In 1999, UConn and Duke staged a great national championship battle, that UConn won. In 2004, these two programs again spent the regular season on a collision course with each other and met in the Final Four. The Huskies again won and then secured a national title. Let’s look back on the road that UConn […]
The 2015 Final Four was defined by Kentucky’s pursuit of history and an epic rematch with Wisconsin. But it ended with a familiar sight—Mike Krzyzewski and the Duke Blue Devils hoisting their fifth NCAA championship banner. Here’s a look back at the paths Duke, Wisconsin, Kentucky, and Michigan State all took to get to Indianapolis: […]
Just three years removed from making a surprise run to the national title, the University of Connecticut had an even more out-of-nowhere run to the top of college basketball. Here’s a look back at how UConn, along with Kentucky, Florida, and Wisconsin, all reached the 2014 Final Four in Dallas. UCONN After the 2011 NCAA […]
Louisville was seeking their first national title since 1986, when the legendary Denny Crum was still on the sidelines. The Cardinals reached the summit, triumphing in a 2013 Final Four that included Michigan, Syracuse, and Wichita State. Here’s a look back on the road those four teams traveled to reach Atlanta. LOUISVILLE Rick Pitino had […]
John Calipari changed college basketball with his ability to bring in top-flight “one-and-done” players, who would leave for the NBA after their freshman year, and still mold them into winning teams at Kentucky. That was never more evident than in 2012. Kentucky was joined by Kansas, Ohio State, and Louisville on the sport’s biggest stage […]
Even by the often-chaotic standards of college basketball in March, 2011 had some unique storylines. It isn’t often you use the seemingly contradictory phrase “repeat Cinderella”. But that’s what Butler was. It isn’t often a proud blueblood like Kentucky has to pull consecutive upsets to make the Final Four. But they did. It was—and remains—unprecedented […]
The national championship in 2010 came down to a battle between a Blueblood and a Cinderella. It came down to a single shot from halfcourt. In the end, there was no Cinderella ending and Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski won his fourth NCAA title. Here’s a look back on the paths that Duke, along with Butler, West […]
The 2009 Final Four brought together three teams who had won relatively recent national championships—North Carolina in 2005, Michigan State in 2000, and UConn in 2004. They were joined by Villanova, no stranger to the winner’s circle themselves, with a historic 1985 title run. Here’s a look back at the road these teams took to […]
Coach K brought Duke to Minneapolis looking for his third ring. Arizona and Lute Olson were here after an emotional season. Michigan State was on the trail for a repeat title and Maryland was on a breakthrough season that set the stage for even bigger things to come. Here’s a look back on the paths […]
The 2000 Final Four was held in the heart of Big Ten Country, at Indianapolis, and two conference teams made it. Here’s a look back at the paths that Michigan State and Wisconsin, along with southern interlopers Florida and North Carolina, took to reach the 2000 Final Four. GREAT 1980s SPORTS MOMENTS Start reading today. MICHIGAN […]
UConn and Duke had been eyeing each other up from the top of the polls all through the regular season. At the 1999 Final Four, they brought a couple Big Ten sparring partners with them, and then got down to business for a Monday night heavyweight fight. Here’s a look back at the road UConn, […]
Kentucky and North Carolina each had new coaches, but the results on the court were awfully familiar. These two bluebloods were joined in San Antonio by new teams from the West, as Stanford and Utah made it. Here’s a look back on the paths all four programs trod to reach the 1998 Final Four. GREAT […]