KU carries torch for conference yet again
Jayhawks own three of league's six all-time Final Four appearances
If Kansas were to capture its third national championship this season, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say it would be the most prominent victory in the history of the Big 12 Conference.
Since the Big 12’s inception in the 1996-97 season, here’s a list of national champions, starting in 1997: Arizona (Pac-10), Kentucky (SEC), Connecticut (Big East), Michigan State (Big 10), Duke (ACC), Maryland (ACC), Syracuse (Big East), Connecticut (Big East), North Carolina (ACC), Florida (SEC) and Florida (SEC).
All major BCS conferences are accounted for on that list, with the exception of the Big 12.
The conference certainly has had its chances. Since 1996-97, six Big 12 teams have made the Final Four.
In fact, that’s more than any other conference in the nation.
Kansas (2003, New Orleans) is the only Big 12 team to have played in a national title game.
Here are the other five Big 12 teams, to go along with the 2008 Jayhawks, to reach the Final Four:
2004 Oklahoma State Cowboys (2 seed)
Lost to: Georgia Tech, 67-65, semifinals
Key players: Tony Allen (Boston Celtics guard), Joey Graham (Toronto Raptors guard/forward), John Lucas (Houston Rockets guard)
Record since Final Four: 82-52 (.612)
2003 Kansas Jayhawks (2 seed)
Lost to: Syracuse, 81-78, finals
Key players: Nick Collison (Seattle Sonics forward), Kirk Hinrich (Chicago Bulls guard), Keith Langford (NBADL), Aaron Miles (Europe), Jeff Graves, Michael Lee (KU graduate student manager)
Record since Final Four: 140-32 (.814)
2003 Texas Longhorns (1 seed)
Lost to: Syracuse, 95-84, semifinals
Key players: T.J. Ford (Toronto Raptors guard), Royal Ivey (Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward), James Thomas, Brandon Mouton, Brad Buckman
Record since Final Four: 131-43 (.753)
2002 Kansas Jayhawks (1 seed)
Lost to: Maryland, 97-88, semifinals
Key players: Collison, Drew Gooden (Chicago Bulls forward), Hinrich, Miles, Jeff Boschee
Record since Final Four: 170-40 (.810)
2002 Oklahoma Sooners (2 seed)
Lost to: Indiana, 73-64, semifinals
Key players: Hollis Price, Quannas White, Ebi Ere, Aaron McGhee, Jabahri Brown
Record since Final Four: 131-62 (.679)
The Jayhawks and the Final Four
- A dream come true (04-02-08)
- Keegan: Jayhawks relish role of ‘dogs (04-02-08)
- Other schools adopt KU mascot (04-02-08)
- Game to be shown at Allen Fieldhouse (04-02-08)
- Tar Heels fast, but KU in ’90 more ‘efficient’ (04-02-08)
- Self dismisses interest in OSU (04-02-08)
- Self ‘not a candidate’ for OSU job (04-02-08)