40 Year NCAA Basketball Tournament - South Region

 East is here.

4 teams survived the East, the top seeded '99 Duke Blue Devils, two National Champions, the '05 North Carolina Tar Heels and the '16 Villanova Wildcats - and the 1988 Oklahoma Sooners.  Who are the 4 teams that will survive the South?

1. 1996 Kentucky Wildcats           40-2           National Champions (d. Syracuse 76-67)

2. 2025 Houston Cougars        40-6          Big 12 Champs (L Finals Florida 65-63)

3. 2025 Auburn Tigers                   36-7          SEC Champs (L Semis Florida 79-73)

4. 1992 Duke Blue Devils              40-2        National Champions (d. Michigan 71-51)

5. 1998 Kentucky Wildcats      41-4              National Champions (d. Utah 78-69) 

6. 2009 North Carolina Tar Heels  40-4         National Champions (d. Mich St 89-72)

7. 1994 Arkansas Razorbacks         39-3        National Champions (d. Duke 76-72)

8. 2019 Duke Blue Devils                35-7     ACC Tourney Champ (L Regional Final Mich St 68-67)

9. 2021 Baylor Bears                     34-2       National Champions (Gonzaga 86-70)

10. 2019 Virginia Cavaliers       41-3                National Champions (d. TTech 85-77)

11. 1986 Duke Blue Devils           42-4              ACC Champs (L. NCAA Finals Louisville 72-69)

12. 2024 Houston Cougars             34-6        Big 12 Champs (L. Duke Regional Semi 54-51)

13. 2002 Maryland Terrapins         38-4          NCAA Champions (d. Indiana 64-52)

14. 1995 Kentucky Wildcats            31-6          SEC Champs (L Regional Final UNC 74-61)

15. 1987 Indiana Hoosiers                36-4          NCAA Champions (d. Syracuse 74-73)

16. 2007 North Carolina Tar Heels  34-8      ACC Champs (L Regional Final Georgetown 96-84)

16. 1991 Kansas Jayhawks               32-9       Big 8 Champs (L NCAA Finals Duke 72-65)

PLAY IN GAME

'07 NORTH CAROLINA 92   '91 KANSAS 79

-Freshman forward Brandan Wright has 22 pts, 2 rebounds and the Tar Heels will face the top seeded '96 Kentucky Wildcats in the next game.  15 points, 5 rebounds for Terry Brown in the loss.

 

 ROUND ONE

1. 1996 KENTUCKY  116   16. 2007 NORTH CAROLINA 90

-22 for Walter McCarty, 21 for Tony Delk, double/doubles for Antoine Walker and Mark Pope and the '96 Cats roll into round 2.  Tyler Hansbrough had 23 in the loss.  

9. 2021 BAYLOR  116   8. 2019 DUKE 101

-The National Champs from Baylor will be heading to Rupp Arena in round 2.  Junior Guard Jared Butler plays all 40 minutes and scores 35, with 8 assists and 5 steals. Both Davion Mitchell and MaCio Teague go for 20.  RJ Barrett gets the first tournament triple double in the loss.  

5. 1998 KENTUCKY  88  12. 2024 HOUSTON  76

-Both of these UK title teams advance in the South; senior guard Jeff Sheppard scored 25, junior center Nazr Mohammed had 17 pts and 13 boards.  Jamal Shead had 15 pts and 8 assists in the loss.  

4. 1994 DUKE  113  13. 2002 MARYLAND 109

-Really good one between these two National Champions; 97-95 Duke with 2:22 left, Lonnie Baxter stole a pass, giving the Terps the ball - but they couldn't convert, the teams traded buckets - Duke still up 2 when, with 1:14 left, Bobby Hurley hit a huge 3 from the top.  Again, the teams traded baskets, and with 27 seconds left, Maryland got within 2 on a Juan Dixon 3 pointer.  Duke hit its FTs down the stretch and Maryland never got closer.  27 for Thomas Hill, 26 for Christian Laettner, Hurley had 18 points and a dozen assists.  Dixon had 29 in the loss.

 

6. 2009 NORTH CAROLINA  97   11. 1986 DUKE  94

-Super tight all second half, tied 46-46 at halftime, Freshman Guard Larry Drew hit a corner 3 to bring the Heels within 2 at the 15 minute mark.  Senior forward Tyler Hansbrough scored North Carolina's next 7 points and it was 62-62 with 12:30 left.  Carolina had its biggest lead of the game, 6 points, at the 10 minute mark.  A Jay Bilas dunk tied the score 80-80 with 6:10 to play.  Tommy Amaker tied the game at the foul line at 2:37, Duke was down 4 with under a minute to play after a Danny Green bucket, Dave Henderson scored at 45 seconds, the Heels then came up empty and with 15 seconds to play, an Amaker dunk tied the score at 94.  Carolina didn't call time out - and at the buzzer, Hansbrough hit a contested triple to send the Heels to round two for the tournament's first buzzer beater.  Ty Lawson had 20 points, 11 assists and 5 steals in the win.  28 for Johnny Dawkins in the loss.

14. 1995 KENTUCKY 97  3. 2025 AUBURN 94

-Back to back 97-94 games.  Kentucky had an 11 point lead early in the second half, but at the 13 minute mark, the Tigers led 68-67.  Senior guard Chad Baker Mazara scored 6 points in the next 3 minutes and with 10 to play, Auburn had entirely swung the game and led by 8.  Kentucky junior Rodrick Rhodes scored 6 straight UK points to tie the score at 83 with 6 to play.  Johni Broome put Auburn up 1 with a triple at 4:30, Jared Prickett put Kentucky up 1 with a layup at 2:30 and a minute later tied the score for the Cats with a midrange.  Junior Forward Walter McCarty hit a corner 3 with 22 seconds left and UK went up 94-91, Denver Jones tied the score with a 3 of his own with just 4 seconds remaining in regulation.  Out of the time out - Junior guard Tony Delk hit an off balance buzzer beating 3 and UK moves on. 22 points for Rhodes led the way for UK, 21 points, 14 boards, 6 assists for Broome in the loss.

7. 1994 ARKANSAS 88  10. 2019 VIRGINIA 84

-Arkansas led by as much as 11 in the second half, but with 56 seconds to play, Kyle Guy hit a midrange jumper to tie the score at 81.  On the next possession, Scottie Thurman hit a corner 3 and the Razorbacks never trailed again.  17 points, 6 boards, 4 assists for junior guard Corey Beck.  17 points, 10 assists, 5 boards, 5 steals for Ty Jerome in the loss.  

 

15. 1987 INDIANA 83   2. 2025 HOUSTON 66

-The National Champion Hoosiers go to Houston and cook the Cougars.  20 points, 6 boards, 6 assists for Steve Alford.  A double/double for Dean Garrett. 16 in the loss for LJ Cryer.

SECOND ROUND

1. 1996 Kentucky v. 9. 2021 Baylor 

5. 1998 Kentucky v. 4. 1992 Duke

6. 2009 North Carolina v. 14. 1995 Kentucky

7. 1994 Arkansas v. 15. 1987 Indiana

3 Kentucky teams highlight the second round in the South Region.  4 additional National Champions - Baylor/Duke/Indiana/North Carolina - and the 40 Minutes of Hell Razorbacks. 

1. 1996 KENTUCKY 101  9. 2021 BAYLOR 77

The National Champion Cats barrel their way into the Sweet 16.  20 pts for Antoine Walker, 19 pts, 7 rebounds for Walter McCarty, 19 for MaCio Teague in the defeat.

4. 1992 DUKE 102  5. 1998 KENTUCKY 86

Duke becomes the first school with 2 teams headed to the Sweet 16.  22 and 7 for Christian Laettner, 20 for Bobby Hurley. 19 for Scott Padgett in the loss.  

14. 1995 KENTUCKY 93  6. 2009 NORTH CAROLINA 92

2 UK teams will advance to the sweet 16 from the South; Jared Prickett scored from the block with 4 to play to give UK a 7 pt lead. Carolina scored the next 6 after a Dean Thompson layup, making it 88-87 UK with 2:21 left.  At a minute left it was 90-90, Kentucky ball - Ty Lawson stole a pass, Wayne Ellington hit a midrange and Carolina had the 92-90 lead, 35 seconds to play. Tony Delk hit a corner 3, and its 93-93 UK with 26 seconds to play.  On Carolina's last possession, Tyler Hansbrough missed twice and the '95 Cats advance.  15 points/5 boards/4 assists for Walter McCarty.  Hansbrough had 24 and 8 in the defeat.

15. 1987 INDIANA 105  7. 1994 ARKANSAS 83

Bobby Knight reaches the Sweet 16.  28 points for Steve Alford. Corliss Williamson goes for 16 in the loss.

4 more teams reach the Sweet 16.

1. 1996 KENTUCKY v. 4. 1992 DUKE

14. 1995 KENTUCKY v. 15. 1987 INDIANA

40 Year NCAA Basketball Tournament - East Region

 Using the same simulation engine I've recently used for the all time NFL Tournament (the '08 Steelers.  Who knew?) I've got a 68 team, 1986-2025 NCAA Basketball Tournament. Records below are regular season +postseason.  There are 30 NCAA Champions in the field. 

Here's the East Region.

1. 1999 Duke Blue Devils        42-3                 ACC Champs  (L. NCAA Finals UConn 77-74)

2. 2005 North Carolina Tar Heels   39-4        National Champions (d. Illinois 75-70)

3. 2025 Florida Gators            42-4                 National Champions (d. Houston 65-63)

4. 1988 Oklahoma Sooners     40-5                 Big 8 Champs (L. NCAA Finals Kansas 83-79)

5. 2018 Villanova Wildcats      42-4                National Champions (d. Michigan 79-62)

6. 2022 Gonzaga Bulldogs        30-5               WCC Champs (L Regional Semi Arkansas 74-68)

7. 2002 Duke Blue Devils                33-5     ACC Tourney Champs (L Regional Semi Indiana 74-73)

8. 1991 North Carolina Tar Heels  33-7         ACC Tourney Champs (L NCAA Semi Kansas 79-73)

9. 2024 Purdue Boilermakers     39-6             Big 10 Champs (L NCAA Finals UConn 75-60)

10. 1999 Connecticut Huskies   40-2              National Champions (d. Duke 77-74)

11. 2025 Alabama Crimson Tide   31-10        3rd SEC (L Regional Final Duke 85-65)

12. 2007 Florida Gators            41-5               National Champions (d. Ohio St 84-75)

13. 2015 Wisconsin Badgers       41-5             Big 10 Champs (L Finals Duke 68-63)

14. 2016 Villanova Wildcats      41-5              National Champions (d. North Carolina 77-74)

15. 1993 Kentucky Wildcats           34-5        SEC Tourney Champ  (L Semis Michigan 81-78) 

16. 2000 Stanford Cardinal       28-5         Pac 10 Champs (L 2nd Rnd UNC 60-53)   

16. 2003 Kansas Jayhawks        35-9              Big 12 Champs (L NCAA Finals Syracuse 81-78)

PLAY IN GAME:

'03 KANSAS 90  '00 STANFORD 85

-Kirk Hinrich scores 22 and the first game of the tournament belongs to the 2003 Jayhawks, double/double for Nick Collison, 13 points and 11 rebounds.  Ryan Mendez scored 22 points in 23 minutes in the loss for the Cardinal.  

    

ROUND ONE

1. '99 DUKE 93  16. '03 KANSAS 76

-The number one seeded Duke Blue Devils spread it around, 7 players in double figures in the easy round one win.  17 pts, 9 assists for sophomore guard Will Avery, sophomore center Elton Brand had 12 pts, 13 boards and 7 blocks.  Senior guard Kirk Hinrich scored 33 in the loss.  

8. '91 NORTH CAROLINA 97  9. '24 PURDUE 88

-Junior guard Hubert Davis scores 25 and the Tar Heels will be facing Duke in round two.  18 points/8 rebounds for senior forward Rick Fox.  Senior center Zach Edey had a dominating 29 points and 15 boards in the loss.

5. '18 VILLANOVA 99   12. '07 FLORIDA 79

-Battle of the first two National Champs to play in the tournament; Junior guard Jalen Brunson scores 25 with 9 assists, freshman forward Omari Spellman with the 10 pt/10 board double double.  Junior forward Al Horford goes 18/10 in the loss.

4. '88 OKLAHOMA 103  13. '15 WISCONSIN 97

-200 combined points in this 4/13 matchup.  Senior forward Harvey Grant provided 26 of them for the winning Sooners, adding 9 boards.  18 points and 7 boards for junior center Stacey King.  Senior center Frank Kaminsky went 22/9 in the defeat.

Favorites (all playing at home, we'll go to neutral sites at the sweet 16) take the first four games.

 

6. '22 GONZAGA 106   11. '25 ALABAMA 102

-Junior forward Drew Timme has the top performance to date, 32 points/10 boards, Freshman center Chet Holmgren scores 21 with 7 blocks. Alabama senior guard Mark Sears scores 26, 5 assists/5 steals in the defeat.  Alabama led by 10 with under 5 minutes to play, Holmgren scored 8 down the stretch and the Zags advance.

14. '16 VILLANOVA 98  3. '25 FLORIDA 

-Battle of National Champions produces the first upset of the tournament; Nova '18 beat Florida '07 earlier in the round and Nova '16 keeps up that energy here.  Junior guard Josh Hart scores 27.  21 for Florida senior Walter Clayton in the loss.  

7. '02 DUKE  106   10. '99 UCONN 96

-30 points, 7 boards and 6 steals for junior forward Mike Dunleavy Jr., Junior guard Jay Williams adds 22.  19 for Rip Hamilton in the loss.  

2. '05 NORTH CAROLINA 92   15. '93 KENTUCKY 72

-Junior guard Raymond Felton leads the way for the second seed in the East, 16 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds.  Travis Ford scores 18 in the loss.

Just one upset, here's the largely chalky second round.

1. 1999 Duke v. 8. 1991 North Carolina

5. 2018 Villanova v. 4. 1988 Oklahoma

6. 2022 Gonzaga v. 14. 2016 Villanova

2. 2005 North Carolina v. 7. 2002 Duke 

We've got 2 Duke/North Carolina matchups in round 2, Coach K taking on Dean Smith and Roy Williams.  We've also got essentially the same Villanova core in two matchups.  

ROUND TWO

1. 1999 DUKE  109   8. 1991 NORTH CAROLINA 84

-The top seed in the East reaches the Sweet 16.  Elton Brand goes 22 and 11, 18 points for Shane Battier.  Rick Fox filled the sheet in the loss, 16 points, 5 boards, 5 assists, 4 steals.

4. 1988 OKLAHOMA 106  5. 2018 VILLANOVA 86

-Oklahoma's gone for over a hundred in both rounds and reaches the sweet 16. Stacey King goes OFF, 37 points and holds Omari Spellman on the other end to 4 of 12 from the floor.  Mookie Blaylock has 23 points, 7 assists, 6 steals.  Eric Paschall paced the losing side with 22.  Seed holds, Duke and Oklahoma will face off in the Sweet 16.  

14. 2016 VILLANOVA 90  6. 2022 GONZAGA 81

-Villanova's national title team reaches the Sweet 16.  21 for Kris Jenkins - 17 rebounds for Daniel Ochefu.  20 for Rasir Bolton in the loss.  The Wildcats took the lead with 15 to play and never gave it up.

2. 2005 NORTH CAROLINA 102   7. 2002 DUKE 75

-The East region is set, seeds 1,2,4 advancing to the Sweet 16. 20 points and 16 rebounds for Sean May.  Jay Williams has 26 in the loss.

So - there you go, the 4 teams to head to the Sweet 16.

1. 1999 DUKE  v.   4.   1988 OKLAHOMA

2. 2005 NORTH CAROLINA v. 14. 2016  VILLANOVA

2025 NBA Finals Prediction

 OKC in 5.

 OKC has had an all time great season; Indiana is just a team.  An upset would be historically improbable.

 I'm rooting for the Pacers.  

60 Game Mark - MLB All Star Selections

32 players for each team, 20 position players, 12 pitchers, 3 of them are relievers. Every team has a representative.  I'll do it again at 80 games.

AL

C       C.Raleigh Sea

1B     J.Aranda TB 

2B     G.Torres Det 

SS     J.Pena Hou

3B     A.Bregman Bos 

LF     S.Kwan Cle

CF     J.Rodriguez Sea

RF     A.Judge NYY-MVP

DH    R.Devers Bos 

SP     G.Crochet Bos

C           L.O'Hoppe LAA

1B         P.Goldschmidt NYY

2B         B.Lowe TB 

SS         B.Witt KC

3B         J.Ramirez Cle

OF        R.Greene Det

OF        B.Buxton Min 

OF        W.Langford Tex 

DH        R.O Hearn Balt 

Uti         V.Guerrero Tor 

Uti         B.Rooker Oak 

SP   H.Brown Hou    

SP  T.Skubal Det         

SP   K.Bubic KC         

SP   B.Woo Sea           

SP  M.Fried NYY 

SP  C.Rodon NYY 

SP  T.Mahle Tex 

SP  N.Eovaldi Tex

RP  J.Duran Minn

RP  M.Vasil CWS

RP  J.Hader Hou

C      W.Smith LAD

1B    F.Freeman LAD

2B    B.Donovan StL 

SS    F.Lindor NYM

3B    M.Chapman SF 

LF    J.Wood Wash

CF   PC Armstrong Chi

RF   C.Carroll Ari 

DH   S.Ohtani LAD-MVP

SP    Z.Wheeler Phi

C       W.Contreras Mil

1B     M.Olson Atl

2B     N.Hoerner Chi

SS     G.Perdomo Ari  

3B     M.Machado SD 

OF     H.Ramos SF 

OF     O.Cruz Pit  

OF     K.Tucker Chi

DH    K.Schwarber Phi 

Uti     F.Tatis SD

Uti     E De La Cruz Cin

SP    K.Senga NYM      

SP    M.Gore Wash  

SP    C.Sale Atl

SP    J.Luzardo Phi

SP    P.Skenes Pitt 

SP    R.Ray SFG

SP     L.Webb SFG

SP    Y.Yamamoto LAD 

RP   J.Bird Colo

RP   A.Bender Mia

RP   R.Suarez SD

All Time NFL Tournament-The Finals

 2008 STEELERS v. 2015 STEELERS

 Well, sometimes, life is like this.  You put together a 256 team tournament covering the history of professional football and it ends with two Ben Roethlisberger teams.  

JUST AS PROPHECY FORETOLD.

Okay, lets wrap it up.  This game is in Pittsburgh.  'Cause why not?

2008 STEELERS 33        2015 STEELERS 18

The winners of the tournament.  The 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers.

The '15 team scored first, a 15 yard Leveon Bell first qt TD run - the '08 team then ran off the next 23 points.  Big Ben 17 yards to Hines Ward, a short Mewelde Moore TD run, 3 Jeff Reed FGs; it was 23-7 through 3 qtrs.  The '15 team cut the lead to 5; Roethlisberger 43 yards to Antonio Brown, followed by a 2 pt conversion and then a Chris Boswell FG.  23-18, 6 minutes left in the game.

The '15 team forced a quick 3 and out - got the ball back - and Troy Polamalu takes a pick back 41 yards for a game sealing score.  The '08 team tacks on a late FG for the final score.

Both Willie Parker and Mewelde Moore rush for over 100 yards in the win.  James Harrison had a pick and a sack for the winning team (he also had a sack for the losing side). 115 yards receiving for Brown in the loss.

All hail the 2008 Steelers, champions of the world.