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.

Record: 24-7

Coach: Jim Killingsworth

Best players: G Carven Holcombe (17.5 ppg), F Larry Richard (16.1 ppg), G Jamie Dixon (12.3 ppg)

Regular season: After an unimposing 4-3 start, the Horned Frogs surged on a 14-game winning streak that pushed them to No. 15. They wrapped up the SWC title during another four-game streak and finished four games ahead of Baylor for the regular-season title. They lost in the first round of the SWC tournament to Texas A&M.

NCAA history: The Horned Frogs earned their highest seed in modern history at No. 4 and toppled Marshall in the first round. But their second-round loss to Notre Dame was marred when David Rivers hit two foul shots on a controversial foul with four seconds left.

What makes them special: “The Killer Frogs” earned their nickname with a knack of upsets throughout Killingsworth’s career, but this was his best team. Killingsworth retired two days after the tournament ended. Dixon went on to a successful coaching career. And the Horned Frogs have not won an NCAA tournament game since.