One of the 2023 men’s NCAA tournament Final Four matchups is set in stone, and it’s the round’s first battle of non-major conferences since 2011.
No. 9 Florida Atlantic and No. 5 San Diego State are now set to square off in the Final Four of this year’s tournament. They’ll join Butler and VCU as the only other two mid-major teams to ever battle in March Madness’ last weekend.
Funny enough, that Butler/VCU matchup in 2011 was in Houston, Texas, and the winner of that game went on to face Connecticut.
Twelve years later, we’ve got a Final Four in Houston with two mid-major teams squaring off on one side of the bracket and Connecticut playing on the other side.
History might fully repeat itself in the most fascinating way if UConn wins the whole thing. It already is repeating itself with a few key parts.
FAU and San Diego State’s Men’s Final Four matchup will be just the second EVER between non-major conference opponents (2011 Butler against VCU). pic.twitter.com/6JVflKkoZE
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 26, 2023
We’ll see who else will join FAU, SDSU and UConn in the 2023 Final Four once we know the outcome of Texas/Miami.
UConn played Kentucky in its 2011 Final Four game, and the Huskies will get to play a Power Five team in Texas or Miami.
History really does repeat itself.