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: 26-8

Coach: Shelby Metcalf

Best players: F Vernon Smith (14.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg), F Rynn Wright (14.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg), C Rudy Woods (11.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg).

During the regular season: The Aggies were 14th nationally in the preseason, but started 2-4. They won the SWC regular-season title and when SMU beat Arkansas to clinch A&M’s title, it prompted an excited Metcalf to ram his car into a telephone poll. They then beat the Razorbacks in the SWC tournament finals in the first time that event was played at HemisFair Arena.

NCAA history: David Goff’s steal and last-second basket catapulted them to a victory over Bradley in the first round. They notched a stunning 78-61 double-overtime victory over North Carolina before dropping a 66-55 overtime loss to eventual national champion Louisville as Darrell Griffith torched them for 24 points.

What makes them special:The Aggies’ imposing front line was known as “The Wall” because of its strength inside. They advanced to the Sweet 16 for only the third time in school history. The Aggies allowed 60.5 points per game — ninth best nationally. Substitute forward and future Spurs general manager R.C. Buford averaged 0.6 points and 1.1 rebounds in nine games.