Here are the complete 2011 Men’s Final Four Notes courtesy of the NCAA:
MILESTONE GAME
The 2011 championship game to be played on April 4 will be the 2,900th all-time game in the NCAA tournament.
Men’s Final Four Appearances for Institutions
School Appearances Final Four Record Championships
Butler 2 2010, 2011 1-1
Connecticut 4 1999, 2004, 2009, 2011 4-1 1999, 2004
Kentucky 14 1942, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1966 17-6 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958
1975, 1978, 1984, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2011 1978, 1996, 1998
VCU 0 None 0-0
Men’s Final Four Appearances for Head Coaches
Coach, School Appearances Final Four Record Championships
Brad Stevens, Butler 2 2010, 2011 1-1
Jim Calhoun, Connecticut 4 1999, 2004, 2009, 2011 4-1 1999, 2004
John Calipari, Kentucky 3 1996 (*Massachusetts), 2008 (*Memphis)
Kentucky (2011) *1-2
Shaka Smart, VCU 0 None 0-0
*- Calipari’s Final Four appearances, wins and losses were later vacated by the Committee on Infractions.
Head Coaches that have coached Three Different Teams
to the Final Four
Coach First Team Second Team Third Team
Rick Pitino Providence Kentucky Louisville
John Calipari *Massachusetts *Memphis Kentucky
*- Calipari’s Final Four appearances later vacated
Youngest Coaches at the Final Four since 1972
Coach School Final Four YY-MM-DDAge*
Bob Knight Indiana 1973 32-4-29
Brad Stevens Butler 2010 33-5-11
Shaka Smart VCU 2011 33-11-24
Hugh Durham Florida St. 1972 34-4-27
Brad Stevens Butler 2011 34-5-10
Rick Pitino Providence 1987 34-6-10
Billy Donavan Florida 2000 34-10-1
Denny Crum Louisville 1972 35-0-21
*Age based on the day the coach’s team first played in the Final Four.
Many coaches’ birth dates before 1972 are missing, but here are the youngest of those that could be found:
Coach School Final Four YY-MM-DD Age*
Ray Meyer DePaul 1943 29-3-7
Branch McCracken Indiana 1940 31-9-14
Harold Foster Wisconsin 1941 34-9-22
Howard Hobson Oregon 1939 35-8-17
Don Haskins UTEP 1966 36-8-4
TWO LESS THAN ONE
On April 2 when Butler meets VCU, the combined ages of the two head coaches will be 68 years, 5 months and 4 days old. In the next game that day, Jim Calhoun’s Connecticut team will face Kentucky. Calhoun’s age on that day will be 68 years, 10 months and 22 days old.
COULD BE THE OLDEST
If Connecticut wins the championship on Monday, coach Jim Calhoun, at an age of 68 years, 10 months and 24 days old, would become the oldest ever to win the NCAA title. Currently, Phog Allen of Kansas is listed as the oldest when the Jayhawks won in 1952 and Allen was 66 years, 4 months and 8 days old.
Close Games in the 2011 Tournament
Most close games in a tournament, with close games being decided by three or fewer points or overtime(s):
(Note that all overtime games are included regardless of scoring margin)
1990: 24
1998: 19
2010: 19
2011: 19
1985: 18
2003: 18
2004: 18
1983: 17
1984: 17
If you just take all games decided by three or fewer points, regardless if they were decided in regulation or overtime:
1990: 23
1985: 18
1984: 17
2010: 17
1983: 16
1998: 16
2003: 16
2004: 16
2011: 16
NON-BCS
The Horizon League is represented in the Men’s Final Four for the second straight year by Butler. The League joins the Big West (UNLV 1990-91), Missouri Valley (Cincinnati 1961-62) and West Coast (San Francisco 1955-56) conferences as the only non-BCS conferences to send a member to consecutive Men’s Final Fours.
Teams that have made back-to-back Men’s Final Fours
Ohio St. (1944, 1945 and 1946)
Oklahoma St. (1945 and 1946)
Holy Cross (1947 and 1948)
Kentucky (1948 and 1949)
Illinois (1951 and 1952)
Kansas (1952 and 1953)
La Salle (1954 and 1955)
San Francisco (1955, 1956 and 1957)
California (1959 and 1960)
Cincinnati (1959, 1960, 1961 and 1962)
Ohio St. (1960, 1961 and 1962)
Duke (1963 and 1964)
UCLA (1964 and 1965)
Michigan (1964 and 1965)
North Carolina (1967, 1968 and 1969)
UCLA (1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976)
North Carolina (1981 and 1982)
Louisville (1982 and 1983)
Houston (1982, 1983, 1984)
Georgetown (1984 and 1985)
Duke (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992)
UNLV (1990 and 1991)
Michigan (1992 and 1993) – Later vacated
Arkansas (1994 and 1995)
Kentucky (1996, 1997 and 1998)
North Carolina (1997 and 1998)
Michigan St. (1999, 2000 and 2001)
Maryland (2001 and 2002)
Kansas (2002 and 2003)
Florida (2006 and 2007)
UCLA (2006, 2007 and 2008)
Michigan St. (2009 and 2010)
Butler (2010 and 2011)
Teams that have played in back-to-back Championship Games
Oklahoma St. (1945 and 1946)
Kansas (1952 and 1953)
La Salle (1954 and 1955)
San Francisco (1955 and 1956)
California (1959 and 1960)
Ohio St. (1960, 1961 and 1962)
North Carolina (1981 and 1982)
Georgetown (1984 and 1985)
UCLA (1964 and 1965)
UCLA (1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973)
North Carolina (1981 and 1982)
Houston (1983 and 1984)
Duke (1990, 1991 and 1992)
Michigan (1992 and 1993) – Later vacated
Arkansas (1994 and 1995)
Kentucky (1996, 1997 and 1998)
Florida (2006 and 2007)
Teams that have made it back to the Men’s Final Four after losing in National Championship Game the previous year
Ohio St. (1962)
North Carolina (1969)
North Carolina (1982)
Houston (1984)
Duke (1991)
Michigan (1993)
Butler (2011)
Teams that have played in the national championship game after losing in the National Championship Game the previous year
Ohio St. (1962)
North Carolina (1982)
Duke (1991)
Michigan (1993)
Kentucky (1998)
Teams that have made won the national championship the year after finishing as the National Runners-up
North Carolina (1982)
Duke (1991)
Kentucky (1998)
Back-to-back Final Fours
Butler is the first institution from the state of Indiana to make back-to-back Men’s Final Fours.
beating #1 seeds
Butler is the third team in NCAA Tournament history to beat a No. 1 seed before the Final Four in consecutive years (Syracuse -2010/Pittsburgh – 2011), and the first two were seeded third or better. UCLA beat No. 1 seeds in 2006 and 2007 as a No. 2 seed, while Duke turned in wins over a top-seeded team in 1988, 1989 and 1990. The Blue Devils were a No. 2 seed in 1988 and 1989 and a No. 3 seed in 1990.
go west young man
This is Connecticut’s fourth Men’s Final Four appearance. What ties all four appearances (1999, 2004, 2009 and 2011) together? West Region…All four trips to the Men’s Final Four went through the West Region.
No #1 and #2 SEEDS
This marks only the third Men’s Final Four since seeding started in 1979 that no #1 seeds will be playing in the Men’s Final Four. The other two years were 1980 (#2 Louisville, #5 Iowa, #6 Purdue and #8 UCLA) and 2006 (#2 UCLA, #3 Florida, #4 LSU and #11 George Mason).
This is the first ever Men’s Final Four that no #1 or #2 seeds are playing in the Men’s Final Four.
FIRST FOUR to the Final Four
Because VCU was a participant in the inaugural First Four, the Rams have become the first team to have played five tournament games before reaching the Final Four. VCU defeated teams from the Pac-10 (USC), Big East (Georgetown), Big Ten (Purdue), ACC (Florida St.) and Big 12 (Kansas) to reach its first Final Four.
HIGHEST ACCUMULATED SEEDS
The four participants’ combined seeds add up to the highest accumulated number in the history of the Men’s Final Four. The four combined seeds total 26.
2011 – #3 Connecticut, #4 Kentucky, #8 Butler, #11 VCU
The previous high was 22 in 2000 (#1 Michigan St., #5 Florida, #8 North Carolina and #8 Wisconsin).
HIGHEST ACCUMULATED SEEDS, part 2
When #8 Butler meets #11 VCU on April 2 in Houston, the combined seeds add up to the highest accumulated number in the history of the Men’s Final Four to play each other. The two combined seeds total 19.
The previous high was 14 in 1980 and 2006.
#8 UCLA defeated #6 Purdue, 67-62, on March 22, 1980.
#3 Florida defeated #11 George Mason, 73-58, on April 1, 2006.
LOWEST SEED to play in the national championship game
1980 – #2 Louisville over #8 UCLA, 59-54
1985 – #8 Villanova over #1 Georgetown, 66-64
If VCU beats Butler, the Rams will be the lowest seed ever in the national championship game. If Butler beats VCU, the Bulldogs will tie the mark.
No matter who beats who in the national semifinals, the 2011 championship game on April 4 will feature the highest accumulated seeds ever in the title game.
#11 seeds to make the Men’s Final Four (3)
1986 – LSU
2006 – George Mason
2011 – VCU
#8 seeds to make the Men’s Final Four (5)
1980 – UCLA
1984 – Villanova
2000 – North Carolina and Wisconsin
2011 – Butler
THE BIG EAST
The Big East Conference has a member institution in the Men’s Final Four for the third straight year. Overall, the Big East has had a school(s) in the Men’s Final Four eight times since 2003.
2011 – Connecticut
2010 – West Virginia
2009 – Connecticut and Villanova
2007 – Georgetown
2005 – Louisville
2004 – Connecticut
2003 – Syracuse
Most Men’s Final Four Appearances by Conferences since 2000
Big Ten (9)
2000 – Michigan St. and Wisconsin
2001 – Michigan St.
2002 – Indiana
2005 – Illinois and Michigan St.
2007 – Ohio St.
2009 – Michigan St.
2010 – Michigan St.
Atlantic Coast (9)
2000 – North Carolina
2001 – Duke and Maryland
2002 – Maryland
2004 – Georgia Tech
2005 – North Carolina
2008 – North Carolina
2009 – North Carolina
2010 – Duke
Big East (8)
2003 – Syracuse
2004 – Connecticut
2005 – Louisville
2007 – Georgetown
2009 – Connecticut and Villanova
2010 – West Virginia
2011 – Connecticut
Big 12 (6)
2002 – Kansas and Oklahoma
2003 – Kansas and Texas
2004 – Oklahoma St.
2008 – Kansas
Pac-10 (4)
2001 – Arizona
2006 – UCLA
2007 – UCLA
2008 – UCLA
Southeastern (4)
2000 – Florida
2006 – Florida and LSU
2007 – Florida
Conference USA (2)
2003 – Marquette
2008 – Memphis
Colonial Athletic Association (2)
2006 – George Mason
2011 – VCU
Horizon League (2)
2010 – Butler
2011 – Butler
Bold – National Champion
Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams from the Same School in the Final Four the Same Year
1983 Georgia
1999 Duke
2002 Oklahoma
2003 Texas
2004 Connecticut
2005 Michigan State
2006 LSU
2009 Connecticut
2011 Connecticut – the women’s team plays on Tuesday to try to advance to the Final Four.
LOTS OF GAMES
VCU enters the Men’s Final Four with a 28-11 record while Connecticut is 30-9. So both teams will be playing their 40th game of the season on Saturday. That will tie the modern record (since 1948), which has been done seven times. Previous teams with 40 games in a season are Duke, 1986 (37-3) and 2010 (35-5); UNLV, 1990 (35-5); Kentucky, 1997 (35-5); Florida, 2007 (35-5); Kansas, 2008 (37-3); and Memphis, 2008 (38-2), although Memphis was later vacated by the Committee on Infractions.
If VCU or Connecticut advance to the final game, it will be the most games played in a season since Oregon played 45 games in 1945 as the Ducks went 30-15.
Neither Kentucky (29-8) nor Butler (27-9) can reach the 40-game plateau this season.
WIN STREAKS
Each of the 2011 Men’s Final Four teams have a winning streak of at least five games. This is the first time that has happened since 1983. This year’s schools have streaks of 13 (Butler), 9 (Connecticut), 9 (Kentucky) and 5 (VCU). In 1983, the schools entered the Men’s Final Four with streaks of 25 (Houston), Louisville (16), North Carolina State (8) and Georgia (7).
TOURNAMENT STATS
The updated tournament statistical leaders can be found at:
http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_champs_records/2011/d1/html/confstat.htm
SEASON STATS
The updated season statistical leaders can be found at:
http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/rankings?sportCode=MBB
2011 All-Regional Teams
East
*Brandon Knight, Kentucky
Josh Harrellson, Kentucky
DeAndre Liggins, Kentucky
Harrison Barnes, North Carolina
Tyler Zeller, North Carolina
Southeast
* Shelvin Mack, Butler
Matt Howard, Butler
Kenny Boynton, Florida
Vernon Macklin, Florida
Alex Tyus, Florida
Southwest
*Jamie Skeen, VCU
Marcus Morris, Kansas
Bradford Burgess, VCU
Joey Rodriguez, VCU
Brandon Rozzell, VCU
West
*Kemba Walker, Connecticut
Jesse Perry, Arizona
Derrick Williams, Arizona
Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut
Kyrie Irving, Duke
*Most Outstanding Player
2011 NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ATTENDANCE
Round Site Attendance
First Dayton, OH 10,025
Dayton, OH 10,192
Total 20,217
Second Charlotte, NC 16,829
Charlotte, NC 16,852
Chicago, IL 17,352
Chicago, IL 17,369
Cleveland, OH 20,164
Cleveland, OH 20,164
Denver, CO 18,499
Denver, CO 19,216
Tampa, FL 14,835
Tampa, FL 15,504
Tucson, AZ 10,101
Tucson, AZ 10,293
Tulsa, OK 12,631
Tulsa, OK 14,353
Washington, DC 17,578
Washington, DC 17,706
Totals 259,446
Third Charlotte, NC 18,329
Chicago, IL 18,146
Cleveland, OH 20,164
Denver, CO 19,328
Tampa, FL 17,771
Tucson, AZ 11,267
Tulsa, OK 15,839
Washington, DC 18,684
139,528
Regional Semifinals Anaheim, CA 17,890
New Orleans, LA 12,320
Newark, NJ 18,343
*San Antonio, TX 14,566
63,119
Regional Finals Anaheim, CA 17,856
New Orleans, NO 12,139
Newark, NJ 18,278
*San Antonio, TX 14,299
62,572
National Semifinals *Houston, TX
National Final *Houston, TX
Total Attendance 544,882
Average Per Session 15,568
*Dome
2011 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament Field
2011 NCAA Tournament Pre-Tourney Tourney Final Conference
Seed School Conference How W L Pct. W L W L Pct. W L Fin.
15 Akron Mid-American (E) Q 23 12 .657 0 1 23 13 .639 9 7 T3d
16 Alabama St. Southwestern Q 17 17 .500 0 1 17 18 .486 11 7 4th
5 Arizona Pacific-10 L 27 7 .794 3 1 30 8 .789 14 4 1st
13 Belmont Atlantic Sun Q 30 4 .882 0 1 30 5 .857 19 1 1st
16 Boston U. America East Q 21 13 .618 0 1 21 14 .600 12 4 2nd
14 Bucknell Patriot Q 25 8 .758 0 1 25 9 .735 13 1 1st
8 Butler Horizon Q 23 9 .719 4 0 27 9 .750 13 5 T1st
3 BYU Mountain West L 30 4 .882 2 1 32 5 .865 14 2 T1st
6 Cincinnati Big East L 25 8 .758 1 1 26 9 .743 11 7 T6th
12 Clemson Atlantic Coast L 21 11 .656 1 1 22 12 .647 9 7 T3d
3 Connecticut Big East Q 26 9 .743 4 0 30 9 .769 9 9 T9th
1 Duke Atlantic Coast Q 30 4 .882 2 1 32 5 .865 13 3 2nd
2 Florida Southeastern (E) L 26 7 .788 3 1 29 8 .784 13 3 1st
10 Florida St. Atlantic Coast L 21 10 .677 2 1 23 11 .676 11 5 3rd
8 George Mason Colonial L 26 6 .813 1 1 27 7 .794 16 2 1st
6 Georgetown Big East L 21 10 .677 0 1 21 11 .656 10 8 8th
10 Georgia Southeastern (E) L 21 11 .656 0 1 21 12 .636 9 7 T3d
11 Gonzaga West Coast Q 24 9 .727 1 1 25 10 .714 11 3 T1st
16 Hampton Mid-Eastern Q 24 8 .750 0 1 24 9 .727 11 5 T2nd
9 Illinois Big Ten L 19 13 .594 1 1 20 14 .588 9 9 T4th
14 Indiana St. Missouri Valley Q 20 13 .606 0 1 20 14 .588 12 6 3rd
1 Kansas Big 12 Q 32 2 .941 3 1 35 3 .921 14 2 1st
5 Kansas St. Big 12 L 22 10 .688 1 1 23 11 .676 10 6 T3d
4 Kentucky Southeastern (E) Q 25 8 .758 4 0 29 8 .784 10 6 2nd
15 Long Island Northeast Q 27 5 .844 0 1 27 6 .818 16 2 1st
4 Louisville Big East L 25 9 .735 0 1 25 10 .714 12 6 T3d
11 Marquette Big East L 20 14 .588 2 1 22 15 .595 9 9 T9th
12 Memphis Conference USA Q 25 9 .735 0 1 25 10 .714 10 6 4th
8 Michigan Big Ten L 20 13 .606 1 1 21 14 .600 9 9 T4th
10 Michigan St. Big Ten L 19 14 .576 0 1 19 15 .559 9 9 T4th
11 Missouri Big 12 L 23 10 .697 0 1 23 11 .676 8 8 T5th
13 Morehead St. Ohio Valley Q 24 9 .727 1 1 25 10 .714 13 5 T2nd
2 North Carolina Atlantic Coast L 26 7 .788 3 1 29 8 .784 14 2 1st
15 Northern Colo. Big Sky Q 21 10 .677 0 1 21 11 .656 13 3 1st
2 Notre Dame Big East L 26 6 .813 1 1 27 7 .794 14 4 2nd
13 Oakland Summit Q 25 9 .735 0 1 25 10 .714 17 1 1st
1 Ohio St. Big Ten Q 31 2 .939 2 1 33 3 .917 16 2 1st
9 Old Dominion Colonial Q 27 6 .818 0 1 27 7 .794 14 4 T2nd
10 Penn St. Big Ten L 19 13 .594 0 1 19 14 .576 9 9 T4th
1 Pittsburgh Big East L 27 5 .844 1 1 28 6 .824 15 3 1st
13 Princeton Ivy Q 25 6 .806 0 1 25 7 .781 12 2 T1st
3 Purdue Big Ten L 25 7 .781 1 1 26 8 .765 14 4 2nd
12 Richmond Atlantic 10 Q 27 7 .794 2 1 29 8 .784 13 3 3rd
2 San Diego St. Mountain West Q 32 2 .941 2 1 34 3 .919 14 2 T1st
11 Southern California Pacific-10 L 19 14 .576 0 1 19 15 .559 10 8 T4th
6 St. John’s (NY) Big East L 21 11 .656 0 1 21 12 .636 12 6 T3d
14 St. Peter’s Metro Atlantic Q 20 13 .606 0 1 20 14 .588 11 7 4th
3 Syracuse Big East L 26 7 .788 1 1 27 8 .771 12 6 T3d
7 Temple Atlantic 10 L 25 7 .781 1 1 26 8 .765 14 2 4th
9 Tennessee Southeastern (E) L 19 14 .576 0 1 19 15 .559 8 8 5th
4 Texas Big 12 L 27 7 .794 1 1 28 8 .778 13 3 2nd
7 Texas A&M Big 12 L 24 8 .750 0 1 24 9 .727 10 6 T3d
12 UAB Conference USA L 22 8 .733 0 1 22 9 .710 12 4 1st
16 UALR Sun Belt (W) Q 19 16 .543 0 1 19 17 .528 7 9 5th
15 UC Santa Barbara Big West Q 18 13 .581 0 1 18 14 .563 8 8 T4th
7 UCLA Pacific-10 L 22 10 .688 1 1 23 11 .676 13 5 2nd
16 UNC Asheville Big South Q 19 13 .594 1 1 20 14 .588 11 7 3rd
8 UNLV Mountain West L 24 8 .750 0 1 24 9 .727 11 5 3rd
12 Utah St. Western Athletic Q 30 3 .909 0 1 30 4 .882 15 1 1st
16 UTSA Southland (W) Q 19 13 .594 1 1 20 14 .588 9 7 T3d
5 Vanderbilt Southeastern (E) L 23 10 .697 0 1 23 11 .676 9 7 T3d
11 VCU Colonial L 23 11 .676 5 0 28 11 .718 12 6 4th
9 Villanova Big East L 21 11 .656 0 1 21 12 .636 9 9 T9th
7 Washington Pacific-10 Q 23 10 .697 1 1 24 11 .686 11 7 3rd
5 West Virginia Big East L 20 11 .645 1 1 21 12 .636 11 7 T6th
4 Wisconsin Big Ten L 23 8 .742 2 1 25 9 .735 13 5 3rd
14 Wofford Southern (S) Q 21 12 .636 0 1 21 13 .618 14 4 T1st
6 Xavier Atlantic 10 L 24 7 .774 0 1 24 8 .750 15 1 1st
