Monday, March 18, 2024

Is 2024 East Regional the toughest in Tournament History?

UConn is the overall #1 seed in this year's tournament and the #1 team in the final AP Poll. Normally, that should give them the easiest road to the Final Four. However, further analysis might suggest that the committee not only gave UConn the toughest road to the Final Four this year, but maybe the toughest road in tournament history.

All Top 4 seeds in the East Regional won their conference Tournaments. Since 1985, that is only the 4th time that has happened.

1995 - There were 8 total tournament champions that received a Top 4 seed, with 4 in the East
#1 - Wake Forest (ACC) - AP #3
#2 - UMass (A10) - AP #7
#3 - Villanova (Big East) - AP #9
#4 - Oklahoma State (Big 8) - AP #14

2002 - There were 7 total tournament champions that received a Top 4 seed, with 4 in the West
#1 - Cincinnati (Conf USA) - AP #5
#2 - Oklahoma (Big 12) - AP #3
#3 - Arizona (Pac 10) - AP #7
#4 - Ohio State (Big 10) - AP #14

2006 - There were 7 total tournament champions that received a Top 4 seed, with 4 in the West
#1 - Memphis (Conf USA) - AP #4
#2 - UCLA (Pac 10) - AP #7
#3 - Gonzaga (WCC) - AP #5
#4 - Kansas (Big 12) - AP #12

2024 - There are 4 total tournament champions that received a Top 4 seed, with ALL 4 in the East
#1 - UConn (Big East) - AP #1
#2 - Iowa State (Big 12) - AP #4
#3 - Illinois (Big 10) - AP #7
#4 - Auburn (SEC) - AP #10

This is the first time in a 64+ team tournament that only one regional has had all of the Top four tournament champions. It is the only time that a regional that had all of the top four tournament champions ranked in the Top 10.

In terms of AP Ranking, the combined ranking of the East regional is the lowest in tournament history (since 1985 expansion), tied with the 2014 Midwest Regional.

#1 - Wichita State - AP #2
#2 - Michigan - AP #7
#3 - Duke - AP #8
#4 - Louisville - AP #5

Lastly, the NET has not been around for too long.  While it started in 2019, I was only able to find NET rankings for Selection Sunday since 2021.  

The NET ranking for the top 4 seeds in the East Regional are 

  • UConn - #2
  • Iowa State - #6
  • Illinois - #13
  • Auburn - #5

The sum of those rankings is 26.

Here is the sum of the rankings for all of the regionals for 2024:

  • East 26
  • West 36
  • Midwest 40
  • South 43

For the previous three seasons, here is the combined NET ranking for each regional for the Top 4 seeds:

2023

  • West 26
  • East 45
  • South 54
  • Midwest 60

2022

  • East 32
  • South 32
  • West 42
  • Midwest 73

2021

  • West 30
  • South 46
  • East 57
  • Midwest 61

This year's East Regional has the best NET rankings, tied with last year's West Regional, which coincidentally included UConn as the #4 seed.


Sunday, March 17, 2024

Selection Sunday Tidbits

 New Teams

Every Tournament in history has had at least one new tournament team.  This year's new tournament teams are Stetson and Grambling State.

This will be the 7th time that Connecticut will be the opponent in a school's first tournament game.
  • 1951 - St. John's 63 Connecticut 52 (Also Connecticut's first tournament game)
  • 1956 - Connecticut 84 Manhattan 75
  • 1957 - Syracuse 82 Connecticut 76
  • 1959 - Boston 60 Connecticut 58
  • 1976 - Connecticut 80 Hofstra 78
  • 2006 - Connecticut 72 Albany 59
  • 2024 - Connecticut vs. Stetson
New Coaches 

There are 8 coaches who are coaching in the tournament for the first time. 
  • Mark Byington, James Madison
  • Donald Copeland, Wagner
  • Donte Jackson, Grambling State
  • Donnie Jones, Stetson
  • Matt Logie, Montana State
  • Bashir Mason, Saint Peter's
  • Bucky McMillan, Samford
  • Kyle Smith, Washington State
Coach First Year with New Team 

Ten coaches have coached in the tournament but are making their first appearance with their current team.
  • Keith Dambrot, Duquesne (2009, 2011, 2013 - Akron)
  • Todd Golden, Florida (2022 - San Francisco)
  • Anthony Grant, Dayton (2007, 2009 - VCU; 2012 - Alabama)
  • Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska (2012-15 - Iowa State)
  • Steve Lutz, Western Kentucky (2022-23 - Texas A&M-Corpus Christi)
  • Grant McCasland, Texas Tech (2021 - North Texas)
  • Lamont Paris, South Carolina (2022 - Chattanooga)
  • Richard Pitino, New Mexico (2017, 2019 - Minnesota)
  • Danny Sprinkle, Utah State (2022-23 - Montana State)
  • Will Wade, McNeese (2016-17 - VCU; 2021 - LSU)
Consecutive Tournaments
  • Kansas 34
  • Michigan State 26
  • Gonzaga 25
  • Purdue 9
  • Houston 6
  • Tennessee 6
  • Baylor 5
  • Colgate 5
  • Alabama 4
  • Connecticut 4
  • Creighton 4
  • Illinois 4
  • San Diego State 4
  • Texas 4
  • Arizona 3
  • Auburn 3
  • Boise State 3
  • Duke 3
  • Iowa State 3
  • Kentucky 3
  • Marquette 3
  • Montana State 3
  • Saint Mary's 3
  • TCU 3
  • Vermont 3
Consecutive Appearances Snapped
  • Iowa 4
  • Arkansas 3
  • Southern California 3
  • Texas Southern 3
  • UCLA 3
  • Indiana 2
  • Memphis 2
  • Miami, Fla 2
  • Providence 2
  • Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 2
Top 10 Longest Droughts Broken
  • Duquesne 1977
  • Samford 2000
  • McNeese 2002
  • Wagner 2003
  • Washington State 2008
  • Oakland 2011
  • Long Beach State 2012
  • James Madison 2013
  • Western Kentucky 2013
  • Nebraska 2014
  • New Mexico 2014
Consecutive Top 4 Seeds
  • #4 Kansas 23
  • #1 Purdue 7
  • #3 Baylor 4
  • #2 Arizona 3
  • #2 Tennessee 3
  • #4 Alabama 2
  • #1Connecticut 2
  • #1 Houston 2
  • #2 Marquette 2
Last Top 4 Seed (for those that weren't Top 4 last year)
  • #3 Illinois (#4 in 2022)
  • #3 Kentucky (#2 in 2022)
  • #4 Auburn (#2 in 2022)
  • #4 Duke (#2 in 2022)
  • #1 North Carolina (#1 in 2019)
  • #2 Iowa State (#4 in 2016)
  • #3 Creighton (#3 in 2014)
Consecutive Top 4 Seeds Snapped
  • Gonzaga 6
  • UCLA 2
#1 Seed History
  • North Carolina - 18th #1 Seed (63-12, 10 Final Fours, 5 National Championships)
  • Connecticut - 6th #1 Seed (18-14, 2 Final Fours, 1 National Championship)
  • Purdue - 5th #1 Seed (6-4, 1 Elite Eight - Lost in 1994)
  • Houston - 3rd #1 Seed (6-2, 1 Final Four, Lost 1983 National Championship Game)
Other Seeds - Teams achieving best seeds in school history
  • Iowa State - #2 (3rd Time - 2000 and 2001)
  • Marquette - #2 (2nd Time - 2023)
  • Tennessee - #2 (4th Time - 2006, 2008, and 2019)
  • Creighton - #3 (2nd Time - 2014)
  • Saint Mary's - #5 (3rd Time - 2022 and 2023)
  • Utah State - #8 (2nd Time - 2019)
  • Florida Atlantic - #8 (1st Time)
  • Duquesne - #11 (1st Time)
  • Grand Canyon - #12 (1st Time)
  • McNeese - #12 (1st Time)
  • Samford - #13 (2nd Time - 2000)
  • Vermont - #13 (5th Time - 20045, 2017, 2019, and 2022)
  • Colgate - #14 (3rd Time - 2021 and 2022)
  • Grambling State - #16 (1st Time)
  • Stetson - #16 (1st Time)

 

Monday, April 3, 2023

National Championship Tidbits

Connecticut 76 San Diego State 59

Connecticut wins their 5th National Championship which is tied for 4th all-time with Duke and Indiana. Only UCLA (11), Kentucky (8) and North Carolina (6) have more.

Connecticut is 5-0 in National Championship Games.  That is the most wins without a loss in tournament history.  Louisville is 2nd at 3-0.

Connecticut has won 5 Championships since 1999.  Most by any other team is 3 (North Carolina, Duke)

Connecticut wins a championship in the 4th different decade.  Only Kentucky and North Carolina have won in more decades with 5.  Kansas and Indiana also have titles in 4 different decades.

Connecticut has won a Championship as 5 different seeds (#1, #2, #3, #4, #7).  Most by any other team is Villanova with 3 (#1, #2, #8)

Connecticut joins 1990 UNLV and 2019 Virginia as the only teams to win a National Championship without defeating a #1 or #2 seed in the tournament.

Connecticut joins 2011 Connecticut team as only the second team to win a National Championship without being a #1 seed or defeating a #1 seed in the tournament.

Connecticut joins 1997 Arizona as the only #4 seeds to win a National Championship.

Connecticut has won 7 straight games against #5 seeds including 3 wins in this tournament.

Dan Hurley becomes the first coach since Kevin Ollie (2014-Connecticut) to win the National Championship in the same tournament that he won his first tournament game.  Since the tournament expanded to 64 teams, Hurley, Ollie and Steve Fisher (1989-Michigan) are the only coaches to do so.

Connecticut becomes the 5th team to win the National Championship by winning all six of their tournament games by double digits.  The others are:
  • 2000 Michigan State
  • 2001 Duke
  • 2009 North Carolina
  • 2018 Villanova
  • 2023 Connecticut
Connecticut's margin of victory in their six games is 120.  It is the 4th largest margin of victory in tournament history for a champion:
  • 1996 Kentucky - 129
  • 2016 Villanova - 124
  • 2009 North Carolina - 121
  • 2023 Connecticut - 120
  • 1990 UNLV - 112

Connecticut's 17-point margin of victory is tied for the 9th largest win in a National Championship Game in tournament history.

Big East has won 8 straight National Championship Games and is 10-5 overall.  Last loss was 1996 when Kentucky defeated Syracuse.

Connecticut is 2-0 vs. San Diego State in the tournament.  They also defeated San Diego State in the 2011 Sweet Sixteen.

Big East is 9-2 all-time against the Mountain West in the tournament.

Arkansas defeated the defending Champion (Kansas) and lost to the eventual Champion (Connecticut).  It was the 2nd consecutive year that happened.  North Carolina defeated Baylor and lost to Kansas last year.  It is the 3rd time in tournament history it has happened in back-to-back years.

San Diego State is 0-3 vs. #4 seeds in the tournament.

Saturday, April 1, 2023

Final Four Tidbits - Saturday

Connecticut 72 Miami, Florida 59

Connecticut is in their 5th National Championship Game and their first since 2014.

Connecticut is 5-1 in National Semifinal Games.

Big East teams have a 7-game winning streak in National Championship Games.

Connecticut has been a different seed in all 5 Championship Game appearances.  The 5 different seeds is the most all-time.
  • #1 - 1999
  • #2 - 2004
  • #3 - 2011
  • #4 - 2023
  • #7 - 2014
Connecticut is tournament-best 41-15 (.732 winning pct) all-time when seeded other than a #1 seed.
Connecticut is the first Big East team in the National Championship Game since 2018 when Villanova defeated Michigan.

Connecticut is the 2nd #4 seed to play in the National Championship Game (1997 Arizona)

Connecticut has won 6 straight games against #5 seeds.  They have defeated two #5 seeds in this tournament and will face another #5 seed in the National Championship Game.

All of the previous teams that won all their games by double digits were #1 seeds.  Connecticut (#4 seed) is the first to do it without a #1 seed.

Connecticut has won 7 straight tournament games played in the state of Texas.  Three of their National Championships were won in Texas (2004, 2011, 2014)

Connecticut becomes the 6th team to advance to the National Championship Game by winning all five of their tournament games by double digits.  The others are:
  • 2000 Michigan State
  • 2001 Duke
  • 2009 North Carolina
  • 2016 North Carolina
  • 2018 Villanova
All but 2016 North Carolina won the National Championship by Double Digits.  2016 North Carolina lost the Championship Game to Villanova.

Connecticut's margin of victory in their first five games is 103.  It is the 5th largest margin of victory in tournament history:
  • 1999 Duke - 126
  • 2016 Villanova - 121
  • 1996 Kentucky - 120
  • 2009 North Carolina - 104
  • 2023 Connecticut - 103
  • 2021 Gonzaga - 99
Miami's loss is the first one for an ACC team in the National Semifinals against a non-conference team since 2008 when North Carolina lost to Kansas.  It ends a 5-game winning streak by ACC teams in National Semifinal games.

Miami is 0-3 vs. the Big East all-time in the tournament.

San Diego State 72 Florida Atlantic 71

San Diego State is in their first National Championship Game.

San Diego State is the first Mountain West team to ever play in the National Championship Game

San Diego State is the 4th #5 seed to play in a National Championship Game (2000 Florida, 2002 Indiana, 2010 Butler)

Mountain West is 2-1 vs. Conference USA in tournament:
  • 2023 - National Semifinals - San Diego State 72 Florida Atlantic 71
  • 2001 - First Round - Utah 48 Saint Louis 45
  • 2000 - First Round - Cincinnati 84 Brigham Young 59
San Diego State and Florida Atlantic is the first matchup of first-time Final Four teams since 2017 when Gonzaga and South Carolina faced each other.  Here are matchups when both teams were making first final four appearance:
  • 2023 - San Diego State 72 Florida Atlantic 71
  • 2017 - Gonzaga 77 South Carolina 73
  • 1973 - Memphis 98 Providence 85
  • 1970 - Jacksonville 91 St. Bonaventure 83
  • 1963 - Loyola Chicago 94 Duke 75
  • 1959 - West Virginia 94 Louisville 79
  • 1954 - La Salle 69 Penn State 54
  • 1948 - Baylor 60 Kansas State 52
  • 1947 - Holy Cross 60 CCNY 45
  • 1944 - Utah 40 Iowa State 31
  • 1939 to 1943 - All Teams were in first Final Four
San Diego State is 2-1 vs. #9 seeds.  They lost to #9 seed Creighton in 2022 First Round.

San Diego State has won 4 straight Saturday games in the tournament.

San Diego State has won 2 straight games by 1 point.  They never had a 1-point game in tournament history before that.

#9 seeds are now 0-3 in National Semifinal games



    

Monday, March 27, 2023

Elite Eight Tidbits - Sunday

Miami, Florida 88 Texas 81

Miami is in their first Final Four in school history.

Miami's Final Four is the 3rd for the ACC in the last two years.

Miami is 1-1 vs. Texas in the tournament.  Texas defeated Miami in the 2008 Round of 32.

Jim Larranaga is in the Final Four with his 2nd school.  He also led George Mason to the Final Four in 2006.

Miami is 2-3 vs. the Big Twelve in the tournament.  Both victories were over teams for which Tyrese Hunter played (2022 Iowa State, 2023 Texas)

Miami defeats a #2 seed for the 2nd consecutive tournament.  They defeated #2 Auburn in last year's tournament.

With San Diego State and Miami's wins, #5 seeds are now 10-3 in the Elite Eight.  #5 seeds are 3-0 vs. the Big Twelve.

San Diego State 57 Creighton 56

San Diego State is in their first Final Four in school history.

San Diego State's Final Four is the first one for the Mountain West.

With San Diego State and Miami's wins, #5 seeds are now 10-3 in the Elite Eight.  #5 seeds are 3-0 when playing lower seeded teams. (Creighton was a #6 seed)

San Diego State is now 1-3 vs. #6 seeds.

San Diego State is 1-1 vs. Creighton in the tournament.  Creighton defeated San Diego State in the First Round last year.

San Diego State's win is their first ever tournament win on a Sunday.

San Diego State is 6-0 when allowing fewer than 60 points in tournament games.

Creighton is 0-2 in Elite Eight games.  They also lost in 1941 to Washington State.

Creighton is 1-7 on tournament games played on Sunday.

For the first time in tournament history, there are no #1, #2 or #3 seeds in the Final Four.


Saturday, March 25, 2023

Elite Eight Tidbits - Saturday

Connecticut 82 Gonzaga 54

Connecticut is in the Final Four for the first time since 2014 and the 6th time overall.

Connecticut has won four consecutive Elite Eight games and is 6-6 overall.

Connecticut is the 2nd straight Big East team to advance to the Final Four.  Villanova was in the Final Four in 2022.

Connecticut is the first #4 seed in the Final Four since Michigan and Syracuse in 2013.

Dan Hurley is coaching in his first Final Four.

Connecticut is 2-0 vs. Gonzaga in the tournament.  Connecticut also defeated Gonzaga in the 1999 Elite Eight.

Connecticut defeated two West Coast teams in this year's tournament (St. Mary's in Round of 32, Gonzaga in Elite Eight)

Connecticut has won 5 straight games vs. #3 seeds and is 5-2 overall.

Connecticut's 28-point win is their largest margin of victory in their 6 Elite Eight wins.  Their previous high was 16 vs. Alabama 2004.

Gonzaga is 2-4 in the Elite Eight.

Gonzaga's loss snaps a 5-game winning streak vs. the Big East in the tournament.

#3 seeds are now 19-26 in the Elite Eight.

Gonzaga's 28-point loss is their largest margin of defeat in 25 tournament losses.  Their previous high was 24 in their very first tournament game against Maryland in 1995.

Florida Atlantic 79 Kansas State 76

Florida Atlantic is in the Final Four for the first time in school history.

Dusty May is coaching in his first Final Four.

Florida Atlantic is the 4th Conference USA team to advance to the Final Four and the first since Memphis in 2008.  Marquette in 2003 and Louisville in 2005 are the other Conference USA teams to advance to the Final Four.

Florida Atlantic is the 3rd #9 seed to advance to the Final Four joining Penn (1979) and Wichita State (2013)

Florida Atlantic is the first #9 seed to defeat a #3 seed in the Elite Eight.  #9 seeds were previously 0-3 vs. #3 seeds.

Florida Atlantic's 79 points is the most points they have scored in 5 tournament games.  Their previous high was 78 against Alabama in the 2002 Round of 64 and again against Fairleigh Dickinson in the 2023 Round of 32.

Kansas State loses their 8th straight Elite Eight game.  They are 4-10 overall in the Elite Eight.  They are 0-4 as the higher seed.

Kansas State loses their 5th straight tournament game played on a Saturday.

#3 seeds are now 19-25 in the Elite Eight.  #3 seeds from the Big Twelve are 1-6.

The loss by Kansas State snaps a 4-game Elite Eight winning streak by the Big Twelve.

Elite Eight Fun Facts

Matchups
South (Louisville)
#5 San Diego State vs. #6 Creighton

East (New York City)
#9 Florida Atlantic vs. #3 Kansas State

Midwest (Kansas City)
#5 Miami vs. #2 Texas

West (Las Vegas)
#4 Connecticut vs. #3 Gonzaga

Tournament Rematches
Creighton defeated San Diego State 72-69 in the 2022 Round of 64.

Texas defeated Miami 75-72 in the 2008 Round of 32.

Connecticut defeated Gonzaga 67-62 in the 1999 Elite Eight.

Elite Eights by Conference
  • Big 12 - 2
  • Big East - 2
  • ACC - 1
  • Conference USA - 1
  • Mountain West - 1
  • West Coast - 1
Last Appearance in Elite Eight
  • Miami - 2022 (2nd consecutive)
  • Gonzaga - 2021
  • Kansas State - 2018
  • Connecticut - 2014
  • Texas - 2008
  • Creighton - 1941
  • Florida Atlantic - First Appearance
  • San Diego State - First Appearance
Elite Eight Appearances (including this year)
  • Kansas State 14
  • Connecticut 12
  • Texas 8
  • Gonzaga 6
  • Creighton 2
  • Miami 2
  • Florida Atlantic 1
  • San Diego State 1
Elite Eight Records
  • Connecticut 5-6
  • Kansas State 4-9
  • Texas 3-4
  • Gonzaga 2-3
  • Creighton 0-1
  • Miami 0-1
  • San Diego State 0-0
  • Florida Atlantic 0-0
Previous Elite Eights Matchups for Current Seeds
  • #5 vs. #6
    • #5 is 1-0 vs. #6
    • #5 Michigan State defeated #6 Tennessee 70-69 in 2010
  • #3 vs. #9
    • #3 is 3-0 vs. #9
    • #3 Michigan defeated #9 Florida State 58-54 in 2018
    • #3 Florida defeated #9 Boston College 74-66 in 1994
    • #3 Indiana defeated #9 St. Joseph's 78-46 in 1981
  • #2 vs. #5 
    • #5 is 4-1 vs. #2
    • #2 Villanova defeated #5 Houston 50-44 in 2022
    • #5 Auburn defeated #2 Kentucky 77-71 in 2019
    • #5 Butler defeated #2 Kansas State 63-56 in 2010
    • #5 Michigan State defeated #2 Kentucky 94-88 in 2005
    • #5 Mississippi State defeated #2 Cincinnati 73-63 in 1996
  • #3 vs. #4
    • #3 is 3-3 vs. #4
    • #4 Michigan defeated #3 Florida 79-59 in 2013
    • #4 Syracuse defeated #3 Marquette 55-39 in 2013
    • #3 Georgia Tech defeated #4 Kansas 79-71 in 2004
    • #4 Ohio State defeated #3 St. John's 77-74 in 1999
    • #3 Seton Hall defeated #4 UNLV 84-61 in 1989
    • #3 Louisville defeated #4 UAB 75-68 in 1982
Tournament Record vs. Conference
  • Gonzaga is 6-2 vs. the Big East
  • Texas is 5-4 vs. the ACC
  • Connecticut is 2-1 vs. the West Coast
  • Creighton is 1-0 vs. the Mountain West
  • Kansas State is 1-0 vs. Conference USA
  • San Diego State is 1-2 vs. the Big East
  • Miami is 1-3 vs. the Big Twelve
  • Florida Atlantic has not faced a Big Twelve team
Coach's Record in Elite Eight
  • Mark Few, Gonzaga 2-2
  • Jim Larranaga, Miami 1-1
  • Brian Dutcher, San Diego State - First Appearance
  • Dan Hurley, Connecticut - First Appearance
  • Dusty May, Florida Atlantic - First Appearance
  • Greg McDermott, Creighton - First Appearance
  • Jerome Tang, Kansas State - First Appearance
  • Rodney Terry, Texas - First Appearance