Final Fours With Just One No. 1 Seed

SI Staff | Mar 31, 2013

Final Fours With Just One No. 1 Seed /

Final Fours With Just One No. 1 Seed

1979

This year marks the 13th time the Final Four will feature exactly one No. 1 seed (Louisville). Here's a look at how the previous lone No. 1s fared, including six who won the national championship. Led by National Player of the Year and future Celtic Hall of Famer Larry Bird, Indiana State entered the 1979 Final Four with an undefeated record. But after edging out DePaul in the tournament semifinals (far left), the Sycamores fell to Michigan State and Earvin "Magic" Johnson in front of an estimated TV audience of 20 million.

1989

Despite being nicknamed the "Flying Illini" for their overwhelming athleticism, boasting NBA-level talent with the likes of Nick Anderson and Kendall Gill, and having defeated their national semifinal opponent twice during the regular season, Illinois lost to Michigan, the tournament's eventual champion. The semifinal featured 33 lead changes and ended on a put-back by Michigan's Sean Higgins that sealed the Illini's two-point loss.

1990

Jerry Tarkanian's Runnin' Rebels were an offensive juggernaut. In their semifinal, the Rebels rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to defeat Georgia Tech 90-81, setting up a title tilt with Duke. The championship game went down as the most lopsided ever in a tournament final, with UNLV crushing Duke 103-73. Future NBA #1 pick Larry Johnson scored 22 points, while tournament MOP Anderson Hunt poured in 29 to lead all scorers.

1992

In a tournament best remembered for Duke's improbable Regional Final win over Kentucky thanks to Christian Laettner's last-second turn-around jumper, Duke reached the Final Four as the lone No. 1 seed still alive. Coach K's team cruised to victories over Indiana and Michigan to win their second straight national title. Bobby Hurley was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, while Laettner led the tournament in scoring.

1994

Corliss Williamson scored 29 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in Arkansas' semifinal win over Arizona to lead the Razorbacks to their first national title game, despite criticism that coach Nolan Richardson's team was too raw and undisciplined. Razorback guard Scotty Thurman drilled a three-pointer with under a minute left in the finale against Duke to seal the first NCAA tournament title for Arkansas.

1995

Riding the late-game heroics of pint-sized guard Tyus Edney from earlier in the tournament, the Bruins were the lone No. 1 to reach the '95 Final Four in Seattle. After leaving Oklahoma State in the dust behind 21 from Edney, UCLA squared off against defending champion Arkansas in the tournament final. Forward Ed O'Bannon went off, finishing with 30 points and 17 boards to lead UCLA to its first national championship in the post-John Wooden era.

1998

Despite boasting a lineup chalk full of NBA talent, including an intimidating front line of Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison, and Brendan Haywood, the Tar Heels lost 65-69 to Utah in the semifinals. Andre Miller and Michael Doleac chipped in 16 points apiece for the Utes, who would go on to lose to Kentucky in the title game.

2000

The self-proclaimed "Flint-stones" of Michigan State roared into the 2000 Final Four having won three of their first four tournament games by double digits. The Spartans clashed with Big Ten rival Wisconsin, who surprised the nation by making the semifinals as an 8-seed. But MSU guards Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson proved to be too much for the Badgers, and the Spartans marched on to face Florida in the title game. Coach Tom Izzo's team held the Gators down, despite 27 from Florida's Udonis Haslem, and wrapped up a 89-76 championship win.

2003

The Longhorns had all the key pieces -- a floor general at point guard (T.J. Ford), a defensive stopper (Royal Ivey), and a prolific scorer (Brandon Mouton). Unfortunately, they did not have Carmelo Anthony. Eventual national champion Syracuse did, and the Orange cut down the final top-seeded team in the semifinals,95-84, thanks to a career-best 33 points from Anthony.

2004

For a second straight year, the lone No. 1 seed in the Final Four fell in the semifinals. This time, Duke led eventual champion Connecticut for nearly the entire game, holding the Huskies' do-it-all center Emeka Okafor scoreless in the first half. But Okafor turned it on in the second half, finishing with 18 points and 7 rebounds. Duke star J.J. Redick went just 4-for-12 from the field. Send comments to siwriters@simail.com.

2010

Gordon Hayward launched the most famous missed shot in NCAA tournament history in the final seconds of Duke's 61-59 win over Butler in the title game in Indianapolis. His halfcourt heave hit the backboard and rim before falling to the floor -- giving Mike Krzyzewski his fourth national championship.

2012

Top-seeded Kentucky won its first four tournament games by at least 10 points, then got past Louisville 69-61 in the national semifinals and dispatched Kansas 67-59 in the final for its eighth national championship. The three other Final Four participants all defeated the top seeds in their regions.

2013

Louisville will take on Wichita State in its semifinal, while Michigan and Syracuse will square off in the other one.

Published Mar 31, 2013

SI STAFF