Final Four Tidbits

#1 Connecticut 86 #4 Alabama 72

Connecticut is in the National Championship for the second straight year and the 6th time overall.

Connecticut is 6-1 in National Semifinal games.

Connecticut is the first AP #1 team to play in the National Championship Game since Gonzaga in 2021.  The last AP #1 ranked team to win the National Championship was Kentucky in 2012.

Connecticut is the 7th overall #1 seed (out of 20) to play in the National Championship Game.  Only three overall #1 seeds (2007 Florida, 2012 Kentucky, 2013 Louisville) have won the National Championship.

Connecticut is 2-0 vs. Alabama in the tournament.  They also defeated Alabama 87-71 in the 2004 Elite Eight.

Connecticut has won 8 straight tournament games against the SEC.

#1 seeds are 5-1 vs. #4 seeds in the National Semifinals. (Arizona in 1997 is the only #4 seed to win). 

Connecticut also defeated a #4 seed in the National Semifinals (Ohio State) in their only other appearance as a #1 seed in the Final Four (in 1999).

Connecticut is tied with Utah for a tournament-best 7-0 in games played in the state of Arizona.

Connecticut has won 11 tournament games this decade, which is tied with Houston for 2nd most behind Gonzaga, who has won 12 games.

 Alabama is 2-6 vs. #1 seeds and 1-3 vs. AP #1 ranked teams.

#1 Purdue 63 #11 North Carolina State 50

Purdue is in the National Championship Game for the first time since 1969 and the 2nd time in school history.

Purdue is the first Big Ten team in the National Championship Game since 2018 when Michigan lost to Villanova.

Purdue is the third team ranked #3 in the AP poll to play in the National Championship Game in the past 4 years.  The other two (2021-Baylor, 2022-Kansas) won the National Championship.

Purdue ends a 3-game tournament losing streak against the ACC.

North Carolina State is 2-2 in National Semifinal Games.

North Carolina State is 3-4 vs. #1 seeds.

#1 Seeds are 6-4 vs. #11 Seeds all-time.

#11 seeds are 0-6 in National Semifinals.

An ACC team loses in the National Semifinals for the third straight year.