College Basketball

How The Final Four Was Formed

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Mar 30, 2014

How The Final Four Was Formed

Connecticut 60, Michigan St. 54

<italics>SI's best shots of the regional finals, in which the Final Four pairing of Florida, Connecticut, Kentucky and Wisconsin was produced.</italics> Niels Giffey celebrates UConn's victory over Michigan State, which made the Huskies the first No. 7 seed to reach the Final Four since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985.

Connecticut 60, Michigan St. 54

The Huskies got 25 points out of Shabazz Napier (13), including 17 in the second half, as they set up a matchup against top-seeded Florida in one of the national semifinals. The Gators have won 30 straight, but their last loss was to UConn, 65-64 on Dec. 2.

Connecticut 60, Michigan St. 54

Ryan Boatright (11) made four steals as Michigan State committed 16 turnovers. Some were caused by UConn's quickness, others by poor decisions by the Spartans.

Connecticut 60, Michigan St. 54

DeAndre Daniels (2) finished with eight points and 12 rebounds. More importantly, he shut down Branden Dawson, who scored 24 points in Michigan State's Sweet 16 win over top-seeded Virginia. Dawson attempted just three field goals, making one, to finish with five points.

Connecticut 60, Michigan St. 54

The undersized Huskies matched Michigan State's physical play box-out for box-out, holding the Spartans to just six offensive rebounds and six points in the paint.

Connecticut 60, Michigan St. 54

Lasah Kromah goes hard to the basket despite the defense of Adreian Payne (left) and Branden Dawson.

Connecticut 60, Michigan St. 54

The Spartans' seniors become the first four-year players recruited by Tom Izzo to fail to make a Final Four.

Kentucky 75, Michigan 72

Aaron Harrison nailed this three-point shot from NBA range with 2.3 seconds left to lift Kentucky into the Final Four. He scored 12 points off four three-pointers over the last 8:05.

Kentucky 75, Michigan 72

Julius Randle and Kentucky are the first all-freshman starting lineup to make the Final Four since the Fab Five of Michigan did it in 1992. Randle had 16 points and 11 rebounds for his 24th double-double and was named the region's most outstanding player.

Kentucky 75, Michigan 72

This year's Final Four appearance by Kentucky will be the 16th in school history.

Kentucky 75, Michigan 72

Kentucky got six assists out of Andrew Harrison (pictured).

Kentucky 75, Michigan 72

Julius Randle attempts to block a shot by Jon Horford.

Kentucky 75, Michigan 72

Coach John Calipari's team played its best basketball of the season in the tourney. After beating Kansas State in the round of 64 and Wichita State in the round of 32, Kentucky upset in-state rival Louisville in the Sweet 16, and now Michigan.

Florida 62, Dayton 52

Patric Young and the Gators ended Dayton's cinderella run and reached the Final Four for the fifth time in school history. Florida will face UConn in one of the national semifinals.

Florida 62, Dayton 52

Casey Prather and the Gators have won all of their tournament games by double digits this season and are on a 30-game winning streak.

Florida 62, Dayton 52

The Gators got 23 points, three steals and three steals out of Scottie Wilbekin as they avoided losing in the Regional Final for a fourth consecutive year.

Florida 62, Dayton 52

Michael Frazier II and the Gators finished the first half on a 15-1 run to take the lead for good, going up 38-24. They held Dayton to its lowest scoring game of the season.

Florida 62, Dayton 52

Kasey Hill and Florida hit one fewer field goal than Dayton (19-18), but the Gators outrebounded them 37-26. They also had a massive edge at the free throw line (21 of 28) to (6 of 8).

Wisconsin 64, Arizona 63 OT

The Badgers are back in the Final Four for the first time since 2000, and 69-year-old coach Bo Ryan in his first.

Wisconsin 64, Arizona 63 OT

Frank Kaminsky, pictured here defending against Jordin Mayes, led Wisconsin with 28 points, including six in overtime. He also had 11 rebounds.

Wisconsin 64, Arizona 63 OT

Wisconsin's Josh Gasser is sandwiched by Nick Johnson and Kaleb Tarczewski.

Wisconsin 64, Arizona 63 OT

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson gets between Sam Dekker (left) and Frank Kaminsky for a shot. This was the seventh overtime game of this tournament, a March Madness record.

Wisconsin 64, Arizona 63 OT

Josh Gasser scores two of his five points as Nick Johnson tries to defend. With three seconds remaining in overtime, Gasser drew a charge call against Johnson as the Wildcats were trying to eclipse a 64-63 deficit.

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