LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD BIG XII SPOTLIGHT A weekly look inside the Big 12 Conference Wednesday, April 2, 2008 9B NCAA TOURNAMENT KU carries torch for conference yet again ——— Jayhawks own three of league’s six all-time Final Four appearances By Eric Sorrentino has had its chances. Since (Europe), Jeff Graves, forward), Hinrich, Miles, Jeff Journal-World copy editor 1996-97, six Big 12 teams have Michael Lee (KU graduate Boschee made the Final Four. student manager) Record since Final Four: If Kansas were to capture In fact, that’s more than any Record since Final Four: 170-40 (.810) its third national champi- other conference in the 140-32 (.814) onship this season, it wouldn’t nation. 2002 OKLAHOMA SOONERS be a stretch to say it would be Kansas (2003, New 2003 TEXAS LONGHORNS the most prominent victory in Orleans) is the only Big 12 (2 SEED) the history of the Big 12 Con- team to have played in a (1 SEED) Lost to: Indiana, 73-64, ference. national title game. Lost to: Syracuse, 95-84, semifinals Since the Big 12’s inception Here are the other five Big semifinals Key players: Hollis Price, in the 1996-97 season, here’s a 12 teams, to go along with the Key players: T.J. Ford Quannas White, Ebi Ere, list of national champions, 2008 Jayhawks, to reach the (Toronto Raptors guard), Aaron McGhee, Jabahri starting in 1997: Arizona (Pac- Final Four: Royal Ivey (Milwaukee Bucks Brown 10), Kentucky (SEC), Con- guard/forward), James Record since Final Four: necticut (Big East), Michigan Thomas, Brandon Mouton, 131-62 (.679) 2004 OKLAHOMA STATE Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo State (Big 10), Duke (ACC), THE JAYHAWKS HOIST Brad Buckman Maryland (ACC), Syracuse COWBOYS (2 SEED) the Midwest Regional trophy follow- Record since Final Four: (Big East), Connecticut (Big Lost to: Georgia Tech, 67- ing their victory over Davidson on Sunday in Detroit. 131-43 (.753) FINAL FOUR HISTORY East), North Carolina (ACC), 65, semifinals Kansas is trying to become the first league school in the Here’s a list of Big 12 teams Big 12 era to win a national championship. Florida (SEC) and Florida Key players: Tony Allen 2002 KANSAS JAYHAWKS and how many times they’ve (SEC). (Boston Celtics guard), Joey made the Final Four: All major BCS conferences Graham (Toronto Raptors 2003 KANSAS JAYHAWKS Key players: Nick Collison (1 SEED) are accounted for on that list, guard/forward), John Lucas (Seattle Sonics forward), Kirk Lost to: Maryland, 97-88, Kansas: 13 K-State: 4 with the exception of the Big (Houston Rockets guard) (2 SEED) Hinrich (Chicago Bulls semifinals Okla. St.: 7 Iowa St.: 1 12. Record since Final Four: Lost to: Syracuse, 81-78, guard), Keith Langford Key players: Collison, Texas: 3 Colorado: 2 The conference certainly 82-52 (.612) finals (NBADL), Aaron Miles Drew Gooden (Chicago Bulls Okla.: 3 Baylor: 2 THE BIG 12 & THE BIG DANCE Top teams have Big 12 ties The following is a look at the seasons in which a Big 12 Conference men’s basketball ——— team has reached the Final Four and how the last week- end of those seasons played Memphis, Carolina and UCLA all have links to Kansas out. By Matt Tait Although the conference [email protected] has been around since the 1996-97 season, it has yet to What has four teams, roughly 56 see a basketball school players and is watched by millions of crowned as champion. sets of eyes around the globe? The Final Four, of course. And this Kansas, making its 13th year, fans of the Big 12 Conference Final Four appearance of all- have an overwhelming number of rea- time and third in the Big 12 sons to pay attention. era, has a shot to be the first For starters, the cream of the con- this weekend in San Antonio, ference, Kansas University, is making Texas. its 13th appearance in the Final Four and its third in the last six seasons. 2002 But the Jayhawks aren’t the only team at this year’s Final Four with ties Big 12 Participants: to the Big 12. North Carolina, Mem- Kansas and Oklahoma phis and even UCLA have links to the conference, the most notable being Others: Indiana and Carolina coach Roy Williams and his Maryland 15-year coaching stint at KU. Williams was in his ninth season Outcome: Maryland with the Jayhawks when the Big Eight defeats KU, 97-88; Indiana Conference joined forces with four defeats OU, 73-64; members of the Southwestern Con- Maryland defeats Indiana, ference to form a new “super confer- 64-52, for title. ence” known as the Big 12. Already well established as one of the finest Most Outstanding coaches in America, Williams often Player: was considered the top coach in the Juan Dixon, Maryland conference even when names such as 2003 Bobby Knight, Eddie Sutton and Norm Stewart filled the benches. Big 12 Participants: Before leaving for North Carolina, Kansas and Texas Williams took the Jayhawks to four Final Fours and two national title Others: Syracuse and games, the last coming in the form of Marquette a loss to Syracuse in 2003, the swan song to Outcome: KU defeats Williams’ KU Marquette, 94-61; “This is going career. Syracuse defeats UT, 95- to be a crazy Prior to 84; Syracuse defeats KU, Final Four. I’ve Williams, KU’s 81-78, for title. been in the program was in very capable Most Outstanding tournament a hands with Journal-World File Photo; AP Photos Player: few different current Mem- KU COACH BILL SELF, TOP PHOTO, Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse times and I don’t phis coach Memphis coach John Calipari, bottom left, UNC coach Roy Williams, bottom center, and John Calipari UCLA coach Ben Howland, bottom right, will compete in the Final Four on Saturday in San Antonio. Memphis, North 2004 remember where joining coach- Carolina and UCLA all have ties in some way to Kansas University. it played out like ing legend Big 12 Participant: Larry Brown For the first time since the NCAA maintained a pretty high level of play Oklahoma State this.” for a three-year Tournament began seeding teams, all CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR all the way through. I can’t imagine a run as a gradu- four No. 1 seeds have reached the final better scenario going in.” Others: Georgia Tech, — Memphis coach John ate assistant Saturday of the season, making the The Big 12’s six Final Four teams since Neither can Howland, a three-time UConn and Duke l Calipari from 1982-85. hype and hysteria surrounding the 2002 are more than any other con- Final Four participant and 2007 Before joining weekend reach frenzied proportions. ference in the nation. The Big 12 has national runner-up who said this Outcome: G-Tech defeats the Jayhawks, Brown added his name “The committee deserves a lot of no title to show for it, though. year’s foursome features some of the OSU, 67-65; UConn to the lore of UCLA basketball, lead- kudos and credit,” UCLA coach Ben most talented players in the game. defeats Duke, 79-78; Big 12: 6 Pac-10: 3 ing the Bruins to the 1979-80 Final Howland said. “Obviously, they did “You look at the experience of the UConn defeats G-Tech, ACC: 5 SEC: 3 Four, where they fell to Louisville in good job seeding the tournament. It is teams, every one has a lot,” he said. 82-73, for title. Big 10: 4 Big East: 3 the national championship game. amazing that this has happened, and it “All four (schools) have names who’ve C-USA: 3 Colonial: 1 While some of those connections almost didn’t happen.” been in the Final Four before, but it’s Most Outstanding might be a stretch, they can be made, Almost, Howland clarified, because more about the players for me. We all Player: and, for fans of the Big 12 as well as the his team nearly lost to Texas A&M — have unbelievable players.” Emeka Okafor, UConn coaches themselves, that gives this a Big 12 school — in the second round. than us and UCLA, were consistent Yet only one, UNC’s Williams, has 2008 year’s Final Four even more potential Almost, he added, because Kansas performers,” KU coach Bill Self said. that coveted national title. excitement than usual. nearly fell to Davidson — the school “Memphis and Carolina have been in Will this be the year the Big 12 final- Big 12 Participant: “This is going to be a crazy Final that gave Larry Brown his first college the top four or five from day one. ly breaks through? Will the Pac 10 or Kansas Four,” said Calipari, who also reached coaching job — in the Elite Eight. There were hot teams that went in much-maligned Conference USA take college basketball’s final weekend But the dust has settled, and the and out of there, but I think it’s the crown? Or will Williams add Others: North Carolina, with UMass in 1996. “I’ve been in the four teams who were picked first remarkable that the four teams another gem to his already sparkling Memphis and UCLA. tournament a few different times, and through fourth in the preseason polls ranked in the top four in the presea- resume? I don’t remember where it played out are in position to battle it out for the son made it through. “Roy has already won one at Caroli- like this.” national title. “I know it’s a first, and certainly you na,” Howland said.