The 2013 Final Four teams have combined for 20 previous appearances. Louisville has reached the sport's final weekend nine times, Michigan six, Syracuse four and Wichita State once. Each Final Four team had a different story and added a different element to its school's rich basketball history.
From the Fab Five to Carmelo Anthony to the McCray Brothers to Cazzie Russell, here are some tidbits from each school's previous Final Four teams.
NCAA Final Four History For Louisville, Michigan, Syracuse And Wichita State Slideshow
Michigan 1976
Teams defeated: Wichita State, Notre Dame, Missouri, Rutgers
Result: Runner-up
Notable players: Rickey Green, Phil Hubbard, John Robinson, Wayman Britt, Steve Grote.
One year removed from junior college, Rickey Green led the Wolverines to the National Title Game. In the National Semifinals, Michigan knocked off undefeated Rutgers to set up a date with undefeated Big Ten rival Indiana. Scott May and Kent Benson combined for 51 Hoosier points, as Indiana beat Michigan for the third time that season, 86-68. Bob Knight earned Indiana's first title, and the '76 Hoosiers are the most recent team to finish a season, wire-to-wire, undefeated.
Syracuse 1975
Teams defeated: La Salle, North Carolina, Kansas State
Result: Fourth Place
Notable Players: Rudy Hackett, Jim Lee, Chris Sease
Under Coach Roy Danforth, the Orangemen reached its first Final Four. In the East Regional Final, Rudy Hackett scored 28 points and Jim Lee dropped 25 points (Hackett and Lee were known as "Roy's Runts") to outlast a 35-point outing by Kansas State's Chuckie Williams. Kentucky ended the upstart Orangemen's run with a 95-79 National Semifinals victory. Louisville then knocked off Syracuse 96-88 in the Third Place Game.
Louisville 1975
Teams defeated:: Rutgers, Cincinnati, Maryland, Syracuse (in consolation game)
Result: Third Place.
Notable Players: Junior Bridgeman, Allen Murphy, Wesley Cox, Philip Bond, Bill Bunton.
In the Midwest regional final, five Cardinals finished in double figures, as Louisville outlasted 27 points from Maryland's John Lucas, 96-82. In the national semifinals, Allen Murphy's 33 points nearly helped knock off five-time defending champion UCLA. The Bruins held on 75-74 behind 26 points from Richard Washington. Bill Bunton scored 24 points and Junior Bridgeman had 21 points and 11 rebounds in the third-place victory over Syracuse.
Louisville 1972
Teams defeated: Southwest Louisiana, Kansas State.
Result: Fourth Place
Notable Players: Jim Price, Rob Thomas, Henry Bacon, Mike Lawhorn.
Jim Price scored 25 points in the Cardinals' two victories over Southwest Louisiana and Kansas State to reach the final weekend. In Los Angeles, Louisville danced with a local UCLA team that defended its turf 96-77. Bill Walton went for 33 points and 21 rebounds in the national semifinals for the eventual champion Bruins. In the third place game, Bob McAdoo poured in 30 points and pulled down 19 rebounds in a 105-91 North Carolina win.
Wichita State 1965
Teams defeated: SMU, Oklahoma State.
Result: Fourth Place.
Notable Players: Kelley Pete, Jamie Thompson, Dave Leach.
In Coach Gary Thompson's first year, the Shockers reached No. 1 in the AP Poll during the season. Wichita State escaped tests from SMU and Oklahoma State before a national semifinal matchup with defending champion UCLA. Gail Goodrich and Edgar Lacy combined for 52 points in a 108-89 Bruins win. One day later, Bill Bradley scored 58 on the Shockers for a 118-82 Tigers victory in the third-place game.
Michigan 1965
Teams defeated: Dayton, Vanderbilt, Princeton
Result: Runner-up
Notable Players: Cazzie Russell, Bill Buntin, Oliver Darden, Larry Tregoning.
One year after reaching its first Final Four, Michigan took the next step to reach the national championship Game. The run to the Finals was capped off by a 93-76 win in the national semifinals against Bill Bradley's Princeton Tigers behind 28 points from Russell. Michigan fell to UCLA in the national championship game 91-80. Gail Goodrich dropped 42 on the Wolverines for the title.
Michigan 1964
Teams defeated: Loyola (Ill.), Ohio, Kansas State (in consolation game)
Result: Third Place.
Notable Players: Cazzie Russell, Bill Buntin, Bob Cantrell, Oliver Darden.
Cazzie Russell scored 25 points in a 69-57 Elite Eight victory over Ohio to send the Wolverines to their first Final Four. In the national semifinals, eventual runner-up Duke, led by Jay Buckley and Jeff Mullins, beat Michigan 91-80. The Wolverines returned to form in the third-place game, knocking off Kansas State in Kansas City, 100-90. Playing without Russell, Bill Buntin topped the box score with 33 points, including a then Final Four single game record of 15 made free throws.
Louisville 1959
Teams defeated: Eastern Kentucky, Kentucky, Michigan State.
Result: Fourth Place.
Notable players: Don Goldstein, Harold Andrews, Roger Tieman.
The Cardinals knocked off in-state rival Kentucky and Michigan State to reach the Final Four in Louisville's home arena, Freedom Hall. The local flavor was not kind to the Cardinals. Jerry West dropped 38 on Louisville, as West Virginia won 94-79 in the national semifinals. Oscar Robertson scored 39 points on Louisville the next day in a 98-85 Cincinnati victory in the third-place game.