2008 Final Four

The NCAA Tournament is arguably the greatest sporting event in America.
 
Starting on Selection Sunday in mid-March and ending on Championship Monday in early April, the Big Dance is nearly unrivaled in terms of pure adrenaline.

The energy is not just in the sweat and tears left on the court — it’s in office pools and live video streams.

For 63 games over three weekends, anything can happen.

An under-recruited son of an NBA sharpshooter, like Stephen Curry, can carry a small private school, like Davidson, all the way to the Elite Eight.

Or, on the other end of the spectrum, the No. 1 seed in each region can advance to the Final Four for the first time since seeding was introduced in 1979.

Better yet, those four No. 1 seeds can be basketball powers like Kansas, North Carolina, UCLA and Memphis.

With three games remaining in the 2008 NCAA Tournament, the Final Four in San Antonio is shaping up to be one of the classic weekends in college basketball.

And for once, the history matches the hype.

A Brief History of Tournament Time

1939 — Eight teams compete in first NCAA Tournament.
1951 — Field expands to 16 teams, all conference champions.
1975 — Field expands to 32 teams, at-large bids invited for first time.
1979 — Teams are organized and matched-up by seeding for first time.
1985 — Field expands to 64 teams, in four-region, 1-to-16 seed format.
2008 — Each region's No. 1 seed advances to Final Four for first time.

Self-Taught

Kansas coach Bill Self was the last to punch his ticket to San Antonio this year and the only one among his three peers — North Carolina’s Roy Williams, UCLA’s Ben Howland and Memphis’ John Calipari — making his first trip to the Final Four.

Williams leads the way with six Final Four appearances, including four as Self’s predecessor at Kansas (1991, 1993, 2002 and 2003) and now two at North Carolina (2005 and 2008). Howland has made three consecutive trips (2006-08) and Calipari went to the final weekend as the coach at UMass in 1996.

Despite being one of only two active coaches (along with Rick Pitino) to lead three schools to the Elite Eight — Tulsa (2000), Illinois (2001) and Kansas (2004, 2007) — Self felt the burden of having never advanced to the Final Four.

Not only was Self the last to secure the career milestone, but he had to wait until the last game of the Elite Eight to do so. Self also knew his team had to make tournament history after watching the top seed in the East and West (UNC and UCLA, respectively) clinch on Saturday, then the South’s numero uno Memphis run by Texas in Sunday’s early game.

“I was really, really wanting Texas to win, big time,” said Self, during a postgame press conference after defeating Davidson, 59-57.

“They’re in the same league (Big 12). But there was one other reason — because it’s never happened before. So when Texas didn’t win, I’m like, ‘Good gosh, we’ve got to make history today.’ But, you know, you can believe in those things or not.”

Carolina Blue Blood

For the first time since leaving Kansas to take over his “dream job” at North Carolina, coach Roy Williams’ Tar Heels will compete against his former Jayhawks.

After five years, no players signed by Williams are on the KU roster, but many who cheer “Rock Chalk, Jayhawk” are still bitter about the move.

Now one of the elder statesmen of college coaching, Williams led Kansas to a pair of runner-up finishes, to Duke in 1991 and Syracuse in 2003, before being able to finally win the big one with North Carolina in 2005.

Williams coached under Carolina’s legendary Dean Smith from 1978-88 and was on the bench when Michael Jordan hit “the shot” that was ultimately the game-winning basket against Georgetown in the 1982 title game.

After turning down several coaching positions to remain at North Carolina, Williams finally left Smith’s staff for Kansas in 1988. Since KU is undoubtedly one of the top jobs in the country, many Jayhawks fans felt Williams would never leave.

In fact, Williams did turn down the UNC head coaching position when Smith’s successor Bill Guthridge retired in 2000. But following the Matt Doherty disaster in Chapel Hill, Williams could not say no to Dean Smith for the second time and was hired in 2003.

From Naismith to Now

By no means was Roy Williams the first coach to leave Kansas for North Carolina, or vice versa. Soon after the game of basketball was invented in 1891, KU and UNC started trading coaches and are permanently linked through the innovative roundball minds each school has produced.

• Dr. James A. Naismith
The inventor of basketball — which started with nine-on-nine games featuring a peach basket, no dribbling and a jump ball at mid-court after each score — took over as the first coach in Kansas history in 1898.

• Forrest “Phog” Allen
Allen played for Naismith before becoming the second coach in Kansas history. KU’s homecourt of Allen Fieldhouse is named after “Phog.”

• Dean Smith
A Jayhawks reserve on Allen’s 1952 national title team, Smith left to become the coach at North Carolina in 1961. Smith led the Tar Heels to championships in 1982 and 1993. The Dean of ACC coaches also mentored two future Kansas coaches, Roy Williams and Larry Brown — who led the Jayhawks to their most recent NCAA title in 1988.

• Roy Williams
From UNC assistant to Kansas head coach to UNC head coach, Williams has had a charmed coaching career and is only two men removed from the game’s inventor.

Big Mac Index

The McDonald’s All-American Game is an annual event featuring the top high school talent in the country. The top 24 players in the nation have been invited to play every year since 1977, when a fresh-faced Earvin “Magic” Johnson suited up in the inaugural game.

Two years later, Magic was a household name cutting down the nets for Michigan State following an epic victory over Indiana State’s Larry Bird in the national title game.

From 1979 until 2002, at least one McDonald’s All-American was on every championship team. In total, 28 of the 30 title teams have had one or more McDonald’s All-Americans since the game tipped off.

This year, there will be a total of 12 McDonald’s All-Americans in the Final Four:

Diminishing Returns

Raw talent is one thing, but results are another. This year, the Final Four teams had both, for a 143–9 cumulative record, the best of any Final Four in history, as well as conference championships in the ACC, Big 12, Pac-10 and Conference USA.

Of the nine combined losses, four came against in-state rivals and two versus Elite Eight giant beater Texas. Outside of arch-rivals and Longhorns, there were only three losses (all in-conference) to Maryland, Washington and Oklahoma State.

Record Keeping

This is not the first year that the teams in this year’s Final Four have had success. UCLA, North Carolina, Kansas and Memphis have participated in a combined 51 Final Fours and won 17 national championships.

UCLA — 18 Final Fours — 11 NCAA titles (1964-65, 1967-73, 1975, 1995)

North Carolina — 17 Final Fours — 4 NCAA titles (1957, 1982, 1993, 2005)

Kansas — 13 Final Fours — 2 NCAA titles (1952, 1988)

Memphis — 3 Final Fours — 0 NCAA titles

Rule of Three

The match-up between UCLA and Memphis features the most historically successful and least impressive programs in the Final Four. In the past three seasons alone, the Bruins have been to as many Final Fours as the Tigers have in their history.

1. UCLA’s third straight Final Four — Coach Ben Howland’s team has lost to eventual national champion Florida the past two years, 76–66 in the Final Four last year and 73–57 in the title game in 2006.

2. Memphis’ third all-time Final Four — The Tigers lost 52–45 to Villanova in 1985 before the Wildcats took out Georgetown in the title game. Prior to that, then “Memphis State” beat Providence 98–85 in the Final Four before losing 87–66 to UCLA for the 1973 national championship.

3. Third trip to Final Four in Conference USA’s 13-year history — But, this is the third Final Four berth for a C-USA school in six years, with Marquette in 2003 and Louisville in 2005 before Memphis this year.

Applied Statistics

Although Memphis coach John Calipari will no doubt convince his team that it is Memphis against the world and no one believes except the guys in the locker room, it's hard to imagine that being true for a one-loss team in the Final Four.

The 2008 Tigers have tied the all-time single-season record with 37 wins. Unfortunately, none of the previous four teams to win 37 games have gone on to win it all.

Year — School — NCAA Tournament Results

2008 — Memphis — ?
2005 — Illinois — runner-up to North Carolina
1999 — Duke — runner-up to Connecticut
1987 — UNLV — lost in Final Four
1986 — Duke — runner-up to Louisville

And Coach Cal has become one of only 12 coaches to lead two teams to the Final Four while placing his name among the best ever over a three-season span:

Wins — School — Coach (Years)

104 — Kentucky — Rick Pitino (1996-98)
103 — Memphis — John Calipari (2006-pres.)
102 — Kentucky — Adolph Rupp (1947-49)
102 — Montana State — Ott Romney (1927-29)
101 — Duke — Mike Krzyzewski (1999-2001)

35th Anniversary

The 1973 title game in St. Louis was the site of one of the most remarkable individual performances in team sports history.

UCLA’s red-Dead-headed hippie big man Bill Walton hit 21-of-22 shots from the field for 44 points and 13 rebounds in an 87–66 victory over Memphis State.

The near-perfect game by Walton earned coach John Wooden his record seventh consecutive NCAA title by capping a second straight 30–0 season for the still undefeated junior Walton (since freshmen were not allowed to play varsity).

As fate would have it, Memphis State coach Gene Bartow would become Wooden’s immediate successor in 1975. Bartow coached the Bruins for two seasons, leading the team to the 1976 Final Four.

By Any Other Name

While Walton was not allowed to play as a freshman, both Memphis and UCLA are led by stars who will likely only play as freshmen.

Memphis point guard Derrick Rose was named the Most Outstanding Player of the South Region after averaging 20.5 points, six assists (compared to only 1.25 turnovers), six rebounds and 1.25 steals over four games. Rose’s all-around game has even drawn comparisons to nine-time NBA All-Star point guard Jason Kidd.

“Rose is so strong, so physical, he overpowers you,” UCLA coach Ben Howland told the L.A. Times.

“I saw him grab a two-handed rebound way above the rim. And he’s a much better shooter at the same stage of his career as Kidd. I can’t think of much higher praise to give a player than to say, ‘This point guard reminds me of Jason Kidd.’”

Coincidentally, the California product Kidd was the No. 2 overall pick of the Mavericks in the 1994 NBA Draft, behind Purdue forward Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson, who went to the Bucks at the top spot. As it stands, Rose is generally regarded as the second-best prospect in the 2008 NBA Draft, behind Kansas State forward Michael Beasley.

History could be repeating itself, unless Rose works his way into the top spot during Final Four weekend. Either way, it looks as if San Antonio will be Rose’s last stop as an amateur. At least it will be if he listens to his coach.

“If he wants to do what’s right for him and his family, he’ll go pro. If he wants to do what’s right for me an my family, he’ll stay,” joked Calipari, when asked about Rose’s status for the NBA Draft.

Be True to Your School (or Wouldn’t It Be Nice)

Thankfully, the NBA’s one-year rule has allowed fans of the NCAA Tournament a chance to see Rose and UCLA freshman center Kevin Love under the bright lights and high pressure of March Madness. But a second season wouldn’t be too bad, either?

Jordan stayed three. Then again, LeBron and Kobe skipped the Big Dance altogether. So fans should just enjoy the brief careers of Rose and Love while they last.

The nephew of Beach Boys founding member Mike Love and the son of former Lakers forward Stan Love, Kevin has averaged 21.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.3 blocked shots and 2.5 assists per game while leading the Bruins to their third straight Final Four appearance.

“We’re getting spoiled with Kevin,” said Howland, following a 76–57 win over Xavier.

Arguably the best passer in the country (regardless of position), Love throws touchdown outlet passes after routine rebounds and starts fast breaks on inbounds passes.

With strong hands and brute strength reminiscent of Wes Unseld along with the vision and deft execution of UCLA’s own passing big, Bill Walton, the 19-year-old Love looks and plays beyond his years.

The Pac-10 Player of the Year, first-team All-America honoree and West Region M.O.P. also has a veteran’s knowledge of rebounding and defensive angles as well as 3-point range on his jump shot.

John Wooden must be proud of the all-around, unselfish team basketball played by Love — at least for one or two more games.

Western Philosophy

Speaking of the 97-year-old “Wizard of Westwood,” the 10-time NCAA champion and resident wise man John Wooden will not be attending the Final Four in San Antonio, after breaking his collarbone and left wrist following a fall in February.

But Wooden will be watching his UCLA Bruins from his home in California. Our best wishes go out to Coach Wooden, whose philosophy is appropriate at any time of year — but especially heading into Final Four weekend.

– “Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”

– “A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.”

– “The carrot is mightier than the stick.”

– “Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.”

– “I’d rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent.”

– “Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.”

– “Your greatest strength is your greatest weakness.”

– “The worst thing you can do for someone is to do something for them they can and should do for themselves.”

– “Don’t look at the scoreboard.”

– “It’s not so important who starts the game, but who finishes it.”