6 Catholic Schools Remain

[SoCalEagle]

By my count, there are 6 Catholic schools left in the Tournament.  7 made the cut, but Boston College lost to USC.  That leaves: Marquette, Dayton, Siena, Xavier, Villanova, and Gonzaga. 

Can any of the Catholic schools left make it to the Final Four?  As history shows, it's certainly unlikely, but maybe one of them will go on a run. 

There have been only 4 Final Four apperances by Catholic schools since 1985 when 3 made it (Villanova, Georgetown, and Saint John's - what an incredible year that was). 

Think about that for a moment.  There have been 23 Tournaments since 1985 (not including this year) which means there have been 92 slots available in the Final Four (23 X 4 = 92).  Of those 92 slots, only 4 have been filled by Catholic schools (less than 5%). 

Those who made it are:

1. 1987  - Providence

2. 1989 - Seton Hall

3. 2003 - Marquette

4. 2007 - Georgetown

It seems to me that Villanova has the best chance of getting there this year, but even that is a long shot. 

Thoughts?

[muwarrior69]

All non-football schools and Marquette the only non-Big East (at the time) team. Shows how tough it is to compete with all the state schools and all that tax money.

[DomJamesToTheBasket]

We have the best shot to make a run.........Mizzou and Memphis can be beat......we can play with anyone in the tournament.......thanks Big East!!!

[wildbill sb]

Jeez, i wonder how many Baptist schools are left?  Any Jewish schools?  How many Lutherans?  Any non-sectarian schools?  Agnostics?  Cripes, this is getting pretty doggone serious.  Factor in heathens, Muslims, and a guy doesn't know which way to turn.  Poor Buzz, how can he hope to cope?

[SoCalEagle]

All non-football schools and Marquette the only non-Big East (at the time) team. Shows how tough it is to compete with all the state schools and all that tax money.

Yes, the big state schools have a huge advantage.  It just goes to show how special our 2003 run was. 

[jmayer1]

Jeez, i wonder how many Baptist schools are left?  Any Jewish schools?  How many Lutherans?  Any non-sectarian schools?  Agnostics?  Cripes, this is getting pretty doggone serious.  Factor in heathens, Muslims, and a guy doesn't know which way to turn.  Poor Buzz, how can he hope to cope?

SoCal was just bringing up an interesting point, not sure why you have to jump on him.

[muwarrior69]

I believe the last non-BCS school to win the Natonal Championship was UNLV. If I  am wrong please correct me. At least the little schools get their shot, unlike farcetball. Oops, I mean football.

[SoCalEagle]

SoCal was just bringing up an interesting point, not sure why you have to jump on him.

This just in ..... no Jewish schools remain in the 2009 NCAA Tournament. 

[SoCalEagle]

I believe the last non-BCS school to win the Natonal Championship was UNLV. If I  am wrong please correct me. At least the little schools get their shot, unlike farcetball. Oops, I mean football.

I believe you're right.  UNLV came out of the Big West to win it all in 1990.  However, they had to cheat to do it.  This from an old SI article: 

In college basketball, the Runnin' Rebels from Las Vegas routed Duke, 103-73, for the national title but now, as then, Coach Jerry Tarkanian has been surrounded by NCAA investigators.  After first declaring UNLV ineligible to defend its championship in 1991, the NCAA ruled that the Runnin' Rebels would be ineligible for the 1992 tournament instead.  Only a few weeks later, UNLV was confronted by the NCAA with a new series of allegations of recruiting violations.

[MarquetteDano]

I believe you're right.  UNLV came out of the Big West to win it all in 1990.  However, they had to cheat to do it.  This from an old SI article: 

In college basketball, the Runnin' Rebels from Las Vegas routed Duke, 103-73, for the national title but now, as then, Coach Jerry Tarkanian has been surrounded by NCAA investigators.  After first declaring UNLV ineligible to defend its championship in 1991, the NCAA ruled that the Runnin' Rebels would be ineligible for the 1992 tournament instead.  Only a few weeks later, UNLV was confronted by the NCAA with a new series of allegations of recruiting violations.

True, but we are going to use cheating to remove Final Fours and championship, holy smoke do I have a list for you.  I'll start with Michigan, then to UCLA, then to Minnesota, the list goes on and on.