The 2013 Final Four and Connections with Arkansas

With Arkansas' men's basketball program still at least a year away from regaining national prominence, I decided to take a unique look at this year's Final Four participants. I found random, obscure connections between them and Arkansas, during Arkansas' glory days. Here's what I found...

1. Wichita State

This year's last remaining Cinderella, Wichita State is the first Missouri Valley Conference team to reach the Final Four since Larry Bird led Indiana State to the Championship game in 1979. Who did Indiana State beat to reach the Final Four? Arkansas. In a game that caused my dad to hate Larry Bird to this day, the Sycamores beat the Razorbacks 73-71 (if you ask him, my dad will tell you that the refs screwed Arkansas).

Also, 1979 was the last time a No. 9 seed reached the Final Four. The Penn Quakers lost to eventual National Champion Michigan State (and Magic Johnson) in the national semifinals.

2. Louisville

That same year (1979), Louisville reached the Sweet Sixteen, where they faced, you guessed it, Arkansas. Arkansas beat the Cardinals 73-62 to advance to the Elite Eight. Louisville went on to win the National Championship in 1980.

3. Michigan

Arkansas' only National Championship came in 1994, when they beat Duke in the title game. However, before Arkansas reached the Final Four, they had to defeat the Steve Fisher-led Michigan Wolverines in the Elite Eight. They did so by winning 76-68.

4. Syracuse

In 1995, Arkansas was out to defend their 1994 National Championship. Before they reached the Championship game (where they lost to UCLA), they had to get by 7-seed Syracuse to reach the Sweet Sixteen. They beat Jim Boeheim and the Orange 96-94 in overtime.

-One final note not really concerning Arkansas (except that it happened only a few months after Arkansas' football team clinched an undefeated season and national championship): The last time (and only time) Wichita State made the Final Four was in 1965. That year was also the 2nd Final Four appearance for Michigan. However, neither team won, as UCLA beat Wichita State in the national semifinals and beat Michigan in the title game, giving some guy named John Wooden his second National Championship.