Final Four (1974-75) will be the Big East Invitational.
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2-seed Syracuse (Yankee conference)
4-seed Marquette (Big East)
2-seed Creighton (Big East)
1-seed Seton Hall (Big East)
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Pretty impressive stuff.
Seton Hall (34-3) had their legendary coach Danny Velez (1177-401) retire after 29 seasons, 2 national titles, 16 conference titles, and 16 All-Americans. Both titles he won at Seton Hall. Mike Tuttle, their current head coach was an assistant under Velez before eventually spending years at Kentucky. He left there for UMass, but only spent a season there before moving to Seton Hall when this job opened up. Hilariously, UMass faced Seton Hall in the Elite 8 this year.
Syracuse (29-6) are in their first Final Four since 1948 when they won the whole tournament. This team's appearance in the NCAAs was not foretold at the start of the year. They'd missed the post-season 4 straight years, which is why head coach Michael Watt was fired. The Orange last made the tournament seven seasons ago, so it makes what first-year coach Ernest Mitchell -- who came over after years at Arkansas -- did all the more impressive.
Creighton (32-4) are back in the Final Four for the third time in school history. Both other times (1962, 1969) they won the whole tournament. 9th year head coach Mike Shipe sports one of those title rings and is aiming for a 2nd, as the only coach in this tourney left with national title experience as a head coach.
Marquette (26-9) have been to 11 Final Fours, but only have 2 titles to show for it. Surprisingly, this off-season they lost HC Brendan Carlsen after only two years to Florida, which was not the vision when they tapped him to replace longtime legendary coach Casey Velasquez. Velasquez reigned from 1948-71, elevated an already excellent program to new heights. 6 Final Fours, 3 national titles games, 2 national titles.
To replace Carlsen, they elevated former Georgia State head coach Willis Dunbar, one of the hottest young coaches who was sputtering at Georgia State since their elevation to the ACC. Dunbar, 42, has taken his 4th program to the NCAAs in his young career after starting at Wyoming. He led Denver to a surprise Final Four in 1966, meaning he's the 2nd most experienced coach in this Final Four field.
No matter who wins it all, we're talking about some pretty accomplished programs and a generation of legendary coaches down the road.