A partial list of first trips to the Final Four
Mar 29, 2021 15:02:08 GMT -5
huskyharper and bulkey like this
Post by phil on Mar 29, 2021 15:02:08 GMT -5
I noticed that Indiana will face Arizona tonight. It's the first Elite Eight for each team and by definition, it will be the first Final Four for one of the teams tonight.
I wondered how often this happens, and started doing some research. It won't be done in time for the game, so I'll post what I have done.
Not surprisingly, it was more common early on. By definition, in 1982, and common in some subsequent years. South Carolina in 2015 is the most recent example I have found so far.
I'll list the examples of two teams meeting, where both have not been to the Final Four, and then list other examples of the first ever trip to the Final Four, where the opponent has been there before. (I worked on this in roughly alphabetical order.)
In 1994, Alabama faced Penn State in the Elite Eight, neither team having made the Final Four before. Alabama won and went to their first ever Final Four. in the same year, Arkansas faced Duke in the Elite Eight, neither team having made the Final Four before. Arkansas won and went to their first ever Final Four as well as Purdue meeting
In 1987, Long Beach State faced Ohio State in the Elite Eight, neither team having made the Final Four before. Long Beach State won and went to their first ever Final Four.
In 1992, Missouri State faced Ole Miss in the Elite Eight, neither team having made the Final Four before. Missouri State won and went to their first ever Final Four.
In 1997, Notre Dame faced George Washington in the Elite Eight, neither team having made the Final Four before. Notre Dame won and went to their first ever Final Four.
In 2015 South Carolina faced Florida State in the Elite Eight, neither team having made the Final Four before. South Carolina won and went to their first ever Final Four.
In 1983 Southern California faced Long Beach State in the Elite Eight, neither team having made the Final Four before. Southern California won and went to their first ever Final Four.
In 1983 Stanford faced Arkansas in the Elite Eight, neither team having made the Final Four before. Stanford won and went to their first ever Final Four, and then their first National Championship.
In 1986 Texas faced Ole Miss in the Elite Eight, neither team having made the Final Four before. Texas won and went to their first ever Final Four, and then their first National Championship.
In 1991 UConn faced Clemson in the Elite Eight, neither team having made the Final Four before. UConn won and went to their first ever Final Four.
__________________________________________________
In 1982 Louisiana Tech faced Kentucky in the Elite 8. Louisiana Tech won and went on to win the first NCAA National Championship. Tennessee beat Southern California to go to their first Final Four. Cheyney beat Kansas State and Maryland beat Drake to go their their first Final Fours.
____________________________________________________
2010 Baylor beat Duke to go to their first Final Four
2013 California beat Georgia to go to their first Final Four
1984 Cheyney State beat ODU to go to their first Final Four
1983 Georgia beat Tennessee to go to their first Final Four
1993 Iowa beat Tennessee to go to their first Final Four
1985 Louisiana-Monroe (then Northeast Louisiana) beat Louisiana Tech to go to their first Final Four
2018 Louisville beat Oregon State to go to their first Final Four
2004 LSU beat Georgia to go to their first of four consecutive Final Fours.
2004 Minnesota beat Duke to go to their first Final Four
1994 North Carolina beat UConn to go to their first Final Four, and went on to win the National Championship.
1999 Duke beat Tennessee and went on to beat Georgia in the semi before ending as Runnerup to Purdue
2009 Oklahoma beat Purdue to go to their first Final Four
2019 Oregon beat Mississippi State to go to their first Final Four
2016 Oregon State beat Baylor to go to their first Final Four
2000 Penn State beat Louisiana Tech to go to their first Final Four
2000 Rutgers beat Georgia to go to their first Final Four
1994 Purdue beat Stanford to go to their first Final Four
I wondered how often this happens, and started doing some research. It won't be done in time for the game, so I'll post what I have done.
Not surprisingly, it was more common early on. By definition, in 1982, and common in some subsequent years. South Carolina in 2015 is the most recent example I have found so far.
I'll list the examples of two teams meeting, where both have not been to the Final Four, and then list other examples of the first ever trip to the Final Four, where the opponent has been there before. (I worked on this in roughly alphabetical order.)
In 1994, Alabama faced Penn State in the Elite Eight, neither team having made the Final Four before. Alabama won and went to their first ever Final Four. in the same year, Arkansas faced Duke in the Elite Eight, neither team having made the Final Four before. Arkansas won and went to their first ever Final Four as well as Purdue meeting
In 1987, Long Beach State faced Ohio State in the Elite Eight, neither team having made the Final Four before. Long Beach State won and went to their first ever Final Four.
In 1992, Missouri State faced Ole Miss in the Elite Eight, neither team having made the Final Four before. Missouri State won and went to their first ever Final Four.
In 1997, Notre Dame faced George Washington in the Elite Eight, neither team having made the Final Four before. Notre Dame won and went to their first ever Final Four.
In 2015 South Carolina faced Florida State in the Elite Eight, neither team having made the Final Four before. South Carolina won and went to their first ever Final Four.
In 1983 Southern California faced Long Beach State in the Elite Eight, neither team having made the Final Four before. Southern California won and went to their first ever Final Four.
In 1983 Stanford faced Arkansas in the Elite Eight, neither team having made the Final Four before. Stanford won and went to their first ever Final Four, and then their first National Championship.
In 1986 Texas faced Ole Miss in the Elite Eight, neither team having made the Final Four before. Texas won and went to their first ever Final Four, and then their first National Championship.
In 1991 UConn faced Clemson in the Elite Eight, neither team having made the Final Four before. UConn won and went to their first ever Final Four.
__________________________________________________
In 1982 Louisiana Tech faced Kentucky in the Elite 8. Louisiana Tech won and went on to win the first NCAA National Championship. Tennessee beat Southern California to go to their first Final Four. Cheyney beat Kansas State and Maryland beat Drake to go their their first Final Fours.
____________________________________________________
2010 Baylor beat Duke to go to their first Final Four
2013 California beat Georgia to go to their first Final Four
1984 Cheyney State beat ODU to go to their first Final Four
1983 Georgia beat Tennessee to go to their first Final Four
1993 Iowa beat Tennessee to go to their first Final Four
1985 Louisiana-Monroe (then Northeast Louisiana) beat Louisiana Tech to go to their first Final Four
2018 Louisville beat Oregon State to go to their first Final Four
2004 LSU beat Georgia to go to their first of four consecutive Final Fours.
2004 Minnesota beat Duke to go to their first Final Four
1994 North Carolina beat UConn to go to their first Final Four, and went on to win the National Championship.
1999 Duke beat Tennessee and went on to beat Georgia in the semi before ending as Runnerup to Purdue
2009 Oklahoma beat Purdue to go to their first Final Four
2019 Oregon beat Mississippi State to go to their first Final Four
2016 Oregon State beat Baylor to go to their first Final Four
2000 Penn State beat Louisiana Tech to go to their first Final Four
2000 Rutgers beat Georgia to go to their first Final Four
1994 Purdue beat Stanford to go to their first Final Four
