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Conference tourney fast facts
DICK'S TIDBITS | March 10, 2004
Let's take a trip across America to check out some fast facts as conference tournaments either begin or continue during Championship Week (conferences listed in alphabetical order).
AMERICA EAST
The America East Conference tourney has had a different winner the past 3 years (Hofstra in '01, BU in '02, Vermont in '03). Can Maine make it four? Maine faces Vermont on Saturday in the America East championship game (ESPN, 11:30 a.m. ET).
ACC
Only three schools have won in the past 10 tourneys (Duke: 5, North Carolina: 3, Wake Forest: 2). Duke has won a record five straight ACC tournaments. North Carolina has won the most ACC tourney titles (15), followed by Duke (14) and NC State (10).
Duke is 15-0 in ACC tourney games over the past five years, with 11 of those 15 wins coming by double figures. Duke has made the ACC tourney finals six straight years.
Duke can move into a select circle of consecutive conference tournament wins if it takes the tourney title this year. Here's a list of the most conference tournament titles in a row: 7, Kentucky, SEC (1944-50); 7, North Carolina AT&T, MEAC (1982-88); 6, NC State, Southern (1947-52); 6, Valparaiso, Mid-Continent (1995-2000); 6, West Virginia, Southern (1955-60); 5, Duke, ACC (1999-present); 5, Massachusetts, A-10 (1992-96).
Maryland has made the ACC semis or better in eight of the past nine years. NC State has been in the finals the past two years.
Wake Forest last won the tourney in 1996, Georgia Tech in 1993, NC State in 1987, Maryland in 1984 (when the Terps had Len Bias, Adrian Branch and Ben Coleman), Virginia in 1976.
The Cavs have lost eight straight ACC tourney games, last winning one in 1995. Georgia Tech is 1-7 in its past eight tourney games. Wake Forest is 3-6 in its past nine tourney games. UNC is 1-3 in its past four tourney games.
ATLANTIC 10
St. Joe's last made the A-10 finals and last won the tourney in 1997.There have been three different champs over the past three years (Temple, Xavier, Dayton).
Since joining the Eastern Eight/A-10, Temple has failed to at least reach the semis just once (2002).
Fordham is 0-8 lifetime in the A-10 tourney. Duquesne has lost in the first round eight straight years, last winning a tourney game in 1995. Rhode Island has lost in the first round in three of the past four years.
BIG EAST
There have been four different champs over the past four years (St. John's in '00, BC in '01, UConn in '02, Pitt in '03). The Panthers are trying to become the first defending champ to repeat since UConn in 1998 and '99.
Connecticut has been in the finals five of the past six years. Pittsburgh has been in the finals three straight years. The last five Big East finals have been decided by nine points or more.
Syracuse hasn't won the Big East tourney since 1992. Providence last won the tourney in 1994. Georgetown last won in 1989. Rutgers last won a Big East tourney game in 1999 (lost in '00 and '02, DNP in '01 and '03).
BIG SKY
There have been four different champs over the past four years (Northern Arizona, Cal State-Northridge, Montana and Weber State). Could Eastern Washington make it five straight? EWU has never made the NCAA tourney.
BIG TEN
Four different schools have won over the past four years (Michigan State in '00, Iowa in '01, Ohio State in '02, Illinois in '03).
The top seed has lost in the quarterfinals three of the past four years. The top seed has made the finals just once (Michigan State-1999)
Illinois is the only team to make the semifinals all six years of the tourney. Wisconsin has never made the Big Ten finals.
Minnesota has lost in the first round four of the last five years. Purdue has failed to make the semifinals five straight years. Northwestern has lost in the first round three of the past four years. Michigan has lost its last two Big Ten tourney games (each by seven points).
The last time Indiana missed the NCAA tourney was 1985.
BIG 12
Oklahoma has won the tourney each of the past three years. Texas, Oklahoma State, Missouri and Texas Tech have never won the Big 12 tourney title. Iowa State won in 2000, Kansas from 1997-99.
Kansas has missed the semis just once (2000). Kansas has never lost its first tourney game (and only one was by under 15 points).
Oklahoma State has made the finals once and never won the Big 12 tourney. Colorado has never made it to the semis. Texas has made the semis or better in five of the past six years.
The top seed has failed to win the tourney each of the past three years. Four of the seven finals have been decided by double figures.
Texas A&M has never won a Big 12 tourney game (0-7). Texas Tech has lost in the first round five of the past six years. Nebraska has lost in the first round four straight years.
BIG WEST
Utah State has won three of the past four Big Sky tourneys.
C-USA
Charlotte has made the semis or better in six of past seven years. Cincy has made the semis or better in six of past eight years.
Memphis has never made the C-USA finals. DePaul has made the finals once (2000). South Florida has never made semis.
Saint Louis has won its first tourney game seven of the past eight years. Houston is 3-7 in C-USA tourney games.
MAC
Kent State has won two of past three (Central Michigan won last year). Kent State has been in the finals three straight years.
Toledo last won in 1980. NIU last won in 1982. Western Michigan has never won the MAC tourney.
Western Michigan hasn't won a MAC tourney game since 1997. Broncos are No. 1 seed for first time since 1981 (last made MAC finals in 1993).
Miami-Ohio has made finals in five of past seven years and has won 11 of its past 12 tourney openers.
MEAC
South Carolina State is the defending champ and has won the tourney four of the past eight years.
MID-CONTINENT
With Valparaiso's tourney title this year, Coach Homer Drew has made the NCAA tournament for the seventh time at Valparaiso. The past three winners were IUPUI ('03), Valparaiso ('02) and Utah ('01).
MOUNTAIN WEST
UNLV has been in the finals three of the past four years. The last three finals were decided by four points or less. Utah and Wyoming have never made the MWC final.
PAC-10
Oregon is the defending champion, while Arizona won in 2002. Stanford has not won a championship since this tournament was revived.
Stanford lost to USC in the first round each of the past two years.
Arizona lost in the first round last year. USC has been in the final the past two years. USC, Oregon or Cal have made the semis each of the past two years.
PATRIOT
Lehigh and American are in the finals on Sunday, and neither has won this tourney. Lehigh is trying to make the NCAA for the first time since 1988, while American has never gone before (ESPN2, noon).
SEC
Kentucky and Mississippi State have dominated, combining to win 11 of the past 12 titles (Arkansas won in 2000).
LSU last won the SEC tourney in 1980, Georgia in 1983, Tennessee in 1979, Misssissippi in 1981, Auburn in 1985, Alabama in 1991.
Florida has never won the SEC tourney, last making the finals in 1994. Tennessee last made the finals in 1991.
Georgia has not won an SEC tourney game since 1998 (remember, Georgia DNP in last year's event after the Harrick situation).
SOUTHLAND
Eight different schools have won the past eight years! 1996-La. Monroe, '97-Texas State, '98-Nicholls St, '99-Texas-San Antonio, 2000-Lamar, 2001-Northwestern St. (La.), 2002-McNeese State, 2003-Sam Houston St.
SWAC
Four different schools have won the past four years: 2000-Jackson St., 2001-Alabama St., 2002-Alcorn St., 2003-Texas Southern.
WAC
UTEP last won the conference tourney in 1990 and last made the finals in 1993. Tulsa won last year, Hawaii in 2001 and 2002. Tulsa has been in the finals four straight years.
San Jose State is 1-6 lifetime in the WAC tourney. Rice is 2-6 and has lost its past three WAC tourney games.
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