NCAA History: All Four #1s Advance To Final Four For First Time

[UNHWildCats]

man does that suck! lol

[UMass922]

I don't know, I'm ok with it. These really do seem to be the four best teams right now. UNC-Memphis would be a very entertaining final, I think.

[slycat]

yawn. i really hope ucla and unc lose on saturday.

i will not watch a unc-ucla final.

[wkuhillhound]

Neither of the four teams are worth watching. It not like they haven't been televised all season long anyway. Please. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW WWWWWWWWWNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!

[brownbear]

man does that suck! lol

Especially because I only picked one 1 seed to make the final four.

[TheValleyRaider]

I actually know a guy who picked all 4 #1's to make the Final Four. Granted, he did it because, he figured, he was guaranteed at least 1 or 2, and most people lose their Final 4 at some point or another.

I need Carolina to beat UCLA to win the pool I'm in with him. He's a Kansas fan. This ought to be interesting... :)

[dbackjon]

This should have been a chasing history thread...

[Cleets]

It looks like the NCAA knows what they're doing..? xlolx
(No other way to explain it) They seeded properly

[AZGrizFan]

yawn. i really hope ucla and unc lose on saturday.

i will not watch a unc-ucla final.


Neither of the four teams are worth watching. It not like they haven't been televised all season long anyway. Please. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW WWWWWWWWWNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!

I don't get it. If Davidson/Xavier was on TV ANY OTHER DAY OF THE YEAR, you wouldn't get off the couch to change the channel and watch the game....and yet, you guys scoff at the idea of the 4 best teams in college basketball slugging it out in San Antonio to see who stands as the best? This is the way it SHOULD go down....the fact that it has never happened is actually quite amazing. In all honesty we can stand around and root for the "little" guy, but in reality 7 of the 8 teams left in the great 8 were the 7 best teams in basketball this year. Personally, I'll be more interested in the final four this year than I have been in about 10 years. xpeacex

[brownbear]

I actually know a guy who picked all 4 #1's to make the Final Four. Granted, he did it because, he figured, he was guaranteed at least 1 or 2, and most people lose their Final 4 at some point or another.

I need Carolina to beat UCLA to win the pool I'm in with him. He's a Kansas fan. This ought to be interesting... :)

I knew people who picked all four 1 seeds, and they figured they would get 1 to 3 of them right (since only 3 times in the 30 years of seeding has it been 0 or 4).

For me, I always try to pick some teams seeded 2-4 so I can try and win by getting a perfect final four. Well, that didn't work this year.

[mvemjsunpx]

I don't get it. If Davidson/Xavier was on TV ANY OTHER DAY OF THE YEAR, you wouldn't get off the couch to change the channel and watch the game....and yet, you guys scoff at the idea of the 4 best teams in college basketball slugging it out in San Antonio to see who stands as the best? This is the way it SHOULD go down....the fact that it has never happened is actually quite amazing. In all honesty we can stand around and root for the "little" guy, but in reality 7 of the 8 teams left in the great 8 were the 7 best teams in basketball this year. Personally, I'll be more interested in the final four this year than I have been in about 10 years. xpeacex

So you don't think Davidson was one of the best 8 teams in the nation this year? Looking at how they played in the tournament, it's pretty clear that they were. Davidson looked easily the best of the Elite-8 losers.

As for the Final-4, I'm not any more or less interested than in previous years. The first round is always the most interesting part of the tournament, anyway.

The problem many have with the four #1 seeds getting to the Final-4 is not whether they were or weren't the best 4 teams (they obviously were), it's that it's not terribly exciting. Surprises and Cinderella stories make for better television than schools that have already won national titles. The only thing resembling an underdog now is Memphis since they're not a major conference school, but even they're playing in their third Final-4.

[Cleets]

I don't get it. If Davidson/Xavier was on TV ANY OTHER DAY OF THE YEAR, you wouldn't get off the couch to change the channel and watch the game....and yet, you guys scoff at the idea of the 4 best teams in college basketball slugging it out in San Antonio to see who stands as the best? This is the way it SHOULD go down....the fact that it has never happened is actually quite amazing. In all honesty we can stand around and root for the "little" guy, but in reality 7 of the 8 teams left in the great 8 were the 7 best teams in basketball this year. Personally, I'll be more interested in the final four this year than I have been in about 10 years. xpeacex


I'm in complete agreement..!!!
Under-dogs are fun but it can't be argued that these are the 4 teams that need to be playing right here... right now...

It looks like Davidson was the only team not properly seeded out of 64... Maybe Duke was too high...

(that's amazing) xnodx

[OB55]

Men in shorts. xcoffeex

[AshevilleApp2]

ABC

[Thunderstruck84]

So you don't think Davidson was one of the best 8 teams in the nation this year? Looking at how they played in the tournament, it's pretty clear that they were. Davidson looked easily the best of the Elite-8 losers.

As for the Final-4, I'm not any more or less interested than in previous years. The first round is always the most interesting part of the tournament, anyway.

The problem many have with the four #1 seeds getting to the Final-4 is not whether they were or weren't the best 4 teams (they obviously were), it's that it's not terribly exciting. Surprises and Cinderella stories make for better television than schools that have already won national titles. The only thing resembling an underdog now is Memphis since they're not a major conference school, but even they're playing in their third Final-4.
Davidson had a great season but they are not one of the 8 best teams in the country. That's the great thing about this tournament, the one and done philosophy allows good teams to be great if they get hot at the right time. On any given day Davidson could probably beat any team in the country but as far as being among the elite, I'd put them in the 14-18 range.

I think this year's Final Four will be very exciting to watch (of course I'm a Kansas fan so I'm a little biased), but the matchup between Kansas and UNC will be a great game. It's great to have cinderella make the Final 4 but I think having the 4 best teams all make it is exciting in itself every once in a while.

Combined record of 143-9, 4 conference champs, all with 10+ game winning streaks. I know the penchant on this board is to root for the little guys but I'm going to enjoy the goliath vs goliath matchups because it doesn't happen very often.

[proasu89]

Davidson had a great season but they are not one of the 8 best teams in the country. That's the great thing about this tournament, the one and done philosophy allows good teams to be great if they get hot at the right time. On any given day Davidson could probably beat any team in the country but as far as being among the elite, I'd put them in the 14-18 range.
I think this year's Final Four will be very exciting to watch (of course I'm a Kansas fan so I'm a little biased), but the matchup between Kansas and UNC will be a great game. It's great to have cinderella make the Final 4 but I think having the 4 best teams all make it is exciting in itself every once in a while.

Combined record of 143-9, 4 conference champs, all with 10+ game winning streaks. I know the penchant on this board is to root for the little guys but I'm going to enjoy the goliath vs goliath matchups because it doesn't happen very often.


What he said, and in complete agreement about Davidson. Saw them in person twice and on TV twice (before the tournament). Definetly a top 20 team, but not one of the 8 best this year. Thoroughly enjoyed their run and wanted to see them beat Kansas. It was really a no lose situation for CBS and basketball fans. (great story lines for both) Either team would have made a great Final Four, but how can you not like seeing the 4 best teams settle it.

[Ivytalk]

My "token" #2 seed (Texas) got spanked yesterday. I have Kansas winning the whole thing, but they'll have to play a lot better than they did yesterday to have a chance against UNC.xpeacex

[813Jag]

Sometimes it's good to see the big guys go at it. It's still going to be a good Final Four, sometimes with underdogs the other team gets forgotten about by the broadcasters.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Davidson was the only reason I watched any of the second round. I will definitely NOT be tuning in to see GE, Citigroup, ExxonMobil and Walmart going at it in the Final Four next weekend. Talk about boring.

[uni88]

The problem many have with the four #1 seeds getting to the Final-4 is not whether they were or weren't the best 4 teams (they obviously were), it's that it's not terribly exciting. Surprises and Cinderella stories make for better television than schools that have already won national titles. The only thing resembling an underdog now is Memphis since they're not a major conference school, but even they're playing in their third Final-4.

I agree with what you're saying about "Surprises and Cinderella stories make for better television than schools that have already won national titles" but think that that applies more to the casual fan. As a longtime college basketball fan I think this Final 4 is looking like a great one. You have 4 great teams going at it, each with a legitimate shot to win it all depending on how well they play and how well they are able to force their style on their opponents.

First up, UCLA vs. Memphis - great defense with a controlled offense vs. what might appear to be more free-wheeling approach but is really also very disciplined (Princeton offense on steroids).

Second game, UNC vs. Kansas - two teams with deep athletic benches that like to run but can play at a slower speed when necessary. Roy vs. his old team. Winningest team in college BB history vs. 3rd winningest team. The links between these two teams go way back (Dean played for Phog Allen at Kansas).

[813Jag]

I agree with what you're saying about "Surprises and Cinderella stories make for better television than schools that have already won national titles" but think that that applies more to the casual fan. As a longtime college basketball fan I think this Final 4 is looking like a great one. You have 4 great teams going at it, each with a legitimate shot to win it all depending on how well they play and how well they are able to force their style on their opponents.

First up, UCLA vs. Memphis - great defense with a controlled offense vs. what might appear to be more free-wheeling approach but is really also very disciplined (Princeton offense on steroids).

Second game, UNC vs. Kansas - two teams with deep athletic benches that like to run but can play at a slower speed when necessary. Roy vs. his old team. Winningest team in college BB history vs. 3rd winningest team. The links between these two teams go way back (Dean played for Phog Allen at Kansas).
I agree, I want to see the best teams face off.

xoutofrepx

[AZGrizFan]

Davidson had a great season but they are not one of the 8 best teams in the country. That's the great thing about this tournament, the one and done philosophy allows good teams to be great if they get hot at the right time. On any given day Davidson could probably beat any team in the country but as far as being among the elite, I'd put them in the 14-18 range.

I think this year's Final Four will be very exciting to watch (of course I'm a Kansas fan so I'm a little biased), but the matchup between Kansas and UNC will be a great game. It's great to have cinderella make the Final 4 but I think having the 4 best teams all make it is exciting in itself every once in a while.

Combined record of 143-9, 4 conference champs, all with 10+ game winning streaks. I know the penchant on this board is to root for the little guys but I'm going to enjoy the goliath vs goliath matchups because it doesn't happen very often.

Absolute spot on analysis. Rep points for you.

[AZGrizFan]

So you don't think Davidson was one of the best 8 teams in the nation this year? Looking at how they played in the tournament, it's pretty clear that they were. Davidson looked easily the best of the Elite-8 losers.

As for the Final-4, I'm not any more or less interested than in previous years. The first round is always the most interesting part of the tournament, anyway.

The problem many have with the four #1 seeds getting to the Final-4 is not whether they were or weren't the best 4 teams (they obviously were), it's that it's not terribly exciting. Surprises and Cinderella stories make for better television than schools that have already won national titles. The only thing resembling an underdog now is Memphis since they're not a major conference school, but even they're playing in their third Final-4.

Nope. Just like I didn't think UM was one of the best 32 teams in the country just because they beat Nevada a few years ago. I agree with Thunderstruck....14-18 range.

[NE MT GRIZZ]

I picked all Final Four teams in my office bracket. Picking Georgetown, and Duke into the Great 8 is killing me though.

I think Cinderella stories are great up until the Final 4, here I want the best basketball possible.

[Peems]

As someone else mentioned, if you don't want to watch these guys go at it, you're truly not a college bball fan. You've got teams who never play in the regular season and are truly exciting to watch. Love, Douglas-Roberts, Hansbrough, Rose, Lawson, Rush, Chalmers, Ellington, Collison. These are guys who are truly talented and will make the game exciting to watch. You can say who the favorite for these games are, but the truth is there is no telling who will win and all four are capable of winning the whole thing. I'm excited and can't wait to watch!!!

[wkuhillhound]

As someone else mentioned, if you don't want to watch these guys go at it, you're truly not a college bball fan. You've got teams who never play in the regular season and are truly exciting to watch. Love, Douglas-Roberts, Hansbrough, Rose, Lawson, Rush, Chalmers, Ellington, Collison. These are guys who are truly talented and will make the game exciting to watch. You can say who the favorite for these games are, but the truth is there is no telling who will win and all four are capable of winning the whole thing. I'm excited and can't wait to watch!!!

If you have the POLLS opinion on who's the best. Casual college basketball fan I am not. These teams I have seen over and over again. I don't care if any of these teams win the national championship. I will not be inclined to watch. Just b/c I like the underdog doesn't mean I am not a true college basketball fan. That is ludicrous to say and flat out wrong. I don't watch college basketball for one standout player. I watch TEAM basketball and that is what's missing in the NBA.

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN to this year's Final Four. xcoffeex

[blur2005]

I personally am excited about the prospects of this Final Four. Every game should be intense. It seems recently a lower seed will manage to get there and then get knocked around in the Final Four, making it kind of a drag.

[wkuhillhound]

I personally am excited about the prospects of this Final Four. Every game should be intense. It seems recently a lower seed will manage to get there and then get knocked around in the Final Four, making it kind of a drag.

Sometimes, but the mid-majors were competitive throughout the tournament. WKU even gave UCLA a scare at the end. They just made their free throws to advance.

[mvemjsunpx]

Davidson had a great season but they are not one of the 8 best teams in the country. That's the great thing about this tournament, the one and done philosophy allows good teams to be great if they get hot at the right time. On any given day Davidson could probably beat any team in the country but as far as being among the elite, I'd put them in the 14-18 range.

I think they were better than 14-18. They deserved their 10-seed because seeding is based only on what's known (schedules, computer rankings, etc.) and Davidson had a relatively weak conference schedule. However, in subjectively ranking how "good" the Wildcats are, I stand by putting them in the top-8. I figured they were better than Gonzaga, Georgetown, & Wisconsin before the tournament, hence why I picked them to go to the Elite-8 in my bracket (I thought Georgetown was a rather weak 2-seed). I didn't think they would have much of a chance to beat Kansas going in, but they nearly did & actually improved my opinion of them (compare their Elite-8 effort to how Texas & Xavier got clobbered in their respective games). I don't think you can chalk Davidson's success in the tournament up to simply "being hot at the right time" given how their defense stifled Kansas in that narrow loss.

[mvemjsunpx]

Nope. Just like I didn't think UM was one of the best 32 teams in the country just because they beat Nevada a few years ago. I agree with Thunderstruck....14-18 range.

I would mostly agree with you about Montana in '06. They were capable of beating most anyone because of good ball movement & hot shooting (the Griz manhandled Nevada in the first-round because of this). However, as has also been the case since Krystkowiak left, consistency was a problem that year. The Griz ended the year 12-4 in conference (including the tourney), but three of the losses came to the bottom three teams. The Griz had to come back from first-half deficits several times & also had trouble holding leads. In five of the seven losses for Montana in '05-06, they led at the half. So, in other words, the Griz could have ended the Big Sky Tournament with a 28-1 record that year if they'd been better able to put two good halves together. When they played well, they were a top-15 team, but given the consistency issues, the '05-06 Griz were probably around 40th.

I don't agree with you about Davidson, though.

[Peems]

If you have the POLLS opinion on who's the best. Casual college basketball fan I am not. These teams I have seen over and over again. I don't care if any of these teams win the national championship. I will not be inclined to watch. Just b/c I like the underdog doesn't mean I am not a true college basketball fan. That is ludicrous to say and flat out wrong. I don't watch college basketball for one standout player. I watch TEAM basketball and that is what's missing in the NBA.

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN to this year's Final Four. xcoffeex

Perhaps I was being a bit harsh, but you can't tell me that Kansas doesn't play team basketball. UCLA? UNC? Even Memphis they all rely on the team to win. Yes they all have their go to guys, just like Davidson but to say they don't play team basketball is absurd. I also agree with you about the underdogs, I was a bit unclear about that in my previous post. What I've come to understand is that you don't like this Final Four because of the following reasons: You've seen these teams play before? You've seen tons of teams play before, including WKU what's so bad about seeing the best teams make it. Second, you don't like the one seeds.

Note: I'd say the NBA has team basketball it's just harder to find. Due to the fact that every player is extremely good you don't need as much ball movement and plays to get a good shot.

[Thunderstruck84]

I think they were better than 14-18. They deserved their 10-seed because seeding is based only on what's known (schedules, computer rankings, etc.) and Davidson had a relatively weak conference schedule. However, in subjectively ranking how "good" the Wildcats are, I stand by putting them in the top-8. I figured they were better than Gonzaga, Georgetown, & Wisconsin before the tournament, hence why I picked them to go to the Elite-8 in my bracket (I thought Georgetown was a rather weak 2-seed). I didn't think they would have much of a chance to beat Kansas going in, but they nearly did & actually improved my opinion of them (compare their Elite-8 effort to how Texas & Xavier got clobbered in their respective games). I don't think you can chalk Davidson's success in the tournament up to simply "being hot at the right time" given how their defense stifled Kansas in that narrow loss.
I guess we'll have to agree to disagree because I don't think Kansas wins that game on Sunday if they're playing a top 8 team. I've watched about 20 Kansas games this year and I haven't seen them play that poorly in a win all year. With the exception of Kahn and Chalmers I think every Jayhawk was too tense, they were getting pretty good looks but they just weren't efficient. You can give a lot of credit to Davidson for that though. However, if KU plays that same game against Georgetown, I think Bill Self is still trying to explain his regional final curse.

[813Jag]

Perhaps I was being a bit harsh, but you can't tell me that Kansas doesn't play team basketball. UCLA? UNC? Even Memphis they all rely on the team to win. Yes they all have their go to guys, just like Davidson but to say they don't play team basketball is absurd. I also agree with you about the underdogs, I was a bit unclear about that in my previous post. What I've come to understand is that you don't like this Final Four because of the following reasons: You've seen these teams play before? You've seen tons of teams play before, including WKU what's so bad about seeing the best teams make it. Second, you don't like the one seeds.

Note: I'd say the NBA has team basketball it's just harder to find. Due to the fact that every player is extremely good you don't need as much ball movement and plays to get a good shot.
I guess having 4 teams where anybody can take over the game and lead isn't team basketball. xconfusedx Sometimes I wish the term would be explained clearly. All tourney I've seen good ball movement and teams making plays both full court and half court.

[wkuhillhound]

Perhaps I was being a bit harsh, but you can't tell me that Kansas doesn't play team basketball. UCLA? UNC? Even Memphis they all rely on the team to win. Yes they all have their go to guys, just like Davidson but to say they don't play team basketball is absurd. I also agree with you about the underdogs, I was a bit unclear about that in my previous post. What I've come to understand is that you don't like this Final Four because of the following reasons: You've seen these teams play before? You've seen tons of teams play before, including WKU what's so bad about seeing the best teams make it. Second, you don't like the one seeds.

Note: I'd say the NBA has team basketball it's just harder to find. Due to the fact that every player is extremely good you don't need as much ball movement and plays to get a good shot.

WKU is different because of my alma mater. You can never get tired of your alma mater, terrible or not. These sportscasters go on and on about poor Kansas and Bill Self that they can't make the Final Four..... WAH!!!! It like no team deserves to be in the Final Four except Kansas, Kentucky, UNC, Duke, UCLA and whoever else in the power conferences. That is why I root for the underdogs and the mid-major and smaller teams that are just as good as they are, the only difference is resources. It is also b/c it is never guaranteed for the mid-majors to get invited, so I have a better appreciation for being in the tournament. Sometimes some of their fans have grandiose ideas that they just expect to get to the Final Four every year and dismiss everyone else. Especially these #1 seeds, except maybe for Memphis.

[mvemjsunpx]

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree because I don't think Kansas wins that game on Sunday if they're playing a top 8 team. I've watched about 20 Kansas games this year and I haven't seen them play that poorly in a win all year. With the exception of Kahn and Chalmers I think every Jayhawk was too tense, they were getting pretty good looks but they just weren't efficient. You can give a lot of credit to Davidson for that though. However, if KU plays that same game against Georgetown, I think Bill Self is still trying to explain his regional final curse.

I doubt it. When I looked at Georgetown's results & stats going into the tournament, they didn't look anywhere near a 2-seed. Davidson & Kansas weren't the only teams in that region better than the Hoyas.

[UMass922]

I guess having 4 teams where anybody can take over the game and lead isn't team basketball. xconfusedx Sometimes I wish the term would be explained clearly. All tourney I've seen good ball movement and teams making plays both full court and half court.

Me too. Well said. All four teams have great individual talent at every position and have played great team basketball. It's not like it's an either/or.

[UMass922]

Surprises and Cinderella stories make for better television than schools that have already won national titles.

Competitive basketball played at a high level makes for good television, too. If you like basketball, that is.