The invitation to this year’s Final Four seemed to have specific rules: No upstarts or Cinderellas; big boys only.
Yes, we’re well aware that Connecticut was a No. 7 seed and Kentucky an 8. But, c’mon, these are two power programs with storied histories, each with a championship under their belt within the last four seasons.
After a string of NCAA Tournaments with mid-major party crashers, the Final Four is going back to the big time with Florida and Wisconsin joining the Huskies and Wildcats in North Texas.
We’ve got a rundown of what to look for:
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Florida: The top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament has played like it by extending its winning streak to 30 games.
Kentucky: John Calipari’s latest group of one-and-dones needed a little time to get going. Once the roll started, no one has been able to stop it.
UConn: The Huskies won the 2011 championship behind Kemba Walker. This year, Shabazz Napier is the one-man band.
Wisconsin: The Badgers are feisty, fundamentally sound and one of those teams opponents hate to play.
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Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin: When he’s hitting his 3-pointers, this 7-footer is all but unguardable.
Shabazz Napier, UConn: A 6-1 point guard who can do it all and had a great mentor in Kemba Walker.
Julius Randle, Kentucky: The projected No. 1 overall NBA draft pick is athletic, big and often unstoppable.
Scottie Wilbekin, Florida: From being asked to transfer by his own coach to becoming one of college basketball’s best closers.
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Ryan Boatwright, UConn: Napier’s backcourt sidekick can shoot and has become a point-guard stopper on defense.
Sam Dekker, Wisconsin: He’s scrappy, a good shooter and versatile – a perfect fit for the Badgers.
Aaron Harrison, Kentucky: He hit the winning jumper against Michigan, despite struggling with his shot. He has a twin brother – Andrew – who’s not bad, either.
Patric Young, Florida: The Gators’ big man is like a linebacker in basketball shorts.
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0: Points by Kentucky’s Marcus Lee in the 10 games before scoring 10 against Michigan in the Elite Eight.
0.000051: Percentage of people (612 total) who accurately predicted the Final Four out of 11-million entries in ESPN’s Tournament Challenge.
2: SEC teams (Florida and Kentucky) in the Final Four out of three that made it into the NCAA Tournament.
3: Teams that Kentucky beat in the bracket that were in the Final Four a year ago (Louisville, Michigan and Wichita State).
4: Times UConn’s men’s and women’s teams have reached the Final Four in the same season, most of any school.
8: Years since there were no repeat Final Four teams before this season.
8.1: Turnovers per game by Wisconsin, best in the nation.
16: Consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances by Wisconsin, most among the Final Four teams.
73: Years since Wisconsin’s last and only national championship.
2,720: Points scored by Wisconsin this season, a school record.
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John Calipari, Kentucky: The slick coach with the designer suits might irritate some, but he sure can recruit players – and win games.
Billy Donovan, Florida: So much for not being able to get the Gators to the Final Four without NBA-ready players. This might be the best coaching job of his career.
Kevin Ollie, UConn: Thrust into a difficult situation after the retirement of legend Jim Calhoun and NCAA sanctions last season, the UConn alumnus managed it all incredibly well, particularly for a first-time head coach.
Bo Ryan, Wisconsin: His has been the feel-good story so far, making the Final Four for the first time as a coach after taking his late father, Butch, every year since 1976 as a birthday gift.
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badgers alumni: actor Don Ameche, former Vice President Dick Cheney, singers Steve Miller and Boz Scaggs, Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig and architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
gators alumni: actress Faye Dunaway, Nobel Prize winners Robert Grubbs and Marshall Nirenberg, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner, Wendy’s owner Dave Thomas.
Huskies alumni: physicist David Lee, screenwriter/producer Jeremy Leven, actor Ron Palillo (Horshack!) and actress Meg Ryan.
wildcats alumni: actress Ashley Judd, Nobel Prize winner William Lipscomb, Sen. Mitch McConnell and astronaut Story Musgrave.
