Here are the complete 2011 Men’s Final Four Notes courtesy of the NCAA:
MILESTONE GAME The 2011 championship game to be played on April 4 will be the 2,900th all-time game in the NCAA tournament. Men’s Final Four Appearances for Institutions School Appearances Final Four Record Championships Butler 2 2010, 2011 1-1 Connecticut 4 1999, 2004, 2009, 2011 4-1 1999, 2004 Kentucky 14 1942, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1966 17-6 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958 1975, 1978, 1984, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2011 1978, 1996, 1998 VCU 0 None 0-0 Men’s Final Four Appearances for Head Coaches Coach, School Appearances Final Four Record Championships Brad Stevens, Butler 2 2010, 2011 1-1 Jim Calhoun, Connecticut 4 1999, 2004, 2009, 2011 4-1 1999, 2004 John Calipari, Kentucky 3 1996 (*Massachusetts), 2008 (*Memphis) Kentucky (2011) *1-2 Shaka Smart, VCU 0 None 0-0 *- Calipari’s Final Four appearances, wins and losses were later vacated by the Committee on Infractions. Head Coaches that have coached Three Different Teams to the Final Four Coach First Team Second Team Third Team Rick Pitino Providence Kentucky Louisville John Calipari *Massachusetts *Memphis Kentucky *- Calipari’s Final Four appearances later vacated Youngest Coaches at the Final Four since 1972 Coach School Final Four YY-MM-DDAge* Bob Knight Indiana 1973 32-4-29 Brad Stevens Butler 2010 33-5-11 Shaka Smart VCU 2011 33-11-24 Hugh Durham Florida St. 1972 34-4-27 Brad Stevens Butler 2011 34-5-10 Rick Pitino Providence 1987 34-6-10 Billy Donavan Florida 2000 34-10-1 Denny Crum Louisville 1972 35-0-21 *Age based on the day the coach’s team first played in the Final Four. Many coaches’ birth dates before 1972 are missing, but here are the youngest of those that could be found: Coach School Final Four YY-MM-DD Age* Ray Meyer DePaul 1943 29-3-7 Branch McCracken Indiana 1940 31-9-14 Harold Foster Wisconsin 1941 34-9-22 Howard Hobson Oregon 1939 35-8-17 Don Haskins UTEP 1966 36-8-4 TWO LESS THAN ONE On April 2 when Butler meets VCU, the combined ages of the two head coaches will be 68 years, 5 months and 4 days old. In the next game that day, Jim Calhoun’s Connecticut team will face Kentucky. Calhoun’s age on that day will be 68 years, 10 months and 22 days old. COULD BE THE OLDEST If Connecticut wins the championship on Monday, coach Jim Calhoun, at an age of 68 years, 10 months and 24 days old, would become the oldest ever to win the NCAA title. Currently, Phog Allen of Kansas is listed as the oldest when the Jayhawks won in 1952 and Allen was 66 years, 4 months and 8 days old. Close Games in the 2011 Tournament Most close games in a tournament, with close games being decided by three or fewer points or overtime(s): (Note that all overtime games are included regardless of scoring margin) 1990: 24 1998: 19 2010: 19 2011: 19 1985: 18 2003: 18 2004: 18 1983: 17 1984: 17 If you just take all games decided by three or fewer points, regardless if they were decided in regulation or overtime: 1990: 23 1985: 18 1984: 17 2010: 17 1983: 16 1998: 16 2003: 16 2004: 16 2011: 16 NON-BCS The Horizon League is represented in the Men’s Final Four for the second straight year by Butler. The League joins the Big West (UNLV 1990-91), Missouri Valley (Cincinnati 1961-62) and West Coast (San Francisco 1955-56) conferences as the only non-BCS conferences to send a member to consecutive Men’s Final Fours. Teams that have made back-to-back Men’s Final Fours Ohio St. (1944, 1945 and 1946) Oklahoma St. (1945 and 1946) Holy Cross (1947 and 1948) Kentucky (1948 and 1949) Illinois (1951 and 1952) Kansas (1952 and 1953) La Salle (1954 and 1955) San Francisco (1955, 1956 and 1957) California (1959 and 1960) Cincinnati (1959, 1960, 1961 and 1962) Ohio St. (1960, 1961 and 1962) Duke (1963 and 1964) UCLA (1964 and 1965) Michigan (1964 and 1965) North Carolina (1967, 1968 and 1969) UCLA (1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976) North Carolina (1981 and 1982) Louisville (1982 and 1983) Houston (1982, 1983, 1984) Georgetown (1984 and 1985) Duke (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992) UNLV (1990 and 1991) Michigan (1992 and 1993) – Later vacated Arkansas (1994 and 1995) Kentucky (1996, 1997 and 1998) North Carolina (1997 and 1998) Michigan St. (1999, 2000 and 2001) Maryland (2001 and 2002) Kansas (2002 and 2003) Florida (2006 and 2007) UCLA (2006, 2007 and 2008) Michigan St. (2009 and 2010) Butler (2010 and 2011) Teams that have played in back-to-back Championship Games Oklahoma St. (1945 and 1946) Kansas (1952 and 1953) La Salle (1954 and 1955) San Francisco (1955 and 1956) California (1959 and 1960) Ohio St. (1960, 1961 and 1962) North Carolina (1981 and 1982) Georgetown (1984 and 1985) UCLA (1964 and 1965) UCLA (1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973) North Carolina (1981 and 1982) Houston (1983 and 1984) Duke (1990, 1991 and 1992) Michigan (1992 and 1993) – Later vacated Arkansas (1994 and 1995) Kentucky (1996, 1997 and 1998) Florida (2006 and 2007) Teams that have made it back to the Men’s Final Four after losing in National Championship Game the previous year Ohio St. (1962) North Carolina (1969) North Carolina (1982) Houston (1984) Duke (1991) Michigan (1993) Butler (2011) Teams that have played in the national championship game after losing in the National Championship Game the previous year Ohio St. (1962) North Carolina (1982) Duke (1991) Michigan (1993) Kentucky (1998) Teams that have made won the national championship the year after finishing as the National Runners-up North Carolina (1982) Duke (1991) Kentucky (1998) Back-to-back Final Fours Butler is the first institution from the state of Indiana to make back-to-back Men’s Final Fours. beating #1 seeds Butler is the third team in NCAA Tournament history to beat a No. 1 seed before the Final Four in consecutive years (Syracuse -2010/Pittsburgh – 2011), and the first two were seeded third or better. UCLA beat No. 1 seeds in 2006 and 2007 as a No. 2 seed, while Duke turned in wins over a top-seeded team in 1988, 1989 and 1990. The Blue Devils were a No. 2 seed in 1988 and 1989 and a No. 3 seed in 1990. go west young man This is Connecticut’s fourth Men’s Final Four appearance. What ties all four appearances (1999, 2004, 2009 and 2011) together? West Region…All four trips to the Men’s Final Four went through the West Region. No #1 and #2 SEEDS This marks only the third Men’s Final Four since seeding started in 1979 that no #1 seeds will be playing in the Men’s Final Four. The other two years were 1980 (#2 Louisville, #5 Iowa, #6 Purdue and #8 UCLA) and 2006 (#2 UCLA, #3 Florida, #4 LSU and #11 George Mason). This is the first ever Men’s Final Four that no #1 or #2 seeds are playing in the Men’s Final Four. FIRST FOUR to the Final Four Because VCU was a participant in the inaugural First Four, the Rams have become the first team to have played five tournament games before reaching the Final Four. VCU defeated teams from the Pac-10 (USC), Big East (Georgetown), Big Ten (Purdue), ACC (Florida St.) and Big 12 (Kansas) to reach its first Final Four. HIGHEST ACCUMULATED SEEDS The four participants’ combined seeds add up to the highest accumulated number in the history of the Men’s Final Four. The four combined seeds total 26. 2011 – #3 Connecticut, #4 Kentucky, #8 Butler, #11 VCU The previous high was 22 in 2000 (#1 Michigan St., #5 Florida, #8 North Carolina and #8 Wisconsin). HIGHEST ACCUMULATED SEEDS, part 2 When #8 Butler meets #11 VCU on April 2 in Houston, the combined seeds add up to the highest accumulated number in the history of the Men’s Final Four to play each other. The two combined seeds total 19. The previous high was 14 in 1980 and 2006. #8 UCLA defeated #6 Purdue, 67-62, on March 22, 1980. #3 Florida defeated #11 George Mason, 73-58, on April 1, 2006. LOWEST SEED to play in the national championship game 1980 – #2 Louisville over #8 UCLA, 59-54 1985 – #8 Villanova over #1 Georgetown, 66-64 If VCU beats Butler, the Rams will be the lowest seed ever in the national championship game. If Butler beats VCU, the Bulldogs will tie the mark. No matter who beats who in the national semifinals, the 2011 championship game on April 4 will feature the highest accumulated seeds ever in the title game. #11 seeds to make the Men’s Final Four (3) 1986 – LSU 2006 – George Mason 2011 – VCU #8 seeds to make the Men’s Final Four (5) 1980 – UCLA 1984 – Villanova 2000 – North Carolina and Wisconsin 2011 – Butler THE BIG EAST The Big East Conference has a member institution in the Men’s Final Four for the third straight year. Overall, the Big East has had a school(s) in the Men’s Final Four eight times since 2003. 2011 – Connecticut 2010 – West Virginia 2009 – Connecticut and Villanova 2007 – Georgetown 2005 – Louisville 2004 – Connecticut 2003 – Syracuse Most Men’s Final Four Appearances by Conferences since 2000 Big Ten (9) 2000 – Michigan St. and Wisconsin 2001 – Michigan St. 2002 – Indiana 2005 – Illinois and Michigan St. 2007 – Ohio St. 2009 – Michigan St. 2010 – Michigan St. Atlantic Coast (9) 2000 – North Carolina 2001 – Duke and Maryland 2002 – Maryland 2004 – Georgia Tech 2005 – North Carolina 2008 – North Carolina 2009 – North Carolina 2010 – Duke Big East (8) 2003 – Syracuse 2004 – Connecticut 2005 – Louisville 2007 – Georgetown 2009 – Connecticut and Villanova 2010 – West Virginia 2011 – Connecticut
Big 12 (6) 2002 – Kansas and Oklahoma 2003 – Kansas and Texas 2004 – Oklahoma St. 2008 – Kansas Pac-10 (4) 2001 – Arizona 2006 – UCLA 2007 – UCLA 2008 – UCLA Southeastern (4) 2000 – Florida 2006 – Florida and LSU 2007 – Florida Conference USA (2) 2003 – Marquette 2008 – Memphis Colonial Athletic Association (2) 2006 – George Mason 2011 – VCU Horizon League (2) 2010 – Butler 2011 – Butler Bold – National Champion Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams from the Same School in the Final Four the Same Year 1983 Georgia 1999 Duke 2002 Oklahoma 2003 Texas 2004 Connecticut 2005 Michigan State 2006 LSU 2009 Connecticut 2011 Connecticut – the women’s team plays on Tuesday to try to advance to the Final Four.
LOTS OF GAMES VCU enters the Men’s Final Four with a 28-11 record while Connecticut is 30-9. So both teams will be playing their 40th game of the season on Saturday. That will tie the modern record (since 1948), which has been done seven times. Previous teams with 40 games in a season are Duke, 1986 (37-3) and 2010 (35-5); UNLV, 1990 (35-5); Kentucky, 1997 (35-5); Florida, 2007 (35-5); Kansas, 2008 (37-3); and Memphis, 2008 (38-2), although Memphis was later vacated by the Committee on Infractions. If VCU or Connecticut advance to the final game, it will be the most games played in a season since Oregon played 45 games in 1945 as the Ducks went 30-15. Neither Kentucky (29-8) nor Butler (27-9) can reach the 40-game plateau this season. WIN STREAKS Each of the 2011 Men’s Final Four teams have a winning streak of at least five games. This is the first time that has happened since 1983. This year’s schools have streaks of 13 (Butler), 9 (Connecticut), 9 (Kentucky) and 5 (VCU). In 1983, the schools entered the Men’s Final Four with streaks of 25 (Houston), Louisville (16), North Carolina State (8) and Georgia (7). TOURNAMENT STATS The updated tournament statistical leaders can be found at: http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_champs_records/2011/d1/html/confstat.htm SEASON STATS The updated season statistical leaders can be found at: http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/rankings?sportCode=MBB
2011 All-Regional Teams East *Brandon Knight, Kentucky Josh Harrellson, Kentucky DeAndre Liggins, Kentucky Harrison Barnes, North Carolina Tyler Zeller, North Carolina Southeast * Shelvin Mack, Butler Matt Howard, Butler Kenny Boynton, Florida Vernon Macklin, Florida Alex Tyus, Florida Southwest *Jamie Skeen, VCU Marcus Morris, Kansas Bradford Burgess, VCU Joey Rodriguez, VCU Brandon Rozzell, VCU West *Kemba Walker, Connecticut Jesse Perry, Arizona Derrick Williams, Arizona Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut Kyrie Irving, Duke *Most Outstanding Player 2011 NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ATTENDANCE Round Site Attendance First Dayton, OH 10,025 Dayton, OH 10,192 Total 20,217 Second Charlotte, NC 16,829 Charlotte, NC 16,852 Chicago, IL 17,352 Chicago, IL 17,369 Cleveland, OH 20,164 Cleveland, OH 20,164 Denver, CO 18,499 Denver, CO 19,216 Tampa, FL 14,835 Tampa, FL 15,504 Tucson, AZ 10,101 Tucson, AZ 10,293 Tulsa, OK 12,631 Tulsa, OK 14,353 Washington, DC 17,578 Washington, DC 17,706 Totals 259,446 Third Charlotte, NC 18,329 Chicago, IL 18,146 Cleveland, OH 20,164 Denver, CO 19,328 Tampa, FL 17,771 Tucson, AZ 11,267 Tulsa, OK 15,839 Washington, DC 18,684 139,528 Regional Semifinals Anaheim, CA 17,890 New Orleans, LA 12,320 Newark, NJ 18,343 *San Antonio, TX 14,566 63,119 Regional Finals Anaheim, CA 17,856 New Orleans, NO 12,139 Newark, NJ 18,278 *San Antonio, TX 14,299 62,572 National Semifinals *Houston, TX National Final *Houston, TX Total Attendance 544,882 Average Per Session 15,568 *Dome 2011 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament Field 2011 NCAA Tournament Pre-Tourney Tourney Final Conference Seed School Conference How W L Pct. W L W L Pct. W L Fin. 15 Akron Mid-American (E) Q 23 12 .657 0 1 23 13 .639 9 7 T3d 16 Alabama St. Southwestern Q 17 17 .500 0 1 17 18 .486 11 7 4th 5 Arizona Pacific-10 L 27 7 .794 3 1 30 8 .789 14 4 1st 13 Belmont Atlantic Sun Q 30 4 .882 0 1 30 5 .857 19 1 1st 16 Boston U. America East Q 21 13 .618 0 1 21 14 .600 12 4 2nd 14 Bucknell Patriot Q 25 8 .758 0 1 25 9 .735 13 1 1st 8 Butler Horizon Q 23 9 .719 4 0 27 9 .750 13 5 T1st 3 BYU Mountain West L 30 4 .882 2 1 32 5 .865 14 2 T1st 6 Cincinnati Big East L 25 8 .758 1 1 26 9 .743 11 7 T6th 12 Clemson Atlantic Coast L 21 11 .656 1 1 22 12 .647 9 7 T3d 3 Connecticut Big East Q 26 9 .743 4 0 30 9 .769 9 9 T9th 1 Duke Atlantic Coast Q 30 4 .882 2 1 32 5 .865 13 3 2nd 2 Florida Southeastern (E) L 26 7 .788 3 1 29 8 .784 13 3 1st 10 Florida St. Atlantic Coast L 21 10 .677 2 1 23 11 .676 11 5 3rd 8 George Mason Colonial L 26 6 .813 1 1 27 7 .794 16 2 1st 6 Georgetown Big East L 21 10 .677 0 1 21 11 .656 10 8 8th 10 Georgia Southeastern (E) L 21 11 .656 0 1 21 12 .636 9 7 T3d 11 Gonzaga West Coast Q 24 9 .727 1 1 25 10 .714 11 3 T1st 16 Hampton Mid-Eastern Q 24 8 .750 0 1 24 9 .727 11 5 T2nd 9 Illinois Big Ten L 19 13 .594 1 1 20 14 .588 9 9 T4th 14 Indiana St. Missouri Valley Q 20 13 .606 0 1 20 14 .588 12 6 3rd 1 Kansas Big 12 Q 32 2 .941 3 1 35 3 .921 14 2 1st 5 Kansas St. Big 12 L 22 10 .688 1 1 23 11 .676 10 6 T3d 4 Kentucky Southeastern (E) Q 25 8 .758 4 0 29 8 .784 10 6 2nd 15 Long Island Northeast Q 27 5 .844 0 1 27 6 .818 16 2 1st 4 Louisville Big East L 25 9 .735 0 1 25 10 .714 12 6 T3d 11 Marquette Big East L 20 14 .588 2 1 22 15 .595 9 9 T9th 12 Memphis Conference USA Q 25 9 .735 0 1 25 10 .714 10 6 4th 8 Michigan Big Ten L 20 13 .606 1 1 21 14 .600 9 9 T4th 10 Michigan St. Big Ten L 19 14 .576 0 1 19 15 .559 9 9 T4th 11 Missouri Big 12 L 23 10 .697 0 1 23 11 .676 8 8 T5th 13 Morehead St. Ohio Valley Q 24 9 .727 1 1 25 10 .714 13 5 T2nd 2 North Carolina Atlantic Coast L 26 7 .788 3 1 29 8 .784 14 2 1st 15 Northern Colo. Big Sky Q 21 10 .677 0 1 21 11 .656 13 3 1st 2 Notre Dame Big East L 26 6 .813 1 1 27 7 .794 14 4 2nd 13 Oakland Summit Q 25 9 .735 0 1 25 10 .714 17 1 1st 1 Ohio St. Big Ten Q 31 2 .939 2 1 33 3 .917 16 2 1st 9 Old Dominion Colonial Q 27 6 .818 0 1 27 7 .794 14 4 T2nd 10 Penn St. Big Ten L 19 13 .594 0 1 19 14 .576 9 9 T4th 1 Pittsburgh Big East L 27 5 .844 1 1 28 6 .824 15 3 1st 13 Princeton Ivy Q 25 6 .806 0 1 25 7 .781 12 2 T1st 3 Purdue Big Ten L 25 7 .781 1 1 26 8 .765 14 4 2nd 12 Richmond Atlantic 10 Q 27 7 .794 2 1 29 8 .784 13 3 3rd 2 San Diego St. Mountain West Q 32 2 .941 2 1 34 3 .919 14 2 T1st 11 Southern California Pacific-10 L 19 14 .576 0 1 19 15 .559 10 8 T4th 6 St. John’s (NY) Big East L 21 11 .656 0 1 21 12 .636 12 6 T3d 14 St. Peter’s Metro Atlantic Q 20 13 .606 0 1 20 14 .588 11 7 4th 3 Syracuse Big East L 26 7 .788 1 1 27 8 .771 12 6 T3d 7 Temple Atlantic 10 L 25 7 .781 1 1 26 8 .765 14 2 4th 9 Tennessee Southeastern (E) L 19 14 .576 0 1 19 15 .559 8 8 5th 4 Texas Big 12 L 27 7 .794 1 1 28 8 .778 13 3 2nd 7 Texas A&M Big 12 L 24 8 .750 0 1 24 9 .727 10 6 T3d 12 UAB Conference USA L 22 8 .733 0 1 22 9 .710 12 4 1st 16 UALR Sun Belt (W) Q 19 16 .543 0 1 19 17 .528 7 9 5th 15 UC Santa Barbara Big West Q 18 13 .581 0 1 18 14 .563 8 8 T4th 7 UCLA Pacific-10 L 22 10 .688 1 1 23 11 .676 13 5 2nd 16 UNC Asheville Big South Q 19 13 .594 1 1 20 14 .588 11 7 3rd 8 UNLV Mountain West L 24 8 .750 0 1 24 9 .727 11 5 3rd 12 Utah St. Western Athletic Q 30 3 .909 0 1 30 4 .882 15 1 1st 16 UTSA Southland (W) Q 19 13 .594 1 1 20 14 .588 9 7 T3d 5 Vanderbilt Southeastern (E) L 23 10 .697 0 1 23 11 .676 9 7 T3d 11 VCU Colonial L 23 11 .676 5 0 28 11 .718 12 6 4th 9 Villanova Big East L 21 11 .656 0 1 21 12 .636 9 9 T9th 7 Washington Pacific-10 Q 23 10 .697 1 1 24 11 .686 11 7 3rd 5 West Virginia Big East L 20 11 .645 1 1 21 12 .636 11 7 T6th 4 Wisconsin Big Ten L 23 8 .742 2 1 25 9 .735 13 5 3rd 14 Wofford Southern (S) Q 21 12 .636 0 1 21 13 .618 14 4 T1st 6 Xavier Atlantic 10 L 24 7 .774 0 1 24 8 .750 15 1 1st
Here are the complete 2011 Men’s Final Four Notes courtesy of the NCAA:MILESTONE GAME The 2011 championship game to be played on April 4 will be the 2,900th all-time game in the NCAA tournament. Men’s Final Four Appearances for Institutions School Appearances Final Four Record Championships Butler 2 2010, 2011 1-1 Connecticut 4 1999, 2004, 2009, 2011 4-1 1999, 2004 Kentucky 14 1942, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1966 17-6 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958 1975, 1978, 1984, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2011 1978, 1996, 1998 VCU 0 None 0-0 Men’s Final Four Appearances for Head Coaches Coach, School Appearances Final Four Record Championships Brad Stevens, Butler 2 2010, 2011 1-1 Jim Calhoun, Connecticut 4 1999, 2004, 2009, 2011 4-1 1999, 2004 John Calipari, Kentucky 3 1996 (*Massachusetts), 2008 (*Memphis) Kentucky (2011) *1-2 Shaka Smart, VCU 0 None 0-0 *- Calipari’s Final Four appearances, wins and losses were later vacated by the Committee on Infractions. Head Coaches that have coached Three Different Teams to the Final Four Coach First Team Second Team Third Team Rick Pitino Providence Kentucky Louisville John Calipari *Massachusetts *Memphis Kentucky *- Calipari’s Final Four appearances later vacated Youngest Coaches at the Final Four since 1972 Coach School Final Four YY-MM-DDAge* Bob Knight Indiana 1973 32-4-29 Brad Stevens Butler 2010 33-5-11 Shaka Smart VCU 2011 33-11-24 Hugh Durham Florida St. 1972 34-4-27 Brad Stevens Butler 2011 34-5-10 Rick Pitino Providence 1987 34-6-10 Billy Donavan Florida 2000 34-10-1 Denny Crum Louisville 1972 35-0-21 *Age based on the day the coach’s team first played in the Final Four. Many coaches’ birth dates before 1972 are missing, but here are the youngest of those that could be found: Coach School Final Four YY-MM-DD Age* Ray Meyer DePaul 1943 29-3-7 Branch McCracken Indiana 1940 31-9-14 Harold Foster Wisconsin 1941 34-9-22 Howard Hobson Oregon 1939 35-8-17 Don Haskins UTEP 1966 36-8-4 TWO LESS THAN ONE On April 2 when Butler meets VCU, the combined ages of the two head coaches will be 68 years, 5 months and 4 days old. In the next game that day, Jim Calhoun’s Connecticut team will face Kentucky. Calhoun’s age on that day will be 68 years, 10 months and 22 days old. COULD BE THE OLDEST If Connecticut wins the championship on Monday, coach Jim Calhoun, at an age of 68 years, 10 months and 24 days old, would become the oldest ever to win the NCAA title. Currently, Phog Allen of Kansas is listed as the oldest when the Jayhawks won in 1952 and Allen was 66 years, 4 months and 8 days old. Close Games in the 2011 Tournament Most close games in a tournament, with close games being decided by three or fewer points or overtime(s): (Note that all overtime games are included regardless of scoring margin) 1990: 24 1998: 19 2010: 19 2011: 19 1985: 18 2003: 18 2004: 18 1983: 17 1984: 17 If you just take all games decided by three or fewer points, regardless if they were decided in regulation or overtime: 1990: 23 1985: 18 1984: 17 2010: 17 1983: 16 1998: 16 2003: 16 2004: 16 2011: 16 NON-BCS The Horizon League is represented in the Men’s Final Four for the second straight year by Butler. The League joins the Big West (UNLV 1990-91), Missouri Valley (Cincinnati 1961-62) and West Coast (San Francisco 1955-56) conferences as the only non-BCS conferences to send a member to consecutive Men’s Final Fours. Teams that have made back-to-back Men’s Final Fours Ohio St. (1944, 1945 and 1946) Oklahoma St. (1945 and 1946) Holy Cross (1947 and 1948) Kentucky (1948 and 1949) Illinois (1951 and 1952) Kansas (1952 and 1953) La Salle (1954 and 1955) San Francisco (1955, 1956 and 1957) California (1959 and 1960) Cincinnati (1959, 1960, 1961 and 1962) Ohio St. (1960, 1961 and 1962) Duke (1963 and 1964) UCLA (1964 and 1965) Michigan (1964 and 1965) North Carolina (1967, 1968 and 1969) UCLA (1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976) North Carolina (1981 and 1982) Louisville (1982 and 1983) Houston (1982, 1983, 1984) Georgetown (1984 and 1985) Duke (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992) UNLV (1990 and 1991) Michigan (1992 and 1993) – Later vacated Arkansas (1994 and 1995) Kentucky (1996, 1997 and 1998) North Carolina (1997 and 1998) Michigan St. (1999, 2000 and 2001) Maryland (2001 and 2002) Kansas (2002 and 2003) Florida (2006 and 2007) UCLA (2006, 2007 and 2008) Michigan St. (2009 and 2010) Butler (2010 and 2011) Teams that have played in back-to-back Championship Games Oklahoma St. (1945 and 1946) Kansas (1952 and 1953) La Salle (1954 and 1955) San Francisco (1955 and 1956) California (1959 and 1960) Ohio St. (1960, 1961 and 1962) North Carolina (1981 and 1982) Georgetown (1984 and 1985) UCLA (1964 and 1965) UCLA (1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973) North Carolina (1981 and 1982) Houston (1983 and 1984) Duke (1990, 1991 and 1992) Michigan (1992 and 1993) – Later vacated Arkansas (1994 and 1995) Kentucky (1996, 1997 and 1998) Florida (2006 and 2007) Teams that have made it back to the Men’s Final Four after losing in National Championship Game the previous year Ohio St. (1962) North Carolina (1969) North Carolina (1982) Houston (1984) Duke (1991) Michigan (1993) Butler (2011) Teams that have played in the national championship game after losing in the National Championship Game the previous year Ohio St. (1962) North Carolina (1982) Duke (1991) Michigan (1993) Kentucky (1998) Teams that have made won the national championship the year after finishing as the National Runners-up North Carolina (1982) Duke (1991) Kentucky (1998) Back-to-back Final Fours Butler is the first institution from the state of Indiana to make back-to-back Men’s Final Fours. beating #1 seeds Butler is the third team in NCAA Tournament history to beat a No. 1 seed before the Final Four in consecutive years (Syracuse -2010/Pittsburgh – 2011), and the first two were seeded third or better. UCLA beat No. 1 seeds in 2006 and 2007 as a No. 2 seed, while Duke turned in wins over a top-seeded team in 1988, 1989 and 1990. The Blue Devils were a No. 2 seed in 1988 and 1989 and a No. 3 seed in 1990. go west young man This is Connecticut’s fourth Men’s Final Four appearance. What ties all four appearances (1999, 2004, 2009 and 2011) together? West Region…All four trips to the Men’s Final Four went through the West Region. No #1 and #2 SEEDS This marks only the third Men’s Final Four since seeding started in 1979 that no #1 seeds will be playing in the Men’s Final Four. The other two years were 1980 (#2 Louisville, #5 Iowa, #6 Purdue and #8 UCLA) and 2006 (#2 UCLA, #3 Florida, #4 LSU and #11 George Mason). This is the first ever Men’s Final Four that no #1 or #2 seeds are playing in the Men’s Final Four. FIRST FOUR to the Final Four Because VCU was a participant in the inaugural First Four, the Rams have become the first team to have played five tournament games before reaching the Final Four. VCU defeated teams from the Pac-10 (USC), Big East (Georgetown), Big Ten (Purdue), ACC (Florida St.) and Big 12 (Kansas) to reach its first Final Four. HIGHEST ACCUMULATED SEEDS The four participants’ combined seeds add up to the highest accumulated number in the history of the Men’s Final Four. The four combined seeds total 26. 2011 – #3 Connecticut, #4 Kentucky, #8 Butler, #11 VCU The previous high was 22 in 2000 (#1 Michigan St., #5 Florida, #8 North Carolina and #8 Wisconsin). HIGHEST ACCUMULATED SEEDS, part 2 When #8 Butler meets #11 VCU on April 2 in Houston, the combined seeds add up to the highest accumulated number in the history of the Men’s Final Four to play each other. The two combined seeds total 19. The previous high was 14 in 1980 and 2006. #8 UCLA defeated #6 Purdue, 67-62, on March 22, 1980. #3 Florida defeated #11 George Mason, 73-58, on April 1, 2006. LOWEST SEED to play in the national championship game 1980 – #2 Louisville over #8 UCLA, 59-54 1985 – #8 Villanova over #1 Georgetown, 66-64 If VCU beats Butler, the Rams will be the lowest seed ever in the national championship game. If Butler beats VCU, the Bulldogs will tie the mark. No matter who beats who in the national semifinals, the 2011 championship game on April 4 will feature the highest accumulated seeds ever in the title game. #11 seeds to make the Men’s Final Four (3) 1986 – LSU 2006 – George Mason 2011 – VCU #8 seeds to make the Men’s Final Four (5) 1980 – UCLA 1984 – Villanova 2000 – North Carolina and Wisconsin 2011 – Butler THE BIG EAST The Big East Conference has a member institution in the Men’s Final Four for the third straight year. Overall, the Big East has had a school(s) in the Men’s Final Four eight times since 2003. 2011 – Connecticut 2010 – West Virginia 2009 – Connecticut and Villanova 2007 – Georgetown 2005 – Louisville 2004 – Connecticut 2003 – Syracuse Most Men’s Final Four Appearances by Conferences since 2000 Big Ten (9) 2000 – Michigan St. and Wisconsin 2001 – Michigan St. 2002 – Indiana 2005 – Illinois and Michigan St. 2007 – Ohio St. 2009 – Michigan St. 2010 – Michigan St. Atlantic Coast (9) 2000 – North Carolina 2001 – Duke and Maryland 2002 – Maryland 2004 – Georgia Tech 2005 – North Carolina 2008 – North Carolina 2009 – North Carolina 2010 – Duke Big East (8) 2003 – Syracuse 2004 – Connecticut 2005 – Louisville 2007 – Georgetown 2009 – Connecticut and Villanova 2010 – West Virginia 2011 – Connecticut
Big 12 (6) 2002 – Kansas and Oklahoma 2003 – Kansas and Texas 2004 – Oklahoma St. 2008 – Kansas Pac-10 (4) 2001 – Arizona 2006 – UCLA 2007 – UCLA 2008 – UCLA Southeastern (4) 2000 – Florida 2006 – Florida and LSU 2007 – Florida Conference USA (2) 2003 – Marquette 2008 – Memphis Colonial Athletic Association (2) 2006 – George Mason 2011 – VCU Horizon League (2) 2010 – Butler 2011 – Butler Bold – National Champion Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams from the Same School in the Final Four the Same Year 1983 Georgia 1999 Duke 2002 Oklahoma 2003 Texas 2004 Connecticut 2005 Michigan State 2006 LSU 2009 Connecticut 2011 Connecticut – the women’s team plays on Tuesday to try to advance to the Final Four.
LOTS OF GAMES VCU enters the Men’s Final Four with a 28-11 record while Connecticut is 30-9. So both teams will be playing their 40th game of the season on Saturday. That will tie the modern record (since 1948), which has been done seven times. Previous teams with 40 games in a season are Duke, 1986 (37-3) and 2010 (35-5); UNLV, 1990 (35-5); Kentucky, 1997 (35-5); Florida, 2007 (35-5); Kansas, 2008 (37-3); and Memphis, 2008 (38-2), although Memphis was later vacated by the Committee on Infractions. If VCU or Connecticut advance to the final game, it will be the most games played in a season since Oregon played 45 games in 1945 as the Ducks went 30-15. Neither Kentucky (29-8) nor Butler (27-9) can reach the 40-game plateau this season. WIN STREAKS Each of the 2011 Men’s Final Four teams have a winning streak of at least five games. This is the first time that has happened since 1983. This year’s schools have streaks of 13 (Butler), 9 (Connecticut), 9 (Kentucky) and 5 (VCU). In 1983, the schools entered the Men’s Final Four with streaks of 25 (Houston), Louisville (16), North Carolina State (8) and Georgia (7). TOURNAMENT STATS The updated tournament statistical leaders can be found at: http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_champs_records/2011/d1/html/confstat.htm SEASON STATS The updated season statistical leaders can be found at: http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/rankings?sportCode=MBB
2011 All-Regional Teams East *Brandon Knight, Kentucky Josh Harrellson, Kentucky DeAndre Liggins, Kentucky Harrison Barnes, North Carolina Tyler Zeller, North Carolina Southeast * Shelvin Mack, Butler Matt Howard, Butler Kenny Boynton, Florida Vernon Macklin, Florida Alex Tyus, Florida Southwest *Jamie Skeen, VCU Marcus Morris, Kansas Bradford Burgess, VCU Joey Rodriguez, VCU Brandon Rozzell, VCU West *Kemba Walker, Connecticut Jesse Perry, Arizona Derrick Williams, Arizona Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut Kyrie Irving, Duke *Most Outstanding Player 2011 NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ATTENDANCE Round Site Attendance First Dayton, OH 10,025 Dayton, OH 10,192 Total 20,217 Second Charlotte, NC 16,829 Charlotte, NC 16,852 Chicago, IL 17,352 Chicago, IL 17,369 Cleveland, OH 20,164 Cleveland, OH 20,164 Denver, CO 18,499 Denver, CO 19,216 Tampa, FL 14,835 Tampa, FL 15,504 Tucson, AZ 10,101 Tucson, AZ 10,293 Tulsa, OK 12,631 Tulsa, OK 14,353 Washington, DC 17,578 Washington, DC 17,706 Totals 259,446 Third Charlotte, NC 18,329 Chicago, IL 18,146 Cleveland, OH 20,164 Denver, CO 19,328 Tampa, FL 17,771 Tucson, AZ 11,267 Tulsa, OK 15,839 Washington, DC 18,684 139,528 Regional Semifinals Anaheim, CA 17,890 New Orleans, LA 12,320 Newark, NJ 18,343 *San Antonio, TX 14,566 63,119 Regional Finals Anaheim, CA 17,856 New Orleans, NO 12,139 Newark, NJ 18,278 *San Antonio, TX 14,299 62,572 National Semifinals *Houston, TX National Final *Houston, TX Total Attendance 544,882 Average Per Session 15,568 *Dome 2011 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament Field 2011 NCAA Tournament Pre-Tourney Tourney Final Conference Seed School Conference How W L Pct. W L W L Pct. W L Fin. 15 Akron Mid-American (E) Q 23 12 .657 0 1 23 13 .639 9 7 T3d 16 Alabama St. Southwestern Q 17 17 .500 0 1 17 18 .486 11 7 4th 5 Arizona Pacific-10 L 27 7 .794 3 1 30 8 .789 14 4 1st 13 Belmont Atlantic Sun Q 30 4 .882 0 1 30 5 .857 19 1 1st 16 Boston U. America East Q 21 13 .618 0 1 21 14 .600 12 4 2nd 14 Bucknell Patriot Q 25 8 .758 0 1 25 9 .735 13 1 1st 8 Butler Horizon Q 23 9 .719 4 0 27 9 .750 13 5 T1st 3 BYU Mountain West L 30 4 .882 2 1 32 5 .865 14 2 T1st 6 Cincinnati Big East L 25 8 .758 1 1 26 9 .743 11 7 T6th 12 Clemson Atlantic Coast L 21 11 .656 1 1 22 12 .647 9 7 T3d 3 Connecticut Big East Q 26 9 .743 4 0 30 9 .769 9 9 T9th 1 Duke Atlantic Coast Q 30 4 .882 2 1 32 5 .865 13 3 2nd 2 Florida Southeastern (E) L 26 7 .788 3 1 29 8 .784 13 3 1st 10 Florida St. Atlantic Coast L 21 10 .677 2 1 23 11 .676 11 5 3rd 8 George Mason Colonial L 26 6 .813 1 1 27 7 .794 16 2 1st 6 Georgetown Big East L 21 10 .677 0 1 21 11 .656 10 8 8th 10 Georgia Southeastern (E) L 21 11 .656 0 1 21 12 .636 9 7 T3d 11 Gonzaga West Coast Q 24 9 .727 1 1 25 10 .714 11 3 T1st 16 Hampton Mid-Eastern Q 24 8 .750 0 1 24 9 .727 11 5 T2nd 9 Illinois Big Ten L 19 13 .594 1 1 20 14 .588 9 9 T4th 14 Indiana St. Missouri Valley Q 20 13 .606 0 1 20 14 .588 12 6 3rd 1 Kansas Big 12 Q 32 2 .941 3 1 35 3 .921 14 2 1st 5 Kansas St. Big 12 L 22 10 .688 1 1 23 11 .676 10 6 T3d 4 Kentucky Southeastern (E) Q 25 8 .758 4 0 29 8 .784 10 6 2nd 15 Long Island Northeast Q 27 5 .844 0 1 27 6 .818 16 2 1st 4 Louisville Big East L 25 9 .735 0 1 25 10 .714 12 6 T3d 11 Marquette Big East L 20 14 .588 2 1 22 15 .595 9 9 T9th 12 Memphis Conference USA Q 25 9 .735 0 1 25 10 .714 10 6 4th 8 Michigan Big Ten L 20 13 .606 1 1 21 14 .600 9 9 T4th 10 Michigan St. Big Ten L 19 14 .576 0 1 19 15 .559 9 9 T4th 11 Missouri Big 12 L 23 10 .697 0 1 23 11 .676 8 8 T5th 13 Morehead St. Ohio Valley Q 24 9 .727 1 1 25 10 .714 13 5 T2nd 2 North Carolina Atlantic Coast L 26 7 .788 3 1 29 8 .784 14 2 1st 15 Northern Colo. Big Sky Q 21 10 .677 0 1 21 11 .656 13 3 1st 2 Notre Dame Big East L 26 6 .813 1 1 27 7 .794 14 4 2nd 13 Oakland Summit Q 25 9 .735 0 1 25 10 .714 17 1 1st 1 Ohio St. Big Ten Q 31 2 .939 2 1 33 3 .917 16 2 1st 9 Old Dominion Colonial Q 27 6 .818 0 1 27 7 .794 14 4 T2nd 10 Penn St. Big Ten L 19 13 .594 0 1 19 14 .576 9 9 T4th 1 Pittsburgh Big East L 27 5 .844 1 1 28 6 .824 15 3 1st 13 Princeton Ivy Q 25 6 .806 0 1 25 7 .781 12 2 T1st 3 Purdue Big Ten L 25 7 .781 1 1 26 8 .765 14 4 2nd 12 Richmond Atlantic 10 Q 27 7 .794 2 1 29 8 .784 13 3 3rd 2 San Diego St. Mountain West Q 32 2 .941 2 1 34 3 .919 14 2 T1st 11 Southern California Pacific-10 L 19 14 .576 0 1 19 15 .559 10 8 T4th 6 St. John’s (NY) Big East L 21 11 .656 0 1 21 12 .636 12 6 T3d 14 St. Peter’s Metro Atlantic Q 20 13 .606 0 1 20 14 .588 11 7 4th 3 Syracuse Big East L 26 7 .788 1 1 27 8 .771 12 6 T3d 7 Temple Atlantic 10 L 25 7 .781 1 1 26 8 .765 14 2 4th 9 Tennessee Southeastern (E) L 19 14 .576 0 1 19 15 .559 8 8 5th 4 Texas Big 12 L 27 7 .794 1 1 28 8 .778 13 3 2nd 7 Texas A&M Big 12 L 24 8 .750 0 1 24 9 .727 10 6 T3d 12 UAB Conference USA L 22 8 .733 0 1 22 9 .710 12 4 1st 16 UALR Sun Belt (W) Q 19 16 .543 0 1 19 17 .528 7 9 5th 15 UC Santa Barbara Big West Q 18 13 .581 0 1 18 14 .563 8 8 T4th 7 UCLA Pacific-10 L 22 10 .688 1 1 23 11 .676 13 5 2nd 16 UNC Asheville Big South Q 19 13 .594 1 1 20 14 .588 11 7 3rd 8 UNLV Mountain West L 24 8 .750 0 1 24 9 .727 11 5 3rd 12 Utah St. Western Athletic Q 30 3 .909 0 1 30 4 .882 15 1 1st 16 UTSA Southland (W) Q 19 13 .594 1 1 20 14 .588 9 7 T3d 5 Vanderbilt Southeastern (E) L 23 10 .697 0 1 23 11 .676 9 7 T3d 11 VCU Colonial L 23 11 .676 5 0 28 11 .718 12 6 4th 9 Villanova Big East L 21 11 .656 0 1 21 12 .636 9 9 T9th 7 Washington Pacific-10 Q 23 10 .697 1 1 24 11 .686 11 7 3rd 5 West Virginia Big East L 20 11 .645 1 1 21 12 .636 11 7 T6th 4 Wisconsin Big Ten L 23 8 .742 2 1 25 9 .735 13 5 3rd 14 Wofford Southern (S) Q 21 12 .636 0 1 21 13 .618 14 4 T1st 6 Xavier Atlantic 10 L 24 7 .774 0 1 24 8 .750 15 1 1st
