Tuesday Top Ten: Fun Facts About the Final Four

I was getting back last night from a weeklong ham-and-vermouth-filled spring break, so I didn't have time to post this yesterday.  But dammit, I'm not gonna let a good Tuesday Top Ten about the Final Four pass us by just because of that.

This NCAA Tournament has been relatively boring.  Only one double-digit seed advanced to the Sweet 16, the Elite 8 was four 1-seeds, three 2-seeds, and one 3-seed, and of course, all four 1-seeds advanced to the Final Four.

In the South, 1-seed Auburn took out both Big Ten schools from Michigan, topping 5-seed Michigan, 78-65, in the Sweet 16, followed up by a "the score looked closer than the game" 70-64 win over 2-seed Michigan State in the Elite 8, to clinch the Tigers' second Final Four appearance and first since 2019.  They have never won a Final Four game.

In the West, 1-seed Florida trounced 4-seed Maryland, 87-71, in the Sweet 16, and then rallied from a 9-point deficit with less than three minutes left to to beat 3-seed Texas Tech , 84-79, in the only truly exciting Elite 8 game.  The Gators will be playing in their sixth Final Four and first since 2014.  They won national titles in 2006 and 2007.

In the East, 1-seed Duke downed 4-seed Arizona in the Sweet 16 in a high-scoring 100-93 affair, before dominating 2-seed Alabama, 85-65, in the Elite 8.  The Blue Devils will be playing in their 18th Final Four, breaking a tie with Kentucky for the third-most Final Four appearances of all time.  It's their first Final Four appearance since 2022.  They have won five national titles, in 1991, 1992, 2001, 2010, and 2015.

In the Midwest, 1-seed Houston got a last-second layup to beat 4-seed Purdue, 62-60, in the Sweet 16, and then crushed 2-seed Tennessee 69-50 in the Elite 8.  The Cougars will be playing in their seventh Final Four and first since 2021.  They have never won a national title, losing in the championship game in 1983 and 1984.

Here is the schedule for this Saturday's semifinal games (times ET).  Both games are on CBS:

(W1) Florida vs. (S1) Auburn - 6:09 p.m.

(MW1) Houston vs. (E1) Duke - 8:49 p.m.

As I do this time of year, I'm going to drop some Final Four statistical knowledge on you.  Get ready for it.  These are the kind of worthless facts that make me spend way too much time writing posts like these.

11.  If Auburn and Houston win on Saturday, it will be only the third time since 1990 that two teams without a previous national championship will be playing for the title.  Here are the years in which both teams meeting in the championship game had not previously won an NCAA title (excluding the first tournament in 1939), with an asterisk for years in which both teams played in the title game for the first time and a double asterisk for years in which both teams playing in the title game were playing in their first Final Four:

-2021:  Baylor over Gonzaga

-2019*:  Virginia over Texas Tech

-1990:  UNLV over Duke

-1989:  Michigan over Seton Hall

-1984:  Georgetown over Houston

-1979*:  Michigan State over Indiana State

-1974*:  NC State over Marquette

-1964*:  UCLA over Duke

-1959*:  Cal over West Virginia

-1954:  LaSalle over Bradley

-1952:  Kansas over St. John's

-1950*:  CCNY over Bradley

-1948*:  Kentucky over Baylor

-1947*:  Holy Cross over Oklahoma

-1945**:  Oklahoma A&M over NYU

-1944:  Utah over Dartmouth

-1943**:  Wyoming over Georgetown

-1942**:  Stanford over Dartmouth

-1941**:  Wisconsin over Washington State

-1940**:  Indiana over Kansas

10.  Here's every conference's last Final Four team.  Note that, with all of the conference realignments over the years, this is for the conference itself and teams playing in that conference when they made the Final Four, and not necessarily for teams currently in each conference.  I'm going to do it by how many years it's been since the conference's last Final Four, listing the relevant teams, and even though there wasn't an NCAA Tournament in 2020, I'm just going with actual years, rather than not including 2020.  For conferences with no Final Fours ever, I'll list the year they were founded (and I'm not including defunct conferences).

• Zero years (2025):
• ACC:  Duke
• Big 12:  Houston
• SEC:  Auburn, Florida
• 1 year (2024)
• Big East:  UConn
• Big Ten:  Purdue
• 2 years (2023):
• Conference USA:  FAU
• Mountain West:  San Diego State
• 3 years (2022)
• Big 12:  Kansas
• 4 years (2021)
• AAC:  Houston
• Pac-12:  UCLA
• WCC:  Gonzaga
• 6 years (2019)
• Big Ten:  Michigan State
• SEC:  Auburn
• 7 years (2018)
• Missouri Valley:  Loyola (IL)
• 14 years (2011)
• Colonial:  VCU
• Horizon:  Butler
• 27 years (1998)
• WAC:  Utah
• 29 years (1996)
• Atlantic 10:  UMass
• 34 years (1991)
• Big West:  UNLV
• 46 years (1979)
• Ivy League:  Penn
• 48 years (1977)
• Sun Belt:  UNC Charlotte
• 54 years (1971)
• Ohio Valley:  Western Kentucky
• 75 years (1950)
• SoCon:  NC State
• Never
• America East (founded 1979)
• Atlantic Sun (founded 1978)
• Big Sky (founded 1963)
• Big South (founded 1983)
• MAAC (founded 1980)
• MAC (founded 1946)
• MEAC (founded 1970)
• NEC (founded 1981)
• Patriot League (founded 1986)
• Southland (founded 1963)
• Summit League (founded 1982)
• SWAC (founded 1920)

9.  With Auburn beating Michigan State in the Elite 8, it means the Big Ten's national title drought will reach at least 26 years, as the Spartans were the last Big Ten team to win it all in 2000.  Here is every conference's last national title.  For conferences with no national titles ever, I'll list the year they were founded (and I'm not including defunct conferences).  I'll list the conferences that have won a national title first, followed by those conferences that have never won a title.  I'm also including the Pac-10/Pac-12, since it's coming back in 2026.

• Conferences with national titles
• AAC:  11 years (UConn, 2014)
• ACC:  6 years (Virginia, 2019)
• Big 12:  3 years  (Kansas, 2022)
• Big East:  1 year (UConn, 2024)
• Big Ten:  25 years (Michigan State, 2000)
• Big West:  35 years (UNLV, 1990)
• Missouri Valley:  63 years (Cincinnati, 1962)
• Pac-10/Pac-12:  28 years (Arizona, 1997)
• SEC:  13 years (Kentucky, 2012)
• WCC/West Coast Athletic Conference/California Basketball Association:  69 years (San Francisco, 1956)
• Conferences without national titles
• America East (founded 1979)
• Atlantic 10 (founded 1976)
• Atlantic Sun (founded 1978)
• Big Sky (founded 1963)
• Big South (founded 1983)
• Coastal/Colonial (founded 1979)
• Conference USA (founded 1995)
• Horizon (founded 1979)
• Ivy League (founded 1954)
• MAAC (founded 1980)
• MAC (founded 1946)
• MEAC (founded 1970)
• Mountain West (founded 1998)
• NEC (founded 1981)
• Ohio Valley (founded 1948)
• Patriot League (founded 1986)
• Southern Conference (founded 1921)
• Southland (founded 1963)
• Summit League (founded 1982)
• Sun Belt (founded 1976)
• SWAC (founded 1920)
• WAC (founded 1962)

8.  Since 2000, the ACC has sent 8 different schools to the Final Four, for a total of 20 appearances.  Both are the most of any conference this millennium.  Here are the conferences ranked by number of teams that have made it to the Final Four since 2000:

1.  ACC - 8 schools for 20 appearances:  North Carolina (7), Duke (6), Maryland (2), Georgia Tech (1), Miami (1), NC State (1), Syracuse (1), Virginia (1)

2.  Big Ten - 7 schools for 17 appearances:  Michigan State (7), Wisconsin (3), Michigan (2), Ohio State (2), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Purdue (1)

3.  Big 12 - 7 schools for 13 appearances:  Kansas (6), Oklahoma (2), Baylor (1), Oklahoma State (1), Texas (1), Texas Tech (1), Houston (1)

4 (tie).  Big East - 6 schools for 15 appearances:  UConn (5), Villanova (4), Louisville (2), Syracuse (2), Georgetown (1), West Virginia (1)

4 (tie).  SEC - 6 schools for 14 appearances:  Florida (5), Kentucky (4), Auburn (2), Alabama (1), LSU (1), South Carolina (1)

6.  Conference USA - 4 schools for 4 appearances:  FAU (1), Louisville (1), Marquette (1), Memphis (1)

7.  Pac-10/Pac-12 - 3 schools for 6 appearances:  UCLA (4), Arizona (1), Oregon (1)

8 (tie):  Colonial - 2 schools for 2 appearances:  George Mason (1), VCU (1)

8 (tie):  Missouri Valley - 2 schools for 2 appearances:  Loyola (IL) (1), Wichita State (1)

8 (tie).  American Athletic Conference - 2 schools for 2 appearances:  UConn (1), Houston (1)

11 (tie).  West Coast - 1 school for 2 appearances:  Gonzaga (2)

11 (tie):  Horizon - 1 schools for 2 appearances:  Butler (2)

11 (tie).  Mountain West - 1 school for 1 appearance:  San Diego State (1)

7.  For the first time since 2019, all four Final Four teams are from major conferences, which I define as the ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Big 8/Big 12, Pac-10/Pac-12 (until 2024), and the Big East (until 2013).  This is the 17th time since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985 that this has happened:

-2025:  Auburn (SEC), Duke (ACC), Florida (SEC), Houston (Big 12)

-2019:  Virginia* (ACC), Texas Tech** (Big 12), Auburn (SEC), Michigan State (Big Ten)

-2015:  Duke* (ACC), Wisconsin** (Big Ten), Kentucky (SEC), Michigan State (Big Ten)

-2012:  Kentucky* (SEC), Kansas** (Big 12), Louisville (Big East), Ohio State (Big Ten)

-2009:  North Carolina* (ACC), Michigan State** (Big Ten), UConn (Big East), Villanova (Big East)

-2007:  Florida* (SEC), Ohio State** (Big Ten), Georgetown (Big East), UCLA (Pac-10)

-2004:  UConn* (Big East), Georgia Tech** (ACC), Duke (ACC), Oklahoma State (Big 12)

-2002:  Maryland* (ACC), Indiana** (Big Ten), Kansas (Big 12), Oklahoma (Big 12)

-2001:  Duke* (ACC), Arizona** (Pac-10), Maryland (ACC), Michigan State (Big Ten)

-2000:  Michigan State* (Big Ten), Florida* (SEC), North Carolina (ACC), Wisconsin (Big Ten)

-1999:  UConn* (Big East), Duke** (ACC), Michigan State (Big Ten), Ohio State (Big Ten)

-1997:  Arizona* (Pac-10), Kentucky** (SEC), Minnesota (Big Ten), North Carolina (ACC)

-1995:  UCLA* (Pac-10), Arkansas** (SEC), North Carolina (ACC), Oklahoma State (Big 8)

-1994:  Arkansas* (SEC), Duke** (ACC), Arizona (Pac-10), Florida (SEC)

-1993:  North Carolina* (ACC), Michigan** (Big Ten), Kansas (Big 8), Kentucky (SEC)

-1989:  Michigan* (Big Ten), Seton Hall** (Big East), Duke (ACC), Illinois (Big Ten)

-1988:  Kansas* (Big 8), Oklahoma** (Big 8), Arizona (Pac-10), Duke (ACC)

*Champions

**Advanced to championship game

6.  Duke's John Scheyer and Florida's Todd Golden are both coaching in their first Final Fours.  If either win the title, it will be the 29th time that a first-time Final Four coach will have won the championship.  Of course, those numbers are heavily skewed towards the beginning decades of the NCAA Tournament.  Since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, it has only happened 10 times, though in three of the last five tournaments.  Here is everyone (including before 1985), in reverse chronological order:

-Dan Hurley (UConn, 2023)

-Scott Drew (Baylor, 2021)

-Tony Bennett (Virginia, 2019)

-Kevin Ollie (UConn, 2014)

-Bill Self (Kansas, 2008)

-Jim Calhoun (UConn, 1999)

-Tubby Smith (Kentucky, 1998)

-Jim Harrick (UCLA, 1995)

-Steve Fisher (Michigan, 1989)

-Rollie Massimino (Villanova, 1985)

-Jim Valvano (NC State, 1983)

-Jud Heathcote (Michigan State, 1979)

-Norm Sloan (NC State, 1974)

-Don Haskins (Texas Western, 1966)

-George Ireland (Loyola (IL), 1963)

-Ed Jucker (Cincinnati, 1961)

-Fred Taylor (Ohio State, 1960)

-Pete Newell (California, 1959)

-Phil Woolpert (San Francisco, 1955)

-Ken Loeffler (LaSalle, 1954)

-Doggie Julian (Holy Cross, 1947)

-Henry Iba (Oklahoma A&M, 1945)

-Vadal Peterson (Utah, 1944)

-Everett Shelton (Wyoming, 1943)

-Everett Dean (Stanford, 1942)

-Harold E. Foster (Wisconsin, 1941)

-Branch McCracken (Indiana, 1940)

-Howard Hobson (Oregon, 1939)

5.  Last year, Auburn lost in the First Round as a 4-seed to 13-seed Yale, and Florida lost in the First Round as a 7-seed 10 10-seed Colorado.  The Tigers and Gators join a list of now 56 teams who made the Final Four the year after losing their first game of the NCAA Tournament.  22 of those teams have gone onto the title game, with 7 winning it all.  Here are the others who have done it (this does not include teams that made the Final Four a year after not participating in the NCAA Tournament):

2025:  Auburn, Florida

2024:  NC State, Purdue**

2023:  UConn*, San Diego State**

2022:  North Carolina**

2019:  Virginia*

2015:  Duke*

2014:  Wisconsin

2013:  Michigan**, Wichita State

2012:  Louisville

2010:  Butler**, West Virginia

2009:  UConn

2006:  UCLA**, LSU

2005:  Louisville, Michigan State

2003:  Marquette

2002:  Indiana**, Oklahoma

2000:  North Carolina, Wisconsin

1995:  UCLA*

1994:  Arizona

1990:  Georgia Tech

1988:  Arizona

1987:  Indiana*

1986:  LSU

1985:  St. John's

1983:  NC State*

1982:  Georgetown**, Louisville, Houston

1981:  North Carolina**

1980:  Iowa

1978:  Arkansas

1977:  North Carolina**

1976:  Michigan**, Rutgers

1975:  Louisville, Syracuse

1974:  Marquette**

1973:  Providence

1971:  Western Kentucky

1964:  UCLA*

1961:  St. Joseph's, Utah

1959:  West Virginia**, Cincinnati

1956:  SMU

1955:  Colorado

1944:  Dartmouth**

1942:  Dartmouth**

*Champions

**Advanced to championship game

4.  There are 10 schools with 8 or more Final Fours (including vacated appearances):  North Carolina (21), UCLA (19), Duke (18), Kentucky (17), Kansas (16), Ohio State (11), Louisville (10), Michigan State (10), Indiana (8), and Michigan (8).  With Duke in it this year, it ends a two-year drought where none of those ten teams made it to the Final Four.  In fact, one of those teams has been in all but 10 of 86 Final Fours (1941, 1943, 1947, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1985, 2023, 2024).

3.  As noted above, there are four 1-seeds in the Final Four, which is only the second time that has happened since seeding began in 1979.  Here is a breakdown of how many #1 seeds have advanced to the Final Four each year since 1979.

2025:  4 (Auburn, Duke, Florida, Houston)

2024:  2 (UConn*, Purdue**)

2023:  0

2022:  1 (Kansas*)

2021:  2 (Baylor*, Gonzaga**)

2019:  1 (Virginia*)

2018:  2 (Villanova*, Kansas)

2017:  2 (North Carolina*, Gonzaga**)

2016: 1 (North Carolina**)

2015: 3 (Duke*, Wisconsin**, Kentucky)

2014: 1 (Florida)

2013: 1 (Louisville*)

2012: 1 (Kentucky*)

2011: 0

2010: 1 (Duke*)

2009: 2 (North Carolina*, Connecticut)

2008: 4 (Kansas*, Memphis**, North Carolina, UCLA)

2007: 2 (Florida*, Ohio State**)

2006: 0

2005: 2 (North Carolina*, Illinois**)

2004: 1 (Duke)

2003: 1 (Texas)

2002: 2 (Maryland*, Kansas)

2001: 2 (Duke*, Michigan State)

2000: 1 (Michigan State*)

1999: 3 (Connecticut*, Duke**, Michigan State)

1998: 1 (North Carolina)

1997: 3 (Kentucky**, North Carolina, Minnesota)

1996: 2 (Kentucky*, Massachusetts)

1995: 1 (UCLA*)

1994: 1 (Arkansas*)

1993: 3 (North Carolina*, Michigan**, Kentucky)

1992: 1 (Duke*)

1991: 2 (UNLV, North Carolina)

1990: 1 (UNLV*)

1989: 1 (Illinois)

1988: 2 (Oklahoma**, Arizona)

1987: 2 (Indiana*, UNLV)

1986: 2 (Duke**, Kansas)

1985: 2 (Georgetown**, St. John's)

1984: 2 (Georgetown*, Kentucky)

1983: 2 (Houston**, Louisville)

1982: 2 (North Carolina*, Georgetown**)

1981: 2 (LSU, Virginia)

1980: 0

1979: 1 (Indiana State**)

*Champions

**Advanced to championship game

2.  The average seed for this year's Final Four is 1, which is only the fourth time this millennium and tenth time since seeding began in 1979 that the average has been below 2 (and first time since 2009).  Here are the average seeds for the Final Four since 1979 (with the years it was lower than 2 bolded):

2025:  1

2024:  4.25

2023:  5.75

2022:  3.25

2021:  3.75

2019:  2.75

2018:  4

2017:  3

2016: 3.75

2015: 2.5

2014: 4.5

2013: 4.5

2012: 2.25

2011: 6.5

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

1984: 2.75

1983: 3

1982: 2.75

1981: 1.75

1980: 5.25

1979: 3.5

1.  With Auburn and Florida both making the Final Four this year, it is the 26th time that one conference has had two or more teams in the same Final Four.  Here is when it has happened (note:  the NCAA Tournament began giving out at-large bids in 1975, so that was the first year there could have been more than one team from the same conference in an NCAA Tournament):

2025:  SEC - Auburn, Florida

2022:  ACC - Duke, North Carolina

2016:  ACC – North Carolina, Syracuse

2015:  Big Ten - Michigan State, Wisconsin

2014:  SEC – Florida, Kentucky

2013:  Big East – Louisville, Syracuse

2009:  Big East – Connecticut, Villanova

2006:  SEC – Florida, LSU

2005:  Big Ten – Illinois, Michigan State

2003:  Big 12 – Kansas, Texas

2002:  Big 12 – Kansas, Oklahoma

2001:  ACC – Duke, Maryland

2000:  Big Ten – Michigan State, Wisconsin

1999:  Big Ten – Michigan State, Ohio State

1996:  SEC – Kentucky, Mississippi State

1994:  SEC – Arkansas, Florida

1992:  Big Ten – Indiana, Michigan

1991:  ACC – Duke, North Carolina

1990:  ACC – Duke, Georgia Tech

1989:  Big Ten – Illinois, Michigan

1988:  Big 8 – Kansas, Oklahoma

1987:  Big East – Providence, Syracuse

1985:  Big East – Georgetown, St. John's, Villanova

1981:  ACC – North Carolina, Virginia

1980:  Big Ten – Iowa, Purdue

1976:  Big Ten – Indiana, Michigan

Tuesday Top Ten: Fun Facts About This Year's NCAA Tournament

It was a pretty chalky first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, with only a few real upsets and only one true buzzer beater (even if Maryland's Derek Queen traveled before he made the shot).  Good for your brackets, but not great for drama and storylines.

Six of the Sweet 16 teams are repeats from last year, and two of last year's four Final Four teams made it (Alabama and Purdue).  Here are the Sweet 16 teams, along with the last time they made the Sweet 16 (and their region, seeds, game time, and what station is televising the game):

East Region (Newark)

(2) Alabama (2024) vs. (6) BYU (2011) - Thursday 3/27 7:09 p.m. ET CBS

(1) Duke (2024) vs. (4) Arizona (2024) - Thursday 3/27 9:39 p.m. ET TBS

West Region (San Franciso)

(1) Florida (2017) vs. (4) Maryland (2016) - Thursday 3/27 7:39 p.m. ET TBS/truTV

(3) Texas Tech (2022) vs. (10) Arkansas (2023) - Thursday 3/27 10:09 p.m. ET TBS/truTV

South Region (Atlanta)

(2) Michigan State (2023) vs. (6) Mississippi (2001) - Friday 3/28 7:09 p.m. ET CBS

(1) Auburn (2019) vs. (5) Michigan (2022) - Friday 3/28 9:39 p.m. ET CBS

Midwest Region (Indianapolis)

(2) Tennessee (2024) vs. (3) Kentucky (2019) - Friday 3/28 7:39 p.m. ET TBS/truTV

(1) Houston (2024) vs. (4) Purdue (2024) - Friday 3/28 10:09 p.m. ET TBS/truTV

If you're like me -- and you better pray to Osiris that you're not –- you not only love the NCAA Tournament, but you are fascinated with the history and statistical minutiae associated with the tournament.  Like I've done the last many years, I'm going to drop knowledge bombs on your mind.  Here are 16 fun facts about this year's NCAA tournament.  You know, 16.  For the Sweet 16.

16.  By coaching Arkansas to the Sweet 16, John Calipari became only the second coach in history (Lon Kruger being the first) to take four different schools to the Sweet 16 (UMass, Memphis, Kentucky, and now Arkansas) -- and that even takes into account the ones that were vacated!

15.  For only the second time since the First Four format started in 2011, none of the First Four winners advanced to the Round of 32 (2019 was the other year).

14.  Two teams got their first-ever NCAA Tournament win:  

• 12-seed McNeese, which upset 5-seed Clemson in the First Round
• 16-seed Alabama State, which beat fellow 16-seed St. Francis (PA) in the First Four with an exciting full-court pass for a layup with less than two seconds left.

13.  For the 18th time since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, at least two 12-seeds upset 5-seeds in the First Round -- with Colorado State beating Memphis in the West and McNeese beating Clemson in the Midwest.  There have been only six tournaments since 1985 where no 12-seeds beat a 5-seed (1988, 2000, 2007, 2015, 2018, 2023).

12.  No 13-, 14-, 15- or 16-seeds won.  Since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, this is only the sixth time this has happened, with 1994, 2000, 2004, 2007, and 2017 being the other years.

11.  Duke was the only ACC team to advance to the Second Round, which was the first time since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 32 teams in 1975 to accommodate at-large bids that the ACC has not had at least two teams in the Second Round.

10.  All in all, 7 higher-seeded teams upset lower-seeded teams in the First Round, and 4 higher-seeded teams upset lower-seeded teams in the Second Round.

9.  Mississippi is in the Sweet 16 for only the second time ever and the first time since 2001.  Now, you may think a 24-year drought between Sweet 16 appearances is a long time, but relatively speaking, there are teams that waited a lot longer.  Here are the droughts between Sweet 16 appearances of 35 or more years (since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 16 teams in 1951):

-58 years:  LaSalle (1955-2013)

-56 years:  Cornell (1954-2010); Princeton (1967-2023)

-52 years:  Virginia Tech (1967-2019)

-51 years:  Bradley (1955-2006), St. Mary's (1959-2010)

-47 years:  Creighton (1974-2021)

-46 years:  Penn State (1955-2001)

-44 years:  South Carolina (1973-2017)

-42 years:  Oregon (1960-2002)

-41 years:  Butler (1962-2003)

-40 years:  USC (1961-2001)

-39 years:  Davidson (1969-2008), Oregon State (1982-2021), Tulsa (1955-1994)

-38 years:  Ohio (1964-2002)

-35 years:  Houston (1984-2019), West Virginia (1963-1998)

As long as we're looking at droughts, let's look at which schools have current Sweet 16 droughts of 50 or more years.  Again, it's since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 16 teams in 1951.  I'm adding a year, since they obviously aren't in this year's Sweet 16 -- and, of course, teams that are no longer Division 1 teams are not included, nor are teams that have never made the Sweet 16.  Here they are:

-75 years (1951):  Montana State, San Jose State

-73 years (1953):  Holy Cross

-72 years (1954):  Rice

-69 years (1957):  Canisius, Lafayette, St. Louis

-68 years (1958):  Dartmouth, Manhattan

-67 years (1959):  Boston University

-66 years (1961):  Morehead State

-63 years (1963):  Bowling Green

-62 years (1964):  Seattle (although they were not D-1 from 1980 to 2008)

-59 years (1967):  SMU

-58 years (1968):  Columbia, East Tennessee State, TCU

-57 years (1969):  Colorado, Colorado State, Duquesne

-56 years (1970):  Jacksonville, Niagara, Santa Clara, St. Bonaventure, Utah State

-55 years (1971):  Drake, Fordham, Pacific

-53 years (1972):  Weber State

-52 years (1974):  Furman, New Mexico

-51 years (1975):  Central Michigan, Montana

-50 years (1976):  Pepperdine, Western Michigan

8.  Here's every conference's last Sweet 16 team.  Note that, with all of the conference realignments over the years, this is for the conference itself and teams playing in that conference when they made the Sweet 16, and not necessarily for teams currently in each conference.  I'm going to do it by how many years it's been since the conference's last Sweet 16, listing the relevant teams.  For conferences with no Sweet 16s ever, I'll list the year they were founded.

• Zero years (2025)
• ACC:  Duke
• Big 12:  Arizona, BYU, Houston, Texas Tech
• Big Ten:  Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue
• SEC:  Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee
• 1 year (2024)
• Big East:  Creighton, UConn, Marquette
• Mountain West:  San Diego State
• West Coast:  Gonzaga
• 2 years (2023):
• AAC:  Houston
• Conference USA:  FAU
• Ivy League:  Princeton
• Pac-12:  UCLA
• 3 years (2022)
• MAAC:  St. Peter's
• 4 years (2021)
• Missouri Valley:  Loyola (IL)
• Summit:  Oral Roberts
• 11 years (2014)
• Atlantic 10:  Dayton
• 12 years (2013)
• Atlantic Sun:  Florida Gulf Coast
• 13 years (2012)
• MAC:  Ohio
• 14 years (2011)
• Colonial:  VCU
• Horizon:  Butler
• 17 years (2008)
• Southern Conference:  Davidson
• Sun Belt:  Western Kentucky
• 21 years (2004)
• WAC:  Nevada
• 33 years (1992)
• Big West:  New Mexico State
• 40 years (1985)
• Southland:  Louisiana Tech
• 43 years (1982)
• Big Sky:  Idaho
• 52 years (1973)
• Ohio Valley:  Austin Peay
• Never
• America East (founded 1979)
• Big South (founded 1983)
• MEAC (founded 1970)
• NEC (founded 1981)
• Patriot League (founded 1986)
• SWAC (founded 1920)

7.  The Big Ten set an NCAA Tournament record for most wins by a conference without a loss by going 8-0 in the First Round of the tournament.

6.  The SEC has a record 7 teams in the Sweet 16, while the Big Ten and Big 12 both have 4 teams, and the ACC has only one team (Duke).  Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, here are the major conferences –- which I define as the ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Big 8/Big 12, Pac-10/Pac-12 (until 2024), and the Big East (until 2013) –- that only advanced one team (or no team) to the Sweet 16:

-ACC:  7 times (one team in 2007-2008, 2010, 2014, 2017, 2023, 2025)

-Big East (until 2013):  5 times (no team in 1986 and 1993, and one team in 1988, 1992, and 2001)

-Big 8/Big 12:  13 times (no team in 1990 and 1998, and one team in 1985-1986, 1992, 1996-1997, 1999, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2013, and 2021)

-Big Ten:  9 times (no team in 1995-1996 and 2006, and one team in 1985, 1997, 2004, 2007, 2021, and 2023)

-Pac-10/Pac-12 (until 2024):  23 times (no team in 1985-1987, 1993, 1999, 2004, 2012, and 2018, and one team in 1988-1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2009-2011, 2016, 2023, and 2024)

-SEC:  14 times (no team in 1988 and 2009, and one team in 1990-1992, 1997-1998, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2015-2016, and 2022)

5.  Two-time defending champ UConn lost to 1-seed Florida in the Second Round.  It was the 27th time since seeding began in 1979 that the defending champ failed to make it to the Sweet 16.  If you're counting, that means a defending champ is more likely than not to fail to make it to the Sweet 16.  Setting aside that grammatical garble, here is a breakdown of defending champions who have lost before the Sweet 16 or failed to make the NCAA Tournament since 1979:

2025:  UConn (lost in Round of 32)

2023:  Kansas (lost in Round of 32)

2022:  Baylor (lost in Round of 32)

2021:  Virginia (lost in Round of 64)

2019:  Villanova (lost in Round of 32)

2018:  North Carolina (lost in Round of 32)

2017:  Villanova (lost in Round of 32)

2015:  UConn (did not make the NCAA Tournament)

2013:  Kentucky (did not make the NCAA Tournament)

2012:  UConn (lost in Round of 64)

2010:  North Carolina (did not make the NCAA Tournament)

2008:  Florida (did not make the NCAA Tournament)

2006:  North Carolina (lost in Round of 32)

2005:  UConn (lost in Round of 32)

2000:  UConn (did not make the NCAA Tournament)

1996:  UCLA (lost in Round of 64)

1994:  North Carolina (lost in Round of 32)

1993:  Duke (lost in Round of 32)

1990:  Michigan (lost in Round of 32)

1989:  Kansas (did not make the NCAA Tournament)

1988:  Indiana (lost in Round of 64)

1987:  Louisville (did not make the NCAA Tournament)

1986:  Villanova (lost in Round of 32)

1984:  NC State (did not make the NCAA Tournament)

1982:  Indiana (lost in Round of 32)

1981:  Louisville (lost in Round of 32)

1980:  Michigan State (did not make the NCAA Tournament)

4.  Five double-digit seeds won their first round games, which is the fewest since 2023 and below the average.  In the 40 tournaments since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, there have been 249 double-digit seeds that have won their first round games, which is an average of 6.225 per year.  Here is a year-by-year list of every double-digit seed that has won its first round game since 1985:

2025:  5 (#10 Arkansas, #10 New Mexico, #11 Drake, #12 Colorado State, #12 McNeese)

2024:  8 (#10 Colorado, #11 Duquesne, #11 NC State, #11 Oregon, #12 Grand Canyon, #12 James Madison, #13 Yale, #14 Oakland)

2023:  5 (#10 Penn State, #11 Pitt, #13 Furman, #15 Princeton, #16 Fairleigh Dickinson)

2022:  7 (#10 Miami, #11 Iowa State, #11 Michigan, #11 Notre Dame, #12 New Mexico State, #12 Richmond, #15 St. Peter's)

2021:  9 (#10 Maryland, Rutgers, #11 Syracuse, UCLA, #12 Oregon State, #13 North Texas, #13 Ohio, #14 Abilene Christian, #15 Oral Roberts)

2019:  8 (#10 Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, #11 Ohio State, #12 Liberty, Murray State, Oregon, #13 UC Irvine)

2018:  6 (#10 Butler, #11 Loyola (IL), Syracuse, #13 Buffalo, Marshall, #16 UMBC)

2017:  5 (#10 Wichita State, #11 Rhode Island, USC, Xavier, #12 Middle Tennessee State)

2016:  10 (#10 Syracuse, VCU, #11 Gonzaga, Northern Iowa, Wichita State, #12 Little Rock, Yale, #13 Hawaii, #14 Stephen F. Austin, #15 Middle Tennessee State)

2015:  5 (#10 Ohio State, #11 Dayton, UCLA, #14 UAB, Georgia State)

2014:  6 (#10 Stanford, #11 Dayton, Tennessee, #12 Harvard, North Dakota State, Stephen F. Austin)

2013:  8 (#10 Iowa State, #11 Minnesota, #12 California, Mississippi, Oregon, #13 LaSalle, #14 Harvard, #15 Florida Gulf Coast)

2012:  9 (#10 Purdue, Xavier, #11 Colorado, North Carolina State, #12 South Florida, VCU, #13 Ohio, #15 Lehigh, Norfolk State)

2011:  6 (#10, Florida State, #11 Gonzaga, Marquette, VCU, #12 Richmond, #13 Morehead State)

2010:   8 (#10 Georgia Tech, Missouri, St. Mary's, #11 Old Dominion, Washington, #12 Cornell, #13 Murray State, #14 Ohio)

2009:  8 (#10 Maryland, Michigan, USC, #11 Dayton, #12 Arizona, Western Kentucky, Wisconsin, #13 Cleveland State)

2008:  6 (#10 Davidson, #11 Kansas State, #12 Villanova, Western Kentucky, #13 San Diego, Siena)

2007:  2 (#11 Winthrop, VCU)

2006:  8 (#10 Alabama, NC State, #11 George Mason, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, #12 Montana, Texas A&M, #13 Bradley, #14 Northwestern State)

2005:  5 (#10 NC State, #11 UAB, #12 Wisconsin-Milwaukee, #13 Vermont, #14 Bucknell)

2004:  3 (#10 Nevada, #12 Manhattan, Pacific)

2003:  5 (#10 Arizona State, Auburn, #11 Central Michigan, #12 Butler, #13 Tulsa)

2002:  7 (#10 Kent State, #11 Southern Illinois, Wyoming, #12 Creighton, Missouri, Tulsa, #13 UNC-Wilmington)

2001:  9 (#10 Butler, Georgetown, #11 Georgia State, Temple, #12 Gonzaga, Utah State, #13 Indiana State, Kent State, #15 Hampton)

2000:  3 (#10 Gonzaga, Seton Hall, #11 Pepperdine)

1999:  8 (#10 Creighton, Gonzaga, Miami (OH), Purdue, #12 Detroit, Southwest Missouri State, #13 Oklahoma, #14 Weber State)

1998:  8 (#10 Detroit, West Virginia, St. Louis, #11 Washington, Western Michigan, #12 Florida State, #13 Valparaiso, #14 Richmond)

1997:  5 (#10 Providence, Texas, #12 Charleston, #14 Tennessee-Chattanooga, #15 Coppin State)

1996:  6 (#10 Santa Clara, Texas, #11 Boston College, #12 Arkansas, Drexel, #13 Princeton)

1995:  6 (#10 Stanford, #11 Texas, #12 Miami (OH), #13 Manhattan, #14 Old Dominion, Weber State)

1994:  5 (#10 George Washington, Maryland, #11 Pennsylvania, #12 Tulsa, Wisconsin-Green Bay)

1993:  4 (#11 Tulane, #12 George Washington, #13 Southern, #15 Santa Clara)

1992:  5 (#10 Iowa State, Tulane, #12 New Mexico State, #13 Southwest Louisiana, #14 East Tennessee State)

1991:  8 (#10 BYU, Temple, #11 Connecticut, Creighton, #12 Eastern Michigan, #13 Penn State, #14 Xavier, #15 Richmond)

1990:  5 (#10 Texas, #11 Loyola Marymount, #12 Ball State, Dayton, #14 Northern Iowa)

1989:  8 (#10 Colorado State, #11 Evansville, Minnesota, South Alabama, Texas, #12 DePaul, #13 Middle Tennessee State, #14 Siena)

1988:  4 (#10 Loyola Marymount, #11 Rhode Island, #13 Richmond, #14 Murray State)

1987:  6 (#10 LSU, Western Kentucky, #12 Wyoming, #13 Southwest Missouri State, Xavier, #14 Austin Peay)

1986:  5 (#10 Villanova, #11 LSU, #12 DePaul, #14 Arkansas-Little Rock, Cleveland State)

1985:  5 (#11 Auburn, Boston College, UTEP, #12 Kentucky, #13 Navy)

3.  The average seed number for Sweet 16 teams this year is 3.4375, which is a below average and the second year in a row (and only the 12th time since 1979) that it's below 4.  Of course, if the seeding played out as it should (i.e., all teams seeded 1-4 advancing to the Sweet 16, which has never happened), the average seed number would be 2.5. Here is the average seed of Sweet 16 teams since 1979 (with the years when the average seed number was 5 or higher bolded):

2025:  3.4375

2024:  3.3125

2023:  4.875

2022:  5.3125

2021: 5.875

2019: 3.0625

2018: 5.3125

2017: 4.0625

2016: 4.125

2015: 4.375

2014: 4.9375

2013: 5.0625

2012: 4.5625

2011: 5

2010: 5

2009: 3.0625

2008: 4.375

2007: 3.1875

2006: 4.4375

2005: 4.5

2004: 4.5625

2003: 4.1875

2002: 4.6875

2001: 4.5625

2000: 5.3125

1999: 5.5

1998: 4.75

1997: 4.8125

1996: 3.6875

1995: 3.1875

1994: 4.25

1993: 4.0625

1992: 4.1875

1991: 4

1990: 5.5

1989: 3.125

1988: 4.3125

1987: 4.25

1986: 5.5625

1985: 4.875

1984: 3.8125

1983: 3.5

1982: 3.1875

1981: 4.5625

1980: 4.125

1979: 3.8125

2.  In what may be a sign of the NIL/transfer portal era -- where mid-major and low-major studs transfer up to major conferences after a good year -- for the first time since seeding began in 1979, there are no mid-majors in the Sweet 16. (I consider schools in conferences other than the ACC, Big East, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 (until 2024), and SEC to be mid-majors, even if a school is now in one of those conferences, so, for instance, Butler and Xavier were mid-majors before joining the Big East a couple years ago, but are no longer mid-majors. It's not a perfect science. Deal with it.)  29 mid-majors have advanced to the Final Four since 1979.  Here is a year-by-year breakdown of the number of mid-major teams that made it to the Sweet 16 since 1979:

2025:  0

2024:  2 (San Diego State, Gonzaga)

2023:  5 (FAU*, Gonzaga, Houston, Princeton, and San Diego State*)

2022:  3 (Gonzaga, Houston, St. Peter's)

2021:  4 (Gonzaga*, Houston*, Loyola (IL), Oral Roberts)

2019: 2 (Gonzaga, Houston)

2018: 3 (Gonzaga, Loyola (IL)*, Nevada)

2017: 1 (Gonzaga*)

2016: 1 (Gonzaga)

2015: 2 (Gonzaga, Wichita State)

2014: 2 (Dayton, San Diego State)

2013: 3 (Florida Gulf Coast, LaSalle, Wichita State*)

2012: 2 (Ohio, Xavier)

2011: 5 (Butler*, BYU, Richmond, San Diego State, VCU*)

2010: 5 (Butler*, Cornell, Northern Iowa, St. Mary's, Xavier)

2009: 3 (Gonzaga, Memphis, Xavier)

2008: 4 (Davidson, Memphis*, Western Kentucky, Xavier)

2007: 4 (Butler, Memphis, Southern Illinois, UNLV)

2006: 5 (Bradley, George Mason*, Gonzaga, Memphis, Wichita State)

2005: 2 (Utah, UW-Milwaukee)

2004: 4 (Nevada, St. Joseph's, UAB, Xavier)

2003: 2 (Butler, Marquette*)

2002: 2 (Kent State, Southern Illinois)

2001: 2 (Cincinnati, Gonzaga, Temple)

2000: 2 (Gonzaga, Tulsa)

1999: 4 (Gonzaga, Miami (OH), SW Missouri State, Temple)

1998: 3 (Rhode Island, Utah*, Valparaiso)

1997: 3 (St. Joseph's, Utah, UT-Chattanooga)

1996: 3 (Cincinnati, Massachusetts*, Utah)

1995: 3 (Massachusetts, Memphis, Tulsa)

1994: 2 (Marquette, Tulsa)

1993: 4 (Cincinnati, George Washington, Temple, Western Kentucky)

1992: 5 (Cincinnati*, Memphis State, Massachusetts, New Mexico State, UTEP)

1991: 4 (Eastern Michigan, Temple, UNLV*, Utah)

1990: 4 (Ball State, Loyola Marymount, UNLV**, Xavier)

1989: 2 (Louisville, UNLV)

1988: 4 (Louisville, Rhode Island, Richmond, Temple)

1987: 3 (DePaul, UNLV*, Wyoming)

1986: 5 (Cleveland State, DePaul, Louisville**, Navy, UNLV)

1985: 3 (Louisiana Tech, Loyola (IL), Memphis State*)

1984: 6 (Dayton, DePaul, Houston*, Louisville, Memphis State, UNLV)

1983: 4 (Houston*, Louisville, Memphis State, Utah)

1982: 6 (Fresno State, Houston*, Idaho, Louisville*, Memphis State, UAB)

1981: 5 (BYU, St. Joseph's, UAB, Utah, Wichita State)

1980: 2 (Lamar, Louisville**)

1979: 8 (DePaul*, Indiana State*, Louisville, Marquette, Penn*, Rutgers, San Francisco, Toledo)

*Advanced to Final Four

**Won NCAA title

1.  There is only one team seeded 8 or lower that advanced to the Sweet 16 (10-seed Arkansas in the West Region), which is below the average.  Seventeen teams seeded 8 or higher have advanced to the Final Four (Villanova in 1985 was the only national champion).  Here is a year-by-year breakdown of the number of teams seeded #8 or lower that made it to the Sweet 16 since 1979:

2025:  1 (#10 Arkansas)

2024:  1 (#11 NC State*)

2023:  3 (#8 Arkansas, #9 FAU*, #15 Princeton)

2022:  5 (#8 North Carolina*, #10 Miami, #11 Iowa State, #11 Michigan, #15 St. Peter's)

2021:  5 (#8 Loyola (IL), #11 Syracuse, #11 UCLA*, #12 Oregon State, #15 Oral Roberts)

2019: 1 (#12 Oregon)

2018: 4 (#9 Florida State, #9 Kansas State, #11 Loyola (IL)*, #11 Syracuse)

2017: 2 (#8 Wisconsin, #11 Xavier)

2016: 2 (#10 Syracuse*, #11 Gonzaga)

2015: 2 (#8 NC State, #11 UCLA)

2014: 4 (#8 Kentucky*, #10 Stanford, #11 Dayton, #11 Tennessee)

2013: 4 (#9 Wichita State*, #12 Oregon, #13 LaSalle, and #15 Florida Gulf Coast)

2012: 3 (#10 Xavier, #11 NC State, and #13 Ohio)

2011: 5 (#8 Butler*, #10 Florida State, #11 Marquette, #11 VCU*, and #12 Richmond)

2010: 4 (#9 Northern Iowa, #10 St. Mary's, #11 Washington, #12 Cornell)

2009: 1 (#12 Arizona)

2008: 3 (#10 Davidson, #12 Villanova, #12 Western Kentucky)

2007: 0

2006: 2 (#11 George Mason*, #13 Bradley)

2005: 2 (#10 North Carolina State, #12 UW-Milwaukee)

2004: 3 (#8 Alabama, #9 UAB, #10 Nevada)

2003: 2 (#10 Auburn, #12 Butler)

2002: 4 (#8 UCLA, #10 Kent State, #11 Southern Illinois, #12 Missouri)

2001: 3 (#10 Georgetown, #11 Temple, #12 Gonzaga)

2000: 4 (#8 North Carolina*, #8 Wisconsin*, #10 Seton Hall, #10 Gonzaga)

1999: 5 (#10 Gonzaga, #10 Miami (OH), #10 Purdue, #12 Southwest Missouri State, #13 Oklahoma)

1998: 4 (#8 Rhode Island, #10 West Virginia, #11 Washington, #13 Valparaiso)

1997: 3 (#10 Texas, #10 Providence, #14 UT-Chattanooga)

1996: 2 (#8 Georgia, #12 Arkansas)

1995: 0

1994: 2 (#9 Boston College, #10 Maryland, #12 Tulsa)

1993: 1 (#12 George Washington)

1992: 2 (#9 UTEP, #12 New Mexico State)

1991: 3 (#10 Temple, #11 Connecticut, #12 Eastern Michigan)

1990: 4 (#8 North Carolina, #10 Texas, #11 Loyola Marymount, #12 Ball State)

1989: 1 (#11 Minnesota)

1988: 2 (#11 Rhode Island, #13 Richmond)

1987: 2 (#10 LSU, #12 Wyoming)

1986: 4 (#8 Auburn, #11 LSU*, #12 DePaul, #14 Cleveland State)

1985: 4 (#8 Villanova**, #11 Auburn, #11 Boston College, #12 Kentucky)

1984: 1 (#10 Dayton)

1983: 1 (#10 Utah)

1982: 1 (#8 Boston College)

1981: 2 (#8 Kansas State, #9 St. Joseph's)

1980: 2 (#8 UCLA*, #10 Lamar)

1979: 2 (#9 Penn*, #10 St. John's)

*Advanced to Final Four

**Won NCAA title

Hair Band Friday - 3/21/25

1.  "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" by Poison

2.  "Thief in the Night" by KISS

3.  "Bloodstone" by Jetboy

4.  "Rock Forever" by Judas Priest

5.  "Just Another Night" by Wildside

6.  "Back on the Bitch" by Spread Eagle

7.  "Rainbow in the Rose" by Winger

8.  "Dee" by Ozzy Osbourne

9.  "Hit Between the Eyes" by Scorpions

10.  "Blue Monday" by White Lion

Tuesday Top Ten: NCAA Tournament Edition

This year's NCAA Tournament brackets have been announced, and like the last few years, I think this will be another unpredictable NCAA Tournament.  While there are a handful of top teams, I still think this thing is wide open, and there are about eight to ten teams who I think could legitimately win it all.  Or they could all lose before the end of the first weekend.  I have already filled out 116 brackets, and I have zero confidence in any of them.  

Here are a couple initial random thoughts and fun facts:

• As with last year, I don't think any 1-seeds have an easy path to the Final Four.  I wouldn't be surprised if none of them make it to San Antonio or if all four of them do (especially if Duke's Copper Flagg is able to play).
• As always, I would not be surprised if all of the 12-seeds beat all of the 5-seeds.  Or none.  But I would be more surprised if none of them win.
• The SEC has an NCAA Tournament record 14 teams in the tournament, which is over 20% of the field.
• On the other side of the coin, the ACC only has 4 teams in the tournament, the least it has had since 2013.
• Kansas is a 7-seed, which is the lowest the Jayhawks have been seeded since 2000, when they were an 8-seed, and it's the first time since then that they haven't been a top four seed. 
• North Carolina absolutely did not deserve to get the final at-large bid, which probably means they'll make a surprise run to the Sweet 16.
• We have a potentially intriguing matchup in the Second Round in the West if 10-seed Arkansas and 2-seed St. John's, coached respectively by former national championship Kentucky head coaches John Calipari and Rick Pitino, both win their first round games.
• Another potentially interesting Second Round matchup is in the South, if 1-seed Auburn and 8-seed Louisville both advance, as Louisville is thought to be underseeded, and the game will be played in Lexington, Kentucky, a little more than an hour east of Louisville.
• We have four teams in this year's field who are making their NCAA Tournament debuts (at the D-1 level, anyway):
• UC San Diego (12-seed South)
• High Point (13-seed Midwest)
• Omaha (15-seed West)
• SIU-Edwardsville (16-seed Midwest)
• By winning the Big West Tournament, the UC San Diego Tritons are not only in the Big Dance for the first time, but made it in their first year of D-1 eligibility, which, according to one article I read, is only the third time in the last 50+ years that has happened.  I couldn't easily figure out the other instances, so I'll leave that to you.
• Of the 18 schools with 35 or more NCAA Tournament appearances (including this year) -- Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas, UCLA, Duke, Indiana, Louisville, Villanova, Texas, Michigan State, Marquette, Notre Dame, Syracuse, UConn, Arkansas, Arizona, Illinois, and Purdue -- only four didn't receive bids to this year's NCAA Tournament (Indiana, Villanova, Notre Dame, and Syracuse).
• The longest drought between NCAA Tournament appearance for any team in this year's tournament is NEC champion St. Francis (PA) (one of the play-in 16-seeds in the South Region), who is in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1991.  The Red Flash's 34-year span between NCAA Tournament appearances doesn't hold a candle to the longest span between appearances.  Here are the schools that have gone 40 or more years between NCAA Tournament appearances:
• 66 years:  Harvard (1946-2012)
• 54 years:  Yale (1962-2016)
• 47 years:
• Brown (1939-1986)
• Duquesne (1977-2024)
• Stanford (1942-1989)
• Wisconsin (1947-1994)
• 43 years:  Furman (1980-2023)
• 42 years:  Air Force (1962-2004)
• 41 years:  Iowa State (1944-1985)
• At 16-17, St. Francis is also the only team in this year's tournament with a losing record.  Since the tournament expanded to 68 teams in 2011 and adopted the "First Four" format, teams with losing records -- who, granted, are usually teams from low-major conferences that win their conference tournament -- are 5-7 in the NCAA Tournament.  Here's a list of the others:
• 2023:  Texas Southern (14-20), lost in First Four to Fairleigh Dickinson, who went onto beat Purdue in the First Round in what is considered by many as the biggest upset in NCAA Tournament history
• 2018:  Texas Southern (15-19), won their First Four matchup against North Carolina Central before losing to 1-seed Xavier in the First Round
• 2016:  Holy Cross (14-19), won their First Four game against Southern before losing to 1-seed Oregon in the First Round
• 2015:  Hampton (16-17), won their First Four contest with Manhattan before losing to 1-seed to 1-seed Kentucky in the First Round
• 2014:  Cal Poly (13-19), won their First Four matchup with Texas Southern before losing to 1-seed Wichita State
• 2013:  Liberty (15-20), lost to North Carolina A&T in the First Four
• 2012:  Western Kentucky (15-18), won their First Four game against Mississippi Valley State before losing to 1-seed Kentucky in the First Round
• One of the March Madness factoids that gets thrown around every year -- but which is still true -- is that no team that lost in the quarterfinals of its conference tournament has ever won the national championship.  Of course, before 2018, no 16-seed ever beat a 1-seed, but it's happened twice now.  But if you're someone who takes these kinds of things into account, here are this year's NCAA Tournament teams that lost in their conference tournament quarterfinals (or before, as noted):
• South 3-seed Iowa State
• Midwest 3-seed Kentucky
• Midwest 4-seed Purdue
• South 4-seed Texas A&M (lost in the second round of the SEC Tournament)
• East 5-seed Oregon
• Midwest 6-seed Illinois
• South 6-seed Mississippi
• West 6-seed Missouri
• West 7-seed Kansas
• Midwest 7-seed UCLA
• East 8-seed Mississippi State (lost in the second round of the SEC Tournament)
• East 9-seed Baylor
• Midwest 9-seed Georgia (lost in the first round of the SEC Tournament)
• West 9-seed Oklahoma (lost in the second round of the SEC Tournament)
• West 10-seed Arkansas (lost in the second round of the SEC Tournament)
• East 10-seed Vanderbilt (lost in the first round of the SEC Tournament)
• South 11-seed San Diego State
• Midwest 11-seed Texas
• Midwest 11-seed Xavier
• Here are the ten teams in this year's NCAA Tournament with the most tournament appearances, but no NCAA championship.  I'm including the team's seed and region in this year's tournament, the number of NCAA Tournament appearances (not including vacated appearances), the overall rank in number of appearances, and last Final Four appearance, if applicable (* means a team has lost in a national title game, ** means the furthest the team has gone is the Final Four, and *** means the team has never been to a Final Four):
• Texas** - 11-seed Midwest:  39 appearances (9th overall); 2003
• Illinois* - 6-seed Midwest:  35 appearances (T-17th overall); 2005
• Purdue* - 4-seed Midwest:  35 appearances (T-17th overall); 2024
• Oklahoma* - 9-seed West:  34 appearances (19th overall); 2016
• BYU*** - 6-seed East:  32 appearances (T-22nd overall); No Final Four
• St. John's* - 2-seed West:  30 appearances (T-27th overall); 1985
• Xavier*** - 11-seed Midwest:  30 appearances (T-27th overall); No Final Four
• Missouri*** - 6-seed West:  29 appearances (T-30th overall); No Final Four
• Gonzaga* - 8-seed Midwest:  27 appearances (T-36th overall); 2021
• Tennessee*** - 2-seed Midwest:  27 appearances (T-36th overall); No Final Four
• Fuck Purdue

Anyway, as I do every year, here are a couple lists of five teams each in a few categories that you should consider when filling out your brackets.  Expect there to be some contradictions, since that's the nature of predicting the NCAA Tournament.  Teams are in seed order.  So you don't think I'm entirely full of shit (or perhaps to prove that I am), I'll put in parentheses what I correctly predicted last years.

Teams with the best shot at winning it all (last year, I had UConn on this list):

1.  Houston (1-seed South).  With 30 wins, Kelvin Sampson's Cougars have won 27+ games seven times in the last eight years.  They are one of the best overall defensive teams in the country, second in the nation in opponents' points per game (giving up only 58.5 points per game), fourth in field goal percentage (opponents shoot only 38.3%), and fifth in steals.  They also protect the ball well, ranking 9th in fewest turnovers per game, and they're the best three-point shooting team in the NCAA Tournament, ranking fourth nationally in three-point field goal percentage (39.8%) In their second year in the Big 12, they won the regular season title outright by four games and the Big 12 Tournament.  They've only lost once since November, all four of their losses were to NCAA Tournament teams (Auburn, Alabama, San Diego State, and Texas Tech), they haven't lose by more than five points, and three of their four losses were in overtime.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  11-4

2.  Auburn (1-seed South).  As the #1 overall seed, the Tigers were the best team in the best conference, winning the SEC regular season title outright.  Much has been made about the fact that they lost three of their last four games, but those losses were to top four seeds in the NCAA Tournament (at Texas A&M, at home to Alabama, and in the SEC Tournament semis to Tennessee).  They can score, they're the second-best shot-blocking team in the country, have the 7th best opponents' three-point percentage (29.2%), and they don't turn the ball over much (ranking sixth in the country with only 9.2 turnovers per game).  On top of that, they've been battle-tested, with all but nine of their games coming against fellow NCAA Tournament teams.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  19-5

3.  Florida (1-seed West).  The SEC Tournament champion Gators seem to be the sexy pick to win it all, so I'll say why not?  They're a pretty well-rounded team:  third in the country in scoring (averaging 85.4 points per game) and rebounding (42 board per game), Top 15 in opponents' FG percentage (39.8%), three point percentage (29.8%), and rebounding margin (+8.2), and Top 30 in the country in three pointers made per game (9.9) and blocks per game (4.7).  They have four guys averaging in double figures, and they don't rely on any one person.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  15-4

4.  Duke (1-seed East).  I think Duke has the easiest path to the Final Four of any of the 1-seeds, but whether they can win a 6th national title depends on the health of Cooper Flagg.  They won both the regular season title (outright) and the tournament in a top-heavy ACC, and they've only lost once since November -- and only three times all season, all to NCAA Tournament teams (Kentucky, Kansas, and Clemson) and none by more than six points.  They score, they shoot well from the field, three-point line, and free throw line, they rebound well, they distribute the ball well, they don't turn the ball over very much, and they don't get into much foul trouble.  They're #1 in the nation in scoring margin, FG percentage margin, and Top 10 in rebounding margin.  And their defense is solid too, ranking in the Top 10 in points allowed and opponents' FG percentage.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  9-3

5.  Tennessee (2-seed Midwest).  I think all the 2-seeds are very good, but I put the Vols slightly ahead of the other three.  They've been ranked in the Top 10 since Thanksgiving, and while they have seven losses, none of them are "bad" losses.  They shine on the defensive end, ranking 11th in points allowed (63 per game), third in opponents' FG percentage (38.2%), and first in opponents' three-point FG percentage (27.8%).  On top of that, they're in the Top 20 nationally in scoring margin, FG percentage margin, and three-point percentage margin.  Like Auburn and Florida, they have played a gauntlet in the SEC, and their path to the Elite Eight is relatively easy compared to some of the other 2-seeds.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  16-7

Final Four sleepers (teams seeded 4 or higher) (last year, I had Alabama on this list, but did not have NC State on this list):

1.  Texas A&M (4-seed South).  The Aggies have never been to a Final Four, and I'd be lying if I didn't say that have a tough road to get to their first.  However, they are one of the best defensive teams in the country (25th in opponents' FG percentage), tops in the nation in offensive rebounding, third in rebounding margin, and fourth overall in rebounds per game, which is never a bad thing.  They get to the free throw line 25 times a game.  In addition to a tough SEC schedule (where they did beat Auburn, among others), the Aggies beat fellow NCAA Tournament teams Texas Tech, Purdue, and Creighton in the non-conference slate on neutral courts.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  11-9

2.  Maryland (4-seed West).  The Terps have been kind of a sleeper all year.  Even as a Big Ten basketball fan, I feel like I haven't heard much about them, but they found their stride down the stretch, going 12-3 in their last 15 games.  They shoot the ball well from deep and have a Top 10 adjusted defensive efficiency.  Projected lottery pick and freshman Derek Queen is nearly averaging a double-double, and he could improve his NBA draft stock even more with a strong tournament.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  7-5

3.  Michigan (5-seed South).  First-year head coach Dusty May has proven he can win in March, guiding FAU to their Cinderella Final Four run (and within two points of going to the national title game) two years ago as a 9-seed.  The Wolverines won the Big Ten Tournament last weekend, and are probably underseeded as a 5-seed (it sounds like the Selection Committee already had its seeds finalized before the Big Ten Tournament title game was over).  With two athletic 7-footers -- FAU transfer Vlad Goldin and Yale transfer Danny Wolf -- they present a matchup nightmare for most teams.  After losing three of five heading into the Big Ten Tournament, the Wolverines turned it on, beating three ranked, Top 4 seed teams (Purdue, Maryland, and Wisconsin) to win the conference tournament.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  8-7

4.  Mississippi (6-seed South).  While the Rebels have also never made a Final Four, their coach, Chris Beard, took Texas Tech to the national title game in 2019.  They have a small lineup, but they do rank in the Top 30 nationally on both sides of the ball, and they are one of the best teams in the country at protecting the ball.  All eleven of their losses came against NCAA Tournament teams, and they've beaten the likes of Tennessee, Alabama, BYU, and Louisville.  I realize it's going to be a sexy pick to take UNC or San Diego State over the Rebels in the First Round, but if they can win that game, a hamstrung Iowa State team (or Lipscomb) awaits in the Second Round, and they have a puncher's chance against anyone else in the South Region.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  11-11

5.  BYU (6-seed East).  First-year head coach Kevin Young has made a smooth transition from being an NBA assistant to a college head coach.  The Cougars have been one of the best teams in the nation over the last month, losing only to 1-seed Houston in the Big 12 Tournament semis since February 11, and beating 3-seed Iowa State (twice), 4-seed Arizona, and 7-seed Kansas during that stretch.  They're Top 30 in the country in scoring, FG percentage, three-point percentage, and rebounding margin, and Top 10 in three pointers made per game and assists per game.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  5-5

Teams seeded 4 or better who may not make it to the second weekend (last year, I had Auburn on this list, but did not have Baylor, Kansas, or Kentucky on this list):

1.  Duke (1-seed East).  Duke is really good, but this was a really down year for the ACC, so it's hard to gauge just how much of Duke's record is because of how good they are or because of how bad the ACC was.  When they beat Louisville in the ACC Tournament title game, it was the first time they played a ranked opponent since December 4.  If Cooper Flagg's injury prevents him from playing in the Second Round, either Mississippi State or Baylor could pull off the upset and send the Blue Devils packing early.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  9-3

2.  Iowa State (3-seed South).  The Cyclones are always one of those teams that looks good during the regular season, but can't quite make it happen in the Big Dance.  Since 2000, they have been to 12 NCAA Tournaments.  During that time, they've lost to double-digit seeds in the first round as many times as they have been to the Sweet 16 (four).  Assuming they beat 14-seed Lipscomb in the First Round, they will face a tough matchup in the Second Round against 6-seed Ole Miss or one of the play-in teams -- San Diego State, who is always tough, or North Carolina, which has to have a chip on its shoulder based on how much everyone has nearly universally questioned whether they deserve to be in the tournament.  Plus, the Cyclones' second-leading scorer and assist leader, Keshon Gilbert, has been ruled out for the tournament, which is a significant blow.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  6-6

3.  Wisconsin (3-seed East).  The Badgers are good, but not great, and they're probably overseeeded at a 3-seed.  Since Greg Gard guided Wisconsin to the national title game in 2015 in his first year at the helm in Madison, The Badgers went to the Sweet 16 in both of the following two seasons, but haven't made it to the second weekend since 2017.  That includes two First Round losses as a 5-seed (in 2019 to Oregon and last year to James Madison), as well as Second Round loss in 2022 as a 3-seed to 11-seed Iowa State.  First Round opponent Montana is second in the nation in FG percentage, and if the Badgers can get past the Grizzlies, they'll face one of the hottest teams in the country in the high-scoring BYU Cougars or one of the best defensive teams in the country in VCU (which has only lost twice in 2025).
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  5-8

4.  Kentucky (3-seed Midwest).  Fuck Kentucky.  I think the Wildcats are overseeded at a 3-seed.  Sure, they played a really tough schedule, but they were inconsistent this year, and I think they got a bump up in their seed simply because of how good the SEC was this year.  However, after going to seven Elite Eights, four Final Fours, and two national title games  (winning one championship) between 2010 and 2019, they haven't made it to the second weekend of the tournament since 2019, including losses in the First Round last year as a 3-seed to 14-seed Oakland and in 2022 as a 2-seed to 15-seed St. Peter's.  I think they'll likely get past Troy in the First Round, but 6-seed Illinois is an Elite Eight team from last year, and those First Four teams (Texas and Xavier) will be have the "prove we belong" mentality, which could spell trouble for UK.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  13-10

5.  Purdue (4-seed Midwest).  The Boilermakers have a long and storied history . . . of underachieving in March.  Purdue has been a top-4 seed in the NCAA Tournament 17 times since seeding began in 1979, failing to advance to the Sweet 16 eight of those times.  Sure, they made it to the national title game last year, but the year before that, they became the second 1-seed in NCAA Tournament history to lose to a 16-seed in the first round.  The year before, they made it the Sweet 16, only to be ousted by 15-seed St. Peter's.  The year before that, they lost to 13-seed North Texas in the first round.  This year, there's no Zach Edey, and Purdue is probably overseeded on the 4 line.  They stumbled down the stretch, losing six of their last nine games.  High Point can't be overlooked in the First Round, and if the Boilers make it past them, either Clemson or McNeese will be a tough matchup.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  7-8

Teams seeded 12 or higher with the best chance of pulling an upset in the first round (last year, I had James Madison on this list, but did not have Grand Canyon, Oakland, or Yale on this list):

1.  Colorado State (12-seed West).  It says something about the Selection Committee's inability to seed correctly that 12-seed Colorado State is a favorite against 5-seed Memphis.  The Rams have played really well over the last month, winning their last ten on their way to the Mountain West Tournament title.  They shoot the ball very well from both inside and outside the arc.  Memphis is overseeded as a 5-seed.  The AAC was a one-bid league this year, and the Tigers' NET ranking is actually lower than the Rams' NET.  Plus, Memphis may be without starting guard Tyrese Hunter due to an injury.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  3-6

2.  McNeese (12-seed Midwest).  Last year, the Cowboys were in a similar position -- a 12-seed playing against 5-seed Gonzaga.  They were 30-3 entering last year's tournament, and were one of the consistent picks for a 12-5 upset.  But it was their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 22 years, and Gonzaga ran them out of the gym.  Will Wade's crew is back again as a 12-seed, playing Clemson this time around.  They cruised through the Southland again and have lost only once since December.  They shoot well from three and force turnovers well, both good stats for an upset.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  0-3

3.  UC San Diego (12-seed South).  The Tritons stormed into the NCAA Tournament in their first year of eligibility, and they hold a 15-game winning streak.  They shoot well (37% from three-point land), they hold their opponents to 61.6 points per game (6th in the nation) and only 39.8% from the field (11th nationally), their second in the nation in scoring margin (+18.1 points per game), they force turnovers (first in the nation in turnover margin and 4th in the nation in steals per game), and they don't turn the ball over themselves (tied for first in the nation in turnovers per game, with only 8.7), ranking in the Top 10 nationally in both offensive and defensive turnover percentage.  If they can find a way to neutralize (or at least limit) Michigan's two 7-footers, they could win their first-ever NCAA Tournament game.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  1-1

4.  Akron (13-seed East).  Akron has never won an NCAA Tournament game, but this could be the year.  The Zips are 21-1 since December 30, shooting 60% from inside the arc and 38% from outside the arc during that time.  Overall, they're 8th in the country in points per game (84.6), 6th in three-pointers made per game (10.9), 4th in assists per game, and Top 25 in rebounds per game.  Their First Round opponent, Arizona, is good, but not great, and was 5-6 over their last eleven games after starting 17-6.  The Wildcats are not a great defensive team, and their weakness -- opponents' three-point percentage (tied for 183rd nationally out of 364 teams) and made three-pointers per game (tied for 310th nationally) -- plays into Akron's strength.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  2-2

5.  High Point (13-seed Midwest).  The Panthers are another first-time NCAA Tournament team, but don't let that fool you.  They went 29-5, won both the Big South regular season title (outright by three games) and tournament, and they also shoot the ball well from inside and outside the three-point line.  Purdue is streaky and, as discussed above, has a history of underperforming against double-digit seeds.  If the Boilers are off and the Panthers are on, it could be another early exit for Matt Painter's team.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  1-1