#7: Texas 2003
vs.
#2: Houston 1983
 

Record: 26-7

Coach: Rick Barnes

Best players: G T.J. Ford (15.0 ppg, 7.7 apg), G Brandon Mouton (14.8 ppg), C James Thomas (11.1 ppg, 11.0 rpg).

During the regular season: After soaring as high as No. 2 nationally in early December, UT finished 9-2 in non-conference play. The Longhorns then streaked to a second-place finish in the Big 12 behind Kansas and were undefeated for the season at home. They were eliminated in the Big 12 quarterfinals by Texas Tech.

NCAA history: After beating North Carolina-Asheville and Purdue in the first two rounds, the Longhorns then rolled to victories at the Alamodome over Connecticut and Michigan State to advance to the Final Four. But they had no answer for Syracuse’s Carmelo Anthony (33 points, 14 rebounds) as the streaking Orange eliminated them in the national semifinals, 95-84.

What makes them special: Ford won the Wooden and Naismith Awards as the best player in the country and was a consensus All-American. It was the Longhorns’ most recent Final Four trip.

 

Record: 31-3

Coach: Guy Lewis

Best players: F-G Michael Young (17.3 ppg), G Clyde Drexler (15.9 ppg), C Akeem Olajuwon (13.9 ppg).

During the regular season: After losing back-to-back games to Syracuse and Virginia, the Cougars ran off 22 straight victories and claimed the No. 1 position in the poll for the final three weeks of the regular season.

NCAA history: After winning their first four games, including a titanic dunkfest against Louisville in the semifinals, the Cougars unraveled late in the national championship game against North Carolina State. Lorenzo Charles’ late put-back dunk at the buzzer enabled the underdog Wolfpack to escape with a stunning victory.

What makes them special: Known for their incredible athleticism, the Cougars are still known today as Phi Slama Jama, Texas’ tallest fraternity. With Hall of Famers Drexler and Olajuwon along with Larry “Mr. Mean” Micheaux and legendary streak shooter Bennie Anders off the bench, Guy Lewis’ team might be among the most famous teams never to win the NCAA title.