With the Final Four coming up this weekend, there are hundreds of previews published in magazines, newspapers and Web sites breaking down the teams. Instead of adding to the clutter of player profiles and guides to attack the 2-3 zone, here are some facts you may not know about the three other schools (besides Syracuse) playing in New Orleans.

Kansas

Location: Lawrence, Kan.

Mascot: Jayhawks

Why a Jayhawk? According to the University of Kansas Web site, ‘A Jayhawk is a mythical bird with a fascinating history.’ It’s a combination of the hawk and the blue jay, representing the conflict between supporters of slavery and those supporting Kansas as a free state before the Civil War. The name later only applied to ‘those in favor of Kansas being a free state’ and became the symbol for the University.

Coach Roy Williams is coaching in his fourth Final Four and his second in New Orleans (1993). Coincidentally, the first Final Four that Williams coached in was in Minneapolis in 1991, another city on the banks of the Mississippi River. In 1991, Williams started a tradition of spitting in the MIssissippi River for good luck before the game. He continued the tradition in 1993 when Kansas played in St. Louis in the Midwest Regional on the way to New Orleans. No word on if Williams will continue the spitting this weekend, but he’d be wise to end the tradition — he’s yet to win a national title.

Jayhawk fans chant “Rock Chalk, Jayhawk, KU,” after each KU victory. The chant, created by a Kansas chemistry professor in 1886, was proclaimed as ‘The World’s Best College Cheer’ by President Teddy Roosevelt in 1901.

Marquette

Location: Milwaukee

Mascot: Golden Eagles

Why a Golden Eagle? This name has only been used for Marquette since 1994. Previously, Marquette — including its 1977 national championship squad — were known as the Warriors. Marquette’s administration decided to change the name after substantial political pressure from Native American groups.

Marquette’s basketball program is know almost exclusively for its championship in 1977 under Hall of Fame coach Al McGuire. The long-time coach, known for his charismatic behavior, left Marquette to become a broadcaster for CBS after the championship season. As an announcer, he became famous for his flamboyant style and trademark phrase, ‘Holy Mackerel!”

McGuire died earlier this year from cancer, and the team had ‘Al’ embroidered into the neck of its jerseys as a tribute.

Marquette, a Jesuit Catholic school, is the first school with a religious affiliation to reach the Final Four since Providence in 1987.

Texas

Location: Austin, Texas

Mascot: Longhorns

Why a Longhorn? The Longhorn cattle has long been the symbol of Texas’ long-time leading industry — cattle farming. For football games, Bevo, a real longhorn bull, is marched onto the field before each game. For basketball games, Hook’em, a student in a cattle suit, becomes the mascot. Hook’em is named for the traditional Texas cheer ‘Hook’em Horns.’ At Texas sporting events, fans of the Longhorns make horns with their pinkie and index finger and yell ‘Hook’em Horns.”

Texas also has a team in the Women’s Final Four, being played in Atlanta this weekend. This is the second consecutive year a school has had a team in both the women’s and men’s Final Four. Last year, fellow Big 12 school Oklahoma accomplished the same feat.

Don’t be confused when you hear the familiar tune to the song “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” during Texas games. The Longhorns’ fight song, ‘The Eyes of Texas’ is played to the same tune.

MARQUETTE (+4.5) VS. KANSAS

SATURDAY, 6:05 P.M., CBS

The first national semifinal features a matchup of two elite senior guards — Kansas’ Kirk Hinrich and Marquette’s Dwyane Wade.

Wade had a triple-double (29 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists) in Marquette’s upset victory, 83-69, over Kentucky.

The Jayhawks play behind the senior leadership of Hinrich and center Nick Collison, who led the Jayhawks to their Sweet Sixteen 69-65 victory against Duke with 33 points.

Kansas plays like its on a 40-minute fast break and is difficult to slow down.

PICK: KANSAS 80, MARQUETTE 73

SYRACUSE (+3) VS. TEXAS

SATURDAY, 8:37 P.M., CBS

After defeating its third Big 12 opponent in the East Regional final, Syracuse faces its fourth Saturday night against Texas.

The Orangemen, powered by Carmelo Anthony, face a team with an equally impressive star, T.J. Ford.

Ford, a leading candidate for several player of the year awards, is the heart of Texas’ offensive and defensive game plan.

To win, the Orangemen must play the same exhausting zone defense as in their 63-47 win over Oklahoma.

PICK: SYRACUSE 64, TEXAS 62

National Championship:

KANSAS VS. SYRACUSE

There is a certain confidence in this young Syracuse team.

The explosive Jayhawks will give the Syracuse zone all it can handle, but Jim Boeheim and the Orangemen will leave New Orleans with the title that has eluded them for so long.

PICK: SYRACUSE 88, KANSAS 87

Published on April 2, 2003 at 12:00 pm