship team senior to average seven points per game or less entering the national semifinals before seizing the moment and averaging double digits in scoring in his last two games with an increase of at least six points per game from his pre-Final Four scoring mark? Hint: He was the seventh-leading scorer for the season on a team with only two seniors among its top eight point producers.

6. Who is the only player to score more than half of a championship team's points in a single NCAA Tournament? Hint: He was the team's only player to compile a double-digit season scoring average and no teammate scored more than seven points in either of two Final Four games.

7. Name the only school to lose three national championship games in a city where it enjoyed a distinct homecourt advantage. Hint: The school lost two of the three title games by one point before capturing title there in a season it became the only NCAA champion to lose four consecutive conference contests.

8. Name the only team to fail to have at least one player score in double figures in the championship game. Hint: It was the school's only NCAA Tournament appearance until university started appearing regularly in tourney since 1975.

9. Name the only Division II school to have three of its former head coaches go on to direct major-college teams to the NCAA Division I Tournament championship game. Hint: None of the three coaches compiled a losing record in any of the total of 11 seasons they coached at small school, which won Division II Tournament in 1984 and captured first two NAIA Tournament titles.

10. Who is the only one of the individuals named NBA Most Valuable Player, score more than 20,000 pro points or be selected to at least five All-NBA teams after participating in more than six NCAA Division I Tournament games and not compile a winning tourney record? Hint: He left college with eligibility remaining, but was involved in two NCAA playoff defeats when the tournament conducted regional third-place games.

Answers (Day 19)
Day 18 Questions and Answers
Day 17 Questions and Answers
Day 16 Questions and Answers
Day 15 Questions and Answers
Day 14 Questions and Answers
Day 13 Questions and Answers
Day 12 Questions and Answers
Day 11 Questions and Answers
Day 10 Questions and Answers
Day 9 Questions and Answers
Day 8 Questions and Answers
Day 7 Questions and Answers
Day 6 Questions and Answers
Day 5 Questions and Answers
Day 4 Questions and Answers
Day 3 Questions and Answers
Day 2 Questions and Answers
Day 1 Questions and Answers

State Delegates: Texas Among 7 States Leading Out-of-State A-A Recruits

If you are qualified and gotten more interested these days in the vanguard of state-by-state All-American blackboard information than bored by which state petty politicians are lying in, then campaign with the following strategic delegate knowledge: Only four of 18 All-Americans named by AP, NABC and USBWA this season are homegrown in-state products.

Texas, boasting four homegrown All-Americans this season, is one of seven states accounting for at least 28 different A-As beyond their borders. The leaders are: New York (94), Illinois (65), Pennsylvania (51), Indiana (44), California (43), New Jersey (41), Texas (28), Georgia (27), Maryland (27), Ohio (24), North Carolina (21), Virginia (21), Michigan (20) and Missouri (20). This season, Rhode Island cracked the all-time A-A supply-chain for out-of-state recruits for the first time with Marquette's Tyler Kolek. Following is an alphabetical list of states supplying players who were from or attended high school (some before attending prep school) in a state other than where they earned All-American recognition while attending a four-year university:

Alabama (11) - Kentucky's DeMarcus Cousins (2010), Jacksonville's Artis Gilmore (1970 and 1971), Kentucky State's Travis Grant (1972), Colorado State's Bill Green (1963), Memphis State's Larry Kenon (1973), Southern Illinois' Joe C. Meriweather (1975), Louisville's Allen Murphy (1975), Kansas' Bud Stallworth (1972), Texas Southern's Ben Swain (1958), Southwestern Louisiana's Andrew Toney (1980) and Indiana's D.J. White (2008)

Alaska (2) - Duke's Trajan Langdon (1998 and 1999) and Carlos Boozer (2002)

Arizona (5) - Duke's Mark Alarie (1986), Duke's Marvin Bagley III (2018), Gonzaga's Brandon Clarke (2019), Marquette's Markus Howard (2019 and 2020) and Brigham Young's Joe Richey (1953)

Arkansas (9) - Oklahoma State's James Anderson (2010), Texas Western's Jim Barnes (1964), Gonzaga's Frank Burgess (1961), San Diego State's Michael Cage (1984), Memphis State's Keith Lee (1982-83-84-85), Minnesota's Quincy Lewis (1999), Seattle's Eddie Miles (1963), Kentucky's Malik Monk (2017) and Memphis State's Dexter Reed (1977)

California (43) - Baylor's James Akinjo (2022), UNLV's Stacey Augmon (1991), Oregon's Greg Ballard (1977), Oregon State's Fred Boyd (1982), Arizona State's Joe Caldwell (1963), Oregon State's Lester Conner (1982), New Mexico's Michael Cooper (1978), Penn's Howie Dallmar (1945), Boston College's Jared Dudley (2007), Brigham Young's John Fairchild (1965), Kansas' Drew Gooden (2002), Utah State's Cornell Green (1962), Texas' Jordan Hamilton (2011), Arizona State's James Harden (2009), Brigham Young's Mel Hutchins (1951), Arizona's Stanley Johnson (2015), Oregon State's Steve Johnson (1980 and 1981), Arizona's Steve Kerr (1988), Weber State's Damian Lillard (2012), Oregon's Stan Love (1971), Oregon State's John Mandic (1942), Utah's Billy McGill (1960 through 1962), Utah's Andre Miller (1998 and 1999), Arizona's Chris Mills (1993), Duke's DeMarcus Nelson (2008), Notre Dame's Kevin O'Shea (1947 through 1950), Oregon State's Gary Payton (1990), Kansas' Paul Pierce (1998), Kentucky's Tayshaun Prince (2001 and 2002), UNLV's J.R. Rider (1993), Creighton's Paul Silas (1962 through 1964), Arizona's Miles Simon (1998), Boston College's Craig Smith (2005 and 2006), Brigham Young's Michael Smith (1988), Temple's Terence Stansbury (1984), Oregon's Vic Townsend (1941), Vanderbilt's Jan van Breda Kolff (1974), Utah's Keith Van Horn (1996 and 1997), Kansas' Jacque Vaughn (1995 through 1997), Arizona's Derrick Williams (2011), Portland State's Freeman Williams (1977 and 1978), Kansas' Jeff Withey (2013) and Utah's Delon Wright (2015)

Colorado (9) - Utah's Art Bunte (1955 and 1956), Purdue's Joe Barry Carroll (1979 and 1980), Iowa's Chuck Darling (1952), Nevada's Nick Fazekas (2006 and 2007), Wyoming's Bill Garnett (1982), Notre Dame's Pat Garrity (1998), Wyoming's Harry Jorgensen (1955), Kansas' Mark Randall (1990) and North Carolina State's Ronnie Shavlik (1955 and 1956)

Connecticut (12) - Boston College's John Bagley (1982), Dartmouth's Gus Broberg (1940 and 1941), Massachusetts' Marcus Camby (1996), Providence's Kris Dunn (2016), UCLA's Rod Foster (1981 and 1983), Duke's Mike Gminski (1978 through 1980), Providence's Ryan Gomes (2004), Niagara's Calvin Murphy (1968 through 1970), Seattle's Frank Oleynick (1975), Villanova's John Pinone (1983), Rhode Island's Sly Williams (1978 and 1979) and Michigan's Henry Wilmore (1971 and 1972)

Delaware (1) - Temple's Terence Stansbury (1984)

District of Columbia (13) - Seattle's Elgin Baylor (1957 and 1958), Syracuse's Dave Bing (1965 and 1966), Notre Dame's Austin Carr (1970 and 1971), Utah's Jerry Chambers (1966), Duke's Johnny Dawkins (1985 and 1986), Syracuse's Sherman Douglas (1988 and 1989), Iowa's Luka Garza (2020 and 2021), San Francisco's Ollie Johnson (1965), North Carolina's Bob Lewis (1966 and 1967), Syracuse's Lawrence Moten (1995), Kansas' Thomas Robinson (2012), Duke's Jim Thompson (1934) and Providence's John Thompson Jr. (1964)

Florida (18) - Duke's Grayson Allen, North Carolina's Joel Berry (2018), Houston's Otis Birdsong (1977), Duke's Vernon Carey Jr. (2020), North Carolina's Vince Carter (1998), North Carolina State's Chris Corchiani (1991), Oklahoma State's Joey Graham (2005), Georgia Tech's Tom Hammonds (1989), Illinois' Derek Harper (1983), Wake Forest's Frank Johnson (1981), Vanderbilt's Will Perdue (1988), Villanova's Howard Porter (1969 through 1971), Kansas State's Mitch Richmond (1988), Duke's Austin Rivers (2012), Louisville's Clifford Rozier (1994), Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell (2015), Minnesota's Mychal Thompson (1977 and 1978) and Kansas' Walt Wesley (1966)

Georgia (27) - California's Shareef Abdur-Rahim (1996), Virginia's Malcolm Brogdon (2015 and 2016), Providence's Marshon Brooks (2011), Marquette's Jae Crowder (2012), North Carolina's Hook Dillon (1946 and 1947), Florida State's Toney Douglas (2009), Tennessee's Dale Ellis (1982 and 1983), Louisville's Pervis Ellison (1989), Southern Illinois' Walt Frazier (1967), Oklahoma's Harvey Grant (1988), Clemson's Horace Grant (1987), Grambling's Charles Hardnett (1961 and 1962), Utah's Merv Jackson (1968), Tennessee's Reggie Johnson (1980), Auburn's Walker Kessler (2022), Mississippi State's Jeff Malone (1983), Kentucky's Jodie Meeks (2009), Baylor's Davion Mitchell (2021), Auburn's Mike Mitchell (1978), Arkansas' JD Notae (2022), Clemson's Tree Rollins (1977), Kentucky State's Elmore Smith (1971), Auburn's Jabari Smith Jr. (2022), Kentucky's Bill Spivey (1950 and 1951), Florida State's Al Thornton (2007), Kentucky's Kenny Walker (1985 and 1986) and North Carolina's Al Wood (1980 and 1981)

Idaho (1) - Brigham Young's Roland Minson (1951)

Illinois (65) - Ohio State's Keita Bates-Diop (2018), Minnesota's Jim Brewer (1973), Seattle's Charley Brown (1958 and 1959), Villanova's Jalen Brunson (2018), Indiana's Quinn Buckner (1974 through 1976), Iowa's Carl Cain (1956), Penn's Corky Calhoun (1973), Detroit's Bob Calihan (1939), West Virginia's Jevon Carter (2018), Kansas' Sherron Collins (2009 and 2010), Wisconsin's Bobby Cook (1947), Kentucky's Anthony Davis (2012), Indiana's Archie Dees (1957 and 1958), Detroit's Bill Ebben (1957), Marquette's Bo Ellis (1975 through 1977), California's Larry Friend (1957), William & Mary's Chet Giermak (1950), Michigan's Rickey Green (1976 and 1977), Indiana's A.J. Guyton (2000), Wisconsin's Ethan Happ (2017 and 2019), Notre Dame's Tom Hawkins (1958 and 1959), Michigan's Juwan Howard (1994), Kentucky's Dan Issel (1969 and 1970), Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky (2015), Central Missouri's Earl Keth (1938), Minnesota's Tom Kondla (1967), Notre Dame's Moose Krause (1932 through 1934), Iowa's Ronnie Lester (1979 and 1980), Ohio State's E.J. Liddell (2022), Oklahoma A&M's Bob Mattick (1954), Marquette's Jerel McNeal (2009), Colorado's Cliff Meely (1971), Dartmouth's George Munroe (1942), Iowa's Don Nelson (1961 and 1962), Wisconsin's Ab Nicholas (1952), Duke's Jahlil Okafor (2015), Duke's Jabari Parker (2014), Valparaiso's Alec Peters (2017), Houston's Gary Phillips (1961), Kansas State's Jacob Pullen (2011), Murray State's Bennie Purcell (1952), Wisconsin's Don Rehfeldt (1950), Notre Dame's Eddie Riska (1941), Marquette's Doc Rivers (1982 and 1983), Wyoming's Flynn Robinson (1965), Kansas' Dave Robisch (1971), Memphis' Derrick Rose (2008), Michigan's Cazzie Russell (1964 through 1966), Duke's Jon Scheyer (2010), Evansville's Jerry Sloan (1965), Purdue's Forrest Sprowl (1942), Notre Dame's Jack Stephens (1955), Indiana's Isiah Thomas (1981), Wisconsin's Alando Tucker (2007), Ohio State's Evan Turner (2010), Kentucky's Tyler Ulis (2016), Wichita State's Fred VanVleet (2014), Marquette's Dwyane Wade (2003), Arkansas' Darrell Walker (1983), Marquette's Lloyd Walton (1976), Marquette's Jerome Whitehead (1978), Cincinnati's George Wilson (1963), Kansas' Julian Wright (2007), Arizona's Michael Wright (2001) and Georgia Tech's Rich Yunkus (1970 and 1971)

Indiana (44) - Michigan State's Chet Aubuchon (1940), Tennessee State's Dick Barnett (1958 and 1959), Xavier's Trevon Bluiett (2018), Cincinnati's Ron Bonham (1963 and 1964), Denver's Vince Boryla (1949), Louisville's Junior Bridgeman (1975), Wyoming's Joe Capua (1956), Memphis' Rodney Carney (2006), East Tennessee State's Tom Chilton (1961), Kentucky's Louie Dampier (1966 and 1967), North Carolina State's Dick Dickey (1948 and 1950), Kentucky's LeRoy Edwards (1935), Arizona's Jason Gardner (2002 and 2003), Western Michigan's Harold Gensichen (1943), Virginia's Kyle Guy (2018 and 2019), Florida's Joe Hobbs (1958), Georgia Tech's Roger Kaiser (1960 and 1961), Wyoming's Milo Komenich (1943), Texas' Jim Krivacs (1979), Kansas' Clyde Lovellette (1950 through 1952), Kentucky's Kyle Macy (1978 through 1980), North Carolina's Sean May (2005), Drake's Willie McCarter (1969), Tennessee State's Porter Merriweather (1960), North Carolina State's Vic Molodet (1956), North Carolina's Eric Montross (1993 and 1994), Texas Christian's Lee Nailon (1998), Kentucky's Cotton Nash (1962 through 1964), Ohio State's Greg Oden (2007), Kentucky's Jack Parkinson (1946), Duke's Mason Plumlee (2013), Louisville's Jim Price (1972), Northwestern's Ray Ragelis (1951), North Carolina State's Sam Ranzino (1950 and 1951), Cincinnati's Oscar Robertson (1958 through 1960), Michigan State's Scott Skiles (1986), Wake Forest's Jeff Teague (2009), Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas (2013), Tennessee's Gene Tormohlen (1959), North Carolina State's Monte Towe (1974), Michigan's John Townsend (1937 and 1938), Southern California's Ralph Vaughn (1940), UCLA's Mike Warren (1967 and 1968) and North Carolina's's Tyler Zeller (2012)

Iowa (8) - North Carolina's Harrison Barnes (2012), Creighton's Ed Beisser (1943), Kansas' Nick Collison (2003), Kansas' Kirk Hinrich (2002 and 2003), Creighton's Kyle Korver (2003), Kansas' Raef LaFrentz (1997, Creighton's Doug McDermott (2012 through 2014) and 1998) and Carleton's Wayne Sparks (1937)

Kansas (7) - Kentucky's Bob Brannum (1944), Kentucky's Willie Cauley-Stein (2015), Vanderbilt's Matt Freije (2004), Army's Dale Hall (1945), Colorado's Jack Harvey (1940), Villanova's Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (2021) and Oklahoma's Gerry Tucker (1943 and 1947)

Kentucky (19) - Navy's Buzz Borries (1934), Florida State's Dave Cowens (1970), Cincinnati's Ralph Davis (1960), Tennessee Tech's Jimmy Hagan (1959), Alabama's Jerry Harper (1956), Tennessee's Allan Houston (1992 and 1993), Virginia's Jeff Lamp (1980 and 1981), Tennessee's Chris Lofton (2006 through 2008), Louisiana State's Rudy Macklin (1980 and 1981), Duke's Jeff Mullins (1963 and 1964), Ohio State's Arnie Risen (1945), Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell (2015), Tennessee's Danny Schultz (1964), Furman's Frank Selvy (1952 through 1954), Army's Mike Silliman (1966), Xavier's Hank Stein (1958), Cincinnati's Tom Thacker (1963), Duquesne's Jim Tucker (1952) and South Carolina's Grady Wallace (1957)

Louisiana (14) - Texas' D.J. Augustin (2008), Creighton's Benoit Benjamin (1985), Baylor's Jared Butler (2020 and 2021), Duke's Chris Duhon (2004), Houston's Louis Dunbar (1974), Iowa State's Marcus Fizer (2000), Vanderbilt's Shan Foster (2008), Houston's Elvin Hayes (1966 through 1968), Villanova's Kerry Kittles (1995 and 1996), Georgetown's Greg Monroe (2010), Kentucky's Cotton Nash (1962 through 1964), Oklahoma's Hollis Price (2003), Jacksonville's James Ray (1980) and Kentucky's Rick Robey (1977 and 1978)

Maryland (27) - Virginia's Justin Anderson (2015), Boston College's John Austin (1965 and 1966), Kansas State's Michael Beasley (2008), Wyoming's Charles Bradley (1981), North Carolina State's Kenny Carr (1976 and 1977), San Francisco's Quintin Dailey (1982), Notre Dame's Adrian Dantley (1975 and 1976), Michigan's Hunter Dickinson (2021), Texas' Kevin Durant (2007), Syracuse's C.J. Fair (2014), Duke's Danny Ferry (1988 and 1989), North Carolina's Joseph Forte (2001), Washington's Markelle Fultz (2017), Connecticut's Rudy Gay (2006), Notre Dame's Jerian Grant (2015), Kansas' Tony Guy (1982), Villanova's Josh Hart (2016 and 2017), Davidson's Fred Hetzel (1963 through 1965), North Carolina's Ty Lawson (2009), North Carolina State's Rodney Monroe (1991), Indiana's Victor Oladipo (2013), Duke's Nolan Smith (2011), Virginia Tech's Dale Solomon (1982), Saint Joseph's Delonte West (2004), North Carolina State's Hawkeye Whitney (1980), Georgetown's Reggie Williams (1987) and Pittsburgh's Sam Young (2009)

Massachusetts (14) - Rutgers' James Bailey (1978 and 1979), Villanova's Michael Bradley (2001), Notre Dame's Bonzie Colson (2017), Georgetown's Patrick Ewing (1982 through 1985), Rhode Island State's Chet Jaworski (1939), Yale's Tony Lavelli (1946 through 1949), Oregon's Ron Lee (1974 through 1976), Marshall's Russell Lee (1972), Rhode Island State's Stan Modzelewski (1942), Connecticut's Shabazz Napier (2014), Iowa State's Georges Niang (2015 and 2016), Ohio State's Scoonie Penn (1999 and 2000), Michigan's Rumeal Robinson (1990) and Providence's Jimmy Walker (1965 through 1967)

Michigan (20) - Duke's Shane Battier (2000 and 2001), Dayton's Bill Chmielewski (1962), Syracuse's Derrick Coleman (1989 and 1990), New Mexico's Mel Daniels (1967), Memphis' Chris Douglas-Roberts (2008), Arizona's Bob Elliott (1977), Canisius' Larry Fogle (1974), Iowa State's Jeff Grayer (1988), Texas Western's Bobby Joe Hill (1966), Florida's Al Horford (2007), Kansas' Josh Jackson (2017), Arkansas' George Kok (1948), North Carolina's Tom LaGarde (1977), Alabama State's Kevin Loder (1981), Temple's Mark Macon (1988), Tennessee State's Carlos Rogers (1994), Purdue's Steve Scheffler (1990), Missouri's Doug Smith (1990 and 1991), Bradley's Chet Walker (1960 through 1962) and Iowa's Sam Williams (1968)

Minnesota (8) - Kansas' Cole Aldrich (2010), Boston College's Troy Bell (2001 and 2003), Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren (2022), Dayton's John Horan (1955), Duke's Tre Jones (2020), Gonzaga's Jalen Suggs (2021), Wisconsin's Jordan Taylor (2011) and South Dakota State's Nate Wolters (2013)

Mississippi (5) - Missouri's Melvin Booker (1994), Murray State's Isaiah Canaan (2012), Louisiana State's Chris Jackson (1989 and 1990), UC Irvine's Kevin Magee (1981 and 1982) and Alabama's Derrick McKey (1987)

Missouri (20) - UCLA's Lucius Allen (1968), Princeton's Bill Bradley (1963 through 1965), Idaho State's Lawrence Butler (1979), Duke's Chris Carrawell (2000), Notre Dame's Ben Hansbrough (2011), North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough (2006 through 2009), Tulsa's Steve Harris (1985), Southern Methodist's Jon Koncak (1985), Southern Methodist's Jim Krebs (1957), Oklahoma A&M's Bob Kurland (1944 through 1946), Kansas' Ben McLemore (2013), Drake's Red Murrell (1958), Tulsa's Bob Patterson (1955), Georgetown's Otto Porter Jr. (2013), Kansas' Fred Pralle (1938), Texas-Pan American's Marshall Rogers (1976), Notre Dame's Dick Rosenthal (1954), Kansas' Brandon Rush (2008), Kansas' Jo Jo White (1967 through 1969) and Memphis State's Win Wilfong (1957)

Montana (3) - Iowa's Chuck Darling (1952), Utah State's Wayne Estes (1964 and 1965) and Duke's Mike Lewis (1968)

Nebraska (6) - Kansas State's Bob Boozer (1958 and 1959), South Dakota State's Mike Daum (2019), George Washington's Bob Faris (1939), Michigan's Mike McGee (1981), Wyoming's Les Witte (1932 and 1934) and Iowa's Andre Woolridge (1997)

Nevada (3) - New Mexico's Darington Hobson (2010), Arizona State's Lionel Hollins (1975) and Missouri's Willie Smith (1976)

New Jersey (41) - Miami's Rick Barry (1964 and 1965), Temple's Mike Bloom (1938), West Virginia's Da'Sean Butler (2010), DePaul's Clyde Bradshaw (1980), Illinois' Tal Brody (1965), Notre Dame's Gary Brokaw (1974), George Washington's Corky Devlin (1955), Providence's Vinnie Ernst (1963), Morehead State's Kenneth Faried (2011), Dayton's Henry Finkel (1966), Columbia's Chet Forte (1957), Villanova's Randy Foye (2006), South Carolina's Skip Harlicka (1968), Holy Cross' Tom Heinsohn (1955 and 1956), Duke's Bobby Hurley (1992 and 1993), North Carolina's Tommy Kearns (1957 and 1958), Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (2012), Pittsburgh's Brandin Knight (2002), Stanford's Brevin Knight (1997), Southern California's Mo Layton (1971), Villanova's Bill Melchionni (1966), Providence's Eric Murdock (1991), Notre Dame's Troy Murphy (2000 and 2001), Seattle's Eddie O'Brien (1953), Seattle's Johnny O'Brien (1952 and 1953), North Carolina's Mike O'Koren (1978 through 1980), Holy Cross' Togo Palazzi (1953 and 1954), Notre Dame's David Rivers (1988), Massachusetts' Lou Roe (1994 and 1995), Iowa's Ben Selzer (1934), Notre Dame's John Shumate (1974), Duke's Jim Spanarkel (1978 and 1979), Kansas' Tyshawn Taylor (2012), Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns (2015), Notre Dame's Kelly Tripucka (1979 through 1981), Duke's Bob Verga (1966 and 1967), Saint Joseph's Bryan Warrick (1981 and 1982), Xavier's David West (2002 and 2003), Long Island's Sherman White (1950), Duke's Jason Williams (2001 and 2002) and Miami's Isaiah Wong (2023)

New Mexico (2) - Kansas' Bill Bridges (1961) and West Texas State's Charles Halbert (1942)

New York (94) - UCLA's Lew Alcindor (1967 through 1969), Georgia Tech's Kenny Anderson (1990 and 1991), Penn State's Jesse Arnelle (1955), Minnesota's Ron Behagen (1973), Kansas State's Rolando Blackman (1980 and 1981), Duke's Elton Brand (1999), North Carolina's Pete Brennan (1958), Dartmouth's Audie Brindley (1944), Utah's Ticky Burden (1975), North Carolina State's Lorenzo Charles (1984), Missouri's Derrick Chievous (1987), Illinois' Kofi Cockburn (2021 and 2022), New Mexico State's Jimmy Collins (1970), Holy Cross' Bob Cousy (1948 through 1950), North Carolina's Billy Cunningham (1964 and 1965), Wake Forest's Charlie Davis (1971), Wichita State's Cleanthony Early (2014), Maryland's Len Elmore (1974), Massachusetts' Julius Erving (1971), Georgia's Vern Fleming (1984), Brigham Young's Jimmer Fredette (2010), Louisville's Francisco Garcia (2005), Louisville's Don Goldstein (1959), Louisiana State's Al Green (1979), Duquesne's Sihugo Green (1954 through 1956), UNLV's Sidney Green (1983), Tennessee's Ernie Grunfeld (1976 and 1977), North Carolina State's Tom Gugliotta (1992), Penn's Ron Haigler (1975), Loyola of Chicago's Jerry Harkness (1963), Notre Dame's Billy Hassett (1945), Hawaii's Tom Henderson (1974), Villanova's Larry Hennessy (1952 and 1953), Duke's Art Heyman (1961 through 1963), North Carolina State's Julius Hodge (2004), Xavier's Tu Holloway (2011), Baylor's Vinnie Johnson (1979), West Virginia's Kevin Jones (2012), South Carolina's Kevin Joyce (1973), Holy Cross' George Kaftan (1947 and 1948), Guilford's Bob Kauffman (1968), Cincinnati's Sean Kilpatrick (2014), Maryland's Albert King (1980 and 1981), Tennessee's Bernard King (1975 through 1977), North Carolina's Mitch Kupchak (1975 and 1976), Duke's Christian Laettner (1991 and 1992), North Carolina's York Larese (1959 through 1961), Marquette's Butch Lee (1977 and 1978), Davidson's Mike Maloy (1968 through 1970), Georgia Tech's Stephon Marbury (1996), Kentucky's Jamal Mashburn (1993), Louisville's Rodney McCray (1983), Richmond's Bob McCurdy (1975), Marquette's Dean Meminger (1970 and 1971), North Carolina's Doug Moe (1961), Notre Dame's John Moir (1936-37-38), Florida's Joakim Noah (2007), Kansas State's Markquis Nowell (2023), Louisville's Jordan Nwora (2020), Boston College's Jim O'Brien (1971), Kentucky's Bernie Opper (1939), Idaho's Ken Owens (1982), North Carolina's Sam Perkins (1982 through 1984), Penn State's Jalen Pickett (2023), Connecticut's A.J. Price (2008), Villanova's Allan Ray (2006), Arizona's Khalid Reeves (1994), South Carolina's Tom Riker (1972), Kentucky's Pat Riley (1966), South Carolina's John Roche (1969 through 1971), North Carolina's Lennie Rosenbluth (1956 and 1957), Georgia Tech's John Salley (1986), North Carolina's Charlie Scott (1968 through 1970), Rutgers' Phil Sellers (1975 and 1976), Iowa State's Don Smith (1968), North Carolina's Kenny Smith (1987), Louisville's Russ Smith (2013 and 2014), Providence's Kevin Stacom (1974), DePaul's Rod Strickland (1988), Miami of Ohio's Wally Szczerbiak (1999), Marquette's Earl Tatum (1976), Princeton's Chris Thomforde (1967), Marquette's George Thompson (1969), Iowa State's Jamaal Tinsley (2001), Marquette's Bernard Toone (1979), Dayton's Obi Toppin (2020), Connecticut's Kemba Walker (2011), Providence's Lenny Wilkens (1960), Southern California's Gus Williams (1975), Austin Peay's Fly Williams (1973), Michigan's Henry Wilmore (1971 and 1972), Wyoming's Tony Windis (1959), Tennessee's Howard Wood (1981) and Marquette's Sam Worthen (1980)

North Carolina (21) - Fresno State's Courtney Alexander (2000), Indiana's Walt Bellamy (1960), UCLA's Henry Bibby (1972), Kansas' Devon Dotson (2020), Kansas State's Mike Evans (1978), Furman's Darrell Floyd (1955 and 1956), Georgetown's Sleepy Floyd (1981 and 1982), Kansas' Devonte' Graham (2018), Minnesota's Lou Hudson (1965 and 1966), Minnesota's Bobby Jackson (1997), Maryland's John Lucas (1974 through 1976), Kansas' Danny Manning (1986 through 1988), Louisiana State's Pete Maravich (1968 through 1970), Lamar's Mike Olliver (1981), Texas' P.J. Tucker (2006), Kentucky's John Wall (2010), Xavier's David West (2002), Tennessee's Tony White (1987), Georgia's Dominique Wilkins (1981 and 1982), Maryland's Buck Williams (1981) and Tennessee's Grant Williams (2019)

Ohio (24) - Michigan's Trey Burke (2013), Southern California's Sam Clancy (2002), Washington State's Don Collins (1980), Northwestern's Evan Eschmeyer (1999), Notre Dame's Bob Faught (1942), Michigan's Gary Grant (1987 and 1988), Michigan State's Johnny Green (1958 and 1959), Kentucky's Kevin Grevey (1974 and 1975), Kentucky's Alex Groza (1947 through 1949), Michigan's Phil Hubbard (1977), Duke's Luke Kennard (2017), Southwestern Louisiana's Bo Lamar (1972 and 1973), Pittsburgh's Jerome Lane (1987 and 1988), Kentucky's Jim Line (1950), Indiana's Scott May (1975 and 1976), Purdue's Todd Mitchell (1988), Notre Dame's John Paxson (1982 and 1983), Kentucky's Mike Pratt (1970), Long Beach State's Ed Ratleff (1972 and 1973), Arkansas' Alvin Robertson (1984), Davidson's Dick Snyder (1966), North Carolina State's Bobby Speight (1953), Oklahoma Baptist's Albert Tucker (1966 and 1967) and Kansas State's Chuckie Williams (1976)

Oklahoma (7) - Texas Western's Jim Barnes (1964), San Francisco's Winford Boynes (1978), Arkansas' Lee Mayberry (1992), Kansas State's Willie Murrell (1964), Georgia Tech's Mark Price (1984 through 1986), Syracuse's Etan Thomas (2000) and Duke's Shelden Williams (2005 and 2006)

Oregon (9) - Brigham Young's Danny Ainge (1979 through 1981), Duke's Mike Dunleavy (2002), UCLA's Kevin Love (2008), Gonzaga's Blake Stepp (2004), Arizona's Damon Stoudamire (1995), Arizona's Salim Stoudamire (2005), UCLA's Richard Washington (1975 and 1976), Gonzaga's Nigel Williams-Goss (2017) and Gonzaga's Kyle Wiltjer (2015)

Pennsylvania (51) - Duke's Gene Banks (1979 and 1981), Kentucky's Sam Bowie (1981 and 1984), Kansas' Wilt Chamberlain (1957 and 1958), Wake Forest's Len Chappell (1961 and 1962), Syracuse's Rakeem Christmas (2015), DePaul's Dallas Comegys (1987), Seton Hall's Bob Davies (1941 and 1942), Cincinnati's Danny Fortson (1996 and 1997), Loyola Marymount's Hank Gathers (1989 and 1990), UNLV's Armon Gilliam (1987), North Carolina's George Glamack (1940), Duke's Dick Groat (1951 and 1952), Connecticut's Richard Hamilton (1998 and 1999), UCLA's Walt Hazzard (1963 and 1964), Duke's Gerald Henderson (2009), Kansas' Wayne Hightower (1960 and 1961), West Texas State's Simmie Hill (1969), George Washington's Joe Holup (1956), Virginia's De'Andre Hunter (2019), Loyola Marymount's Bo Kimble (1990), Duke's Ed Koffenberger (1946 and 1947), Rutgers' Bob Lloyd (1967), Drake's Lewis Lloyd (1980 and 1981), Navy's Elliott Loughlin (1933), Marquette's Maurice Lucas (1974), Duke's Jack Marin (1966), Connecticut's Donyell Marshall (1994), Vanderbilt's Billy McCaffrey (1993), Michigan State's Julius McCoy (1956), Maryland's Tom McMillen (1972 through 1974), North Carolina's Larry Miller (1967 and 1968), Winston-Salem State's Earl Monroe (1967), Kansas' Marcus Morris (2011), Syracuse's Billy Owens (1990 and 1991), Virginia's Barry Parkhill (1972 and 1973), North Carolina State's Lou Pucillo (1959), North Carolina State's John Richter (1959), West Virginia's Wil Robinson (1972), North Carolina's Lee Shaffer (1959 and 1960), West Virginia's Lloyd Sharrar (1958), Virginia's Sean Singletary (2007), Utah's Mike Sojourner (1974), Weber State's Willie Sojourner (1971), Cincinnati's Jack Twyman (1955), Michigan State's Horace Walker (1960), Virginia's Wally Walker (1976), North Carolina's Rasheed Wallace (1995), Syracuse's Hakim Warrick (2004 and 2005), Miami's Isaiah Wong (2023) and North Carolina's Dennis Wuycik (1972)

Rhode Island (1) - Marquette's Tyler Kolek (2023)

South Carolina (7) - Connecticut's Ray Allen (1995 and 1996), North Carolina's Raymond Felton (2005), North Carolina's Brice Johnson (2016), Louisiana State's Pete Maravich (1968 through 1970), Wichita State's Xavier McDaniel (1985), Murray State's Ja Morant (2019) and Duke's Zion Williamson (2019)

Tennessee (15) - Wake Forest's Skip Brown (1977), Arkansas' Todd Day (1991 and 1992), Kentucky's Tony Delk (1996), Oral Roberts' Richie Fuqua (1972 and 1973), Oklahoma A&M's Bob Harris (1949), Indiana's Kirk Haston (2001), Cincinnati's Paul Hogue (1961 and 1962), Mississippi State's Bailey Howell (1958 and 1959), Kansas' Dedric Lawson (2019), Western Kentucky's Tom Marshall (1954), Kentucky's Ron Mercer (1997), Alabama's Brandon Miller (2023), Mississippi's Johnny Neumann (1971), Oral Roberts' Anthony Roberts (1977) and Tulsa's Bingo Smith (1969)

Texas (28) - Oral Roberts' Max Abmas (2023), Oklahoma's Mookie Blaylock (1989), Kentucky's Bob Burrow (1955 and 1956), Oklahoma State's Cade Cunningham (2021), Detroit's Antoine Davis (2023), Wyoming's Fennis Dembo (1988), Arizona State's Ike Diogu (2005), Purdue's Keith Edmonson (1982), Purdue's Carsen Edwards (2018 and 2019), North Carolina's Justin Jackson (2017), UNLV's Larry Johnson (1990 and 1991), Syracuse's Wesley Johnson (2010), Oklahoma State's John Lucas III (2004), Cincinnati's Kenyon Martin (2000), Oklahoma's Eduardo Najera (2000), Connecticut's Emeka Okafor (2003 and 2004), Louisiana State's Shaquille O'Neal (1991 and 1992), UNLV's Eddie Owens (1977), Kentucky's Julius Randle (2014), Mississippi State's Lawrence Roberts (2004), Mississippi's Ansu Sesay (1998), Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart (2013 and 2014), Wichita State's Dave Stallworth (1963 through 1965), Gonzaga's Drew Timme (2021 through 2023), South Carolina's Freddie Tompkins (1934), Kentucky's P.J. Washington (2019), Illinois' Deron Williams (2005) and Kansas' Jalen Wilson (2023)

Utah (3) - Montana State's Cat Thompson (1929 and 1930), Montana State's Frank Ward (1930) and Iowa's Herb Wilkinson (1945)

Virginia (21) - Duke's Tommy Amaker (1987), North Carolina's Armando Bacot (2023), Maryland's Bosey Berger (1932), Kentucky's Keith Bogans (2003), Wake Forest's Randolph Childress (1995), Duke's Grant Hill (1992 through 1994), Georgetown's Allen Iverson (1996), East Tennessee State's Mister Jennings (1991), Kansas State's Keyontae Johnson (2023), North Carolina's Kendall Marshall (2012), Kansas' Frank Mason III (2017), Georgetown's Alonzo Mourning (1989 through 1992), Kansas State's Jack Parr (1957 and 1958), Tulsa's Paul Pressey (1982), Duke's J.J. Redick (2004 through 2006), North Carolina's J.R. Reid (1988 and 1989), Villanova's Scottie Reynolds (2010), Navy's David Robinson (1986 and 1987), Georgia Tech's Dennis Scott (1990), Maryland's Joe Smith (1994 and 1995) and Xavier's David West (2002 and 2003)

Washington (7) - Duke's Paolo Banchero (2022), Oregon's Aaron Brooks (2007), Arizona's Michael Dickerson (1998), San Diego State's Malachi Flynn (2020), Arizona's Jason Terry (1999), Louisville's Terrence Williams (2009) and Oregon's Slim Wintermute (1938 and 1939)

West Virginia (2) - Virginia Tech's Chris Smith (1960) and Virginia's Buzz Wilkinson (1955)

Wisconsin (8) - St. Louis' Dick Boushka (1955), Iowa's Fred Brown (1981), Connecticut's Caron Butler (2002), Louisville's Reece Gaines (2003), Iowa's John Johnson (1970), Utah's Jeff Jonas (1977), Minnesota's Chuck Mencel (1953 and 1955) and Cincinnati's Nick Van Exel (1993)

Wyoming (1) - Utah's Vern Gardner (1948 and 1949)

NOTE: Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota and Vermont are the only states failing to supply an All-American for an out-of-state college.

Final Deplore: National Semifinals Aren't All as Pure and Clean as Sister Jean

Beyond permanent residents of Pollyannaville, the Final Four isn't nearly as clean as the emphasis on Loyola of Chicago's high-flying nun Sister Jean several years ago. Celebrated coaches, occasionally recruiting anyone with a pulse if they exhibit hoop skills, expect us to believe all of their prize prospects arrive on campus as authentic student-athletes knowing precisely how to assemble class schedule without silver-platter input citing no-risk-to-eligibility courses. The academic anemia is as disgusting as much as myopic Meghan Markle's "your truth" and new version of KKK (Known Kneeling Knuckleheads) barked about #TheDonald's presidency. Any "stable genius" or "beautiful" con artist such as hideous Hunter Biledumb knows nothing could be further from the truth amid the institutional self-interest. What was the average SAT score differential between majority of suspect individuals acknowledged in list below such as Michigan State's "communal train" majors and the everyday student attending same institutions? If overall top seed Alabama wasn't knocked over by the tourney tide this year, what would the #MessMedia have done regarding lingering murder case?

For decades, this scholastic sham has been stacking up as a farce devaluing many diplomas and denigrating the mission of a free higher-education racket such as Georgetown's celebrated center Patrick Ewing receiving gratis gratification from Atlanta's Gold Club racketeering owners. It shouldn't have come as any surprise a couple of years ago when six former F4 players were among 19 individuals (combining to earn around $363 million in their on-court NBA salaries) charged with defrauding the NBA's health and welfare benefit plan out of approximately $5 million (defendants received about $2.5 million). The scholars were caught because of grammatical errors and other obvious red flags on their phony paperwork. Just exactly what classes did they take at their institutions of lowering learning; especially during spring semester when attending national semifinals? Yes, the NCAA Tournament is gold-plated, but has blemishes including a striking number of the following former Final Four players who plummeted from their lofty All-American pedestal:

Lew Alcindor, UCLA (coached by John Wooden) - Two-time national player of the year and three-time Final Four MOP in late 1960s ran into trouble with law over marijuana twice in two years at the turn of 21st Century (paid fine after surrendering small amount to officers at Toronto airport and arrested on suspicion of driving under influence). Islamic convert Kareem Abdul-Jabbar offended majority of patriotic Americans by comparing national anthem to slaves singing songs during manual labor. To that bitter end depicted in book Showtime describing disdain for white people, doubt that Kareem "feels" differently in morning than Barack Obama about Arabic call to prayer. Jabbar's son, Adam, was sentenced to six months in jail for stabbing a 60-year-old neighbor several times with hunting knife (nearly bleeding to death) during argument over trash cans.

Kenny Anderson, Georgia Tech (Bobby Cremins) - Despite earning close to $63 million in his NBA career, the second-leading scorer and leader in assists for 1990 Final Four squad declared bankruptcy shortly after retiring in 2005. "When you're an athlete, there is always someone holding your hand, helping you get it done, guiding your every step," said Anderson, who had seven children from five different women. "But that NBA lifestyle isn't real. It can gobble you up. And it did me." Anderson was fired from his coaching job at a small Jewish high school in south Florida following his arrest in Pembroke Pines, Fla., at about 4:30 a.m. in late April 2013 after police allegedly saw him driving in and out of his lane. He also was arrested in Miranar, Fla., in mid-December 2011 after leaving the scene following crashing his vehicle into two trees along a swale. In a documentary (Mr. Chibbs), Anderson said he was sexually molested by a Queens neighbor during his childhood.

Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse (Jim Boeheim) - Leading scorer and rebounder for 2003 NCAA titlist was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving at 4 a.m. in mid-April 2008 after one of his worst games of the NBA season in Denver. He was suspended for 25 contests during the 2006-07 campaign for punching New York Knicks guard Mardy Collins in the face during one of the NBA's worst brawls. Took up the mantle of the "stop snitchin'" movement, appearing in an underground DVD circulated in his hometown of Baltimore in 2004 encouraging those who are questioned by the police to refuse to "snitch" on drug dealers, murderers and other criminals. Suspended for one game without pay midway through the 2012-13 campaign for confronting an opposing player (Boston's Kevin Garnett) multiple times (in the arena tunnel, near the players' locker rooms and in the parking garage) following a loss against the Celtics.

Marvin Barnes, Providence (Dave Gavitt) - Unanimous first-team All-American in 1973-74 was arrested for a variety of things - trespassing, being under the influence of narcotics, burglary of a locked vehicle. Homeless in San Diego, he stole X-rated videos to sell for drug money. Leading rebounder and second-leading scorer for 1973 Final Four team claimed his cocaine addiction escalated to the point where he snorted the drug on the Boston Celtics' bench during a game. Jailed in 1977 for violating terms of probation. Barnes contended he hit rock bottom during one of his drug-related prison stints when he almost killed a fellow inmate. Barnes attended the John Lucas Treatment Center in Houston and worked as a director at a halfway house before encountering liver problems. In mid-May 2007, he was arrested by state police on a felony charge of cocaine possession. In mid-January 2012, Barnes, 59, was arraigned in Rhode Island on a charge of soliciting a 17-year-old minor for sex after they met through his Rebound Foundation for at-risk youths. In the fall of 1972, he was charged with assault after hitting PC teammate Larry Ketvirtis with a tire iron following a scrimmage ("Tire Iron" subsequently ordered by federal court to pay $10,000 in damages). Barnes once asked Providence Journal columnist Bill Reynolds if cocaine kills brain cells before saying: "I must have been a genius when I started out." While incarcerated, Barnes also told Reynolds: "Here I am trying to get myself straightened out and they come out with a brand-new drug (crystal meth)."

William Bedford, Memphis State (Dana Kirk) - All-American as a junior in 1985-86 was arrested in February 2001 after Taylor, Mich., police said they found 25 pounds of marijuana in his car. Second-leading scorer and rebounder for 1985 Final Four squad subsequently served time in a Fort Worth, Tex., prison on drug-related charges. In 1987, he was subpoenaed by a Maricopa County (Ariz.) grand jury investigating drug use among Phoenix Suns players and testified against his teammates after receiving immunity. In March 1988, Bedford admitted he was addicted to cocaine and marijuana and was committed to the NBA's treatment facility in Van Nuys, Calif. Known as "Willie B" - as in "Will he be at practice?" - Bedford relapsed the following October and was readmitted to the clinic. When he returned, his behavior on and off the court grew more erratic. He received a dozen traffic tickets and 10 license suspensions in less than four years. In September 1997, Bedford, who was on three years probation at the time, tested positive for cocaine and was sent to a Texas state jail for one year. Also arrested in Texas for failing to pay more than $300,000 in child support.

Charlie Bell, Michigan State (Tom Izzo) - Third arrest of 2011 came in December when the three-time Final Four participant (1999 through 2001) showed up drunk to the court hearing regarding his previous arrest, an October 2011 DUI. All-American point guard as senior in 2000-01 was also arrested for DUI in February of same year. His estranged wife, a former Miss Michigan USA, was arrested in spring of 2011 for allegedly stabbing Bell with a box cutter

Mike Bibby, Arizona (Lute Olson) - Police investigated sexual-abuse harassment accusations in late February 2019 but filed no charges against second-leading scorer as freshman of 1997 NCAA titlist while coaching his high school alma mater (winning five titles in six years this decade). Bibby exited his position following the allegations.

Daron "Mookie" Blaylock, Oklahoma (Billy Tubbs) - Leader in assists and steals for 1988 NCAA Tournament runner-up was busted in 1997 when drug sniffing dogs uncovered marijuana on him in a Vancouver, Canada airport. Second-team All-American was arrested around 4 a.m. in early March 1989 and charged with public drunkenness following a report of an argument at a convenience store. He was charged with vehicular homicide arising from a head-on crash killing a mother of five in suburban Atlanta in late May 2013. Blaylock, accused of driving on a suspended license and failure to maintain his lane in the crash, was also wanted on charges of failure to appear in court, DUI and drug possession. Bond was set at $250,000 stemming from a criminal record including six DUIs in a six-year span from late 2007 to late 2013 (one when blood alcohol content was 4 1/2 times legal limit) before he pleaded guilty (term reduced to seven years - suspended after three - and eight years' probation according to a plea deal). Prior to the crash, a doctor had ordered Blaylock (treated for seizures) not to drive, prosecutors said. A former Hawks ball-boy told SI that Blaylock was stoned a large part of the time he played for Atlanta after spending many game days at a strip club.

Tom Burleson, North Carolina State (Norm Sloan) - Leading rebounder and second-leading scorer for 1974 NCAA titlist was greeted by Duke's pep band with chorus of "Pinball Wizard" after two-time All-American center admitted to taking $117 in change from three pinball machines in dormitory lobby.

Marcus Camby, Massachusetts (John Calipari) - National POY in 1996 as leading scorer and rebounder with Final Four team was arrested for possession of marijuana in mid-June 1997. Also arrested by Pearland, Tex., police in mid-September 2011 in black Porsche and charged with marijuana possession. Admitted accepting thousands of dollars in cash, jewelry, rental cars and prostitutes from agents while in college.

Howard Carter, Louisiana State (Dale Brown) - Charged in the spring of 1995 with buying and using drugs after French police arrested him and seized a dose of heroin. He was arrested with five suspected drug dealers in the stairwell of a building shortly before his team was slated to play. Carter, a two-time All-American who averaged 15.2 ppg and 4.4 rpg for LSU from 1979-80 through 1982-83 and appeared in the 1981 Final Four, took out French citizenship and played for the country's national team.

Lorenzo Charles, North Carolina State (Jim Valvano) - All-American as junior in 1983-84 stole two pizzas from delivery boy while in summer session in 1982. Brooklyn native was handed a 10-year suspended sentence for larceny, made to perform 300 hours of community service, do some custodial work for police department and undergo psychiatric counseling. Charles went from doghouse at start of 1982-83 campaign to penthouse in NCAA Tournament title game with decisive dunk vs. heavily-favored Houston.

Mateen Cleaves, Michigan State (Tom Izzo) - Two-time Big Ten Conference MVP and 2000 Final Four MOP arrested in mid-March 2010 on suspicion of drunken driving but ended up leading to careless driving. Acquitted of sexual assault charges in late summer 2019 after accused of false imprisonment by intoxicated woman who said she was driven in his Cadillac SUV to a Knights Inn and attacked four years earlier following a Flint-area charity golf outing and trip to local bar for drinks. A surveillance video showed Cleaves, clad only in socks, pulling the near-naked woman back to a motel room twice. He faced misdemeanor charges of stealing beer while in college but that case eventually was dropped.

Derrick Coleman, Syracuse (Jim Boeheim) - The Big East Conference's 1990 MVP was stopped in Farmington Hills, Mich., at 3:30 a.m. in late July 2002 for speeding (120 mph in a 70 mph zone) and taken into custody after refusing a breathalyzer test. Arrested in late October 1999 in Charlotte for driving while under the influence after the vehicle he was driving collided with a tractor-trailer. A couple of months earlier, he was accused of urinating in front of patrons at a downtown Detroit Chinese restaurant and charged with disorderly conduct. Leading rebounder for 1987 national runner-up also faced a civil lawsuit in Michigan in which he was accused of trespassing and battery at a Detroit woman's home in 1997. In summer of 1995, he was arrested and charged with refusing to move his truck and swearing at a police officer in Detroit. Despite earning an estimated $87 million in his NBA career, he owed creditors $4.7 million after a series of poor real estate investments in Detroit. In college, Coleman was sentenced to 50 hours of community service and ordered to make restitution for damage after pleading guilty to charges of harassment and disorderly conduct at a campus dance.

Sherron Collins, Kansas (Bill Self) - In June 2008, months after KU won the NCAA title, a judge ruled in favor of a woman he allegedly sexually assaulted in an elevator the previous year, granting damages in excess of $75,000 in a civil suit. A 35-year-old woman said she was unable to continue working at the Jayhawker Towers because of an incident where Collins was accused of exposing himself and rubbing against her despite being told repeatedly to stop. Collins, a two-time All-American in subsequent seasons, denied the assault but was a no-show at the hearing. The accuser later dropped the lawsuit for mental and physical problems when Collins agreed to drop his counterclaim of defamation.

Glen "Big Baby" Davis, Louisiana State (John Brady) - Leading scorer and rebounder for 2006 Final Four team as SEC Player of the Year was arrested at a Hampton Inn in Baltimore suburb in early February 2018 with a quarter of a pound of marijuana and $92,000 in cash. Arrested a couple of months later for felony assault with intent to cause great bodily injury. When confronted by a man he apparently almost struck with his vehicle outside a West Hollywood nightclub, Davis allegedly picked up the victim and slammed him on the concrete (facial fractures, broken tooth and broken ribs).

Sherman Douglas, Syracuse (Jim Boeheim) - Leader in scoring and assists as sophomore for 1987 national runner-up was charged with eluding a U.S. Park Service police officer in early 2004 after hitting him in knee with his car. Douglas, an All-American the next two seasons while finishing among the nation's top six in scoring feeds both years, said he fled because he thought he was being carjacked. He was also subpoenaed to appear before a federal grand jury to be questioned about a Virginia prison break in summer of 1990.

Raymond Felton, North Carolina (Roy Williams) - All-American in 2004-05 as leader in assists and steals for NCAA titlist was sentenced to 500 hours of community service and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine after pleading guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm. He admitted knowingly having a large-capacity ammunition magazine and a pistol without a license in his Manhattan apartment. The attorney for his estranged wife turned a semiautomatic firearm into police in late February 2014 after alleging Felton used gun to "intimidate" her during domestic disputes.

Eric "Sleepy" Floyd, Georgetown (John Thompson Jr.) - Leading scorer for 1982 NCAA Tournament runner-up was arrested in early January 1996 in a Houston suburb on charge of misdemeanor assault after a fight with his wife.

Phil Ford, North Carolina (Dean Smith) - Four-time All-American from 1974-75 through 1977-78 was arrested in fall of 1999 and charged with drunken driving for the second time in 25 months. Leader in scoring and assists for 1977 national runner-up pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and entered a treatment center for the second time.

Joseph Forte, North Carolina (Bill Guthridge and Matt Doherty) - Maryland state police arrested leading scorer for 2000 Final Four team in early May, 2003, after finding marijuana and a handgun in his car on a trip back from New York, where he met his idol, rapper Jay-Z. Two-time All-ACC guard (1999-00 and 2000-01) also faced an assault charge when he allegedly punched a man in the face during a pickup game. Questions linger about his mother being hired by the sports agency he subsequently affiliated with upon leaving school early.

Jason Gardner, Arizona (Lute Olsen) - Leader in assists and runner-up in steals for 2001 national runner-up was dismissed after five seasons as IUPUI head coach in late August 2019 after being apprehended intoxicated at 4:30 a.m. asleep behind the wheel of his Nissan.

Jack "Goose" Givens, Kentucky (Joe B. Hall) - Final Four MVP in 1978 found not guilty following arrest during summer of 2004 on charges of sexual battery and lewd molestation of 14-year-old girl after giving her a private basketball lesson at her home while parents were away. Givens acknowledged "bad judgment" via instant-message conversations with the girl, some involving sexual topics, and apologized for "whatever she assumed I did" during a taped phone call with her. A police affidavit said the girl's grandmother was at the home, called the girl's mother twice at her work to report what she thought was inappropriate behavior in the swimming pool and later called the girl out of her bedroom out of concern for her well-being. After first 14 years of the franchise, Givens' contract as a color analyst for the Orlando Magic was not renewed.

Ben Gordon, Connecticut (Jim Calhoun) - Scoring leader for 2004 NCAA titlist was arrested during 2002-03 season for allegedly slapping a female student. Fiancee Sascha Smith was involved in an early-morning brawl at a Charlotte nightclub in mid-December 2012 that landed Tyrus Thomas' wife in jail. Four run-ins with the law in six-month span in 2017 (arrested in early June after allegedly pulling multiple fire alarms at his L.A. apartment complex, hospitalized for a psych evaluation in his hometown of Mount Vernon, N.Y., in October after cops responded to a confrontation he had with a woman at his sports rehab center-owned business, arrested in mid-November in New York City for driving with forged license plate and arrested in late November for felony robbery of apartment manager over his security deposit). In spring of 2023, Gordon was arrested for alleged juice shop knife threat.

Luther Head, Illinois (Bill Self and Bruce Weber) - Leading scorer for 2005 national runner-up was suspended four games with a couple of teammates for being among individuals in a fall 2003 burglary entering an apartment and pilfering as much as $3,000 worth of goods. He also sat out Big Ten Conference opener in 2003-04 following arrest on charges of driving on a suspended license.

Juwan Howard, Michigan (Steve Fisher) - Starter for back-to-back NCAA runners-up (1992 and 1993) was sued on two separate occasions by women claiming he gave them herpes, an infection lasting a lifetime. He was arrested at 3:45 a.m. in mid-November 1996 on a DWI charge after his 1995 Mercedes was spotted speeding. A paternity suit was filed in spring of 1996 by a Detroit-area woman claiming Howard was father of her toddler (contending she became pregnant at Pontchartrain Hotel in Detroit in spring of 1991 before Chicago native enrolled at UM). She initially rejected an anemic offer of $175/week in child support.

Mark Jackson, St. John's (Lou Carnesecca) - In the summer of 2012, a salacious story unfolded as a stripper and co-conspirator were busted for a purported $200,000 extortion plot against Jackson, who moonlighted as a minister at a LA suburb-based non-denominational church, for sending compromising nude photographs during a 2006 affair. The NCAA assists average leader in 1985-86 after participating in Final Four the previous season "shimmied off" being called "a Bible-pounding phony" by ESPN colleague Bob Ryan although the network suspended the venerable ex-Boston Globe columnist, not "Action" Jackson, for a couple of weeks.

Marques Johnson, UCLA (John Wooden and Gene Bartow) - Three-time Final Four participant in mid-1970s was arrested in late July 1988 on suspicion of beating his wife during an argument. Nine months after Johnson was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in fall of 1984, they filed suit in federal court to nullify the transaction because the Milwaukee Bucks had not told them about him undergoing treatment at a drug rehabilitation center.

Christian Laettner, Duke (Mike Krzyzewski) - NCAA national player of the year in 1991-92 was suspended for five NBA games in 2003-04 after violating the league's drug policy. Four-time Final Four participant (MOP in 1991) was sued multiple times for failure to repay loans, including $671,309 owed to former teammate Johnny Dawkins. In 2010, Laettner's attorney said his client had $10 million in assets and $40 million in debt. His $3.65 million mansion outside Jacksonville, Fla., was foreclosed on in 2015. In the fall of 2016, a federal judge dismissed an involuntary bankruptcy case against him (five creditors claimed they were among those owed $14.05 million) after he reached a repayment deal his lawyer said should bring a decade of financial woes to a close. He earned $61 million as an NBA player.

Ty Lawson, North Carolina (Roy Williams) - All-American in 2008-09 when reaching Final Four for second season in a row was arrested in an alleged domestic violence incident at his home in mid-August 2013. In mid-July 2015, he was arrested for DUI for the fourth time in an eight-year span and subsequently served two DUI-related suspensions during the first half of the 2015-16 NBA campaign. After ending up banned from the Chinese Basketball Association, he was arrested in Spain in early 2022 following two altercations.

Ron Mercer, Kentucky (Rick Pitino) - Leading scorer as All-American for 1997 NCAA Tournament runner-up faced misdemeanor assault charge stemming from a scuffle in a Nashville strip club in April 2007. Police said Mercer punched a bouncer in the face. He was sued along with Chauncey Billups for attempted rape at Antoine Walker's residence in November 1997 in a case settled out of court (Walker sued for failing to stop alleged incident after socializing at Boston comedy club before also settling). In August 2013, a jury sided with Mercer in a lawsuit brought by an ex-girlfriend over the ownership of a $45,000 Range Rover.

Joakim Noah, Florida (Billy Donovan) - Final Four MOP in 2006 before becoming an A-A the next season was arrested for possession of marijuana in late May 2008 (also cited hours later for driving with suspended license and not wearing seat belt). Suspended 20 games late in 2016-17 NBA season for violating the league's anti-drug policy. Annoyed about playing time, he got into an altercation with coach Jeff Hornacek during a practice that ultimately triggered his exile from the New York Knicks.

Greg Oden, Ohio State (Thad Matta) - All-American center as freshman in 2006-07 was formally charged with battery for allegedly punching his ex-girlfriend in the face around 3:30 a.m. on August 7, 2014, at his mother's home in Lawrence, Ind. In a plea agreement, the leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker for 2007 NCAA Tournament runner-up was found guilty of felony battery with moderate bodily injury.

Howard Porter, Villanova (Jack Kraft) - Final Four Most Outstanding Player in 1971 served six months in jail for probation violation on a previous drug conviction. "I was a junkie like any other junkie," Porter told the Tampa Tribune. He was trying to trade money and crack cocaine for sex with a prostitute in St. Paul in May, 2007, when the probation officer was beaten to death, according to murder charges filed several months later.

Jason Richardson, Michigan State (Tom Izzo) - Leading scorer for 2001 Final Four team was found guilty of domestic violence in early summer of 2003 stemming from a dispute with an ex-girlfriend at her home in Saginaw, Mich., resulting in a three-game suspension by the NBA and a one-year probation sentence. Fresh off a DUI arrest, he was pulled over in late 2008 for going 90 mph in a 35-mph zone with his three-year-old son in the back of vehicle (although not in car seat).

Rumeal Robinson, Michigan (Bill Frieder and Steve Fisher) - Best remembered for converting the game-winning free throws in the 1989 NCAA title game against Seton Hall, he was sentenced in early 2011 to 6 1/2 years in jail for financial fraud. The charges against Robinson were bank bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and making a false statement to a financial institution. The two-time All-Big Ten Conference selection borrowed more than $700,000 from a bank in Iowa in 2004, claiming it was for a business. He used the money for personal purposes instead (buying a condominium, cars, furniture and investing in an energy company). He's a bankrupted "strip club addict," according to his adoptive brother. Sparked outrage in his Cambridge, Mass., hometown when he reportedly caused his adoptive mother to be forcibly removed from her home after being tricked into signing a deed that sold a house to Robinson's business associate while receiving no money.

Thomas Robinson, Kansas (Bill Self) - Big 12 Conference Player of the Year in 2011-12 for NCAA tourney runner-up was cited with misdemeanor battery in spring of 2011 following an incident at a nightclub. The city prosecutor dismissed charge involving spitting on a bouncer, who did not want the prosecution to go forward. Robinson completed 20 hours of community service and agreed to write a letter of apology to the victim.

Derrick Rose, Memphis (John Calipari) - Assists leader and second-leading scorer for 2008 tourney runner-up was cleared with a couple of friends of all charges stemming from a civil rape lawsuit in a Los Angeles court. Rose and his co-defendants maintained the sex was consensual. His fraudulent SAT score resulted in the Tigers' vacating their runner-up finish.

Jalen Rose, Michigan (Steve Fisher) - The Wolverines' leader in assists for back-to-back Final Four teams in 1992 and 1993 was arrested around 2 a.m. in March 2011 on suspicion of drunken driving. Accused of operating a vehicle (Cadillac Escalade) while impaired (said he drank six martinis), he declined to take a Breathalyzer. Rose, who put the unbecoming "Uncle Tom" tag on Duke, was pulled from the air briefly by ESPN for failing to disclose his DUI arrest shortly after the release of a controversial documentary about his time with the Fab Five. Given a speeding ticket only hours after being ordered to serve 93 days in jail (all but 20 of them suspended; served 16 days).

Curtis Rowe, UCLA (John Wooden) - Two-time All-American while playing for three straight NCAA champions from 1969 through 1971 was charged in mid-October 1989 with possession of cocaine after Detroit police said they saw him and a companion throw packets of drugs on the ground. Arrested in late February 2008 in a drug raid in a building on Detroit's west side as officers found him with a baggie containing a substance believed to be heroin on his person.

Clifford Rozier, North Carolina (Dean Smith)/Louisville (Denny Crum) - After years of personal and legal trouble (five arrests and bankruptcy), the 1994 first-team All-American was incarcerated in his hometown of Bradenton, Fla., in May 2001, after being charged with grand theft auto. Rozier, jailed after an accusation of stealing a Manatee County sheriff deputy's personal car, was on the run for about a month before police apprehended him in Orlando. His ex-wife had him committed various times to a psychiatric care facility under Florida's Baker Act. Drug panhandler after participating in 1991 Final Four for UNC had three vehicles repossessed and his liabilities included child support to three women. After spending time in jail cells and psychiatric wards, Rozier lived in a halfway house following a 2006 arrest on an assault charge. Arrested in summer of 1998 on charges of assaulting his mother but the case was dropped. According to a 2010 Sarasota Herald-Tribune story, Rozier was diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Brandon Rush, Kansas (Bill Self) - Leading scorer for 2008 NCAA titlist was suspended five games for violating NBA drug policy in late August 2010. Arrested while in college for not appearing in court to settle multiple traffic incidents. Faced family court date in spring of 2008 related to a child-support case.

Ralph Sampson, Virginia (Terry Holland) - Three-time national player of the year from 1981 through 1983 was accused of lying to federal authorities about his finances in a child-support case. Sampson pleaded guilty in 2005 in Richmond to failing to pay about $300,000 in court-ordered child support for two children who live in northern Virginia and have different mothers. Sentencing was postponed after leading rebounder and second-leading rebounder for 1981 Final Four team was indicted on perjury and false claim charges before mail fraud and false-statement allegations were added. In a plea agreement, he was slated to serve two months in jail for mail fraud.

Damon Stoudamire, Arizona (Lute Olson) - Co-Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Year in 1994-95 after appearing in Final Four the previous campaign was busted three times on marijuana-related charges in 2002 and 2003. "You live and you learn," Stoudamire said. "Guys are human and guys make mistakes."

Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas (Bill Self) - In the spring of 2015, the assists leader for 2012 NCAA Tournament runner-up allegedly cashed a fake money order for $1,000 cash at a food store in his hometown of Hoboken, N.J. Sustained a dislocated thumb in fall of 2009 in an altercation involving several football and basketball players outside of the student union building. Late in 2010-11 campaign, KU suspended Taylor and a women's hooper for reportedly getting frisky playing unauthorized one-on-one inside Allen Fieldhouse.

Isiah Thomas, Indiana (Bob Knight) - A Detroit TV reporter filed an assault and battery complaint against 1981 Final Four MOP during his NBA playing days with the Detroit Pistons, claiming Thomas choked him and threw him against a car. A jury decided in the fall of 2007 that Thomas sexually harassed a former Knicks team executive, subjecting the former Northwestern basketball player to unwanted advances and a barrage of vulgarity (Madison Square Garden eventually settled for $11.5 million). The CBA almost disbanded after Thomas purchased the minor league before selling his interest in 2000. Multiple CBA executives said Thomas was "rude. . . . very poor business person. . . . doesn't listen to people. . . . makes poor decisions."

David Thompson, North Carolina State (Norm Sloan) - National player of the year in 1973-74 and 1974-75 had well-publicized involvement with cocaine. Final Four MOP in 1974 was accused of assaulting his wife while free-basing cocaine (received 180-day sentence in minimum security prison in 1987), filed for bankruptcy and suffered a severe knee injury in a dispute at Studio 54 in New York.

Bernard Toone, Marquette (Al McGuire and Hank Raymonds) - All-American in 1978-79 was charged with attempted grand larceny, criminal possession of burglar's tools and criminal mischief in April 1988 in White Plains, N.Y., after allegedly attempting to steal a car stereo system from a new Porsche. Member of 1977 NCAA titlist had been arrested twice in less than a year in 1985 - charged with third-degree grand larceny for allegedly stealing a car radio and pleading guilty to unauthorized use of a motor vehicle after he was arrested at a fast-food restaurant in a rental car that had been reported stolen.

Kenny Walker, Kentucky (Joe B. Hall and Eddie Sutton) - Two-time NCAA consensus All-American after helping UK reach 1984 Final Four received seven-day jail sentence after pleading guilty to menacing his wife. He had been arrested in early January 1996 and charged with assault for allegedly choking his spouse.

John Wallace, Syracuse (Jim Boeheim) - A little over a year after becoming an All-American in 1995-96, his girlfriend withdrew a harassment charge alleging he punched her in the face and choked her during a quarrel over their son. Arrested in Brooklyn for driving with a suspended license in late February 2016. Leading scorer and rebounder for 1996 tourney runner-up also charged in summer of 1996 for failing to follow officers' instructions after issuance of a ticket.

Rasheed Wallace, North Carolina (Dean Smith) - Second-leading scorer and rebounder for 1995 Final Four team apologized in court and agreed to perform 50 hours of community service plus seek counseling following accusation of choking the mother of his child while visiting her and the infant over Easter weekend in 1996. Arrested with Portland "Jail Blazers" teammate in late November 2002 in a speeding car in which officers smelled pot.

Chris Webber, Michigan (Steve Fisher) - Leading rebounder for back-to-back NCAA Tournament runner-up teams in 1992 and 1993 was charged with marijuana possession and assaulting a police officer in 1998. He was pulled over and resisted the officer. The vehicle was impounded and traces of marijuana were found inside. Also that year, he was arrested by customs officials for possession of marijuana as he returned from a promotional trip to Puerto Rico. Indicted by a federal grand jury in Detroit in September, 2002, on four felony counts of conspiracy to obstruct justice and lying to federal investigators (regarding money laundering tied to a shady UM booster, a bookmaker who was convicted of tax evasion and robbery before dying of a heart attack before he testified against Webber, who subsequently pleaded guilty to one count of criminal intent for lying about his role in the scandal). Suspended in mid-February, 2004, for five games by the NBA for violating the league's anti-drug program. Sued over the closing of his Sacramento restaurant after signing a 20-year lease in 2005.

Bob "Zeke" Zawoluk, St. John's (Frank McGuire) - All-American in 1950-51 and 1951-52 after scoring school-record 65 points against St. Peter's in 1949-50 had turbulent life including vast emotional instability, an arson rap, crack addiction, grand larceny conviction and prison. After getting fired by one of a series of auto dealers for which he worked, leading scorer and rebounder for 1952 NCAA Tournament runner-up got even in an alcohol-fueled rage in Queens and Nassau County in 1986, dousing two luxury cars with gasoline, torching them, then ramming into 17 other cars, before being apprehended after a high-speed chase. Following another transgression, he was paroled on Christmas Eve, 1993, after serving nearly two years at Clinton Correctional Facility on robbery and grand larceny charges. A subsequent positive drug test violated his parole and sent him to Rikers Island in the mid-1990s.

DISHONORABLE MENTION

Dispensing with politically-correct niceties, many extra-baggage players simply have difficulty comprehending the difference between right and wrong. Heaven only knows how many other Final Four performers have run afoul of the law except for schools protecting them like their Praetorian Guard. Wichita State reached a $495,000 settlement with a former university vice president who sued WSU for retaliation. The ex-VP said he was demoted and his employment subsequently terminated after trying to investigate two student athletes, including one member of the 2013 Final Four squad. By no means comprehensive (example: Joe Hillman of 1987 titlist Indiana reportedly was one of seven agents in an underground bookmaking operation), following is an alphabetical list of non-All-Americans - including striking number from Michigan State - who didn't generate a prison bus break but might be of sufficient number for some concerned citizen to organize a "Mothers Against Final Four" group:

Player School Summary of Off-the-Court Shenanigans
Tony Allen Oklahoma State Leader in scoring and steals plus runner-up in rebounding and assists for 2004 Final Four club was charged in late November 2021 with domestic assault, domestic vandalism and interference with emergency calls in connection with an incident at his wife's apartment. Previously, the Big 12 Conference MVP was found not guilty after indicted on three counts of aggravated battery escalating into an August 2005 shooting in his native Chicago. Juco recruit was arrested in late summer 2002 for obstruction and resisting a police officer after 25 cops were summoned at 2:30 a.m. to break up riot of about 300 people linked to rival groups from OSU and Langston University at a Whataburger restaurant. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud in NBA scam (sentenced to community service and supervision).
Darrell Allums UCLA Center for the Bruins' NCAA Tournament runner-up in 1980 was sentenced to nine years in state prison for armed robbery. According to a probation report, Allums became dependent on cocaine and turned to robbing Target stores and Domino's Pizza deliverymen to get cash.
Benny Anders Houston Flamboyant dunker with Phi Slama Jama had his college career end in the summer of 1985 when he was sentenced to three years' probation for possession of a gun on campus after a pick-up game dispute. Boasting a personalized license plate called "Outlaw" on his new Camaro, he arrived at the 1984 Final Four donning a pink tux.
Alan Anderson Michigan State Runner-up in scoring and rebounding for 2005 Final Four team received a 24-month sentence for submitting $121,000 in false claims for himself and recruiting others to join a scheme to defraud the NBA in an additional $710,000 in fraudulent healthcare benefits claims.
Greg Anthony UNLV Assists and steals leader for 1990 national champion and 1991 Final Four squad was arrested in a prostitution-solicitation sting in early 2015. Charges dropped if he did 32 hours of community service and stayed out of trouble for four months.
Gilbert Arenas Arizona Leading scorer for 2001 tourney runner-up was suspended for most of 2009-10 NBA season stemming from a felony gun possession in locker room and subsequent actions appearing to make light of the episode. Arrested in May 2006 in Miami after allegedly ignoring a police officer's command to return to his car (charges later dropped). Pleaded no contest to misdemeanor weapon charges resulting from an incident in San Mateo County (Calif.) in 2003 after becoming an All-Pacific-10 Conference selection as a sophomore. Arrested in California in late June 2013 for possession of illegal fireworks in the back of his pickup truck. In the spring of 2014, Arenas took a cinder block and smashed a Mercedes his longtime flame had been driving, claiming the incident was revenge for her allegedly breaking numerous windows in his house and ruining his Netflix account by throwing his computer into the pool. In late January 2016, Arenas bragged on social media how he committed credit-card fraud at strip clubs.
Vincent Askew Memphis State Freshman starter for the Tigers' 1985 Final Four team was arrested in mid-August 2008, accused of unlawfully having sex with a minor (16-year-old girl) in a Miami hotel room. He pleaded guilty to a charge of child abuse with no great bodily harm and was placed on probation for three years. Briefly coached Elliston Baptist Academy in Memphis before leaving the job under a cloud. Attended summer school at Kansas under coach Larry Brown before returning to Memphis. KU was placed on probation stemming from wrongdoing in connection with improper inducements to Askew.
Lonny Baxter Maryland Leading rebounder for the Terrapins' 2002 NCAA champion was sentenced to two months in jail after pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges, including carrying a handgun without a license a few blocks from the White House, in mid-August, 2006. Uniformed Secret Service agents responded after shots were fired from a white SUV. Two summers earlier, Baxter was arrested at his Washington condominium after a shotgun went off and bullet shattered a neighbor's window across the street. In July, 2007, he pleaded guilty to illegally shipping guns through Federal Express and was sentenced to 60 days in prison.
Corey Beck Arkansas Arrested at 2:00 a.m. midway through 1992-93 season for allegedly driving while intoxicated before pacing the NCAA champion Hogs in assists and steals the next campaign. In early November 2004, he was jailed for the third time in two years for failure to pay child support and violating his probation. According to court documents, Beck flunked multiple drug tests for cocaine, admitted to marijuana use and lied to his probation officer about where he lived. In the fall of 2007, he was shot in the hand and face defending himself during an attempted auto theft in Memphis. Arrested in summer of 2008 for contempt of court stemming from failure to pay child support for four daughters. In summer of 2010, he was booked into jail at almost 3:00 a.m. following an arrest for driving while intoxicated. Arrested in late January 2013 for failure to pay fines and costs in connection with his conviction for driving while intoxicated and other traffic offenses in 2011. In early 2013, Beck was arrested for failure to pay fines and costs.
Chane Behanan Louisville Member of 2013 All-NCAA Tournament team dismissed from U of L squad midway through the next season for a violation of university policy. Suspended that preseason for a similar disciplinary infraction. In an interview with Bleacher Report's Jason King, Behanan said he "began smoking weed regularly (at Louisville), often after a long practice or a tough, physical game - and almost always when he was alone." After the Cardinals captured the NCAA title, Behanan told King "there were parties every night. People were inviting us places all the time and trying to give us stuff. It was a good feeling. I got caught up in it. Everywhere you went, there was something to get into. It was so easy." Cited for marijuana possession in early April 2014 in Louisville. "Guys like Chane, they think they're living a pro life," said John Lucas, ....... "But it's really a $200 life. You have friends who send you a couple of dollars from time to time, you get free shoes from AAU teams. You have just enough money to make you think you have money, but you really don't have any." In early August 2018, he was arrested and accused of being a backseat passenger in a car with "marijuana residue" and was sitting next to a stolen AK-47-style rifle (marijuana charge dropped after completing education program; possession of stolen firearm charge also dropped after another person in auto took responsibility for weapon). Two months later, Behanan was indicted by a grand jury after allegedly failing to pay child support. In early 2020, he was accused of placing fraudulent charges on a stolen credit card.
Winston Bennett Kentucky In UK's regular rotation for 1984 Final Four, he was terminated as a Boston Celtics assistant coach after violating the team's contractual agreement for practicing at Brandeis by having a sexual relationship with a female student enrolled there. All-SEC second-team selection as a junior in 1985-86 was fired as coach at Kentucky State in 2003 after striking a player in the face. Despite being the ultimate backup pro player, Bennett said he "slept with 90 women a month." After only 10 weeks on the job, he was fired in fall of 2017 from his state government position after sending inappropriate emails (including subordinates).
Corie Blount Cincinnati Center for 1992 Final Four team served a one-year prison sentence for possession of marijuana. He was charged with felony drug possession in early December 2008 after Butler County (Ohio) authorities saw him pick up a package from California they knew contained marijuana and then found more weed at his home. Deputies confiscated a total of 29 pounds of marijuana, several vehicles, three guns and $34,400 in cash. Blount, who avoided trafficking charges as part of his plea agreement, also was ordered to pay $10,000 in fines, serve 250 hours of community service and lose his driver's license for three years.
Delray Brooks Providence Head coach in mid-May 2000 when he pleaded no contest to stealing $25,000 from Texas-Pan American and was sentenced to 10 years probation. He had been dismissed the previous August for depositing a check from a tournament hosted by Southwest Missouri State into his personal account, then frittering away the money. After transferring from IU, Brooks was the second-leading scorer for PC's 1987 Final Four squad. In 2006, he was arrested for a probation violation stemming from his first run-in with the law (failure to pay restitution in the case).
Derek Brower Syracuse Member of the Orangemen's 1987 NCAA Tournament runner-up pleaded guilty in a Cincinnati courtroom to interstate travel for drug dealing. Served six months of a five-year sentence in federal prison.
Lewis Brown UNLV Beset by an arrest history including charges for drugs, the third-leading rebounder and sixth-leading scorer for the Rebels' 1977 national third-place team spent more than 10 years homeless on the streets of Santa Monica, Calif., before passing away in mid-September 2011 at the age of 56. According to the New York Times, family members said he was using cocaine at UNLV. "Drugs were his downfall," said his sister.
Anthony Buford Cincinnati Second-leading scorer for the Bearcats' 1992 Final Four team and his girlfriend were sentenced in February 2012 to 41 months in federal prison for mortgage fraud conspiracy and ordered to pay nearly $2.8 million in restitution to lending institutions they defrauded.
Marcus Bullard Mississippi State Starting point guard for 1996 Final Four team was sentenced to three years in prison for violating his probation on drug charges. He was accused of pistol-whipping another student on MSU's campus in 1996, violating terms of his probation by possessing a weapon and failing to report to his probation officer. He had pleaded guilty in 1994 and was put on probation after being charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute the previous year. His older brother served time in the same penitentiary for manslaughter. He pleaded guilty in 1998 to crack cocaine possession and received three years of probation. While on probation, he was accused of hitting a rival fraternity member in the head with a gun. The incident led to revocation of his probation, and he served a short prison term. He went to prison again after pleading guilty to cocaine and ecstasy charges in 2004. Bullard was sent to prison in summer of 2013 on a parole violation following a drive-by shooting in late 2012. In 2016, he was in trouble with the law multiple times.
Norm Cook Kansas After several run-ins with the law, he was diagnosed as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia in 1996 and was incarcerated or confined to his home in Lincoln, Ill., for 30 years until slipping into a diabetic coma and dying in late 2008 at the age of 53. He was KU's second-leading rebounder as a freshman for 1974 national fourth-place team.
Deshawn Corprew Texas Tech Juco recruit in regular rotation left program following suspension from 2019 NCAA tourney finalist after allegations of Title IX allegations.
Ed Cota North Carolina Assists leader and teammate Terrence Newby, the only seniors on UNC's 1999-00 Final Four squad, were arrested on misdemeanor charges stemming from an early-morning, Halloween-related altercation. Despite claiming they were trying to break up a fight, the duo subsequently agreed to a last-minute deal (community service and sharing cost of medical bills generated by melee).
Branden Dawson Michigan State Top rebounder for the Spartans' 2015 Final Four club had charges dropped regarding a felony domestic violence arrest in spring of 2016. In the fall of 2023, the 2014 Big Ten Conference Tournament MVP was suspended for two years from the Dominican Republic Basketball League after sucker punching an opponent.
Teddy Dupay Florida Guard for the Gators' 2000 NCAA Tournament runner-up was bound over for trial on charges of rape, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated kidnapping of a woman in mid-June 2008 at a Utah ski resort. The woman, who had been in a relationship with him for two years, said the telemarketer hit and kicked her 150 times before the rape. More than a year later, he accepted reduced charges, went to jail for 30 days and was placed on a lengthy probation. Previously, evidence surfaced that Dupay, dismissed from UF's team before his senior season, asked another student to place bets for him on the Gators' program. The first UF recruit by Billy Donovan after setting the state's high school career scoring mark (3,744 points) was never charged criminally with gambling violations but state attorney Bill Cervone said there is "no doubt in my mind" Dupay bet on college sports. Dupay subsequently launched a website endorsing the legalization of marijuana.
Devin Ebanks West Virginia Suspended at start of 2009-10 Final Four season, New York City product was also suspended for two games at beginning of 2013-14 NBA campaign (pleaded no contest to DUI charge) and for five contests in spring of 2014 for violation of NBA D-League drug policy.
Billy Edelin Syracuse Suspended for the 2001-02 season following a female student's claim of sexual harassment (no charges filed but he was booted him school prior to reinstatement). Career was riddled with off-court issues leading to multiple suspensions as he spent portions of four seasons with the Orange but never played an entire campaign (including 2003 NCAA titlist). Starter suddenly disappeared from squad midway through 2003-04.
Khalid El-Amin Connecticut Minnesota product, an All-NCAA Tournament selection for 1999 national champion, was detained in spring of 2019 for failure to pay nearly $126,000 in delinquent child support (judge ordered him to pay $780 per month).
Rakym Felder South Carolina Brooklyn native arrested in mid-October 2016 at 1:30 a.m. outside a bar after knocking one victim unconscious and fighting police upon confronted by a taser. Regular for USC's 2017 Final Four team was arrested around 2:45 a.m. in mid-July 2017 and charged with third-degree assault and battery stemming from a brawl reportedly precipitated by him spitting on a woman (charges subsequently dismissed). Dropped from Gamecocks' squad in April 2018 after failing to meet guidelines he faced upon him allowed to re-enroll in spring semester.
Bryn Forbes Michigan State Fourth-leading scorer for the Spartans' 2015 Final Four team following transfer from Cleveland State was arrested at 5 a.m. on family violence charge in mid-February 2023 after verbal argument with female companion turned physical.
Manuel Forrest Louisville Prize prospect hampered by a knee ailment (averaged 8.4 ppg and 4.1 rpg from 1981-82 through 1984-85 during which Cardinals made back-to-back Final Four appearances) was arrested in September 2013 after police, stopping vehicle for weaving from lane to lane, discovered marijuana and crack cocaine.
Reggie Garrett Arkansas Regular rotation member of the Razorbacks' 1995 national runner-up was arrested 11 times in Rankin County (Miss.) from 1996 to fall of 2003, including DUI and assault.
Glen Gondrezick UNLV The third-leading scorer for the Rebels' 1977 Final Four team attempted suicide in Boulder, Colo., in the summer of 1986 following an incident where he was charged with third-degree assault on his wife. Immersed in marital problems, he shot himself with a .22-caliber rifle. The bullet punctured his lung and passed through his body. He went on to become a UNLV radio/TV color commentator for 17 years before passing away in late April 2009 due to complications from a heart transplant he received the previous September.
Michael Graham Georgetown Freshman enforcer and member of 1984 All-NCAA Tournament Team for the Hoyas' national champion was dropped from roster of CBA's Tulsa Fast Breakers in 1989 after testing positive for cocaine.
Steve Gray Duke Member of the Blue Devils' 1978 NCAA Tournament runner-up pleaded guilty in fall of 2014 to insider trading and was sentenced to 46 months in prison along with a $7,500 fine and forfeiture of his illegitimate profits ($326,159). Gray, as CEO of a Houston firm, had access to press releases and confidential information used to prepare releases for his clients prior to their issuance to the investing public.
Draymond Green Michigan State Leading rebounder for 2010 Final Four team after serving as freshman backup on NCAA finalist the previous year became one of the most ruthless players in the NBA (flagrant fouls galore, eye gouging, trying to lick and pull down shorts of opposing players, frequent kicking/stomping). He also inadvertently sent pecker pic on Snapchat, triggering $100,000 offer to be in porn production. Arrested for assault and battery at 2:30 a.m. in summer of 2016.
Keith Harris Kansas Member of the Jayhawks' 1988 NCAA playoff champion was charged in February 1989 with assault after choking and biting a female student in her apartment. In the spring of 1993, Harris was jailed on a warrant containing felony counts of selling marijuana and cocaine to an undercover informant and not affixing a state drug-tax stamp to illegal narcotics.
Dametri Hill Florida The Gators' second-leading rebounder for 1994 Final Four squad was arrested in fall of 2011 for failing to pay child support. He was also charged with violating probation for two previous charges of marijuana possession. Hill was suspended from the Gators' 1994-95 season opener for disciplinary reasons.
Baskerville Holmes Memphis State A starting forward who averaged 9.6 ppg and 5.9 rpg for the Tigers' 1985 Final Four team, he was arrested twice for domestic violence. Later, Holmes, an out-of-work truck driver, and his girlfriend were found shot to death in an apparent murder-suicide in Memphis on March 18, 1997, when he was 32.
Ron Huery Arkansas Received a five-year prison sentence in mid-2008 for violating his probation and attempting to break into his ex-girlfriend's home. Arrested in mid-July 2005 on charges of rape, first-degree false imprisonment and third-degree domestic battery, plus a misdemeanor charge of obstructing governmental operations stemming from an incident involving an ex-girlfriend. In 1994, All-SWC first-team selection in 1987-88 was put on probation for eight years after a cocaine conviction in his hometown of Memphis, where he was also charged with drunken driving and driving on a revoked license. In 2002, Huery, who scored 1,550 points for the Razorbacks, sold his ring from the 1990 Final Four to help pay off fines and interest on 1991 traffic charges.
Anderson Hunt UNLV The second-leading scorer for the Rebels' 1990 NCAA champion pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges in connection with marijuana found in his possession during a traffic stop in October, 1993. In September, 2002, Final Four Most Outstanding Player was sentenced to probation and fined more than $1,300 for attempted embezzlement after acknowledging he kept a Las Vegas rental car beyond its due date. In May 1991, the local newspaper published photos of him with teammates David Butler and Moses Scurry in a hot tub drinking beer with known sports fixer Richard Perry. Hunt never married and is the father of five.
Sam Jacobson Minnesota Second-leading scorer for 1997 Final Four squad pleaded guilty to residential mortgage fraud over $35,000 stemming from the "short sale" (worth less than what was owed forcing lender to eat loss) to his then-girlfriend and subsequent wife of his house in August 2011.
Courtney James Minnesota After helping the Gophers reach the Final Four earlier in the year, he was sentenced in mid-November 1997 to two years of probation and suspended for the entire 1997-98 campaign for a misdemeanor domestic-assault conviction for intending to cause fear by hitting his former girlfriend in the face with an address book.
Dontae' Jones Mississippi State The most serious charges were dismissed but he faced up to 14 years in prison if convicted on all charges stemming from a shooting where seven people were wounded in late April, 1999, outside a Nashville, Tenn., nightclub after an argument between a Memphis rap group and an entertainment promoter. Jones, the NJCAA player of the year in 1994-95 before helping lead the Bulldogs to the 1996 Final Four, was accused of simple assault with bodily injury, reckless endangerment and felony vandalism. Midway through the 1996-97 NBA season, he was suspended two games by the New York Knicks for repeated team violations even while on the injured list.
Terrence Jones Kentucky Only UK player other than All-American Anthony Davis to average more than 12 ppg and 7 rpg for 2012 NCAA titlist was arrested in late July 2013 for stomping on a homeless man's leg in Portland. Charges were dropped in civil compromise after agreement to pay $10,000 to a charity organization benefitting the homeless.
Chad Kinch UNC Charlotte Third-leading scorer for 1977 Final Four team as a freshman died at his parents' home in Cartaret, N.J., from complications of drug habit eventually leading to him contracting AIDS. He passed away on April 3, 1994, the day between the Final Four semifinals and final in Charlotte. The host school happened to be UNCC.
Jimmy King Michigan "Fab Five" member was arrested in Pontiac, Mich., in August 2011 on accusations he failed to pay $17,000 in child support and ignored repeated warnings to get back on schedule. Authorities had been working for three years to get King to get up to date with the payments.
Tom Kivisto Kansas Oilman in Tulsa, founder of the fifth-largest privately held company in the U.S. in 2007, promised to donate $12 million to renovate his alma mater's football stadium. He was fired as president and CEO in 2008 from SemGroup LP, the energy company based primarily on the delivery of crude oil he founded eight years previously. The firm filed for bankruptcy earlier that year because of $2.4 billion in debt stemming from bad gambles in the oil futures market. Former FBI director Louis J. Freeh was appointed by a bankruptcy court to sort out petition documents claiming Kivisto owed the company $290 million in trading losses through his personal trading company. Kivisto, a starting playmaker and All-Big Eight Conference first-team selection for the Jayhawks' 1974 national fourth-place team, agreed to pay $225,000 in fines and give up $1.2 million in stock to settle a SEC civil lawsuit alleging he misled investors while the energy company was collapsing financially. Kivisto, whose business-career roots began at Koch Industries before striking out on his own, does not admit wrongdoing.
Todd Leary Indiana Handed a two-year home detention sentence after pleading guilty in mid-July 2010 to charges stemming from an ex-business partner's multi-million-dollar mortgage fraud scheme. Prosecutors say Leary, who was an analyst for IU's radio broadcasts when he was arrested, worked for a title insurance broker who pleaded guilty in a $2.7 million fraud case. Leary, who averaged 3.8 ppg for the Hoosiers' 1992 Final Four squad, also faced charges connected to the theft of high-end appliances from foreclosed homes and served one year in prison. Leary said he and his fellow IU seniors each raked in $56,000 cash for a 19-game, 21-day barnstorming tour filling gyms across the state.
Sidney Lowe Sr. North Carolina State Playmaker for 1983 NCAA championship team pleaded guilty after being arrested in mid-February 2013 and charged with failing to file his state income tax returns the last three years he coached his alma mater (2009 through 2011). Lowe, earning about $900,000 annually, was one of the state's highest-paid employees. In the summer of 2008, his son was sentenced to 15 months at a prison farm after pleading guilty to possession of marijuana and the drug Ecstasy, conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, and six counts each of robbery with a dangerous weapon and second-degree kidnapping stemming from a home invasion.
Korie Lucious Michigan State Suspended a game for missing class during 2009-10 NCAA championship season before being charged with drunk driving in late summer 2010. Dismissed for violation of MSU team policy (smoking weed) midway through 2010-11 campaign before transferring to Iowa State.
Elmer Martin Jr. Arkansas Memphis product was backup forward for the Razorbacks' 1994 NCAA titlist and starter at the end of the next season before receiving a 15-year prison term in late July 2008 after pleading guilty to drug charges. A county deputy prosecutor said that delivery of a controlled substance charges involved cocaine, and that intent to deliver charges involved cocaine and Ecstasy. During two weeks earlier in the year, detectives made two controlled cocaine purchases from Martin.
Walter McCarty Kentucky Second-leading rebounder and third-leading scorer for 1996 champion was fired as Evansville's coach midway through 2019-20 season amidst a Title IX investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. McCarty, who previously participated in a training program about unacceptable behavior, reportedly attempted to improperly influence witnesses. A warrant was issued for his arrest in the fall of 2020 following defaulting on a $75,000 line of credit. A second bank indicated he defaulted on a $45,000 loan the previous month after signing a promissory note in 2018.
Mitch McGary Michigan Leading rebounder for NCAA Tournament runner-up as freshman in 2012-13 left UM before his junior year after testing positive for marijuana, avoiding a one-year ban by the NCAA. Failed a drug test before start of 2016-17 NBA season. He was slated to sit out first five games of year before suspension turned into 15 contests upon failing to live up to procedural guidelines. Missed the end of 2015-16 D-League campaign for undisclosed "personal reasons."
Gary McLain Villanova Assists leader for 1985 NCAA titlist confessed in a 1987 first-person SI article that he used cocaine throughout his college career including before national semifinal victory against Memphis State. "I lost my way," he said of mistakes leaving him briefly homeless and needing stint in a PA treatment center dealing with addiction. McLain wrote that he snorted coke with teammates although none ever acknowledged using drugs.
Makhtar N'Diaye North Carolina Tar Heels captain was found guilty of simple assault and communicating a threat during an argument. He was sentenced to 12 months unsupervised probation, a $200 fine and mandatory anger management classes. Several months earlier, he attracted national attention at 1998 Final Four, where he fouled out after only 14 minutes against Utah and eventually retracted accusation that a Utes player directed a racial slur at him.
Major Parker Florida Staff assistant under Billy Donovan after averaging 4.6 ppg and 2.6 rpg from 1997-98 through 2000-01 (including 2000 Final Four club) was arrested for selling half a kilogram of cocaine to an undercover officer in December 2004. Pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. Completed a six-month sentence under house arrest and was sentenced to 2 1/2 years of probation and more than 200 hours of community service.
Frank Peters Oregon State Third-leading rebounder and fourth-leading scorer for fourth-place team in 1963 NCAA playoffs served 2 1/2 years in prison of a 10-year sentence following a 1989 conviction for statutory rape and drug offenses (busted for possession of 800 marijuana plants worth a reported $1 million). Affiliated for more than 20 years with a bar/dancehall in Southeast Portland, where he served everything from reindeer to rodent while presiding over events such as strip karaoke and lesbian dance party. He played a supporting role in a Netflix film The Battered Bastards of Baseball, which is purportedly about a minor-league baseball franchise that thrived in the 1970s during a time when it was the nation's only professional club not owned by a MLB team. While managing the Mavericks, Peters was also the maestro of several of Portland's most notorious nightspots, including Satan's Disco.
Brandon Powell Florida Freshman member of school's second straight NCAA titlist was arrested in mid-June 2007 with UF's kick return specialist as part of a reverse sting drug operation. Disciplined internally during season after videotape showed Memphis product sucker punched a Vanderbilt fan when Commodore fans stormed the court following an upset of the top-ranked Gators. Transferred to Marshall, where he was dismissed from Thundering Herd squad early in 2008-09 campaign.
Zach Price Louisville Backup frontcourter who appeared in tourney opener for 2013 NCAA titlist was dismissed from Missouri's team following an arrest in early April 2014 in the wee hours of the morning on suspicion of assaulting his Adonis-looking Tigers roommate (Earnest Ross) and a female friend. Unbelievably, Price was arrested and booked again later the same day for allegedly ramming his vehicle into a car containing the same two people. Ross filed a restraining order petition against Price the day before the twin incidents, alleging he stalked them in his vehicle and tried to drive their auto off the road. Price received two years of probation along with 80 hours of community service upon pleading guilty to one count of misdemeanor careless driving and two counts of misdemeanor disturbing the peace. Was assistant coach Tim Fuller, who joined Mizzou's staff from Louisville, totally in the dark about Price's volatility before Price was charged with first-degree tampering?
Zach Randolph Michigan State Starting center for 2001 Final Four team was implicated in the spring of 2010 after Indianapolis police found a cooler filled with marijuana in a Cadillac Escalade registered to him plus gun ammunition stowed inside a hidden compartment. Cops raided storage space rented by Randolph, where weed and "(four) cars with secret compartments" were found. Randolph's previous problems when he was a member of the Portland "Jail" Blazers included underage drinking, sucker-punching a teammate in practice, reportedly being spotted at a strip club while on bereavement leave and getting sued by an exotic dancer for sexual assault although police never filed criminal charges. Randolph, who chose "I'm 'n Luv (Wit a Stripper)" as his pregame warm-up song in Portland, was questioned but not charged in an August 2004 nightclub dance-floor shooting in Indiana leaving three people wounded. His brother, Roger, was sentenced to three years in prison in a plea deal. Zach was convicted of battery in 1997, and spent time in a juvenile detention center in 1999 for receiving stolen guns. He also had a DUI in Los Angeles in 2009 and police claimed Randolph invited a drug dealer to his party gone awry at his Oregon home in August 2011. Following a chartered cruise, the expectation was that the invitee would sell marijuana to the guests but his asking price apparently was too high and he was beat with pool cues by multiple individuals. In the fall of 2017, he had a felony marijuana-distribution charge in Sacramento reduced to a misdemeanor (resisting arrest). In summer of 2018, his brother was shot and killed outside a bar in their hometown around 5 a.m.
Reggie Redding Villanova Runner-up in assists for 2009 Final Four team was arrested in late summer that year for possession of marijuana. He was stripped of team captaincy and suspended 10 games at start of senior season.
Andre Riddick Kentucky In early August 2018, the Wildcats' leader in blocked shots for 1993 Final Four team faced charges of alcohol intoxication in a public place, fourth-degree assault, disorderly conduct in the second degree and resisting arrest. After leaving a bar, Riddick allegedly picked up his girlfriend and pushed or tossed her down stairs before punching her in the chest.
Cody Riley UCLA Principal big man for the Bruins' First Four to Final Four run in 2021 was arrested with two freshman teammates for shoplifting in early November 2017 during a team trip to China after they pilfered designer and throwaway sunglasses in addition to cheap beaded bracelets from three stores. "I don't wave the Bible around, but somebody knows the truth about all of us," Coach Mick Cronin said. " I don't think any of us walk the earth without making a mistake; theirs just happened to be really bad timing and really public."
Chianti Roberts Oklahoma State Sixth man for 1995 Final Four squad was arrested in mid-June 2003 about 2:45 a.m. on suspicion of driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license.
Delco Rowley Michigan State Member of 2005 Final Four squad was arrested in late October 2007 as a YMCA behavior specialist on charges of sending nude pictures of himself to a 15-year-old girl.
Randy Rutherford Oklahoma State Still in spring of 1995 after reaching Final Four as the Cowboys' second-leading scorer and rebounder, he was accused of threatening to blow up a city block after becoming upset his electricity had been disconnected.
Casey Sanders Duke Starting center for 2001 national champion was arrested and charged with assaulting his girlfriend in spring of 2002, grabbing her arm and pushing her into a wall during a breakfast dispute. Arrested in Tampa in early 2012 and charged with DUI.
Melvin Scott North Carolina Point guard who averaged 6.8 ppg from 2001-02 through 2004-05 had rape charges dropped after an arrest in fall of 2014 involving a female acquaintance who according to police was "mentally incapacitated and physically helpless." Previously, Scott was arrested in spring of 2002 and charged with assaulting a female student at 1:30 a.m. at a local night club. Member of 2005 NCAA champion was apprehended again in 2010 for assault on a law enforcement officer after being approached for being drunk and disorderly. Before he was a teen, Scott reportedly was arrested for burglary and carrying drugs and expelled from multiple Baltimore-area schools.
Moses Scurry UNLV A key backup player on the Runnin' Rebels' 1990 NCAA champion was sentenced to two years in prison in December 1994 for his role in a carjacking that left the driver shot in the thigh in the parking lot of a Las Vegas lounge. In May 1991, the local newspaper published photos of him with teammates David Butler and Anderson Hunt drinking beer in a hot tub with known sports fixer Richard Perry.
Lazarus Sims Syracuse Big East Conference leader in assists for NCAA tourney runner-up in 1996 resigned as Syracuse parks commissioner in spring of 2018 before pleading guilty to stealing $5,400 from city taxpayers (pocketed cash payments from park rentals and city fees).
Ervin Small Illinois Member of 1989 Final Four team faced a 51-month prison sentence after pleading guilty in June, 1999, to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. His term was reduced after high school and college teammate of Nick Anderson and Deon Thomas assisted authorities in prosecuting other drug traffickers. Small, who worked as a correctional officer, reportedly had prior convictions for battery and theft.
"Sudden" Sam Smith UNLV J.C. recruit, the Rebels' second-leading scorer for 1977 Final Four team, was arrested and charged with two counts of selling crack cocaine in mid-February 1997.
Elmore Spencer UNLV Backup center on 1991 Final Four team was hospitalized for 36 days in 1987 for symptoms of manic depression. Married to a woman 10 years his senior while in college, he was picked up in late summer 1987 for pre-dawn reckless driving. During 1988-89 at Georgia before transferring, he got into a fight with a student in dormitory and drew probation for an incident in which he bullied the same student out of his groceries.
Dave Taynor Kansas Hoopszone.net claims captain of 1974 Final Four team pleaded guilty to money laundering in February 1996 and was sentenced to 30 months in prison and fined following indictment in summer of 1994 for his part in the operation of a fraudulent insurance program.
Sean Tunstall Kansas Reserve guard for the Jayhawks' 1991 NCAA Tournament runner-up was shot and killed at age 28 in the parking lot of a recreation center in his native St. Louis on October 16, 1997, in a drug deal gone bad. He had received a prison sentence in 1993 after pleading guilty to one count of selling cocaine. "He was one of the few kids I never thought I completely reached," coach Roy Williams said.
Wayne Turner Kentucky Starting playmaker for 1998 NCAA titlist was arrested in summer of 2003 in hometown Boston after police found a Glock 9mm handgun loaded with 12 rounds in his rental car (pleaded innocent to charges of illegal possession of firearm and weapon with high-capacity magazine). His brother, Tiny, was arrested for armed robbery and spent time in and out of prison for a decade. Their parents were absent from their lives, leaving the two boys to mostly fend for themselves in a toxic environment.
Robbie Valentine Louisville Backup senior forward for 1986 titlist and 1983 Final Four participant as freshman was charged in February 2023 with strangulation of his girlfriend at their home (reportedly because she sought to move out).
Lagerald Vick Kansas Although never charged with criminal conduct, a KU probe resulted in recommendation of two years probation after determining Memphis product likely committed domestic violence in late 2015. At the time, coach Bill Self selflessly said Vick was sidelined two games due to "illness." There was no description for ailment the season after reaching 2018 Final Four when Vick took a leave of absence midway through the 2018-19 campaign to return to his hometown "to help out with family issues."
Jay Vincent Michigan State Third-leading scorer and rebounder for 1979 NCAA champion was indicted in mid-August 2010 for an internet employment scam bilking more than 10,000 job-seekers out of nearly $2 million. He faced charges of mail fraud and an income tax violation. According to the U.S. Attorney's office in Detroit, he and an associate concocted a scheme to defraud people seeking work through their Foreclosure Bank Inspection Company. The company claimed to test, certify and employ people to inspect bank foreclosed homes, and advertised that the company had contracts and received large checks from major banks to do the work. In reality, the copies of contracts and checks used in the ads were altered or counterfeit. The company also did not hire contractors to perform inspections. What it did do was charge $149 to provide liability insurance for each job applicant and $89 for background checks. False insurance policies were prepared in the company's offices and no background checks were made. Tests, completed and returned by applicants, were stored in boxes without reviews. Vincent was ordered to pay the government $110,000. In the income tax charge, Vincent was accused of reporting a business income of $62,438 on his 2008 tax return. Authorities said the actual amount he earned was $330,269. Sent to jail in late July 2011 five weeks before he was sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison in the federal case after he was accused of writing, or causing others to write, bad checks in a different scheme.
Mark Wade UNLV All-PCAA first-team selection, who dished out an NCAA playoff record 18 assists in 1987 national semifinals, pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $15,000 during 2006-07 in his former job as an assistant coach with UC Riverside. He was accused of depositing into his personal bank account the proceeds from two university checks and one electronic fund transfer. Some of the money was supposed to cover team expenses during road games over the Christmas break.
Antoine Walker Kentucky Leading rebounder and second-leading scorer for 1996 NCAA Tournament champion was arrested in mid-July 2009 at a Harrah's cabaret bar on Lake Tahoe's south shore on criminal charges stemming from $822,500 in gambling debts in Las Vegas. Walker pleaded guilty to one count of passing a bad check. If his massive gambling debt wasn't enough, he had to deal with the city of Chicago calling him a slumlord. Walker's hometown levied fines totaling nearly $1 million against his two real estate investment companies and residents of those properties were filing lawsuits for a number of problems existing in the buildings. In early January 2009, Walker was arrested for DUI in Miami Beach. His combined career salary of approximately $110 million was depleted when he resorted to playing in the D-League with the Idaho Stampede before retiring in early April 2012. Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in spring of 2010, a distant memory were his extravagant "wiggle" days with the Boston Celtics when his condominium complex was a virtual luxury car lot - two Bentleys, a Cadillac Escalade, a bright red Hummer, two Mercedes and a Range Rover.
Travis Walton Michigan State Big Ten Conference defensive player of the year in 2008-09 was allowed to continue duties as student-assistant coach after criminally charged for punching a female student at a bar in January 2010. The victim said she was knocked unconscious by the blow and that bouncers removed Walton from the bar. Walton pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and his assault and battery charges were dropped. He pleaded guilty to a civil infraction for littering. Accused of sexually assaulting a different female with two other MSU players in a separate incident three months later after the Spartans reached the 2010 Final Four. In the spring of 2018, school officials provided more information ab out how the university dealt with the sordid situation, telling ESPN's Outside the Lines that administrators would "handle it differently" if such an allegation were made today.
Ed Warner CCNY Second-leading scorer for team winning NIT and NCAA tourney titles in 1950 had his career shattered by a six-month sentence stemming from point-shaving scandal engulfing the sport. In the 1960s, Warner was imprisoned after pleading guilty to attempting to sell heroin. "I had a problem," he said. "I was trying to play Superfly."
Kenyan Weaks Florida Swingman averaging 10 ppg for the Gators' 2000 NCAA Tournament runner-up and eventual Chowan College/Florida Southern/Marshall assistant coach was charged in spring of 2017 with series of disturbing felonies as a North Carolina high school coach (felony breaking and entering to terrorize or injure, misdemeanor stalking and simple assault). In summer of 1998, he was placed on conduct probation following a dormitory altercation with a woman after previously being suspended for the first three regular-season games for violating unspecified team rules.
Rob Williams Houston Leading scorer for 1982 Final Four team died of congestive heart failure at the age of 52 in March 2014 after suffering a stroke 15 years earlier leaving him blind in his left eye and partially paralyzed on his left side. Williams denied rumors he was too high to play against North Carolina in the national semifinals (0-for-8 field-goal shooting). But Williams admitted he used drugs. "Cocaine came later but I started out smoking weed (in junior high)," Williams said. "I was always a curious type of fellow, so I wanted to see what cocaine was about. So I tried it. And to tell you the truth, I liked it."
Othell Wilson Virginia All-ACC first-team selection as a sophomore in 1981-82 and leading scorer for 1984 Final Four squad was indicted by a grand jury in November 1999 on charges of kidnapping and raping his 20-year-old ex-girlfriend. He had just been appointed coach at St. Mary's College (Md.).
Rick Wilson Louisville In August, 1993, the All-Metro Conference first-team selection in 1977-78 was sentenced to 10 years in prison for violations of the terms of his probation. Wilson, who had joined the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department in 1986, was convicted in July 1990 of cocaine trafficking and possession, but was put on probation for five years after serving a month in a work-release center. In 1991, member of 1975 national third-place club was allowed to remain on probation and undergo addiction treatment despite five urine tests finding evidence of cocaine use.
Jeff Withey Kansas L.A. District Attorney's Office chose not to move forward with case after 2014 Playboy Playmate of the Year accused her ex-fiancee of domestic violence, stemming from a physical altercation between them in 2016. The blonde bombshell reportedly broke things off with Withey the previous fall after learning leader in rebounding and blocked shots for 2012 NCAA runner-up may have cheated with another woman while couple was engaged.
Orlando Woolridge Notre Dame Irish's leading rebounder and second-leading scorer in 1980-81 when he finished third in the nation in field-goal shooting (65%) was arrested for theft of aluminum lines (valued at $2,000 and sold for scrap) used to transfer water to natural gas drilling sites in DeSoto Parish (LA) only three months before his death at the age of 52 in late May 2012 because of a chronic heart condition. Member of 1978 Final Four squad as freshman in UND's regular rotation entered an NBA drug treatment program for cocaine use in the middle of the 1987-88 season while playing for the New Jersey Nets.

College Exam: Day #18 For One-and-Only NCAA Tournament Trivia Challenge

Unless you're busy hoarding toilet paper to wipe butt of George Soros butt boy/New York AG Alvin Bragg, seeking translator to try to understand Plagiarist Biledumb or cowering in fetal position from liberal lunatic climate change claptrap War of the Worlds, it's your opportunity to start taking online tests for 23 quarantined days symbolic of normal time frame from Selection Sunday to Monday evening championship contest.

We need something to occupy our minds during quarantine from much of the invective-infected #MessMedia. Emphasizing a "one-and-only" theme for a "one-and-only" event, here is Day 18 of a treasure-trove of tantalizing NCAA Tournament trivia questions from CollegeHoopedia.com tracking the only coach, conference, player or school to be linked to a distinguished or dubious achievement (click here for answers or conduct research digesting historical morsels in CollegeHoopedia.com's year-by-year highlights):

1. Who is the only major-college coach to finish his career with more than 500 victories and never participate in the NCAA playoffs? Hint: The coach spent his entire four-year school coaching career at one institution and had nine consecutive winning seasons at Division I level from 1972-73 through 1980-81.

2. Who is the only player to average more than 26 points per game for an undefeated NCAA champion before averaging less than five points per game in his NBA career? Hint: He averaged the same number of points in NCAA Tournament as he did for entire season.

3. Who is the only coach to win three national third-place games? Hint: No coach accumulated as many different All-Americans as he did (16) in his first 20 campaigns at a single school.

4. Who is the only former major-college player to score more than 23,000 points in the NBA after never participating in the NCAA Tournament or NIT? Hint: His alma mater returned to small-college status after being at the Division I level for more than 50 years but never appearing in NCAA playoffs or NIT.

5. Of the 10 different players to compile season scoring averages of more than 23 points per game for a national champion, who is the only individual in this group to tally fewer than 40 points in two games at the Final Four? Hint: His team won both Final Four games that year by a minimum of 20 points.

6. Who is the only individual to coach a team to the Final Four after becoming an NCAA consensus first-team All-American and NBA first-round draft choice? Hint: He joined Chet Walker and Bob Love as 20-points-per-game scorers for the Chicago Bulls in 1969-70 after becoming the first African-American to earn a league MVP while attending Southern school.

7. Who is the only national player of the year to score less than 10 points when his school was eliminated in a Final Four contest the same season? Hint: He averaged more than 25 points per game in his four previous playoff contests that year.

8. Name the only Final Four team to have as many as six players still on its roster with double-digit season scoring averages. Hint: All six individuals played in the NBA as did another player on squad who averaged eight points per game.

9. Who is the only All-Tournament selection to finish his college playing career at another major university? Hint: His brother was a wide receiver for a Super Bowl champion.

10. Who is the only leading scorer for a Final Four team to also play for the school's football squad in a New Year's Day bowl game and win a silver medal in the Olympics as a high jumper? Hint: The Olympics climaxed a superb academic school year for the versatile athlete who won NCAA high jump crown and led his school's football and basketball teams in scoring. He also appeared in the first two NBA All-Star Games.

Answers (Day 18)
Day 17 Questions and Answers
Day 16 Questions and Answers
Day 15 Questions and Answers
Day 14 Questions and Answers
Day 13 Questions and Answers
Day 12 Questions and Answers
Day 11 Questions and Answers
Day 10 Questions and Answers
Day 9 Questions and Answers
Day 8 Questions and Answers
Day 7 Questions and Answers
Day 6 Questions and Answers
Day 5 Questions and Answers
Day 4 Questions and Answers
Day 3 Questions and Answers
Day 2 Questions and Answers
Day 1 Questions and Answers

Foreign Invasion: Edey & Tubelis Are Latest A-As From Off Mainland America

Foreigners such as All-Americans Zach Edey (Purdue/Ontario, Canada), Azuolas Tubelis (Arizona/Lithuania) and Oscar Tshiebwe (Kentucky/Congo) are much more than bit players in a modern-day immigrant version of "Coming to America." Following is an alphabetical list of more than 40 hoop-prince All-Americans spending most or all of their formative years in a country outside mainland U.S.:

Foreigner Pos. College Native Country Year(s) All-American NBA Draft Status
Deandre Ayton C Arizona Bahamas 2018 1st pick overall by Phoenix
Udoka Azubuike C Kansas Nigeria 2020 27th by Utah Jazz
R.J. Barrett G-F Duke Ontario, Ontario 2019 3rd by New York
Charles Bassey C Western Kentucky Nigeria 2021 53rd by Philadelphia
Andrew Bogut* C Utah Australia 2005 1st by Milwaukee
Dillon Brooks F Oregon Ontario, Canada 2017 2nd by Houston
Kofi Cockburn C Illinois Jamaica 2021 and 2022 undrafted
Kresimir Cosic C Brigham Young Yugoslavia 1972 and 1973 66th by L.A. Lakers
Chris Duarte G Oregon Dominican Republic 2021 13th by Indiana
Tim Duncan* C Wake Forest Virgin Islands 1995 through 1997 1st by San Antonio
Zach Edey C Purdue Ontario, Canada 2023 TBD
Melvin Ejim F Iowa State Ontario 2014 undrafted
Patrick Ewing* C Georgetown Jamaica 1982 through 1985 1st by New York
Adonal Foyle C Colgate West Indies 1997 8th by Golden State
Rui Hachimura F Gonzaga Japan 2019 9th by Washington
Buddy Hield G Oklahoma Bahamas 2015 and 2016 6th by New Orleans
Al Horford F-C Florida Dominican Republic 2007 3rd by Atlanta
Kris Joseph F Syracuse Quebec 2012 51st by Boston
Jock Landale C Saint Mary's Australia 2018 undrafted
Lauri Markkanen C Arizona Finland 2017 1st by Minnesota
Bennedict Mathurin G Arizona Quebec 2022 6th by Indiana
Jamal Murray G Kentucky Ontario 2016 7th by Denver
Dikembe Mutombo C Georgetown Zaire 1991 4th by Denver
Eduardo Najera F Oklahoma Mexico 2000 38th by Houston
Jordan Nwora F Louisville Nigeria 2020 45th by Milwaukee Bucks
Hakeem Olajuwon C Houston Nigeria 1983 and 1984 1st by Houston
Kelly Olynyk C Gonzaga British Columbia 2013 13th by Dallas
Kevin Pangos G Gonzaga Ontario 2015 undrafted
Filip Petrusev C Gonzaga Serbia 2020 withdrew and returned to Serbia
Jakob Poeltl C Utah Austria 2016 9th by Toronto
Juan "Pepe" Sanchez G Temple Argentina 2000 undrafted
Detlef Schrempf F Washington Germany 1985 8th by Dallas
Rony Seikaly C Syracuse Greece 1988 9th by Miami
Doron Sheffer G Connecticut Israel 1996 36th by L.A. Clippers
Ben Simmons F Louisiana State Australia 2016 1st by Philadelphia
Nik Stauskas G Michigan Ontario 2014 8th by Sacramento
Hasheem Thabeet C Connecticut Tanzania 2009 2nd by Memphis
Mychal Thompson F-C Minnesota Bahamas 1977 and 1978 1st by Portland
Oscar Tshiebwe* C Kentucky Congo 2022 and 2023 TBD
Azuolas Tubelis F-C Arizona Lithuania 2023 TBD
Greivis Vasquez G Maryland Venezuela 2010 28th by Memphis
Andrew Wiggins G-F Kansas Ontario 2014 1st by Cleveland

*Named National Player of the Year.

Final Four Curse: Numerous National Semifinalists Pass Away By Age of 60

Gone but not forgotten. The crown jewel of NCAA Tournament has been tarnished long before coronavirus cancellation several campaigns ago. Keith Smart, the Final Four Most Outstanding Player for 1987 national kingpin Indiana, returned to his NBA assistant coaching job near the middle of previous decade after battling a rare form of skin cancer spreading along the left side of his jaw. Smart's ailment surfaced as a question lingered following center Andrew Smith, the second-leading rebounder and third-leading scorer for Butler's 2011 NCAA playoff runner-up, losing his fight against lymphoma: Would someone susceptible to conspiracy believe there is a Final Four curse; especially in wake of Smart's IU teammate (starting forward Daryl Thomas) dying of a heart attack several years ago at age 52 before fellow Hoosier forward Eric Anderson, a starter for 1992 F4 squad, passed away in late 2018 following a bout with pneumonia?

This topic also reared its ugly head several seasons ago when Michael Wright, leading rebounder and second-leading scorer for Arizona's 2001 national runner-up team including Gilbert Arenas, Richard Jefferson and Luke Walton, was found dead with a skull fracture in New York City in the back seat of his Lexus SUV. Covered with garbage bags, the Chicago high school teammate of Kevin Garnett was 35. More than a year later, his roommate and an alleged accomplice were arrested for drugging and murdering him plus desecrating human remains.

Ranging from famous military battles to freak circumstances to mysterious disappearances to nuclear bombs to CIA activity to suicides, the existence of a Final Four curse is debatable although there is no denying a striking number of prominent national semifinal players and coaches died prematurely. For instance, Sid Tanenbaum, the second-leading scorer for NYU's 1945 national runner-up, was murdered on September 4, 1986, at the age of 60 when stabbed to death by a local woman in his Queens machine shop. According to police reports, Tanenbaum was assaulted because he chose to stop lending money to his attacker after previously assisting her numerous times.

Each Final Four participant in 1977 had a prominent player pass away by the age of 56. It was during a 31-year span from 1962 through 1992 when at least one F4 player died before 60 (Mike Masucci played for NCAA champion Kansas in 1987-88 before dying at 36 but was dismissed from squad before the playoffs commenced). Life expectancy in the U.S. for people born in 2017 is 78.5 years. Any tribute isn't enough when a man such as Smith is buried long before his time. Unspeakable tragedy also struck Butler several years ago when the six-month-old son of Emerson Kampen, a backup to Smith, died of a genetic disorder affecting the central nervous system. A pair of backup centers to Ohio State All-American Jerry Lucas are among the following lengthy list of additional Final Four participants (cited chronologically) passing away early (60 and younger), but the deceased left lasting memories:

  • Three of Oregon's starting five on the first NCAA championship team in 1939 - guards Bobby Anet and Wally Johansen and center Slim Wintermute - all died in their 40s. Wintermute disappeared in Lake Washington in 1977, a case that never has been solved.

  • Don Scott, who made a free throw for Ohio State's national runner-up in inaugural NCAA Tournament championship contest in 1939, died at the age of 23 on October 1, 1943, when U.S. Army Air Forces captain's B-26 Marauder bomber crashed in England while in training after football All-American halfback already completed nine bombing missions during WWII.

  • Center Bill Menke, the third-leading scorer for Indiana's 1940 NCAA champion who supplied a team-high 10 points in the Hoosiers' national semifinal victory over Duquesne, later became a Navy pilot and served in World War II. In January 1945, he was declared missing in action (and presumed dead) when he didn't return from a flight in the Caribbean.

  • Thomas P. Hunter, a three-year letterman who was a sophomore member of Kansas' 1940 runner-up, was killed in action against the Japanese on Guam, July 21, 1944, while fighting with the Ninth Marines as a first lieutenant. Hunter was elected posthumously as captain of the Jayhawks' 1945-46 squad that compiled a 19-2 record.

  • Dale Gentry, the fifth-leading scorer for Washington State's 1941 national runner-up, collapsed and died of a heart attack in 1963 at the age of 50 after completing arrangements for his 16-year-old son's funeral following injuries incurred in an auto accident.

  • All 11 regulars on Pitt's 1941 Final Four team participated in World War II and one of them, guard Bob Artman, was killed in action.

  • Center Ed Voss, the second-leading scorer for 1942 champion Stanford, died of polio in 1953 at the age of 31, a month after his 7-year-old son also succumbed to the disease. Cardinal teammate Jack Dana's wife, California socialite Renee Cohu, died of a sleeping pill overdose in the winter of 1970 at the age of 42 when the missing daughter of a former TWA president was found in a Miami Beach motel.

  • Charles "Stubbie" Pearson, captain of Dartmouth's 1942 national runner-up and valedictorian of his class the same year, was killed in action on March 30, 1945, while dive-bombing a Japanese ship off the Palau Islands. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Teammate George Galbraith Jr., a backup forward, died in a training flight over Mississippi.

  • Three of the top seven scorers for Kentucky's first NCAA Tournament and Final Four team in 1942 died during World War II - Mel Brewer (Army second lieutenant/25 years old in France), Ken England (Army captain of ski troop/23 in Italy) and Jim King (Army second lieutenant and co-pilot/24 in Germany).

  • Bob Doll, an All-American for Colorado in 1942, died in 1959 at the age of 40 of an apparent suicide.

  • Milo Komenich, leading scorer for Wyoming's 1943 NCAA titlist, died in 1977 at his home at the age of 56.

  • Georgetown's Lloyd Potolicchio, who matched DePaul legend George Mikan's 11-point output in the 1943 national semifinals when the Hoyas eliminated the Blue Demons before bowing to Wyoming in title tilt, joined the Air Force. Potolicchio was boom operator Master Sergeant when killed in a refueling mission on January 17, 1966, in a B-52 crash off the coast of southern Spain. His KC-135 tanker was completely destroyed when its fuel load ignited, resulting in the B-52G breaking apart with B28RI hydrogen weapons falling to earth and plutonium contamination occurring near the fishing village of Palomares. In March 2009, Time magazine identified the Palomares accident as one of the world's "worst nuclear disasters." Teammate Bob Duffey, a backup swingman, was killed on November 13, 1944, in European theater combat.

  • Curtis Popham, Texas' co-captain in 1943, was one of seven Longhorns lettermen since the mid-1930s to make the supreme sacrifice during WWII.

  • Swingman Johnny Jorgensen, a teammate of Hall of Famer George Mikan on DePaul's 1943 Final Four team, died in mid-January 1973 at the age of 51.

  • All-American Audie Brindley of 1944 runner-up Dartmouth died of cancer in 1957 at the age of 33.

  • Swingman Joe Bradley, a regular for Oklahoma A&M's 1946 NCAA champion, was 58 when he died on June 5, 1987.

  • Center Jack Underman, the leading scorer for Ohio State's 1946 national third-place team, was an oral surgeon in Elyria, Ohio, when he died in an auto crash on October 23, 1969, at the age of 44.

  • Frontcourter Frank Oftring, a key contributor for Holy Cross' 1947 champion and 1948 national third-place team, died on October 4, 1982, at the age of 58. Teammate Dermie O'Connell was 60 when perishing on October 5, 1988. Teammate Bob Curran, a regular for both squads, was 56 when he passed away on October 18, 1977.

  • Center Gerry Tucker, the leading scorer for Oklahoma's 1947 national runner-up, died on May 29, 1979, at the age of 57.

  • Forward Tom Hamilton, a regular as a freshman forward with Texas' 1947 national third-place club, died at the age of 48 on November 29, 1973, after suffering a brain hemorrhage prior to officiating a high school football game in Tyler, Tex. Hamilton, a first baseman briefly with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1952 and 1953, served as baseball coach and athletic director for St. Edward's (Tex.) at the time of his death.

  • Center Bob Harris, the leading scorer for Oklahoma A&M's 1949 national runner-up, died of lung cancer on April 10, 1977 at the age of 50. Teammate Joe Bradley, A&M's second-leading scorer, passed away on June 5, 1987, at the age of 58.

  • Bill Erickson, a starting guard for Illinois' 1949 national third-place team, died on September 21, 1987, at the age of 59. Teammate Walt Kersulis, who led team in scoring with nine points in Eastern Regional final defeat against eventual champion Kentucky, died of leukemia in mid-April 1973 at the age of 46. Teammate Don Sunderlage, the Illini's sixth-leading scorer in 1949 and top point producer for another third-place squad in 1951, died in mid-July 1961 at the age of 31 following an automobile accident in Lake Geneva, Wis. Reserve guard Roy Gatewood was 36 when he perished suddenly at his family residence in the spring of 1961.

  • Center Ed Roman, leading scorer for CCNY's 1950 titlist who was involved in a conspiracy to fix games, died of leukemia in early March 1988 at the age of 57.

  • Guard Lucian "Skippy" Whitaker, who averaged 5.2 ppg as a junior for Kentucky's 1951 national champion, died in 1990 at the age of 59.

  • Bob Ferrick, coach of Santa Clara's 1952 national fourth-place team, died of a heart attack in 1976 at the age of 56. Jack McMahon, the second-leading scorer for national runner-up St. John's, died on June 11, 1989 at 60.

  • Don Schlundt, the leading scorer and rebounder for Indiana's 1953 NCAA champion, died of pancreatic cancer in October 1985 at the age of 52. Teammate Dick Farley, the Hoosiers' third-leading scorer, passed away from cancer in early October 1969 at the age of 37.

  • Joe Cipriano, the second-leading scorer for Washington's national third-place team in 1953 before becoming Nebraska's all-time winningest coach, was 49 in late November 1980 when he died of cancer.

  • Forward Bob Ames, who scored a total of eight points in three playoff games in 1955 for La Salle's national runner-up after being a member of the Explorers' 1954 NCAA titlist, was killed in Beirut in 1983 at the age of 49. A truck loaded with TNT on a suicide mission rammed into the facility where Ames, a father of six children, was staying while serving as a liaison trying to allay contacts among the Lebanese, Syrians and Israelis in hopes of calming the escalating discord. He joined the CIA and worked his way up the chain of command to become the Director of the CIA's Office of Analysis of the Near East and South Asia. "The Spy Who Loved Basketball" worked closely with both the Carter and Reagan administrations.

  • Forward Jerry Mullen, runner-up in scoring and rebounding as captain for San Francisco's 1955 champion, died in September 1979 at the age of 45.

  • Bucky O'Connor, coach for Iowa's 1955 Final Four club and 1956 runner-up, died in 1958 at the age of 44 in a highway accident near Waterloo. "The boy who has faith in God can look to the future without worry or strain," O'Connor told his players. "I firmly believe that the boys on our team who attend church are more likely to be successful because they can face their problems with hope and encouragement." Backup guard Lester "Babe" Hawthorne died of complications from cancer on September 20, 1994, at the age of 60.

  • Jim Krebs, the leading scorer and rebounder for Southern Methodist's 1956 Final Four squad, was killed in 1965 at the age of 29 in a freak accident. While helping a neighbor clear storm damage, a tree limb fell the wrong way and crushed his skull.

  • Roy Searcy, a backup forward for North Carolina's undefeated 1957 national champion, died of colon cancer on Christmas Eve 1994 at the age of 58.

  • Forward Joe Kitchen, a member of Louisville's regular rotation for 1959 national fourth-place team, was 52 in 1991 when he died.

  • John Cedargren, senior backup to All-American center Jerry Lucas for Ohio State's 1960 NCAA champion, died in 1966.

  • Forward Al Filardi, the third-leading rebounder for NYU's 1960 national fourth-place squad, just turned 60 when he died in early August 1999.

  • Gary Bradds, a backup to national player of the year Jerry Lucas for Ohio State's 1962 NCAA runner-up before earning the same award himself two years later, died of cancer in July 1983 when he was 40. Bradds was principal of an elementary school in Bowersville, Ohio, at the time of his demise.

  • Frank Christie, Wake Forest's third-leading rebounder for 1962 national third-place team, was 50 in mid-October 1992 when he passed away following a brief illness.

  • Vic Rouse, leading rebounder for Loyola of Chicago's 1963 NCAA champion, died in late May 1999 at the age of 56. He owned an educational consulting firm after earning three masters degrees and a PhD. Teammate Paul "Pablo" Robertson, a New York native averaging 5.1 ppg and 2.9 rpg when declared academically ineligible after the first semester, died in 1990 at the age of 46 after playing seven years with the Harlem Globetrotters.

  • Guard Denny Ferguson, a regular for Duke's 1963 national third-place team and 1964 runner-up, died from cancer in 2001 at 58. He was a professor at Cornell.

  • Bill Buntin, the leading rebounder and second-leading scorer (behind Cazzie Russell) for Michigan's Final Four teams in 1964 and 1965, collapsed and died during an informal workout one day after his 26th birthday in May 1968.

  • Forward Jamie Thompson, the third-leading scorer for Wichita's 1965 fourth-place team who tallied 36 points when the Shockers were eliminated in the national semifinals by eventual champion UCLA, died in January 2006 at the age of 60.

  • Guard Bobby Joe Hill, the leading scorer for Texas Western's 1966 NCAA titlist, passed away from a heart attack in December 2002 at the age of 59.

  • Guard Rudy Waterman, Dayton's third-leading scorer for 1967 national runner-up, died at 34 in mid-February 1981 after shooting himself and falling into a coma upon developing bacterial meningitis while hospitalized in New York. He had been fired from his job as a sales representative for a Midwest aluminum company. Flyers coach Don Donoher's son, Gary, died in New York at age 27 in August 1988 from AIDS-related complications.

  • Ken Spain and Theodis Lee, starting frontcourters with All-American Elvin Hayes for Houston's team that entered the 1968 Final Four with an undefeated record, each died of cancer. Spain, who overcame cancer after he was first diagnosed with it in 1977, died of the disease 13 years later in October 1990 when he was 44. Lee, who played for the Harlem Globetrotters, was 33 when he passed away in March 1979, one week after the illness was diagnosed. Teammate Don Kruse, a center for the Cougars' national third-place team in 1967, died in the spring of 2004 at the age of 59.

  • Dave Sorenson, second-leading rebounder and third-leading scorer as a sophomore for Ohio State's national third-place team in 1968, died in 2002 at the age of 54 because of cancer.

  • Herm Gilliam, leading rebounder and second-leading scorer for Purdue's 1969 national runner-up, died of a heart attack in 2005 at the age of 58.

  • Maury John, national coach of the year in 1969 when directing Drake to a national third-place finish, died of cancer in 1974 at the age of 55. Guard Gary Zeller, the Bulldogs' sixth-leading scorer, died in 1996 at 48. Al Williams, the team's third-leading rebounder, died in summer of 2007 at 59 from liver cancer.

  • UCLA's John Vallely scored a game-high 29 points in the Bruins' 1969 Final Four semifinal victory against Drake and collected 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists in 1970 NCAA championship game win against Jacksonville. His daughter, Erin, died of rhabdomyosarcoma (disease primarily found in children where cancer makes up cells that normally develop into skeletal muscles) in fall of 1991 at the age of 12.

  • Steve Patterson, one of UCLA's top three rebounders for NCAA kingpins in 1970 and 1971 after serving as Lew Alcindor's understudy for another titlist in 1969, died in 2004 at the age of 56 because of lung cancer.

  • Point guard Vaughn Wedeking, third-leading scorer for Jacksonville's 1970 runner-up, died in the summer of 2009 at the age of 60 after suffering from Alzheimer's for several years.

  • New Mexico State backup guard Milton Horne, who averaged 4.4 ppg for 1970 national third-place team, died in 2001 at the age of 52.

  • Howard Porter, Villanova's leading scorer and rebounder for 1971 runner-up, was trying to trade money and crack cocaine for sex with a prostitute in St. Paul in May 2007 when the probation officer was beaten to death at the age of 58, according to murder charges filed several months later.

  • Pierre Russell, a starting forward for Kansas' 1971 fourth-place finisher, died in mid-June 1995 at the age of 45. Teammate Greg Douglas, a backup forward, passed away in 2005 at the age of 57.

  • Reggie Royals, the leading rebounder and second-leading scorer for Florida State's 1972 runner-up, passed away in mid-April 2009 at the age of 58.

  • Forward Mike Lawhon, Louisville's third-leading scorer for the Cardinals' 1972 national fourth-place team, died in early April 2004 at the age of 53. Lawhon was an orthopedic surgeon who passed away while attending a medical conference.

  • Larry Finch, Memphis State's leading scorer for 1973 runner-up, died in early April 2011 at the age of 60. Finch suffered the first of multiple strokes 10 years earlier. In early September 2014, his daughter (Shanae), suffering from Crohn's disease, collapsed and died at the age of 39. Teammate Ronnie Robinson, the Tigers' second-leading rebounder and third-leading scorer, passed away in early May 2004 at the age of 53 from congestive heart failure. Third-leading rebounder Wes Westfall, a juco recruit, died at 54 in his hometown of St. Louis.

  • Maurice Lucas, leading scorer and rebounder for Marquette's 1974 national runner-up, died in 2010 at the age of 58 from bladder cancer. Teammate Jerry Homan, a backup frontcourter, had a son, Luke, pass away in the fall of 2006 when the UW-LaCrosse student's body was recovered in the Mississippi River after last seen celebrating Oktoberfest (UW-L teammate Austin Scott was charged with two counts of obstructing officers for lying to authorities during the death investigation).

  • Danny Knight, the leading scorer and rebounder for Kansas' 1974 Final Four team, was 24 when he died in June 1977, three weeks after sustaining injuries in a fall down the steps at his home. Knight had been suffering headaches for some time and doctors attributed his death to an aneurysm in the brain. Teammate Norm Cook, the Jayhawks' second-leading rebounder and fourth-leading scorer as a freshman, was 53 in 2008 when he died after suffering from paranoid schizophrenia most of his adult life.

  • Dan Hall, a frontcourt backup from Kentucky's historic recruiting class as a freshman for UK's 1975 NCAA Tournament runner-up, died of an apparent suicide at age 58 the first full week in January 2013. Hall subsequently transferred to Marshall, where he averaged 10.4 ppg and 5.6 rpg in 1976-77 and 1977-78. UK teammate G.J. Smith, a reserve forward, died in late summer 2012 at the age of 59 because of a heart attack.

  • Bob Parker, a backup center who scored a total of 14 points in two Final Four outings for Syracuse's 1975 national fourth-place team, passed away in January 2006 at the age of 51. Fellow reserve Larry Arrington perished from cancer in spring of 2013 at the age of 59.

  • Mark Haymore, a member of Indiana's unbeaten club in 1976 before transferring to Massachusetts, died in late November 2004 at the age of 48. The frontcourter had a history of heart problems.

  • John Robinson, Michigan's second-leading rebounder and third-leading scorer for 1976 runner-up, died in late September 2012 at the age of 56.

  • The remains of former UCLA forward Gavin Smith, who scored 14 points for the third-place Bruins at the 1976 Final Four, were found in a rural desert area of Southern California in early November 2014. Police had been probing Smith's mysterious disappearance 2 1/2 years earlier. Smith, a 57-year-old movie executive for Fox, was driving a black 2000 four-door Mercedes E Class when he vanished at night. Most media outlets focus on Smith's connection to UCLA but he actually made a hoop name for himself playing with Hawaii, where he finished 16th in the nation in scoring in 1976-77 by setting a Rainbows' single-season record (23.4 points per game). Teammate Brett Vroman, a backup center for UCLA, had a son, Jackson, 34, found dead at the bottom of a friend's swimming pool in Hollywood in late June 2015 after previously playing for Iowa State.

  • Center Jerome Whitehead, the second-leading rebounder and third-leading scorer for Marquette's 1977 NCAA titlist, was 56 in mid-December 2012 when he was found dead because of chronic alcohol abuse. Teammate Gary Rosenberger, a guard who was the fourth-leading scorer in coach Al McGuire's swan song, passed away in the fall of 2013 at the age of 57 due to complications from a heart attack and stroke.

  • Tom Zaliagiris, North Carolina's top reserve guard for 1977 runner-up, died in late January 2007 at the age of 50 because of a bacteria infection. Redshirt center Geoff Crompton, who went on to play in the NBA, died of leukemia in 2002 at the age of 46.

  • Forward Glen Gondrezick, the leading rebounder and third-leading scorer for UNLV's 1977 third-place club, died in late April 2009 at the age of 53 due to complications stemming from a heart transplant he received the previous September. Teammate Lewis Brown, the third-leading rebounder and sixth-leading scorer for UNLV, spent more than 10 years homeless on the streets of Santa Monica, Calif., before passing away in mid-September 2011 at the age of 56. According to the New York Times, family members said the 6-11 center used cocaine with the Rebels. "Drugs were his downfall," said his sister. Murray State transfer Larry Moffett, UNLV's second-leading rebounder, passed away in early May 2011 in Shreveport, La., at the age of 56. He previously was a cab driver in Las Vegas.

  • Guard Chad Kinch, the third-leading scorer for UNC Charlotte's 1977 national fourth-place team as a freshman, died at his parents' home in Cartaret, N.J., from complications caused by AIDS. He passed away at 35 on April 3, 1994, the day between the Final Four semifinals and final in Charlotte. The host school happened to be UNC Charlotte. It was the second time Kinch's parents lost a son. Sixteen years earlier, Ray Kinch, a Rutgers football player, was killed in a house fire. UNCC teammate Lew Massey, the 49ers' runner-up in scoring and rebounding, died in mid-January 2014 at the age of 57.

  • Mike Phillips, the starting center for Kentucky's 1978 NCAA champion, died in late April 2015 at the age of 59 following a fall at his home.

  • Point guard John Harrell, a point guard for Duke's 1978 runner-up after transferring from North Carolina Central, died of an aortal aneurysm at age 50 in the summer of 2008.

  • Orlando Woolridge, a backup freshman in 1978 when Notre Dame made its lone Final Four appearance before he became a scoring specialist in 13 NBA seasons, died at the end of May 2012 at the age of 52 because of a chronic heart condition.

  • Curtis Watkins, DePaul's second-leading scorer and rebounder for 1979 national third-place team, died in June 2008 at the age of 51 due to a blocked artery.

  • Matt White, the second-leading rebounder and third-leading scorer for Penn's 1979 Final Four squad as a senior, was fatally stabbed in mid-February 2013 by his wife, who told police she had caught him looking at child pornography. White, the Quakers' all-time leader in field-goal shooting (59.1%), was 55.

  • Derek Smith, the leading rebounder and second-leading scorer as a sophomore forward for Louisville's 1980 NCAA champion, died of a heart ailment at age 34 on August 9, 1996, while on a cruise with his family. He was the leading scorer and second-leading rebounder for the Cardinals' 1982 Final Four team before averaging 12.8 ppg and 3.2 rpg in the NBA with five different franchises. His son, Nolan, became a starting guard for Duke's 2010 NCAA titlist.

  • Drake Morris Jr., the 29-year-old son of the third-leading scorer for Purdue's 1980 national third-place team, was shot to death in northwest Indiana in the middle of the night in late August 2011.

  • Iowa's Kenny Arnold, who battled cancer for more than 30 years after undergoing surgery for a malignant brain tumor in 1985, passed away in late April 2019 at the age of 59. Chicago native was the second-leading scorer (13.5 ppg as sophomore) and assists leader for the Hawkeyes' 1980 national fourth-place team coached by Lute Olson.

  • Mike LaFave, a freshman forward on Indiana's titlist in 1981 before transferring to Ball State, died at age 46 from a sudden heart attack in 2009. Teammate Steve Bouchie passed away at age 59 from a heart attack during 2020 Fourth of July weekend.

  • Center Greg Cook, third-leading rebounder and fifth-leading scorer for LSU's national fourth-place team in 1981, died in mid-March 2005 from congestive heart failure at the age of 46. Guard Mark Alcorn, a St. Louis transfer whose cancer was detected in late 1980 when the Tigers competed in Great Alaska Shootout, died in early 1982 at the age of 23. Assistant coach Rick Huckabay, who tagged along from high school with the Tigers' leading scorer (Howard Carter), died of cancer in 2006 at 60 after directing Marshall to the NCAA playoffs three times in a four-year span from 1984 through 1987.

  • Cecil Exum, a member of North Carolina's 1982 NCAA titlist - coach Dean Smith's first national champion in his seventh Final Four - died in early July 2023 at the age of 60 after he was in intensive care with lung complications.

  • Rob Williams, leading scorer for Houston's 1982 Final Four team, died of congestive heart failure at the age of 52 in March 2014 after suffering a stroke 15 years earlier that left him blind in his left eye and partially paralyzed on his left side. Williams denied rumors he was too high on cocaine to play up to par against North Carolina in the national semifinals (0-for-8 field-goal shooting). But Williams admitted he used drugs. "Cocaine came later but I started out smoking weed (in junior high)," Williams said. "I was always a curious type of fellow, so I wanted to see what cocaine was about. So I tried it. And to tell you the truth, I liked it."

  • Lorenzo Charles, the second-leading rebounder for N.C. State's 1983 champion, provided one of the tourney's most memorable moments with a game-winning dunk against heavily-favored Houston in the final. Working for a limousine and bus company based in Apex, N.C., he was killed in June 2011 when the charter bus the 47-year-old was driving with no passengers aboard crashed along Interstate 40 in Raleigh. Wolfpack coach Jim Valvano also was 47 in the spring of 1993 when he passed away because of cancer. Backup forward Quinton Leonard died of a heart attack in the spring of 2006 at the age of 44.

  • Renaldo Thomas, a member of Houston's Phi Slama Jama clubs finishing national runner-up in 1983 and 1984, died in 2021 at the age of 57.

  • Lamar Heard, tri-captain and steals leader for Georgia's 1983 Final Four squad, was 55 when he died in 2017. Terry Fair, the Bulldogs' leading rebounder and second-leading scorer in their initial NCAA playoff appearance, perished in late January 2020 at the age of 59. Teammate Troy Hitchcock, a 7-2 freshman center who subsequently transferred home to Heidelberg (Ohio), passed away at 29 in early 1992.

  • Michael Burrell, son of Michael Graham, second-leading rebounder for Georgetown's 1984 NCAA champion, died at 25 in June 2008 during a trip to an amusement park. Burrell, beset by a tumor on his brain according to doctors, began vomiting, then collapsed and hit his head on the pavement. First of children fathered with four different women was born when Graham was in high school.

  • Melvin Turpin, the leading scorer and second-leading rebounder as a senior for Kentucky's 1984 Final Four team (29-5 record), was 49 and battling diabetes in July 2010 when he committed suicide with a self-inflicted gunshot to the chest. Teammate Bret Bearup, a backup forward, passed away in mid-May 2018 at 56.

  • Kenton Edelin, top rebounder for Virginia's 1984 Final Four team the year after national player of the year Ralph Sampson graduated, died in late 2022 at the age of 60. Edelin suffered multiple strokes, causing significant brain trauma paralyzing the left side of his body.

  • Baskerville Holmes, a starting forward who averaged 9.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game for Memphis State's 1985 Final Four team, and his girlfriend were found shot to death on March 18, 1997 in an apparent murder-suicide in Memphis. He was 32.

  • Swingman Don Redden, who averaged 13 points and 4.8 rebounds per game for Louisiana State's 1986 Final Four squad, was 24 when he died in March 1988 of heart disease.

  • Keith Hughes, a backup forward as a freshman for Syracuse's 1987 runner-up before transferring to Rutgers, died suddenly at his N.J. home in February 2014 at the age of 45.

  • Ernie "Pop" Lewis, a senior co-captain and three-point specialist for Providence in 1987, perished in early 2018 at age 51.

  • Forward Daryl Thomas, second-leading scorer and rebounder for Indiana's 1987 titlist, died in late March 2018 at the age of 52 from a heart attack.

  • Armon Gilliam, the leading scorer and rebounder for UNLV's 1987 Final Four team, died from a heart attack on July 5, 2011, while playing basketball in a Pittsburgh area gym. He was 47.

  • Mike Masucci, a freshman backup center for Kansas' eventual 1988 champion dismissed from the Jayhawks before the tourney commenced and his subsequent transfer, died in January 2005 at the age of 36 from a heart attack.

  • Demetrius Calip Sr., a backup guard for Michigan's 1989 titlist, died in early February of 2023 at the age of 53.

  • Guard Phil Henderson, the leading scorer and senior captain of Duke's 1990 NCAA Tournament runner-up, died of cardiac arrest in mid-February 2013 at his home in the Philippines at the age of 44. He was the Blue Devils' second-leading scorer as a junior and sixth-leading scorer as a sophomore for two more Final Four squads.

  • Larry Marks, a backup forward for Arkansas' 1990 Final Four squad after being a starter the previous season, died of an apparent heart attack in mid-June 2000 at the age of 33 after playing some recreational basketball. Teammates Lenzie Howell and Ron Huery died in their 50s. Howell, who garnered Midwest Regional MOP honors, passed away in summer of 2020 at 52. Huery, the Hogs' top player off the bench in 1990, died in early November 2022 in his hometown of Memphis at the age of 55.

  • Sean Tunstall, a reserve guard for Kansas' 1991 NCAA Tournament runner-up was shot and killed at age 28 in the parking lot of a recreation center in his native St. Louis on October 16, 1997, in a drug deal gone bad. Tunstall, recruited to KU when Larry Brown was the Jayhawks' coach, had received a prison sentence after pleading guilty to one count of selling cocaine in 1993. "He was one of the few kids I never thought I completely reached," then KU coach Roy Williams said. Power forward Chris Lindley, who signed with Kansas and would have been a freshman for the 1991 squad before having his right foot amputated in January 1990 after a train accident, died at 34 in mid-February 2007.

  • Clifford Rozier, a backup freshman forward for North Carolina's 1991 Final Four team before transferring to Louisville and becoming an All-American as a junior in 1993-94, died of a heart attack at age 45 in summer of 2018 following years in a halfway house. UNC teammate Eric Montross, fourth-leading rebounder and sixth-leading scorer with the Tar Heels in 1991, died of cancer in mid-December of 2023 at the age of 52. Montross, a two-time All-American, was an All-NCAA Tournament team selection in 1993 as the leading scorer and second-leading rebounder for national titlist.

  • Herb Jones, leading scorer and rebounder for Cincinnati's Final Four club in 1992, died in early December 2021 at the age of 51 after a battle with liver and lung cancer. Son of Nick Van Exel, UC's assists leader, was sentenced to 60 years in prison after arrest in Garland, Tex., in late December 2010 on a capital murder charge following the shotgun shooting slaying of his friend, whose body was wrapped in plastic and dumped along a nearby lake. Prosecutors contended that Nickey feared his friend would tell authorities of robberies the two committed earlier in the year.

  • Eric Anderson, starting forward for Indiana's 1992 Final Four squad, died at 48 of natural causes following a bout with pneumonia in late 2018.

  • Antonio "Tony" Moore, a backup forward for Duke's 1994 national runner-up, died in 2016 at 41.

  • Ademola Okulaja, a starting forward for North Carolina's back-to-back Final Four teams in 1997 and 1998, died at the age of 46 in spring of 2022. A cancerous tumor was found on his spine in 2008.

  • Peter Sauer, a captain and third-leading rebounder for Stanford's 1998 Final Four squad, was 35 in summer of 2012 when he collapsed during a recreation game in White Plains, N.Y., hit his head and never was revived. His father, Mark Sauer, is a former president of two pro franchises - the NHL's St. Louis Blues and MLB's Pittsburgh Pirates.

  • Major Parker, a part-time starter for Florida's 2000 national runner-up, died in early November 2022 at the age of 44 from a heart-related issue.

  • A 32-year-old brother of defensive stopper Byron Mouton, Maryland's fourth-leading scorer and rebounder for a 2001 Final Four team, was shot and killed in an apparent carjacking incident in Houston about one month into the next season. The Terrapins went on to capture the 2002 NCAA championship as the Tulane transfer finished as their third-leading rebounder and fourth-leading scorer. Earl Badu, a walk-on member of 2002 NCAA titlist, was in legal and financial trouble ($300,000 debt involving major Terps booster) in the years preceding his suicide at 33 in late September 2012 jumping from an eastern Baltimore overpass. Teammate Tahj Holden, a part-time starting center, had a three-year-old son (Max) perish from cancer in the spring of 2020.

  • Stanley Robinson, third-leading rebounder for Connecticut's 2009 Final Four squad, died in summer of 2020 at the age of 32.

  • Zachary Winston, a younger brother of Michigan State All-American playmaker Cassius Winston (2019 Final Four participant), died of suicide on November 9, 2019, when stepping in front of a westbound Amtrak train in Albion, Mich., where he was attending college.

  • Reggie Chaney, an Arkansas transfer who was a part-time starter for Houston's 2021 Final Four club, died in late August 2023 at the age of 23 from a fentanyl overdose.

College Exam: Day #17 For One-and-Only NCAA Tournament Trivia Challenge

Unless you're busy hoarding toilet paper for George Soros butt boy/New York AG Alvin Bragg, seeking translator to interpret bumbling Plagiarist Biledumb or cowering in fetal position from climate change War of the Worlds, it's your opportunity to take online tests for 23 quarantined days symbolic of normal time frame from Selection Sunday to Monday evening championship contest.

We need something to occupy our minds during quarantine from much of the invective-infected #MessMedia. Emphasizing a "one-and-only" theme for a "one-and-only" event, here is Day 17 of a treasure-trove of tantalizing NCAA Tournament trivia questions from CollegeHoopedia.com tracking the only coach, conference, player or school to be linked to a distinguished or dubious achievement (click here for answers or conduct research digesting historical morsels in CollegeHoopedia.com's year-by-year highlights):

1. Which school had the only trio to each score at least 20 points in two Final Four games? Hint: All three players finished their college careers with more than 2,000 points and were on roster the next year when school lost its playoff opener. The school is only national runner-up to score more than 85 points in an NCAA final.

2. Name the only school to have three players score more than 20 points in a Final Four game. Hint: The school lost championship game that year by more than 20 points although score was tied at halftime.

3. Who is the only player to score 40 or more points in a Final Four game and not eventually play in the NBA? Hint: He was held under 10 points in his other Final Four game that year.

4. Who is the only coach to go more than 40 years from his first to his last appearance in the playoffs? Hint: He and his son, who succeeded him, both compiled a losing tourney record.

5. Who is the only player to compile an NBA playoff scoring average more than 15 points per game higher than his NCAA Tournament average? Hint: He scored just six points in his NCAA playoff debut against a school participating in the tourney for just second time.

6. Who is the only player to lead an NCAA tournament in scoring with more than 120 points and not eventually play in the NBA? Hint: He averaged 32.3 points per game in his three-year college career.

7. Who is the only player from 1957 through 1996 to lead a tournament in rebounding and not eventually play in the NBA? Hint: His school was making just its second tourney appearance the year he led in rebounding.

8. Who is the only non-guard to be the undisputed leading scorer of an NCAA Tournament and not participate in the Final Four? Hint: He never played in the NBA.

9. Who is the first coach to make more than a dozen NCAA playoff appearances before reaching the Final Four? Hint: He was coach of the first team to win national championship in its first Final Four appearance since Texas Western in 1966.

10. Who is the only player to take more than 40 field-goal attempts in a playoff game his team lost? Hint: The guard was the nation's leading scorer with more than 36 points per game for only school to reach national semifinals of a small-college tournament one year and participate in NCAA Tournament the next season.

Answers (Day 17)
Day 16 Questions and Answers
Day 15 Questions and Answers
Day 14 Questions and Answers
Day 13 Questions and Answers
Day 12 Questions and Answers
Day 11 Questions and Answers
Day 10 Questions and Answers
Day 9 Questions and Answers
Day 8 Questions and Answers
Day 7 Questions and Answers
Day 6 Questions and Answers
Day 5 Questions and Answers
Day 4 Questions and Answers
Day 3 Questions and Answers
Day 2 Questions and Answers
Day 1 Questions and Answers

Melting Pot: Top Rebounders For Two Final Four Newcomers Are Foreigners

At least they're not illegal aliens taking American positions/jobs. At any rate, the top rebounders for two Final Four teams in 2023 are foreigners - Florida Atlantic's Vladislav Goldin (Russia) and Miami's Norchad Omier (Nicaragua).

College basketball has taken on an increasingly international flavor with an average of more than 400 foreign athletes annually competing for NCAA Division I men's teams over the last 19 seasons. An all-time high of eight different foreign nations outside North America were represented at the 2017 Final Four as the search for talent knows no borders.

You've heard of a trade deficit. How about the trade surplus at the national semifinals? All but three Final Four since 1993 had an international flavor with at least one player from outside North America in the regular rotation of a team reaching the national semifinals. All four 2021 Final Four squads were in this category, including multiple regulars for Baylor and Gonzaga. But 2022 emerged barren.

"If communism hadn't fallen, I would have had to make the most difficult decision in my life," said center George Zidek, the starting center for UCLA's 1995 national champion who once was yelped at by dogs and arrested during a riot in Prague. "I would have had to leave to play basketball and never come back to my country or my family. I don't know if I could have done that."

An old adage claimed that fans couldn't tell the players without a roster. Now, it's at the point where fans can't pronounce the names on rosters without taking a couple of Berlitz language courses. Following is a chronological look at Final Four regulars in the last 30 tourneys coming from 40 different foreign nations (in reverse order):

2023 - Florida Atlantic C Vladislav Goldin (Russia) and Miami C Norchad Omier (Nicaragua).

2022 - None

2021 - Gonzaga G Joel Ayayi (France), Gonzaga C Oumar Ballo (Mali), UCLA F-C Kenneth Nwuba (Nigeria), Houston F J'wan Roberts (Virgin Islands), Baylor F Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua (Cameroon) and Baylor F Flo Thamba (Congo)

2019 - Virginia F-C Mamadi Diakite (Guinea, Africa), Texas Tech G-F Brandone Francis (Dominican Republic), Texas Tech G Davide Moretti (Italy) and Virginia C Jack Salt (New Zealand)

2018 - Kansas C Udoka Azubuike (Nigeria), Kansas F-C Silvio DeSousa (Angola), Kansas G Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (Ukraine), Loyola of Chicago G Bruno Skokna (Croatia) and Michigan C Moritz Wagner (Germany)

2017 - Oregon F-C Kavell Bigby-Williams (England), South Carolina F-C Khadim Gueye (Senegal), Gonzaga F Rui Hachimura (Japan), Gonzaga C Przemek Karnowski (Poland), South Carolina F-C Mak Kotsar (Estonia), South Carolina F Chris Silva (Gabon), Oregon F Roman Sorkin (Israel) and Gonzaga F-C Killian Tillie (France)

2016 - Oklahoma G Buddy Hield (Bahamas)

2015 - None

2014 - Connecticut C Amida Brimah (Ghana), F Kentan Facey (Jamaica) and G-F Niels Giffey (Germany) and Florida F Will Yeguete (Ivory Coast)

2013 - Louisville C Gorgui Dieng (Senegal), Syracuse C Baye Moussa Keita (Senegal) and Wichita State C Ehimen Orukpe (Nigeria)

2012 - Kentucky C Eloy Vargas (Dominican Republic) and Louisville C Gorgui Dieng (Senegal)

2011 - Connecticut G-F Niels Giffey (Germany) and C Charles Okwandu (Nigeria) and Kentucky C Eloy Vargas (Dominican Republic)

2010 - West Virginia F Deniz Kilicli (Turkey)

2009 - Connecticut C Hasheem Thabeet (Tanzania) and Michigan State C Idong Ibok (Nigeria)

2008 - UCLA F-C Alfred Aboya (Cameroon), F Nikola Dragovic (Serbia) and F Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (Cameroon) and Kansas C Alexander "Sasha" Kaun (Russia)

2007 - UCLA F-C Alfred Aboya (Cameroon) and F Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (Cameroon)

2006 - Florida G Walter Hodge (Puerto Rico), F-C Al Horford (Dominican Republic) and G David Huertas (Puerto Rico), Louisiana State F Magnum Rolle (Bahamas) and UCLA F-C Alfred Aboya (Cameroon) and F Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (Cameroon)

2005 - Louisville F-G Francisco Garcia (Dominican Republic), F-C Otis George (Dominica) and Juan Palacios (Columbia)

2004 - Duke F Luol Deng (Sudan) and Georgia Tech C Luke Schenscher (Australia)

2003 - Texas G Sydmill Harris (The Netherlands)

2002 - Oklahoma C Jabahri Brown (Virgin Islands) and C Jozsef Szendrei (Hungary)

2001 - None

2000 - Wisconsin G Kirk Penney (New Zealand)

1999 - Connecticut C Souleymane Wane (Senegal) and Ohio State G Boban Savovic (Yugoslavia)

1998 - Utah F Hanno Mottola (Finland) and North Carolina C Makhtar Ndiaye (Nigeria)

1997 - North Carolina F Ademola Okulaja (Germany) and C Serge Zwikker (Netherlands)

1996 - Syracuse G Marius Janulis (Lithuania) and Massachusetts G Edgar Padilla (Puerto Rico) and G Carmelo Travieso (Puerto Rico)

1995 - UCLA C George Zidek (Czechoslovakia), Arkansas G Davor Rimac (Yugoslavia) and North Carolina C Serge Zwikker (Netherlands)

1994 - Arkansas G Davor Rimac (Yugoslavia) and Florida F Martti Kuisma (Finland)

1993 - North Carolina G Henrik Rodl (Germany)

Change of Address: Dozen 2023 Final 4 Regulars Are 4-Year School Transfers

Although there frequently is a disenchantment stigma attached to transfers, it shouldn't be considered a crime. In wake of transfer portal, there has never been more impact on a Final Four from players commencing their college playing careers at other four-year NCAA Division I institutions than the past several years. In 2023, four Connecticut regulars, Florida Atlantic's leading rebounder, three of Miami's top four scorers and four of San Diego State's top five scorers are transfers from other four-year universities. Including injured Kentucky star Derek Anderson in 1997, 35 of the last 39 Final Fours featured teams with at least one starter or key reserve beginning his college career attending another four-year DI school.

Vanderbilt guard Billy McCaffrey, a transfer from Duke, is the only All-Tournament selection to finish his college playing career attending another major university. There was no All-Tournament team in 1942 when Stanford guard Howie Dallmar was named Final Four Most Outstanding Player before completing his undergraduate work at Penn toward the end of World War II. McCaffrey earned a spot on the 1991 All-Tournament team by scoring 16 points to help Duke defeat Kansas (72-65) in the championship game.

"What I really wanted was consistency; not playing a key factor in some games, very minimal in others," McCaffrey said. "My role probably would have been the same if I had stayed. I felt I could do more. I needed to enjoy the game more. I think a player likes to know that he can be counted on for certain things every night. That's how I get pleasure from the games. Your college career is too short to spend somewhere you're not happy.

"I don't regret leaving. I cherish those memories. I was happy for them (when the Blue Devils repeated in 1992). I knew when I left that they had a good chance to win (again). I took that into consideration when I made my decision to leave. I'd already been a part of a national championship. Maybe that made it easier."

There are more regular-rotation transfers appearing at the last six Final Fours than there was in a 28-year span from 1984 through 2011. In the last 12 years (11 tourneys), a total of 29 DI schools (including 21 mid-majors) never participating at the F4 had former players advance to the national semifinals after transferring. Following is a chronological look at how transfers have impacted the Final Four in the last 39 years (in reverse order):

2023 - Connecticut's Nahiem Alleyne (transfer from Virginia Tech), Joey Calcaterra (San Diego), Hassan Diarra (Texas A&M) and Tristen Newton (East Carolina); Florida Atlantic's Vladislav Goldin (Texas Tech); Miami's Jordan Miller (George Mason), Norchad Ornier (Arkansas State) and Nigel Pack (Kansas State), plus San Diego State's Matt Bradley (California), Jaedon LeDee (Texas Christian), Micah Parrish (Oakland) and Darrin Trammell (Seattle).

2022 - Kansas G Jalen Coleman-Landis (Illinois/DePaul/Iowa State), Villanova G Caleb Daniels (Tulane), Duke F-C Theo John (Marquette), Duke F Bates Jones (Davidson), North Carolina F Brady Manek (Oklahoma), Kansas G Remy Martin (Arizona State) and Kansas G Joseph Yesufu (Drake).

2021 - Houston F Reggie Chaney (Arkansas), Gonzaga G Aaron Cook (Southern Illinois), Baylor G Adam Flagler (Presbyterian), Houston F Justin Gorham (Towson), Houston F-C Brison Gresham (Massachusetts), Houston G Quentin Grimes (Kansas), Houston G Dejon Jarreau (Massachusetts), UCLA G Johnny Juzang (Kentucky), Baylor G Davion Mitchell (Auburn), Gonzaga G Andrew Nembhard (Florida), Baylor F Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua (UNLV), Baylor G MaCio Teague (UNC Asheville) and Houston G Cameron Tyson (Idaho).

2019 - Auburn G Samir Doughty (Virginia Commonwealth), Texas Tech G Brandone Francis (Florida), Virginia F Braxton Key (Alabama), Texas Tech G Matt Mooney (Air Force/South Dakota) and Texas Tech F-C Tariq Owens (Tennessee/St. John's)

2018 - Loyola of Chicago G Clayton Custer (Iowa State), Michigan G Charles Matthews (Kentucky), Kansas G-F Malik Newman (Mississippi State), Villanova F Eric Paschall (Fordham), Michigan G-F Duncan Robinson (Williams MA) and Loyola of Chicago G Marques Townes (Fairleigh Dickinson)

2017 - Oregon G Dylan Ennis (Rice/Villanova), Gonzaga G Jordan Mathews (California), Oregon C Paul White (Georgetown), Gonzaga F Johnathan Williams (Missouri) and Gonzaga G Nigel Williams-Goss (Washington)

2016 - Syracuse G Michael Gbinije (Duke) and Oklahoma F Ryan Spangler (Gonzaga)

2015 - Michigan State G Bryn Forbes (Cleveland State)

2014 - Wisconsin F Zach Bohannon (Air Force), Florida F Dorian Finney-Smith (Virginia Tech) and Connecticut G-F Lasan Kromah (George Washington)

2013 - Wichita State G Malcolm Armstead* (Oregon) and Louisville G-F Luke Hancock (George Mason)

2012 - Ohio State F Evan Ravenel (Boston College), Louisville G Chris Smith (Manhattan), Kentucky C Eloy Vargas* (Florida), Kansas F Justin Wesley (Lamar), Kansas C Jeff Withey (Arizona) and Kansas F Kevin Young (Loyola Marymount)

2011 - Kentucky C Eloy Vargas* (Florida), Virginia Commonwealth F Jamie Skeen (Wake Forest), Virginia Commonwealth F Toby Veal* (Colorado)

2010 - None

2009 - None

2008 - Kansas G Rodrick Stewart** (Southern California) and Memphis F Shawn Taggart (Iowa State)

2007 - Georgetown F Patrick Ewing Jr. (Indiana) and Ohio State G Ron Lewis (Bowling Green)

2006 - None

2005 - Illinois F-C Jack Ingram (Tulsa)

2004 - Oklahoma State G Daniel Bobik (Brigham Young), Georgia Tech G Will Bynum (Arizona), Oklahoma State G-F Joey Graham (Central Florida), Oklahoma State F Stephen Graham (Central Florida), Oklahoma State G John Lucas III (Baylor) and Oklahoma State F Jason Miller (North Texas)

2003 - Texas F Deginald Erskin (North Texas) and Marquette F-C Robert Jackson (Mississippi State)

2002 - Oklahoma C Jabahri Brown (Florida International) and F-C Aaron McGhee* (Cincinnati) and Maryland G-F Byron Mouton (Tulane)

2001 - Michigan State F Mike Chappell (Duke), Maryland G-F Byron Mouton (Tulane) and Arizona C Loren Woods (Wake Forest)

2000 - Michigan State F Mike Chappell (Duke)

1999 - Ohio State G Scoonie Penn (Boston College)

1998 - Kentucky F Heshimu Evans (Manhattan) and North Carolina C Makhtar Ndiaye (Michigan)

1997 - Kentucky G-F Derek Anderson (Ohio State)

1996 - Kentucky G-F Derek Anderson (Ohio State) and C Mark Pope (Washington)

1995 - Oklahoma State F Scott Pierce (Illinois)

1994 - None

1993 - Kentucky G Travis Ford (Missouri) and Kansas G Rex Walters (Northwestern)

1992 - Cincinnati G Anthony Buford (Akron) and F Erik Martin* (Texas Christian)

1991 - UNLV G Greg Anthony (Portland) and C Elmore Spencer* (Georgia)

1990 - UNLV G Greg Anthony (Portland)

1989 - Illinois F Kenny Battle (Northern Illinois)

1988 - Kansas G Clint Normore (Wichita State), Oklahoma F Harvey Grant (Clemson) and Arizona F Tom Tolbert* (UC Irvine)

1987 - Providence G Delray Brooks (Indiana) and UNLV G Mark Wade* (Oklahoma)

1986 - Kansas C Greg Dreiling (Wichita State)

1985 - St. John's G Mike Moses (Florida)

1984 - Virginia G Rick Carlisle (Maine)

*Played for a junior college between four-year schools.
**Injured.

College Exam: Day #16 For One-and-Only NCAA Tournament Trivia Challenge

Unless you're busy hoarding toilet paper to wipe butt of George Soros butt kisser/flunky New York AG Alvin Bragg, seeking translator to try to understand incoherent Plagiarist Biledumb or cowering in fetal position from college basketball version of Orson Welles' War of the Worlds, it's your opportunity to start taking online tests for 23 quarantined days symbolic of normal time frame from Selection Sunday to Monday evening championship contest.

We need something to occupy our minds during quarantine from much of the invective-infected #MessMedia. Emphasizing a "one-and-only" theme for a "one-and-only" event, here is Day 16 of a treasure-trove of tantalizing NCAA Tournament trivia questions from CollegeHoopedia.com tracking the only coach, conference, player or school to be linked to a distinguished or dubious achievement (click here for answers or conduct research digesting historical morsels in CollegeHoopedia.com's year-by-year highlights):

1. Name the only school to have four players score more than 14,000 points in the pros after never participating in national postseason competition (NCAA playoffs and NIT). Hint: One member of the foursome left college early after just one season of eligibility when he averaged 30 points per game and another is the highest scorer in NBA history to never participate in NBA playoffs.

2. Name the only father-son combination to be on the rosters of two teams from the same school to win NCAA Tournament championships. Hint: Both of them were underclassmen when their teams captured NCAA titles.

3. Who is the only player never to appear in the NBA or ABA after averaging more than 20 points per game for a team reaching an NCAA Tournament final? Hint: A college teammate was member of the NBA championship team drafting him.

4. Who is the only undergraduate non-center to average more than 23 points per game for a national champion? Hint: He is the last player to score the most points in a single game of an NCAA Tournament and play for championship team.

5. Who is the only player to appear at a minimum of two Final Fours and be game-high scorer in every Final Four contest he played? Hint: His brother is an NFL Hall of Famer.

6. Who is the only coach to win an NBA championship after directing a college to the Final Four? Hint: His college squad was implicated in a game-fixing scandal.

7. Who is the only player to grab more than 41 rebounds at a single Final Four? Hint: He is the only player to retrieve more than 21 missed shots in a championship game and only player to score more than 20 points and grab more than 20 rebounds in back-to-back NCAA finals.

8. Who is the only Final Four Most Outstanding Player to later coach a school other than his alma mater to the playoffs? Hint: He coached for more than 20 years in the same conference against UCLA legend John Wooden. He is also the only Final Four Most Outstanding Player to complete his college playing career attending another university.

9. Who is the only junior college player to later be selected Final Four Most Outstanding Player? Hint: He won the award when Final Four was held in his home state and eventually became an NBA head coach.

10. Name the only school with a losing league record to defeat a conference rival by more than 20 points in a season the opponent wound up winning the national championship. Hint: The school with a losing league mark participated in NCAA playoffs the next season for first time since reaching Final Four more than 20 years earlier when a consensus first-team All-American became only player in school history to average more than 25 points in a season.

Answers (Day 16)
Day 15 Questions and Answers
Day 14 Questions and Answers
Day 13 Questions and Answers
Day 12 Questions and Answers
Day 11 Questions and Answers
Day 10 Questions and Answers
Day 9 Questions and Answers
Day 8 Questions and Answers
Day 7 Questions and Answers
Day 6 Questions and Answers
Day 5 Questions and Answers
Day 4 Questions and Answers
Day 3 Questions and Answers
Day 2 Questions and Answers
Day 1 Questions and Answers

We Shall Return: Kansas State Squanders Chance For First F4 in 59 Years

Try, try again! History repeats itself but can take longer than anyone wants or expects. Kansas State, making its 25th NCAA playoff appearance since its last Final Four in 1964, was well positioned to return to the national semifinals before the Wildcats were upset by Florida Atlantic in a regional final this year.

Two seasons ago, Baylor participated in the Final Four for the first time since 1950. The Bears' 71-year absence between national semifinal appearances is exceeded only by Oregon (78). K-State squandered an opportunity to join the following 13 institutions going more than 35 years before returning to the Promised Land:

Final Four School Famine Years Coaches Between Final Fours NCAA Tournament Appearances During Lapse
Oregon 78 Howard Hobson (1939) to Dana Altman (2017) 13: 1945-60-61-95-00-02-03-07-08-13-14-15-16
Baylor 71 Bill Henderson (1950) to Scott Drew (2021) nine: 1988-08-10-12-14-15-16-17-19
Wisconsin 59 Bud Foster (1941) to Dick Bennett (2000) four: 1947-94-97-99
Stanford 56 Everett Dean (1942) to Mike Montgomery (1998) five: 1989-92-95-96-97
Texas 56 Jack Gray (1947) to Rick Barnes (2003) 17: 1960-63-72-74-79-89-90-91-92-94-95-96-97-99-00-01-02
Loyola of Chicago 54 George Ireland (1963-64) to Porter Moser (2016-17) four: 1964-66-68-85
Wichita State 48 Gary Thompson (1965) to Gregg Marshall (2013) seven: 1976-81-85-87-88-06-12
Oklahoma State 44 Hank Iba (1951) to Eddie Sutton (1995) nine: 1953-54-58-65-83-91-92-93-94
Oklahoma 41 Bruce Drake (1947) to Billy Tubbs (1988) six: 1979-83-84-85-86-87
Georgetown 39 Elmer Ripley (1943) to John Thompson Jr. (1982) five: 1975-76-79-80-81
Houston 37 Guy Lewis (1984) to Kelvin Sampson (2021) six: 1987-90-92-10-18-19
Illinois 37 Harry Combes (1952) to Lou Henson (1989) eight: 1963-81-83-84-85-86-87-88
DePaul 36 Ray Meyer (1943) to Ray Meyer (1979) seven: 1953-56-59-60-65-76-78

Juco Jewels: Will Junior College Recruits Gaines & Weatherspoon Help FAU?

Junior college products have made a significant difference for NCAA Tournament titlists. Keith Erickson (El Camino CA), Jack Hirsch (Los Angeles Valley CA), Larry Hollyfield (Compton CA), Terry Schofield (Santa Monica CA), John Vallely (Orange Coast CA) and Sidney Wicks (Santa Monica CA) were instrumental in helping UCLA win seven of its NCAA championships (1964-65-69-70-71-72-73) and mighty mite Bobby Joe Hill (Burlington IA) was the spark-plug for Texas Western when the Miners captured the 1966 title. Wicks is the only individual to become a member of three NCAA champions after playing in junior college.

As DI academic exemptions become pervasive, no juco recruit made an impact last year and it is unlikely a couple of FAU J.C. products will emerge among the best of the following alphabetical list of key Final Four team regulars previously playing for a junior college:

J.C. Recruit Pos. Final Four Team(s) Junior College(s)
George Ackles C UNLV '91 Garden City (Kan.)
Tony Allen G Oklahoma State '04 Wabash Valley (Ill.)
Malcolm Armstead G Wichita State '13 Chipola (Fla.)
Rex Bailey G Western Kentucky '71 Vincennes (Ind.)
Jarvis Basnight F UNLV '87 Mount San Antonio (Calif.)
Warren Baxter G San Francisco '55 & '56 San Francisco City
Corey Beck G Arkansas '94 & '95 South Plains (Tex.)
Walter Berry F St. John's '85 San Jacinto (Tex.)
Kavell Bigby-Williams F-C Oregon '17 Gillette (Wyo.)
Daron "Mookie" Blaylock G Oklahoma '88 Midland (Tex.)
Corie Blount C Cincinnati '92 Rancho Santiago (Calif.)
Carl Boldt F San Francisco '56 Glendale (Calif.)
Kenny Booker F-G UCLA '70 & '71 Long Beach (Calif.)
Roy Boone G Wisconsin '00 Coffeyville (Kan.)
Ron Brewer G Arkansas '78 Westark (Ark.)
Karl Brown G Georgia Tech '90 Chipola (Fla.)
Terry Brown G Kansas '91 Erie (Pa.) & Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
Pembrook Burrows III F Jacksonville '70 Brevard (Fla.)
David Butler C UNLV '90 San Jacinto (Tex.)
Chet Carr F Southern California '54 Vallejo (Calif.)
Jerry Chambers F-C Utah '66 Trinidad (Colo.)
Jason Cipolla G Syracuse '96 Tallahassee (Fla.)
DeShawn Corprew F Texas Tech '19 South Plains (Tex.)
William "Bo" Crain F Utah '61 Weber State (Utah)
Charlie Criss G New Mexico State '70 New Mexico J.C.
Eric Curry C-F Indiana State '79 Wabash Valley (Ill.)
Howie Dallmar G Stanford '42 Menlo (Calif.)
Bennett Davison F Arizona '97 West Valley (Calif.)
Art Day C San Francisco '57 Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.)
Jason Detrick G Oklahoma '02 Southwest Missouri State-West Plains
Alex Dillard G Arkansas '94 & '95 Southern Union (Ala.)
Don Draper G Drake '69 Coffeyville (Kan.)
Al Dunbar G San Francisco '57 Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.)
Malik Dunbar G-F Auburn '19 College of Central Florida
Jerry Dunn F Western Kentucky '71 Vincennes (Ind.)
Cleanthony Early F Wichita State '13 Sullivan County (N.Y.)
Ebi Ere G Oklahoma '02 Barton County (Kan.)
Denny Fitzpatrick G California '59 Orange Coast (Calif.)
Jerry Frizzell F Seattle '58 Grays Harbor (Wash.)
Isaiah Gaines F Florida Atlantic '23 Northwest Mississippi
Dean Garrett C Indiana '87 City College of San Francisco
Alex Gilbert C Indiana State '79 Coffeyville (Kan.)
Armon Gilliam F-C UNLV '87 Independence (Kan.)
Artis Gilmore C Jacksonville '70 Gardner-Webb (N.C.)
Ricky Grace G Oklahoma '88 Midland (Tex.)
Harvey Grant F Oklahoma '88 Independence (Kan.)
Jeff Graves F-C Kansas '03 Iowa Western
Hassani Gravett G South Carolina '17 Pensacola State (Fla.)
Evric Gray F UNLV '91 Riverside (Calif.)
Rickey Green G Michigan '76 Vincennes (Ind.)
Carl Hall F Wichita State '13 Middle Georgia & Northwest Florida State
Arnette Hallman F Purdue '80 Joliet (Ill.)
Dick Hammer G Southern California '54 Fullerton (Calif.)
Darrin Hancock F Kansas '93 Garden City (Kan.)
Josh Harrellson C Kentucky '11 Southwestern Illinois
Bobby Joe Hill G Texas Western '66 Burlington (Iowa)
Larry Hollyfield G-F UCLA '72 & '73 Compton (Calif.)
Lenzie Howell F Arkansas '90 San Jacinto (Tex.)
Othello Hunter F Ohio State '07 Hillsborough (Fla.)
Roy Irvin C Southern California '54 Fullerton (Calif.)
Aundre Jackson F Loyola of Chicago '18 McLennan (Tex.)
Bobby Jackson G Minnesota '97 Western Nebraska
Alonzo Jamison F Kansas '91 Rancho Santiago (Calif.)
David Johanning C Kansas '91 Hutchinson (Kan.)
Larry Johnson F UNLV '90 & '91 Odessa (Tex.)
Dontae' Jones F Mississippi State '96 Northeast Mississippi
Herb Jones F Cincinnati '92 Butler County (Kan.)
John Keller F-G Kansas '52 Garden City (Kan.)
Larry Kenon F Memphis State '73 Amarillo (Tex.)
Weldon Kern F Oklahoma A&M '45 & '46 Cameron (Okla.)
Charlie Koon G Washington '53 Olympic (Wash.)
Don Kruse C Houston '67 Kilgore (Tex.)
Vern Lewis G Houston '67 & '68 Tyler (Tex.)
Chadrack Lufile F Wichita State '13 Chipola (Fla.), Vincennes (Ind.) & Coffeyville (Kan.)
Akolda Manyang C Oklahoma '16 Indian Hills (Iowa)
Archie Marshall F Kansas '86 Seminole (Okla.)
Erik Martin F Cincinnati '92 Rancho Santiago (Calif.)
Bob McAdoo C North Carolina '72 Vincennes (Ind.)
Bill McClintock F California '59 & '60 Monterey Peninsula (Calif.)
J'Von McCormick G Auburn '19 Lee (Tex.)
Aaron McGhee F-C Oklahoma '02 Vincennes (Ind.)
Johnny McNeil C Georgia Tech '90 Chowan (N.C.)
Lincoln Minor G Kansas '88 Midland (Tex.)
Wat Misaka G Utah '44 Weber (Utah)
Casey Mitchell G West Virginia '10 Chipola (Fla.)
Larry Moffett C UNLV '77 Compton (Calif.)
Rex Morgan G Jacksonville '70 Lake Land (Ill.)
Roger Morningstar F Kansas '74 Olney (Ill.) Central
Willie Murrell F Kansas State '64 Eastern Oklahoma A&M
Swen Nater C UCLA '72 & '73 Cypress (Calif.)
Carl Nicks G Indiana State '79 Gulf Coast (Fla.)
Jim Nielsen F UCLA '67 & '68 Pierce (Calif.)
Charles Okwandu C Connecticut '11 Harcum (Pa.)
Ehimen Orukpe C Wichita State '13 Three Rivers (Mo.)
V.C. "Buck" Overall F Texas '43 Tyler (Tex.)
Andre Owens G Oklahoma State '95 Midland (Tex.)
Gerald Paddio F UNLV '87 Kilgore (Tex.) & Seminole (Okla.)
Hal Patterson F Kansas '53 Garden City (Kan.)
Mike Preaseau F San Francisco '56 & '57 Menlo (Calif.)
Ryan Randle F-C Maryland '02 Allegany (Md.)
George Reese F Ohio State '99 Independence (Kan.)
George Reynolds G Houston '68 Imperial Valley (Calif.)
Morris "Moe" Rivers G North Carolina State '74 Gulf Coast (Fla.)
Dave Rose G Houston '83 Dixie State (Utah)
Lynden Rose G Houston '82 North Harris County (Tex.)
Terrell Ross G Texas '03 Allegany (Md.)
Randy Rutherford G Oklahoma State '95 Bacone (Okla.)
Greg Samuel G Florida State '72 Broward (Fla.)
Terry Schofield G UCLA '69, '70 & '71 Santa Monica (Calif.)
Moses Scurry F UNLV '90 San Jacinto (Tex.)
Daryan Selvy F Oklahoma '02 Carl Albert (Okla.)
Tony Skinn G George Mason '06 Blinn (Tex.)
Keith Smart G Indiana '87 Garden City (Kan.)
Odie Smith G Kentucky '58 Northeast Mississippi
Robert Smith G UNLV '77 Arizona Western
Sam Smith F UNLV '77 Seminole (Okla.)
Phil Spence F North Carolina State '74 Vincennes (Ind.)
Elmore Spencer C UNLV '91 Connors (Okla.) State
Leroy Staley F Indiana State '79 Florida J.C.
Dwight Stewart C Arkansas '94 & '95 South Plains (Tex.)
Jozsef Szendrei C Oklahoma '02 Northeastern (Colo.)
Rich Tate G Utah '66 Trinidad (Colo.)
Ron Thomas F Louisville '72 Henderson County (Tex.)
Tom Tolbert F Arizona '88 Cerritos (Calif.)
Nick Van Exel G Cincinnati '92 Trinity Valley (Tex.)
Eloy Vargas C Kentucky '11 & '12 Miami-Dade (Fla.)
Toby Veal F Virginia Commonwealth '11 Northwest Florida State
Mark Wade G UNLV '87 El Camino (Calif.)
Dinjiyl Walker G Oklahoma '16 Iowa Western
Russell Walters F Mississippi State '96 Jones County (Miss.)
Lloyd Walton G Marquette '74 Moberly (Mo.)
Brandon Weatherspoon G Florida Atlantic Holmes (Miss.)
Janavor Weatherspoon G Oklahoma State '04 Odessa (Tex.)
Wes Westfall F Memphis State '73 Trinidad (Colo.)
Quannas White G Oklahoma '02 Midland (Tex.)
Jerome Whitehead C Marquette '77 Riverside (Calif.) City
Nick Wiggins G Wichita State '13 Vincennes (Ind.) & Wabash Valley (Ill.)
Andre Wiley F Oklahoma '88 Compton (Calif.)
David Willard C UNLV '87 Laredo (Tex.)
Willie Wise F Drake '69 San Francisco City
Gary Zeller G Drake '69 Long Beach (Calif.)

Sizzling Scorers: Sanogo Top Point Producer Among 2023 Final Four Entrants

Connecticut's Adama Sanogo (17.1 ppg) ended a streak of seven consecutive top scorers among Final Four participants failing to become highest point producer at F4. Odds are in Sanogo's favor to become leading point producer insofar as Florida Atlantic (Johnell Davis/13.9) and San Diego State (Matt Bradley/12.5) are the first two national semifinalists in any given year with leading scorers averaging fewer than 14 ppg since 1952 featured Illinois (John "Red" Kerr/13.7) and Santa Clara (Jim Young/11.8).

In 2016, Oklahoma's Buddy Hield, the nation's runner-up in scoring with 25.4 points per game, came close to duplicating one of the most overlooked achievements in NCAA Tournament history. In 1951-52, Clyde Lovellette of champion Kansas became the only player to lead the nation in scoring average (28.4 ppg) while competing for a squad reaching the NCAA tourney title game. Final Four luminaries averaging more than 30 ppg include Elvin Hayes (36.8/Houston '68), Oscar Robertson (33.7/Cincinnati '60 and 32.6/Cincinnati '59), Rick Mount (33.3/Purdue '69), Elgin Baylor (32.5/Seattle '58), Bill Bradley (30.5/Princeton '65) and Len Chappell (30.1/Wake Forest '62).

Lovellette, an 11-year NBA center who passed away three years ago, served as sheriff of Vigo County in his native Indiana (noted for raid on Terre Haute brothels). Ochai Agbaji has been scoring under his season average during the tourney, but aspires to "raid" the Final Four by joining Lovellette as the only other player cracking the 30-point plateau in the national semifinals and championship contest in the same season (33 against both Santa Clara and St. John's).

Hield was the first Final Four player since Georgia Tech's Dennis Scott to average in excess of 25 ppg. Only two other Final Four players notched higher scoring averages than Hield since the playoff field expanded to at least 32 teams in 1975 - Larry Bird (28.6 ppg for Indiana State '79 and Glen Rice (25.6 for Michigan '89). Rice scored 59 points in two Final Four games. The highest F4 total since him was accrued by Arizona guard Miles Simon with 54 in 1997. Sanogo joins the following list of individuals in the last 32 tourneys amassing the highest scoring average from a Final Four club since Scott's mark of 27.7 ppg in 1989-90:

Season Top Scorer Among Final Four Participants School Average Final Four's Two-Game Top Scorer
1989-90 Dennis Scott Georgia Tech 27.7 ppg Duke's Phil Henderson/UNLV's Anderson Hunt (49 points)
1990-91 Larry Johnson UNLV 22.7 ppg Duke's Christian Laettner (46 points)
1991-92 Christian Laettner Duke 21.5 ppg Duke's Bobby Hurley (35 points)
1992-93 Jamal Mashburn Kentucky 21.0 ppg Michigan's Chris Webber/ UNC's Donald Williams (50 points)
1993-94 Khalid Reeves Arizona 24.2 ppg Arkansas' Corliss Williamson (52 points)
1994-95 Bryant Reeves Oklahoma State 21.5 ppg UCLA's Ed O'Bannon (45 points)
1995-96 John Wallace Syracuse 22.2 ppg Wallace (50 points)
1996-97 Antawn Jamison North Carolina 19.1 ppg Arizona's Miles Simon (54 points)
1997-98 Antawn Jamison North Carolina 22.2 ppg Kentucky's Jeff Sheppard (43 points)
1998-99 Richard Hamilton Connecticut 21.5 ppg Hamilton (51 points)
1999-00 Morris Peterson Michigan State 16.8 ppg Peterson (41 points)
2000-01 Jay Williams Duke 21.6 ppg Duke's Shane Battier (43 points)
2001-02 Juan Dixon Maryland 20.4 ppg Dixon (51 points)
2002-03 Carmelo Anthony Syracuse 22.2 ppg Anthony (53 points)
2003-04 Ben Gordon Connecticut 18.5 ppg UConn's Emeka Okafor (42 points)
2004-05 Sean May North Carolina 17.5 ppg May (48 points)
2005-06 Glen Davis Louisiana State 18.6 ppg Florida's Lee Humphrey (34 points)
2006-07 Arron Affalo UCLA 16.9 ppg Ohio State's Greg Oden (38 points)
2007-08 Tyler Hansbrough North Carolina 22.6 ppg Memphis' Chris Douglas-Roberts (50 points)
2008-09 Tyler Hansbrough North Carolina 20.7 ppg UNC's Ty Lawson (43 points)
2009-10 Jon Scheyer Duke 18.2 ppg Duke's Kyle Singler (40 points)
2010-11 Kemba Walker Connecticut 23.5 ppg Butler's Shelvin Mack (37 points)
2011-12 Thomas Robinson Kansas 17.7 ppg Robinson (37 points)
2012-13 Russ Smith Louisville 18.7 ppg Louisville's Luke Hancock (42 points)
2013-14 Shabazz Napier Connecticut 18.0 ppg Kentucky's James Young (37 points)
2014-15 Frank Kaminsky Wisconsin 18.8 ppg Kaminsky (41 points)
2015-16 Buddy Hield Oklahoma 25.4 ppg Villanova's Josh Hart (35 points)
2016-17 Sindarius Thornwell South Carolina 21.6 ppg UNC's Justin Jackson/Gonzaga's Nigel Williams-Goss (38 points)
2017-18 Jalen Brunson Villanova 19.2 ppg Villanova's Donte DiVincenzo (46 points)
2018-19 Jarrett Culver Texas Tech 18.9 ppg Virginia's De'Andre Hunter (41 points)
2018-19 Cassius Winston Michigan State 18.9 ppg Virginia's De'Andre Hunter (41 points)
2020-21 Drew Timme Gonzaga 19 ppg Baylor's Jared Butler (39 points)
2021-22 Ochai Agbaji Kansas 18.9 ppg Kansas' David McCormack (40 points)
2022-23 Adama Sanogo Connecticut 17.1 ppg Sanogo (38 points)

Breaking New Ground: Three Final Four Newcomers For 1st Time in 53 Years

Florida Atlantic, Miami (Fla.) and San Diego State became the first trio to participate in their first Final Four since Jacksonville, New Mexico State and St. Bonaventure each made their only national semifinal appearance in 1970.

When Gonzaga and South Carolina met at the 2017 Final Four, they were the first set of newcomers to oppose each other at the F4 in 40 years since UNLV defeated UNC Charlotte in the 1977 national third-place game. Newbies Memphis State and Providence clashed in the 1973 semis.

Prior to Connecticut in 1999, the last team to win a championship in its initial national semifinal appearance was Texas Western (now Texas-El Paso) in 1966. Following in reverse order are the "first-timer" schools - two of them coached by Hugh Durham setting standard for Jim Larranaga to duplicate - making their first impression on the Final Four since 1970:

Year Final Four Newcomer NCAA Tourney Appearance Head Coach Final Four Outcome
2023 Florida Atlantic 2nd Dusty May Lost in semifinal.
2023 Miami (Fla.) 12th Jim Larranaga Lost in semifinal.
2023 San Diego State 15th Brian Dutcher Lost in final.
2019 Auburn 10th Bruce Pearl Lost in semifinal.
2019 Texas Tech 17th Chris Beard Lost in final.
2017 Gonzaga* 20th Mark Few Lost in final.
2017 South Carolina 9th Frank Martin Lost in semifinal.
2011 Virginia Commonwealth 10th Shaka Smart Lost in semifinal.
2010 Butler* 10th Brad Stevens Lost in final.
2006 George Mason 4th Jim Larranaga Lost in semifinal.
2001 Maryland* 18th Gary Williams Lost in semifinal.
1999 Connecticut* 21st Jim Calhoun Won NCAA championship.
1997 Minnesota 7th Clem Haskins Lost in semifinal.
1996 Massachusetts 6th John Calipari Lost in semifinal.
1996 Mississippi State 4th Richard Williams Lost in semifinal.
1994 Florida* 4th Lon Kruger Lost in semifinal.
1990 Georgia Tech* 7th Bobby Cremins Lost in semifinal.
1989 Seton Hall 2nd P.J. Carlesimo Lost in final.
1988 Arizona* 7th Lute Olson Lost in semifinal.
1983 Georgia 1st Hugh Durham Lost in semifinal.
1981 Virginia* 2nd Terry Holland Won third-place game.
1979 Indiana State 1st Bill Hodges Lost in final.
1979 Penn 9th Bob Weinhauer Lost consolation game.
1978 Notre Dame 15th Digger Phelps Lost consolation game.
1977 UNC Charlotte 1st Lee Rose Lost consolation game.
1977 UNLV* 3rd Jerry Tarkanian Won third-place game.
1976 Rutgers 2nd Tom Young Lost consolation game.
1975 Syracuse* 5th Roy Danforth Lost consolation game.
1974 Marquette* 9th Al McGuire Lost in final.
1973 Memphis State* 4th Gene Bartow Lost in final.
1973 Providence* 5th Dave Gavitt Lost consolation game.
1972 Florida State 2nd Hugh Durham Lost in final.
1971 Western Kentucky 7th John Oldham Won third-place game.

*School subsequently returned to Final Four.

Fresh Faces: NCAA Final Four is Virgin Territory For Dutcher, Hurley and May

All four coaches this year could have been Final Four newcomers if Rodney Terry's Texas squad didn't fritter away a 10-point lead midway through the second half in regional final against Miami (Fla.). The last time all four coaches were F4 newbies was in 1959 (California's Pete Newell/West Virginia's Fred Schaus/Cincinnati's George Smith/Louisville's Peck Hickman). This year marks the first time since 1979 for multiple coaches to make their F4 debuts with fewer than seven seasons of experience as a Division I head coach.

Hubert Davis realized coaching nirvana as rookie head coach by reaching last year's national semifinals in inaugural campaign similar to fellow North Carolina mentor Bill Guthridge in 1998. In the previous 60 years, the F4 college rookie class also includes Steve Fisher (Michigan interim in 1989), Larry Brown (UCLA in 1980), Bill Hodges (Indiana State in 1979) and Gary Thompson (Wichita in 1965). Kansas State's Jerome Tang could have joined group but the Wildcats were upset in regional final by Florida Atlantic.

Final Four debuts were a long time coming the previous decade for Dana Altman (Oregon), Mark Few (Gonzaga) and Big Ten Conference coaches John Beilein (Michigan) and Bo Ryan (Wisconsin). Since the start of the NCAA Tournament in 1939, no coach ever took longer in his four-year college career to reach the DI Final Four than Beilein (31 seasons; 21 at major-college level). Ryan (30) and Altman (28) joined five other coaches to take more than 20 years to achieve the milestone - Jim Calhoun (27), Dick Bennett (24), Gary Williams (23), Jim Larranaga (22 with George Mason) and Norm Sloan (22).

There was at least one fresh face among bench bosses at the national semifinals all but once (1993) in a 27-year span from 1985 through 2011. Connecticut's Kevin Ollie joined Indiana's Mike Davis and VCU's Shaka Smart as coaches only in their second campaign to steer squads to the Final Four in the 21st Century. Brian Dutcher (San Diego State), Danny Hurley (Connecticut) and Dusty May (FAU) joined the following list of coaches advancing to the Final Four for first time since legendary John Wooden's first F4 in 1962 (in reverse order):

*Subsequently returned to the Final Four.

Star Light: Bouknight Spends More Time Out of NBA Than at F4 With UConn

For the 13th straight tourney, at least one team reached the Final Four after losing a vital player who could have still been eligible if not defecting to make himself available for the NBA draft or turn pro overseas. UConn guard James Bouknight was a lottery pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 2021 but wound up mainly in the NBA G League most of the past two seasons rather than the Final Four.

Among schools losing a prominent undergraduate early, Kentucky was the only school to capture a crown (1998 without Ron Mercer) until Duke achieved the feat (2010 without Gerald Henderson) and UK secured another title two years later sans Brandon Knight. In a once-in-a-lifetime achievement, UK returned to the national semifinals in 2011 after losing five undergraduates who became NBA first-round draft choices.

The Final Four has had at least one team arrive after losing a prominent undergraduate to the NBA draft 20 times in the last 21 tourneys. Following is a list of the 42 squads unfazed by the early loss of key player(s) who left college with eligibility still remaining:

Final Four Team Prominent Undergraduate Defection in Previous Year
Marquette '74 Larry McNeill, F (25th pick overall in 1973 NBA draft)
Louisiana State '81 DeWayne Scales, F (36th pick in 1980 draft)
Georgia '83 Dominique Wilkins, F (3rd pick in 1982 draft)
Houston '83 Rob Williams, G (19th pick in 1982 draft)
Houston '84 Clyde Drexler, G-F (14th pick in 1983 draft)
Louisiana State '86 Jerry "Ice" Reynolds, G-F (22nd pick in 1985 draft)
Syracuse '87 Pearl Washington, G (13th pick in 1986 draft)
Kentucky '97 Antoine Walker, F-G (6th pick in 1996 draft)
North Carolina '97 Jeff McInnis, G (37th pick in 1996 draft)
Kentucky '98 Ron Mercer, G-F (6th pick in 1997 draft)
Indiana '02 Kirk Haston, F (16th pick in 2001 draft)
Kansas '03 Drew Gooden, F (4th pick in 2002 draft)
Georgia Tech '04 Chris Bosh, F (4th pick in 2003 draft)
Louisiana State '06 Brandon Bass, F (33rd pick in 2005 draft)
UCLA '07 Jordan Farmar, G (26th pick in 2006 draft)
North Carolina '08 Brandan Wright, F (8th pick in 2007 draft)
Kansas '08 Julian Wright, F (13th pick in 2007 draft)
UCLA '08 Arron Afflalo, G (27th pick in 2007 draft)
Duke '10 Gerald Henderson, G (12th pick in 2009 draft)
Kentucky '11 John Wall, G (1st pick in 2010 draft)
Kentucky '11 DeMarcus Cousins, F (5th pick in 2010 draft)
Butler '11 Gordon Hayward, F (9th pick in 2010 draft)
Kentucky '11 Patrick Patterson, F (14th pick in 2010 draft)
Virginia Commonwealth '11 Larry Sanders, F (15th pick in 2010 draft)
Kentucky '11 Eric Bledsoe, G (18th pick in 2010 draft)
Kentucky '11 Daniel Orton, C-F (29th pick in 2010 draft)
Kentucky '12 Brandon Knight, G (8th pick in 2011 draft)
Kansas '12 Markieff Morris, F (13th pick in 2011 draft)
Kansas '12 Marcus Morris, F (14th pick in 2011 draft)
Kansas '12 Josh Selby, G (49th pick in 2011 draft)
Syracuse '13 Dion Waiters, G (4th pick in 2012 draft)
Syracuse '13 Fab Melo, C (22nd pick in 2012 draft)
Kentucky '14 Nerlens Noel, C (6th pick in 2013 draft)
Kentucky '14 Archie Goodwin, G-F (29th pick in 2013 draft)
Michigan State '15 Gary Harris, G (19th pick in 2014 draft)
Duke '15 Rodney Hood, G-F (23rd pick in 2014 draft)
Duke '15 Jabari Parker, F (2nd pick in 2014 draft)
Kentucky '15 Julius Randle, F (7th pick in 2014 draft)
Kentucky '15 James Young, G (17th pick in 2014 draft)
North Carolina '16 J.P. Tokoto, F-G (58th pick in 2015 draft)
Syracuse '16 Chris McCullough, G (29th pick in 2015 draft)
Gonzaga '17 Domantas Sabonis, F-C (11th pick in 2016 draft)
Kansas '18 Josh Jackson, G-F (4th pick in 2017 draft)
Michigan '18 D.J. Wilson, F (17th pick in 2017 draft)
Michigan State '19 Miles Bridges, F (12th pick in 2018 draft)
Michigan State '19 Jaren Jackson, F (4th pick in 2018 draft)
Texas Tech '19 Zhaire Smith, F (16th pick in 2018 draft)
Gonzaga '21 Filip Petrusev, C (withdrew from draft and returned to native Serbia)
Houston '21 Nate Hinton, G-F (played in NBA G League after going undrafted)
Duke '22 Matthew Hurt, F (undrafted before playing in NBA G League until incurring season-ending injury)
Duke '22 Jalen Johnson, F (20th pick in 2021 draft)
Duke '22 D.J. Steward, G (undrafted before playing in G League for Sacramento Kings)
North Carolina '22 Day'Ron Sharpe, F (29th pick in 2021 draft)
Villanova '22 Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, F (32nd pick in 2021 draft)
Connecticut '23 James Bouknight, G (11th pick in 2021 draft)

College Exam: Day #15 For One-and-Only NCAA Tournament Trivia Challenge

Unless you're busy hoarding toilet paper to wipe butt of George Soros flunky/New York AG Alvin Bragg, seeking translator to try to understand Plagiarist Biledumb or cowering in fetal position from college basketball version of Orson Welles' War of the Worlds, it's your opportunity to start taking online tests for 23 quarantined days symbolic of normal time frame from Selection Sunday to Monday evening championship contest.

We need something to occupy our minds during quarantine from much of the invective-infected #MessMedia. Emphasizing a "one-and-only" theme for a "one-and-only" event, here is Day 15 of a treasure-trove of tantalizing NCAA Tournament trivia questions from CollegeHoopedia.com tracking the only coach, conference, player or school to be linked to a distinguished or dubious achievement (click here for answers or conduct research digesting historical morsels in CollegeHoopedia.com's year-by-year highlights):

1. Who is the only individual to play for two NCAA champions, play for more than two NBA champions and coach two NBA champions. Hint: He was the first of four players to be a member of an NCAA championship team one year and an NBA titlist the next season as a rookie. He won the high jump in the West Coast Relays his senior year.

2. Who is the only individual to average fewer than four points per game as a freshman and then be selected Final Four Most Outstanding Player the next season as a sophomore. Hint: He had more three-point baskets in two Final Four games than contributing his entire freshman season.

3. Who is the only player named to an All-NCAA Tournament team not to score a total of more than 10 points in two Final Four games? Hint: He had the same point total in each Final Four game for a team whose star had same last name.

4. Who is the only Final Four Most Outstanding Player to later coach his alma mater in the NCAA Tournament? Hint: The guard was named Most Outstanding Player although he was his team's fourth-leading scorer at Final Four that year.

5. Name the only school to have two of the six eligible teams ranked among the top five in the AP and/or UPI final polls to not participate in either the NCAA Tournament or the NIT in the days before teams other than the conference champion could be chosen to the NCAA playoffs as at-large entrants. Hint: The school lost three regional finals in one four-year span and hasn't reached Final Four in last 50-plus years.

6. Who is the only coach to lose more than five regional final games? Hint: His regional final defeats were by an average margin of 10 points and his biggest nemesis was the Big Ten Conference.

7. Who is the only individual to become NBA Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player to participate in the NCAA Tournament but never win an NCAA playoff game? Hint: He shared the NBA Rookie of the Year award with another player who was on the losing end in his only NCAA Tournament appearance. Two years later, he was NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player the same season named league MVP.

8. Of the more than 40 different players to be named NBA Most Valuable Player, score more than 20,000 points in the pros or be selected to an All-NBA team at least five times after participating in the NCAA Tournament, who is the only one to average fewer than 10 points per game in the NCAA playoffs? Hint: He is believed to be the youngest Hall of Famer to appear in an NCAA championship game at the tender age of 16 and subsequently was named to 12 consecutive All-NBA teams.

9. Who is the only guard to score more than 35 points in an NCAA final? Hint: He led his team in scoring in back-to-back Final Fours but wasn't named Final Four Most Outstanding Player either year. He is the only championship team player to have a two-game total of at least 70 points at the Final Four and is the shortest undergraduate to average more than 20 points per game for an NCAA titlist.

10. Who is the only player to have as many as 20 field goals in an NCAA championship game? Hint: He scored fewer than seven points in both his tourney debut and final playoff appearance.

Answers (Day 15)

Day 14 Questions and Answers

Day 13 Questions and Answers

Day 12 Questions and Answers

Day 11 Questions and Answers

Day 10 Questions and Answers

Day 9 Questions and Answers

Day 8 Questions and Answers

Day 7 Questions and Answers

Day 6 Questions and Answers

Day 5 Questions and Answers

Day 4 Questions and Answers

Day 3 Questions and Answers

Day 2 Questions and Answers

Day 1 Questions and Answers

NCAA Mighty Mites: Shortest of Subjects Become Big-Time Playoff Performers

Standing 5-8 in height and 8-5 in stature, Kansas State's Markquis Nowell (single-game playoff record of 19 assists) and Fairleigh Dickinson's Demetre Roberts (averaged 15.7 ppg/4 rpg/4 apg in three playoff contests) were the most entertaining players in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. They added immensely to the NCAA tourney's history of magnificent mighty mites.

When diminutive dandy Tyrone Bogues isn't on the list (scoreless in three playoff games as a Wake Forest freshman in 1983-84), you know the small packages are something big. A couple of North Carolina State playmakers - Monte Towe and Spud Webb - spearhead the following ranking of the 25 most impactful pint-sized players in playoff history even shorter than Nowell and Roberts:

Rank Mighty Mite (Height) School/Tourney Year(s) Summary of NCAA Playoff Performance
1. Shawnta Rogers (5-4) George Washington 96-98-99 averaged 20.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 5 apg and 2.7 spg in three defeats vs. power-league opponents
2. Monte Towe (5-7) North Carolina State 74 averaged 15.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.3 apg and 2 spg in four contests with national titlist
3. Anthony "Spud" Webb (5-7) North Carolina State 85 juco transfer averaged 17 ppg and 6.3 apg in four contests for regional finalist
4. Earl Boykins (5-6) Eastern Michigan 96-98 averaged 17 points, 3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.3 spg in three contests vs. schools winning national title at some point
5. Keith "Mister" Jennings (5-7) East Tennessee State 89-90-91 averaged 12 ppg and 8.3 apg in three defeats
6. Drew Lavender (5-6) Oklahoma 05/Xavier 07-08 averaged 10.9 ppg, 3 rpg and 5 apg in eight contests (four outings with > 5 assists)
7. Willie Worsley (5-6) Texas Western 66-67 averaged 10.8 ppg and 2.6 rpg in eight contests (scored game-high 24 points vs. Seattle in opener for defending NCAA titlist)
8. Demontrae Jefferson (5-7) Texas Southern 17-18 averaged 19.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4 apg and 2.7 spg in three contests
9. Tajuan Porter (5-6) Oregon 07-08 averaged 16.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg and 2 apg in five contests (including 33 points vs. UNLV)
10. Jackie Crawford (5-7) SW Missouri State 92 juco transfer collected team highs of 16 points and 7 assists in defeat vs. Michigan State
11. Chico Fletcher (5-6) Arkansas State 99 scored team-high 21 points in defeat vs. Utah
12. Greg Brown (5-7) New Mexico 93-94 juco transfer averaged 11 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 2.5 apg in two losses
13. Jeremiah Dominguez (5-6) Portland State 08-09 Portland transfer averaged 12 ppg, 3 rpg and 3 apg in two defeats
14. Dick Hickox (5-6) Miami (Fla.) 60 scored team-high 17 points vs. Western Kentucky
15. Otto Petty (5-7) Florida State 72 averaged 8.2 ppg, 2 rpg and 5 apg in five contests for national runner-up (three outings with > 5 assists)
16. Junior Robinson (5-7) Mount St. Mary's 17 averaged 15 ppg, 3 apg and 1.5 spg in two contests
17. Jason Harrison (5-5) Mississippi 99-01-02 averaged 6 ppg, 4 apg and 1.3 spg in six contests (five outings vs. power-league opponents)
18. Chris Lykes (5-6) Miami (Fla.) 18/Arkansas 22 collected 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals with the Hurricanes in loss vs. Loyola of Chicago before averaging 3.3 ppg in four contests with the Hogs' regional finalist
19. Arnold Bernard (5-5) SW Missouri State 90 juco transfer contributed 7 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals in reversal vs. North Carolina
20. Wat Misaka (5-7) Utah 44 averaged 6 ppg in three contests for NCAA titlist
21. Casey Jones (5-7) Northeast Louisiana 90-91 averaged 8.5 ppg and 2.5 rpg in two defeats (vs. Purdue and Duke)
22. Chuck Rolles (5-6) Cornell 54 averaged 5.5 ppg, 3 rpg and 1.5 apg in three contests
23. Gene Duffy (5-7) Notre Dame 58 averaged 5.7 ppg and 2.7 rpg in three outings
24. "Little" Johnny Campbell (5-6) Arkansas 49 averaged 5.5 ppg in two games for West Regional third-place team
T25. Sherry Marshall (5-7) Columbia 48 averaged 4.5 ppg in two contests
T25. Calvin Rayford (5-7) Kansas 93-94-96 collected total of 8 points, 11 rebounds and 15 assists in nine tourney tilts
T25. Jim Reilly (5-7) Georgetown 43 averaged 2 ppg in three contests
T25. Eric Bell (5-6) Stephen F. Austin 09 supplied 3 assists and two steals in setback vs. Syracuse

Short & Sweet: Anderson Didn't Solve Case Winning > 60% of 1-Year Games

Iona-bound Tobin Anderson moved on from Fairleigh Dickinson after his only season (21-16 record). But what a majority of media mavens fail to point out is there have been numerous "won-and-done" mentors (including Corey Gipson recently going from Northwestern State to alma mater Austin Peay) posting significantly better winning percentages in "short-and-sweet" one-year stints since the generally recognized start of the modern era of college basketball in the early 1950s.

Kyle Neptune nearly joined loser list of one-year wonders (16-16 with Fordham before succeeding Hall of Famer Jay Wright at Villanova). Fordham improved by 14 games in Digger Phelps' only season with the Rams in 1970-71, a mark that stood for one-year wonders until Chris Beard broke it with a 15-game improvement after UALR (30-5) went 13-18 in 2014-15. Buzz Peterson, the only coach to win a national postseason championship in his only season at a school (Tulsa), is among the following "one-and-done" coaches who won more than 60% of their games in one-year tenures in the last 50-plus years:

Coach School Single Season W-L Pct. Reason for One-Year Stint
Lute Olson Long Beach State 1973-74 24-2 .923 Became coach at Iowa.
Digger Phelps Fordham 1970-71 26-3 .897 Became coach at Notre Dame.
Chris Beard UALR 2015-16 30-5 .857 Became coach at UNLV.
Carl Tacy Marshall 1971-72 23-4 .852 Became coach at Wake Forest.
Keno Davis Drake 2007-08 28-5 .848 Became coach at Providence.
Matt Painter Southern Illinois 2003-04 25-5 .833 Became coach at Purdue.
Stan Heath Kent State 2001-02 29-6 .829 Became coach at Arkansas.
Paul Weir New Mexico State 2016-17 28-6 .824 Became coach at New Mexico.
Thad Matta Butler 2000-01 24-8 .750 Became coach at Xavier.
Bill Fitch Bowling Green 1967-68 18-7 .720 Became coach at Minnesota.
Jim Harding* La Salle 1967-68 20-8 .714 Forced out by administration.
Buzz Peterson Tulsa 2000-01 26-11 .703 Became coach at Tennessee.
Bob Vanatta Army 1953-54 15-7 .682 Became coach at Bradley.
Larry Shyatt Wyoming 1997-98 19-9 .679 Became coach at Clemson.
Rick Barnes George Mason 1987-88 20-10 .667 Became coach at Providence.
Corey Gipson Northwestern State 2022-23 22-11 .667 Became coach at Austin Peay.
Ron Greene Mississippi State 1977-78 18-9 .667 Became coach at Murray State.
Art Tolis New Orleans 1987-88 21-11 .656 Forced out by administration.
Scott Drew Valparaiso 2002-03 20-11 .645 Became coach at Baylor.
Louis Orr Siena 2000-01 20-11 .645 Became coach at Seton Hall.
Bob Huggins Kansas State 2006-07 22-13 .629 Became coach at West Virginia.
Grant McCasland Arkansas State 2016-17 20-12 .625 Became coach at North Texas.
Brad Underwood Oklahoma State 2016-17 20-13 .606 Became coach at Illinois.

*Harding became coach for Minnesota (ABA) for portion of 1968-69 season.

How the West Has Lost: Utah State is 19 Games Below .500 in NCAA Tourney

Amid failure of Pac-12 Conference entrants in this year's NCAA Tournament and Boise State still winless after nine playoff outings, the West remains the worst. Such a viewpoint shouldn't be a surprise unless you put stock in creepy porn lawyer #Avenaughty as a #Dimorat presidential candidate, hideous Hunter's laptop is Russian disinformation or always believe contrived comments from Muslim Brotherhood apologist/former CIA chief John "NBC News' Snoopy" Brennan. Brigham Young, New Mexico State and Utah State - more games below .500 than any institutions in NCAA playoff history - promptly bowing out of the NCAA playoffs is almost a tradition. Also weighing heavily out West, Wyoming is the only former national champion (1943) to compile an all-time NCAA playoff record more than five games below .500 (9-21).

Everett Shelton, coach of Wyoming's titlist, is the only championship team bench boss to finish with a non-winning playoff record (4-12 from 1941 through 1958) and was more games under .500 in NCAA Division I Tournament competition than any coach in history until supplanted by Fran Dunphy (3-17 with Penn and Temple from 1993 through 2019). Also, Shelton is the only coach to lose three consecutive regional final games (1947, 1948 and 1949).

Joining Dunphy and Shelton among the eight coaches more than six games under .500 in NCAA playoff play are Rick Byrd (1-8 with Belmont from 2006 through 2019), Pete Carril (4-11 with Princeton from 1969 through 1996), Don Corbett (0-7 with North Carolina A&T from 1982 through 1988), Hugh Greer (1-8 with Connecticut from 1951 through 1960), Stew Morrill (1-9 with Montana and Utah State from 1991 through 2011) and Mike Vining (0-7 with Louisiana-Monroe from 1982 through 1996).

More than half of the following 11 schools more than 10 games below .500 in NCAA tourney competition are from west of the Mississippi River:

School Playoff Record Games Below .500 Mark Summary of Tournament Tumult
Utah State 6-25 minus 19 lost 19 of last 20 games with only victory in that span in OT against Ohio State in 2001
Brigham Young 15-33 minus 18 only one of victories was by fewer than six points
New Mexico State 11-28 minus 17 lost 12 straight games until ending streak this year after winning seven of 11 contests from 1968 through 1970
Princeton 15-30 minus 15 lost eight of first nine games from 1952 through 1963 and five straight contests since 1998 until reaching 2023 Sweet 16
Iona 1-16 minus 15 15 straight setbacks with first four of them by fewer than four points from 1980 through 1998
Miami (Ohio) 6-19 minus 13 only victory in 10-game span from 1969 through 1992 was in OT against defending NCAA champion Marquette in 1978
Murray State 5-18 minus 13 lost 11 games in a row from 1988 through 2006
Penn 13-26 minus 13 lost last 10 games and 15 of last 16 after entering 1979 Final Four with winning playoff record (11-9)
Wyoming 9-21 minus 12 1943 NCAA titlist before losing 12 of 13 games from 1947 through 1967
Montana 2-13 minus 11 won inaugural game in 1975 but lost last four contests since 2012 by an average of 26 points
Weber State 6-17 minus 11 seven of last nine defeats since 1979 were by fewer than 12 points

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

Unless you're busy hoarding toilet paper again to wipe butt of George Soros suck-up/New York AG Alvin Bragg, seeking translator to try to understand Plagiarist Biledumb or cowering in fetal position from college basketball version of Orson Welles' War of the Worlds, it's your opportunity to start taking online tests for 23 quarantined days symbolic of normal time frame from Selection Sunday to Monday evening championship contest.

We need something to occupy our minds during quarantine from much of the invective-infected #MessMedia. Emphasizing a "one-and-only" theme for a "one-and-only" event, here is Day 14 of a treasure-trove of tantalizing NCAA Tournament trivia questions from CollegeHoopedia.com tracking the only coach, conference, player or school to be linked to a distinguished or dubious achievement (click here for answers or conduct research digesting historical morsels in CollegeHoopedia.com's year-by-year highlights):

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Answers (Day 14)

Day 13 Questions and Answers

Day 12 Questions and Answers

Day 11 Questions and Answers

Day 10 Questions and Answers

Day 9 Questions and Answers

Day 8 Questions and Answers

Day 7 Questions and Answers

Day 6 Questions and Answers

Day 5 Questions and Answers

Day 4 Questions and Answers

Day 3 Questions and Answers

Day 2 Questions and Answers

Day 1 Questions and Answers

Seeds of Doubt: #1-Seeded Teams Failing to Bear NCAA Tournament Fruit

All four #1 seeds in 2023 failed to advance to Elite Eight for the first time in NCAA playoff history, but at least none of them elbowed their way past UCLA to the top of list of most-lopsided losses in tourney annals for top-seeded squads. Houston, with an opportunity to participate in the Final Four in its backyard, incurred the most lopsided loss (14 points against Miami FL).

Three #1 seeds from ACC in the previous decade were eliminated prior to the NCAA Final Four by more than 16 points. Five #1 seeds have been kayoed by at least 20 points before the national semifinals since seeding was introduced in 1979. Arizona won two of the following nine games when #1 seeds in this category lost by more than 15 points:

Margin #1 Seed Regional Elimination Result Before F4
27 UCLA 1992 West Finals #2 Indiana (106-79)
25 Arizona 1998 West Finals #3 Utah (76-51)
20 Louisiana State 1980 Midwest Finals #2 Louisville (86-66)
20 Missouri 1994 West Finals #2 Arizona (92-72)
20 Virginia 2018 South First Round #16 Maryland-Baltimore County (74-54)
17 Ohio State 1991 Midwest Semifinals #4 St. John's (91-74)
17 North Carolina 2019 Midwest Semifinals #5 Auburn (97-80)
16 Duke 2011 West Semifinals #5 Arizona (93-77)
16 Oklahoma 2003 East Finals #3 Syracuse (63-47)

Unfinished Business: Bama Remains "Susan Lucci" School in NCAA Tourney

Weep On It/Think On It/Sleep On It/Drink On It. That could be the motto for 2023 top overall seed Alabama after the Crimson Tide remained viewed as a "Susan Lucci" school in NCAA Division I by failing to advance again to the Promised Land following a manhandling from San Diego State in the regional semifinals. Brigham Young, Missouri and Xavier are the only three schools participating in more than 25 NCAA Tournaments but never advancing to a Final Four (cumulative 88 playoff appearances).

Missouri has reached a regional final on four occasions but fell short in advancing to the Final Four. Four years ago, Xavier joined Mizzou (1994) as the only schools never reaching the national semifinals despite earning a #1 seed at some point during their NCAA playoff participation. Boston College is another bridesmaid multiple times comparable to Xavier, losing three regional finals (1967, 1982 and 1994) in 18 tourney appearances (22-19 record) since the field expanded beyond eight teams in 1950.

The following "Low Five" frustrated institutions remain in quagmire because they've made more than 20 appearances without reaching the Final Four:

School Tourney Appearances (Playoff Record Through 2023) Regional Final Losses
Utah State 23 (6-25 mark, .194) 1970
Brigham Young 30 (15-33, .313) 1951 and 1981
Missouri 29 (23-29, .442) 1976, 1994, 2002 and 2009
Alabama 24 (25-24, .510) 2004
Xavier 29 (30-29, .508) 2004, 2008 and 2017

Looking Out For #1: Only One of Last 21 Top-Ranked Teams Won NCAA Title

Annually, there is a clear and present danger for pole sitter such as Alabama, which lost as top-ranked team in regional semifinal. Eleven years ago, Kentucky became only the fourth of past 40 schools atop the national rankings entering the NCAA playoffs since North Carolina '82 to capture the national championship.

In 2006, Duke became the ninth No. 1 team in 17 years to fail to advance to a regional final when the Blue Devils were eliminated by Louisiana State. In 1992, Duke defied a trend by becoming the first top-ranked team in 10 years entering the NCAA Tournament to win a national title. The five top-ranked teams prior to Duke failed to reach the championship game. UNLV lost twice in the national semifinals (1987 and 1991) and Temple '88, Arizona '89 and Oklahoma '90 failed to reach the Final Four.

Temple, a 63-53 loser against Duke in the 1988 East Regional final, and Kansas State, an 85-75 loser against Cincinnati in the 1959 Midwest Regional final, are the only teams ranked No. 1 by both AP and UPI entering the tourney to lose by a double-digit margin before the Final Four.

The school gaining the sweetest revenge against a top-ranked team was St. John's in 1952. Defending NCAA champion Kentucky humiliated the Redmen by 41 points (81-40) early in the season when the Catholic institution became the first to have a black player on the floor at Lexington, Ky. The African-American player, Solly Walker, played only a few minutes before he took a hit sidelining him for three weeks. But St. John's, sparked by center Bob Zawoluk's 32 points, avenged the rout by eliminating the Wildcats (64-57) in the East Regional, ending their 23-game winning streak. The Redmen, who subsequently defeated second-ranked Illinois in the national semifinals, lost against Kansas in the NCAA final.

In the 1982 championship game, North Carolina needed a basket with 16 seconds remaining from freshman Michael Jordan to nip Georgetown, 63-62, and become the only top-ranked team in 13 years from 1979 through 1991 to capture the NCAA title. It was a particularly bitter pill to swallow for seven of the 11 top-ranked teams to lose in the NCAA championship game in overtime or by two or three points in regulation.

It's win or go home! Less than one-third of the top-ranked squads captured the NCAA crown. Following is analysis sizing up how the No. 1 teams fared in the NCAA playoffs since the Associated Press introduced national rankings in 1949:

20 - Won national title (Kentucky '49; Kentucky '51; Indiana '53; San Francisco '56; North Carolina '57; UCLA '64; UCLA '67; UCLA '69; UCLA '71; UCLA '72; UCLA '73; North Carolina State '74; UCLA '75; Indiana '76; Kentucky '78; North Carolina '82; Duke '92; UCLA '95, Duke '01, and Kentucky '12).

14 - Finished national runner-up (Bradley '50/defeated by CCNY; Ohio State '61/Cincinnati; Ohio State '62/Cincinnati; Cincinnati '63/Loyola of Chicago; Michigan '65/UCLA; Kentucky '66/Texas Western; Indiana State '79/Michigan State; Houston '83/North Carolina State; Georgetown '85/Villanova; Duke '86/Louisville; Duke '99/Connecticut; Illinois '05/North Carolina; Ohio State '07/Florida), and Gonzaga '21/Baylor).

9 - Lost in national semifinals (Cincinnati '60/defeated by California; Houston '68/UCLA; UNLV '87/Indiana; UNLV '91/Duke; Massachusetts '96/Kentucky; North Carolina '98/Utah; North Carolina '08/Kansas; Florida '14/Connecticut, and Kentucky '15/Wisconsin).

10 - Lost in regional final (Kentucky '52/defeated by St. John's; Kansas State '59/Cincinnati; Kentucky '70/Jacksonville; Michigan '77/UNC Charlotte; Temple '88/Duke; Indiana '93/Kansas; Kentucky '03/Marquette; Louisville '09/Michigan State); Kansas '16/Villanova), and Duke '19/Michigan State).

9 - Lost in regional semifinals (North Carolina '84/defeated by Indiana; Arizona '89/UNLV; Kansas '97/Arizona; Duke '00/Florida; Duke '02/Indiana); Duke '06/Louisiana State; Ohio State '11/Kentucky); Gonzaga '22/Arkansas, and Alabama '23/San Diego State.

8 - Lost in second round (DePaul '80/defeated by UCLA; DePaul '81/St. Joseph's; Oklahoma '90/North Carolina; North Carolina '94/Boston College; Stanford '04/Alabama; Kansas '10/Northern Iowa), Gonzaga '13/Wichita State) and Villanova '17/Wisconsin).

2 - Lost in first round (West Virginia '58/defeated by Manhattan) and (Virginia '18/UMBC).

1 - Declined a berth (Kentucky '54).

NOTE: After United Press International started ranking teams in 1951, UPI had just three different No. 1 teams entering the national playoffs than AP - Indiana lost in 1954 East Regional semifinals against Notre Dame, California finished as 1960 national runner-up to Ohio State and Indiana lost in 1975 Mideast Regional final against Kentucky.

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