I was out of town last week, so I didn't get to post my usual "Fun Facts About the NCAA Tournament" Tuesday Top Ten after the first two rounds. But all that means is that I'm combining that with fun facts about the Final Four, so you get an extra long bonus post!
The NIL/transfer portal era continues to wreak havoc on the NCAA Tournament, as things were relatively chalky again this year (more on that below).
In the South, 3-seed Illinois pulled away from Big Ten rival 9-seed Iowa for a 71-59 win, to clinch the Illini's sixth Final Four appearance and first since 2005. They have never won a national title and lost the only national title game in which they have appeared (also in 2005).
In the West, 1-seed Arizona dominated the overseeded 2-seed Purdue, 79-64. The Wildcats will be playing in their fifth Final Four and first since 2001, when they lost in the title game to Duke. They won a national title in 1997.
In the East, in what was the only exciting game in the Elite Eight, 2-seed UConn came back from a 19-point deficit to beat 1-seed Duke, 73-72, on a 35-foot three with 0.4 seconds left. The Huskies will be playing in their eighth Final Four, and third in the last four years. They have won six national titles, in 1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, 2023, and 2024.
In the Midwest, 1-seed Michigan demolished 6-seed Tennessee, 95-62, to put the Wolverines in their ninth Final Four and first since 2018. They won a national title in 1989.
Here is the schedule for this Saturday's semifinal games (times ET). Both games are on TBS, TNT, and truTV:
(E2) UConn vs. (S3) Illinois - 6:09 p.m.
(W1) Arizona vs. (MW1) Michigan - 8:49 p.m.
As I do this time of year, I'm going to drop some NCAA Tournament and Final Four statistical knowledge on you. This is the kind of shit I live for.
23. First Four 11-seed Texas advanced to the Sweet 16 before losing to 2-seed Purdue on a last-second shot. Since the First Four format started in 2011, 14 First Four teams have advanced to the Round of 32 or beyond, with six making it to the Sweet 16 or beyond. Here's a list of the years with First Four teams that have advanced to the Second Round or further (with how far they got in parentheses):
-2026: 11-seed Texas (Sweet 16)
-2024: 10-seed Colorado (Round of 32)
-2023: 11-seed Pittsburgh (Round of 32) and 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson (Round of 32)
-2022: 11-seed Notre Dame (Round of 32)
-2021: 11-seed UCLA (Final Four)
-2018: 11-seed Syracuse (Sweet 16)
-2017: 11-seed USC (Round of 32)
-2016: 11-seed Wichita State (Round of 32)
-2015: 11-seed Dayton (Round of 32)
-2014: 11-seed Tennessee (Sweet 16)
-2013: 13-seed LaSalle (Sweet 16)
-2012: 12-seed South Florida (Round of 32)
-2011: 11-seed VCU (Final Four)
22. Four teams got their first-ever NCAA Tournament win:
- 4-seed Nebraska, which beat 13-seed Troy in the First Round
- 12-seed High Point, which upset 5-seed Wisconsin in the First Round
- 16-seed Howard, which beat fellow 16-seed UMBC in the First Four
- 16-seed Prairie View A&M, which beat fellow 16-seed Lehigh in the First Four
21. No 13-, 14-, 15- or 16-seeds won for the second year in a row. Since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, this is only the seventh time this has happened, with 1994, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2017, and 2025 being the other years.
20. Not only was Nebraska's First Round win over Troy the Cornhuskers' first-ever NCAA Tournament win, but their win over Vanderbilt in the Second Round put them in their first-ever Sweet 16. It's the 26th time since the tournament was expanded to 64 teams in 1985 that a team played in its first Sweet 16. Here is when it has happened (and the seed numbers of the teams), and to be clear, I am excluding teams that advanced further than the Sweet 16 when the tournament was 16 or fewer teams from 1939 to 1952, but have only advanced to the Sweet 16 once since 1985 (for instance, Washington State was the runner-up in 1941, but has only made it to the Sweet 16 once since 1985):
-2026: Nebraska (#4)
-2023: FAU (#9)**
-2022: St. Peter's (#15)*
-2013: Florida Gulf Coast (#15)
-2010: Northern Iowa (#9)
-2005: Wisconsin-Milwaukee (#12)
-2004: Nevada (#10)
-2002: Kent State (#10)*
-2011: Mississippi (#3), San Diego State (#2), VCU (#11)**
-1999: Gonzaga (#10)*, Southwest Missouri State (now known as Missouri State) (#12)
-1998: Valparaiso (#13)
-1997: Tennessee-Chattanooga (#14)
-1993: George Washington (#12)
-1992: UMass (#3)
-1991: Eastern Michigan (#12)
-1990: Xavier (#6)
-1989: Seton Hall (#3)**
-1988: Rhode Island (#11), Richmond (#13)
-1987: Florida (#6)
-1986: Cleveland State (#14)
-1985: Auburn (#11), Louisiana Tech (#5)
*Advanced to Elite Eight
**Advanced to Final Four
19. All in all, 8 higher-seeded teams upset lower-seeded teams in the First Round, and 4 higher-seeded teams upset lower-seeded teams in the Second Round.
18. Iowa and St. John's both made it to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999. You may think a 27-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 didn't make 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:
-76 years (1951): Montana State, San Jose State
-74 years (1953): Holy Cross
-73 years (1954): Rice
-70 years (1957): Canisius, Lafayette, St. Louis
-69 years (1958): Dartmouth, Manhattan
-68 years (1959): Boston University
-66 years (1961): Morehead State
-64 years (1963): Bowling Green
-63 years (1964): Seattle (although they were not D-1 from 1980 to 2008)
-60 years (1967): SMU
-59 years (1968): Columbia, East Tennessee State, TCU
-58 years (1969): Colorado, Colorado State, Duquesne
-57 years (1970): Jacksonville, Niagara, Santa Clara, St. Bonaventure, Utah State
-56 years (1971): Drake, Fordham, Pacific
-55 years (1972): Weber State
-53 years (1974): Furman, New Mexico
-52 years (1975): Central Michigan, Montana
-51 years (1976): Pepperdine, Western Michigan
-50 years (1977): Charlotte, Detroit Mercy, Idaho State, VMI
17. 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 (2026)
- ACC: Duke, Miami (FL)
- Big 12: Arizona, Houston, Iowa State
- Big East: UConn, St. John's
- Big Ten: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Purdue
- SEC: Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas
- 2 years (2024)
- Mountain West: San Diego State
- West Coast: Gonzaga
- 3 years (2023):
- AAC: Houston
- Conference USA: FAU
- Ivy League: Princeton
- Pac-12: UCLA
- 4 years (2022)
- MAAC: St. Peter's
- 5 years (2021)
- Missouri Valley: Loyola (IL)
- Summit: Oral Roberts
- 12 years (2014)
- Atlantic 10: Dayton
- 13 years (2013)
- Atlantic Sun: Florida Gulf Coast
- 14 years (2012)
- MAC: Ohio
- 15 years (2011)
- Colonial: VCU
- Horizon: Butler
- 16 years (2008)
- Southern Conference: Davidson
- Sun Belt: Western Kentucky
- 22 years (2004)
- WAC: Nevada
- 34 years (1992)
- Big West: New Mexico State
- 40 years (1985)
- Southland: Louisiana Tech
- 41 years (1982)
- Big Sky: Idaho
- 53 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)
16. Defending champ Florida lost to 9-seed Iowa in the Second Round. It was the 28th 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 nearly twice as likely not to make it to the Sweet 16 than to advance to the Sweet 16. Here is a breakdown of defending champions who have lost before the Sweet 16 or failed to make the NCAA Tournament since 1979:
2026: Florida (lost in Round of 32)
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)
15. Only 4 double-digit seeds won their First Round games, which is the fewest since 2007 and only the sixth time since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985 that fewer than five double-digit seeds made it past the First Round. In the 42 tournaments since the Tournament expanded to 64 teams, there have been 253 double-digit seeds that have won their First Round games, which is an average of 6.023 per year. Here is a year-by-year list of every double-digit seed that has won its First Round game since 1985:
2026: 4 (#10 Texas A&M, #11 Texas, VCU, #12 High Point)
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)
14. The average seed number for Sweet 16 teams this year was 3.75, which is a below average and the third year in a row (and only the 13th 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):
2026: 3.75
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
13. In what may be another 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 second year in a row and second time since seeding began in 1979, there were 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:
2026: 0
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
12. There were two teams seeded 8 or lower that advanced to the Sweet 16 (9-seed Iowa in the South Region and 11-seed Texas in the West Region), which is below the average. Since 1979, 118 teams seeded 8 or lower have advanced to the Sweet 16, for an average of 2.51 teams per year. 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:
2026: 2 (#9 Iowa, #11 Texas)
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
11. All four schools in the Final Four -- Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, and UConn -- are public schools. That has happened 24 other times. Here they are (winner listed first, runner-up second, other two after):
-2024: UConn, Purdue, Alabama, NC State
-2019: Virginia, Texas Tech, Auburn, Michigan State
-2014: UConn, Kentucky, Florida, Wisconsin
-2012: Kentucky, Kansas, Ohio State, Louisville
-2008: Kansas, Memphis, UCLA, North Carolina
-2006: Florida, UCLA, LSU, George Mason
-2005: North Carolina, Illinois, Louisville, Michigan State
-2002: Maryland, Indiana, Kansas, Oklahoma
-2000: Michigan State, Florida, North Carolina, Wisconsin
-1997: Arizona, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina
-1995: UCLA, Arkansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma State
-1993: North Carolina, Michigan, Kentucky, Kansas
-1983: NC State, Houston, Louisville, Georgia
-1981: Indiana, North Carolina, Virginia, LSU
-1980: Louisville, UCLA, Purdue, Iowa
-1976: Indiana, Michigan, UCLA, Rutgers
-1972: UCLA, Florida State, North Carolina, Louisville
-1968: UCLA, North Carolina, Ohio State, Houston
-1959: California, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Louisville
-1953: Indiana, Kansas, Washington, LSU
-1951: Kentucky, Kansas State, Illinois, Oklahoma A&M
-1949: Kentucky, Oklahoma A&M, Illinois, Oregon State
-1946: Oklahoma A&M, North Carolina, Ohio State, California
-1941: Wisconsin, Washington State, Arkansas, Pittsburgh
10. Here's every conference's last Final Four team. Again, 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 (2026)
- Big 12: Arizona
- Big East: UConn
- Big Ten: Illinois, Michigan
- 1 year (2025):
- ACC: Duke
- SEC: Auburn, Florida
- 3 years (2023):
- Conference USA: FAU
- Mountain West: San Diego State
- 5 years (2021)
- AAC: Houston
- Pac-12: UCLA
- WCC: Gonzaga
- 8 years (2018)
- Missouri Valley: Loyola (IL)
- 15 years (2011)
- Colonial: VCU
- Horizon: Butler
- 28 years (1998)
- WAC: Utah
- 30 years (1996)
- Atlantic 10: UMass
- 35 years (1991)
- Big West: UNLV
- 47 years (1979)
- Ivy League: Penn
- 49 years (1977)
- Sun Belt: UNC Charlotte
- 55 years (1971)
- Ohio Valley: Western Kentucky
- 76 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 Illinois and Michigan both making it to the Final Four, the Big Ten has a 50% chance to end its 26-year national title drought. 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 2027.
- Conferences with national titles
- AAC: 12 years (UConn, 2014)
- ACC: 7 years (Virginia, 2019)
- Big 12: 4 years (Kansas, 2022)
- Big East: 2 years (UConn, 2024)
- Big Ten: 26 years (Michigan State, 2000)
- Big West: 36 years (UNLV, 1990)
- Missouri Valley: 64 years (Cincinnati, 1962)
- Pac-10/Pac-12: 29 years (Arizona, 1997)
- SEC: 1 year (Florida, 2025)
- 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, the latter of which is the most of any conference this millennium. With Arizona going to the Final Four for the first time as a member of the Big 12, the Big 12 has now also sent 8 different schools to the Final Four since 2000. 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), Michigan (3), Wisconsin (3), Ohio State (2), Illinois (2), Indiana (1), Purdue (1)
3. Big 12 - 8 schools for 14 appearances: Kansas (6), Oklahoma (2), Arizona (1), Baylor (1), Oklahoma State (1), Texas (1), Texas Tech (1), Houston (1)
4 (tie). Big East - 6 schools for 16 appearances: UConn (6), 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. Michigan coach Dusty May previously took FAU to the Final Four in 2023, becoming the 15th head coach to guide two or more schools to the Final Four (including vacated appearances). Here is the list of everyone who's done it:
Forddy Anderson (Bradley, 1950, 1954; Michigan State, 1957)
Gene Bartow (Memphis, 1973; UCLA, 1976)
Larry Brown (UCLA, 1980; Kansas, 1986, 1988)
John Calipari (UMass, 1996; Memphis, 2008; Kentucky, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015)
Hugh Durham (Florida State, 1972; Georgia, 1983)
Jack Gardner (Kansas State, 1948, 1951; Utah, 1961, 1966)
Lou Henson (New Mexico State, 1970; Illinois, 1989)
Bob Huggins (Cincinnati, 1992; West Virginia, 2010)
Lon Kruger (Florida, 1994; Oklahoma, 2016)
Jim Larranaga (George Mason, 2006; Miami (FL), 2023)
Dusty May (FAU, 2023; Michigan, 2026)
Frank McGuire (Kansas, 1952; North Carolina, 1957)
Lute Olson (Iowa, 1980; Arizona, 1988, 1994, 1997, 2001)
Rick Pitino (Providence, 1987; Kentucky, 1993, 1996, 1997; Louisville, 2005, 2012, 2013)
Lee Rose (Charlotte, 1977; Purdue, 1980)
Kelvin Sampson (Oklahoma, 2002; Houston, 2021, 2025)
Eddie Sutton (Arkansas, 1978; Oklahoma State, 1995, 2004)
Roy Williams (Kansas, 1991, 1993, 2002, 2003; North Carolina, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2017)
6. UConn head coach Dan Hurley will be coaching in his third Final Four in the last four years, becoming the 38th head coach to go to the Final Four at least three times (including vacated appearances). Here is the list of each head coach who has gone to three or more Final Fours:
- 13 times
- Mike Krzyzewski (Duke, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2010, 2015, 2022)
- 12 times
- John Wooden (UCLA, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975)
- 11 times
- Dean Smith (North Carolina, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997)
- 9 times
- Roy Williams (Kansas, 1991, 1993, 2002, 2003; North Carolina, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2017)
- 8 times
- Tom Izzo (Michigan State, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2019)
- 7 times
- Rick Pitino (Providence, 1987; Kentucky, 1993, 1996, 1997; Louisville, 2005, 2012, 2013)
- 6 times
- John Calipari (UMass, 1996; Memphis, 2008; Kentucky, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015)
- Denny Crum (Louisville, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986)
- Adolph Rupp (Kentucky, 1942, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1966)
- 5 times
- Jim Boeheim (Syracuse, 1987, 1996, 2003, 2013, 2016)
- Bob Knight (Indiana, 1973, 1976, 1981, 1987, 1992)
- Guy Lewis (Houston, 1967, 1968, 1982, 1983, 1984)
- Lute Olson (Iowa, 1980; Arizona, 1988, 1994, 1997, 2001)
- 4 times
- Jim Calhoun (UConn, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2011)
- Billy Donovan (Florida, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2014)
- Jack Gardner (Kansas State, 1948, 1951; Utah, 1961, 1966)
- Henry Iba (Oklahoma State (then A&M), 1945, 1946, 1949, 1951)
- Harold Olsen (Ohio State, 1939, 1944, 1945, 1946)
- Bill Self (Kansas, 2008, 2012, 2018, 2022)
- Jerry Tarkanian (UNLV, 1977, 1987, 1990, 1991)
- Fred Taylor (Ohio State, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1968)
- Jay Wright (Villanova , 2009, 2016, 2018, 2022)
- 3 times
- Phog Allen (Kansas, 1940, 1952, 1953)
- Forddy Anderson (Bradley, 1950, 1954; Michigan State, 1957)
- Larry Brown (UCLA, 1980; Kansas, 1986, 1988)
- Vic Bubas (Duke, 1963, 1964, 1966)
- Harry Combes (Illinois, 1949, 1951, 1952)
- Steve Fisher (Michigan, 1989, 1992, 1993)
- Joe B. Hall (Kentucky, 1975, 1978, 1984)
- Ben Howland (UCLA, 2006, 2007, 2008)
- Dan Hurley (UConn, 2023, 2024, 2026)
- Ed Jucker (Cincinnati, 1961, 1962, 1963)
- Nolan Richardson (Arkansas, 1990, 1994, 1995)
- Kelvin Sampson (Oklahoma, 2002; Houston, 2021, 2025)
- Eddie Sutton (Arkansas, 1978; Oklahoma State, 1995, 2004)
- John Thompson (Georgetown, 1982, 1984, 1985)
- Phil Woolpert (San Francisco, 1955, 1956, 1957)
5. On the flipside, Arizona's Tommy Lloyd and Illinois's Brad Underwood are both coaching in their first Final Fours. If either win the title, it will be the 30th 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)
4. With UConn going to the Final Four this year, there are now 11 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), Michigan (9), Indiana (8), and UConn (8). One of those teams has been in every Final Four since the year after the Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985 and all but 8 of 87 Final Fours overall (1941, 1943, 1947, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1985).
3. Two 1-seeds made it to the Final Four, which is a little above average. Overall, 77 1-seeds have made it to the Final Four in the 47 tournaments since seeding began in 1979, for an average of 1.638 1-seeds in the Final Four each year. That means a little under 41% of all 1-seeds have advanced to the Finals Four. However, the 1-seeds that do make it to the Final Four have a pretty good shot at winning it all, as 1-seeds have won 28 national titles since 1979 (nearly 61%), including 7 of the last 8. Here is a breakdown of how many #1 seeds have advanced to the Final Four each year since 1979.
2026: 2 (Arizona, Michigan)
2025: 4 (Florida*, Houston**, Auburn, Duke)
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 1.75, which is only the fifth time this millennium and 11th time since seeding began in 1979 that the average has been below 2 -- and the second year in a row. Here are the average seeds for the Final Four since 1979 (with the years it was lower than 2 bolded):
2026: 1.75
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 Illinois and Michigan both making the Final Four this year, it is the 27th time that one conference has had two or more teams in the same Final Four. The Big Ten has now done that 9 times, ahead of the ACC (6), SEC (5), Big East (4), and Big 8/Big 12 (3). 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):
2026: Big Ten - Illinois, Michigan
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