Record: 24-9

Coach: Tom Penders

Best players: G Travis Mays (24.1 ppg), G Lance Blanks (20.3 ppg, 2.7 spg), G Joey Wright (19.5 ppg, 3.8 apg).

During the regular season: Big things were expected as the Longhorns’ No. 22 preseason ranking was their first in nine seasons. They didn’t disappoint in a tough Southwest Conference, finishing third behind Arkansas and Houston. The Longhorns lost back-to-back games only once and finished strongly with six victories in their final seven regular-season games before they were eliminated by Houston in the second round of the SWC tournament.

NCAA history: The Longhorns claimed victories against Georgia and Purdue (in the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis) to qualify for their first Sweet 16 since 1979. They then beat Xavier, 102-89, as Mays, Blanks and Wright combined for 86 points. But their first trip to the Elite Eight in 43 seasons was ruined when Arkansas notched an 88-85 victory for their third triumph over UT that season.

What makes them special: Texas’ storied “BMW” offense of Blanks, Mays and Wright helped restore interest in basketball for the program along with making the coaching career of Tom Penders. The Longhorns’ entertaining offense and Penders’ candor made them one of the most memorable and exciting teams in the history of the Southwest Conference.

Record: 31-2

Coach: Guy Lewis

Best players: F Elvin Hayes (36.8 ppg), C Ken Spain (14.2 ppg), G Don Chaney (13.0 ppg).

During the regular season: Ran off a 31-game winning streak, taking over as the nation’s No. 1 team after upsetting defending national champion UCLA at the Astrodome in mid-January. The Cougars claimed the No. 1 position in the national polls for the rest of the season, scoring at least 100 points in 11 consecutive games.

NCAA history: Playing without injured starting point guard George Reynolds, the Cougars claimed their first three tournament games over Loyola, Louisville and TCU before running into UCLA. The Bruins used a box-and-one defense to stymie Hayes in a 101-69 beatdown in the semifinals. Houston then lost the third-place game to Ohio State.

What makes them special:The Cougars were the first Texas team to be ranked No. 1 during the regular season. Hayes was a two-time All American who took the Cougars to their first taste of national glory with back-to-back Final Four appearances in 1967-68.