Michigan State has the lowest RPI of any at-large team in tournament history at #95. The previous low was New Mexico at #74 in 1999. Wisconsin also had a lower RPI at #76 this year.
Jim Boeheim will be coaching in his 35th tournament. He will tie Mike Krzyzewski for the most all-time.
Gonzaga and Illinois earn their 4th #1 seeds, Michigan earns its 3rd #1 seed and Baylor is #1 seed for the first time in school history.
Most Consecutive Tournament Appearances
- Kansas 31
- Michigan State 23
- Gonzaga 22
- North Carolina 10
- Villanova 8
- Virginia 7
- Purdue 6
- Iona 5
- Michigan 5
- Florida 4
- Florida State 4
- Virginia Tech 4
Longest Droughts Ended
- Rutgers 1991
- Drexel 1996
- Appalachian State 2000
- Drake 2008
- Oral Roberts 2008
- Cleveland State 2009
- Georgia Tech 2010
- North Texas 2010
- California-Santa Barbara 2011
- Morehead State 2011
New Teams
- Grand Canyon
- Hartford
New Coaches
- Jeff Boals, Ohio
- Mike Boynton, Oklahoma State
- Isaac Brown, Wichita State
- Darian DeVries, Drake
- Dan Engelstad, Mt. St. Mary's
- Patrick Ewing, Georgetown
- John Gallagher, Hartford
- Dennis Gates, Cleveland State
- Juwan Howard, Michigan
- Robert Jones, Norfolk State
- Dustin Kerns, Appalachian State
- Shantay Legans, Eastern Washington
- Grant McCasland, North Texas
- Paul Mills, Oral Roberts
- Joe Pasternack, California-Santa Barbara
- Mark Pope, Brigham Young
- Zach Spiker, Drexel
- Preston Spradlin, Morehead State
There are 18 new coaches in this year's tournament. Only 1997 (20) and 1981 (19) tournaments had more new coaches.
Rick Pitino is coaching his 5th different school (Iona) in the tournament. He ties Lon Kruger and Tubby Smith for the most schools coached.
Oklahoma is a #8 seed for the first time in school history. They have now been 12 different seeds which ties Gonzaga, Arkansas and Xavier for the most in tournament history.
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