The national semifinal between first-time participants marks the second time two mid-major programs will meet in the Final Four since the NCAA tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985.
AP Basketball WriterLoyola Chicago and Sister Jean. Butler’s consecutive title-game runs with a near-miss against Duke. Saint Peter’s ride a year ago.A massive March upheaval this season has created a rare sight: two mid-majors playing for a spot in the national championship.
May joked FAU was probably picked fifth in the Final Four. That might play right into the hands of a team that’s been doubted all season. The last time two mid-majors played in the Final Four was 2011 when Butler beat VCU in, you guessed it, Houston.San Diego State was one of the nation’s best defensive teams during the regular season and has ramped it up during the NCAA tournament.SDSU held Charleston and Furman to their lowest-scoring games of the season the first weekend. Creighton and Alabama went a combined 5 for 44 from 3-point range, the lowest ever in a regional weekend by a team that reached the Final Four.
Goldin had 14 points and 13 rebounds against Kansas State in the Elite Eight, helping FAU to a 44-22 rebounding advantage.The number of San Diego State teams that have won an NCAA Division I championship can be counted on one finger. Marlowe, who does play-by-play for the Denver Nuggets, said he lost count of the number of calls, texts and emails he received after the Aztecs won the South Region final Sunday. The highlight was a voicemail from Walton, who grew up near SDSU, won two national titles under John Wooden at UCLA and watched his youngest son, Chris, play for Fisher at SDSU in the early 2000s.
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