Final Fantasy

A lot of people might make fun of the fact that I filled out 23 brackets this year. It is I, however, who may have the last laugh. I may have put myself in a position to finish in the money in several pools, no matter the winner, assuming it's not Butler. Even then, I may be okay, depending on who they play and the pool. As Wu Tang Financial says, "you need to diversify your bonds, bitch."

Anyway, it's been a great tournament, and I think any one of the four teams left are good enough to win it all. Butler has a legitimate shot at being the first mid-major since UNLV in 1990 to win it all. Not that the 1990 UNLV team should be considered a "mid-major," since they were, in fact, paid professionals.

The average seed for this year's Final Four is 3.25, which is only the 5th time since the tournament expanded to 64 teams that the average seed in the Final Four more than 3.
2010: 3.25
2009: 1.75
2008: 1
2007: 1.5
2006: 5
2005: 2.75
2004: 2
2003: 2.25
2002: 2.25
2001: 1.75
2000: 5.5
1999: 1.75
1998: 2.25
1997: 1.75
1996: 2.75
1995: 2.25
1994: 2
1993: 1.25
1992: 3.25
1991: 1.75
1990: 3
1989: 2.25
1988: 2.5
1987: 2.5
1986: 3.75
1985: 3

Since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, this is only the second time there have been two or more teams seeded 5 or higher in the Final Four. Here are the years in which there have been any teams seeded 5 or higher in the Final Four since 1985. Apparently, Big Ten teams love going to the Final Four when seeded 5 or higher. Only twice has a team seeded 5 or higher won it all:
2010: 2: 5-seeds Butler and Michigan State
2006: 1: 11-seed George Mason
2005: 1: 5-seed Michigan State
2002: 1: 5-seed Indiana
2000: 3: 5-seed Florida, 8-seeds North Carolina and Wisconsin
1996: 1: 5-seed Mississippi State
1992: 1: 6-seed Michigan
1988: 1: 6-seed Kansas*
1987: 1: 6-seed Providence
1986: 1: 11-seed LSU
1985: 1: 8-seed Villanova*

*Champions

This year is also relatively rare because the Final Four features two teams that have never won an NCAA title. Since 1985, here are the years in which a Final Four featured at least one team that had never won an NCAA title (at the time of that year's Final Four). Obviously, the earlier you get, the more teams you have:
2010: 2: Butler, West Virginia
2008: 1: Memphis
2006: 3: Florida, George Mason, LSU
2005: 1: Illinois
2004: 1: Georgia Tech
2003: 2: Syracuse, Texas
2002: 2: Maryland, Oklahoma
2001: 1: Maryland
2000: 1: Florida
1999: 1: Connecticut
1997: 2: Arizona, Minnesota
1996: 2: Massachusetts, Mississippi State
1994: 3: Arizona, Arkansas, Florida
1991: 1: Duke
1990: 4: Arkansas, Duke, Georgia Tech, UNLV
1989: 4: Duke, Illinois, Michigan, Seton Hall
1988: 3: Arizona, Duke, Oklahoma
1987: 3: Providence, Syracuse, UNLV
1986: 2: Duke, LSU
1985: 3: Memphis State, St. John's, Villanova

So there you have it. More fun facts about the NCAA tournament. God, I love this time of year.