John Walters

One, suddenly, is not the loneliest number.

UCLA. North Carolina. Memphis. And, as soon as Davidson point guard Jason Richards' last-second shot caromed harmlessly off the backboard in Detroit, Kansas. All four of them were No. 1 seeds. All four of them are advancing to the Final Four in San Antonio.

That has never happened before. The NCAA tournament began seeding teams in 1979. It took 30 tournaments before all four top seeds started out 4-0 (or, between 1979-84, 3-0). How ironic is that? The most incredible outcome the tourney has yet witnessed — short of a No. 16 seed defeating a No. 1 seed — is that which would seem the most predictable.

That a No. 1 seed should advance to the Final Four seems logical. After all, isn't that why the tournament selection committee seeded them there? However, the odds of all four No. 1 seeds advancing are long. As in one in 65,536. As in you are twice as likely to buy a ticket to the national championship game and randomly find yourself seated next to Nick Lachey (four times as likely if you're in a middle seat … and 10 times as likely if you're hot).

Four No. 1 seeds all headed to the Final Four has never happened before. So why has it happened now? The answer is this simple: Why not?

There is no logical explanation to why all four No. 1 seeds advanced this season and not any year before. It is inexplicable. Just as it is inexplicable that, coming out of a timeout, the tourney's hottest shooter (and leading scorer), Stephen Curry, dribbles upcourt and passes to the nation's assist leader, Richards, for the last shot (as opposed to vice-versa).

Some things in college basketball simply defy reason. For example, how do you explain that the Colorado women's basketball team (alive and kicking in the Women's NIT; Go, Buffs!) has both a Whitney Houston and a Brittany Spears? Furthermore, how do you begin to explain the existence of the WNIT?

Some things in college basketball just defy logic.

Special feature The Final Four: North Carolina Looking at some of the Tar Heels' top players and moments from their season. NBCSports.com

The experts may be tempted to point out the pedigree factor. UCLA (18th Final Four), North Carolina (17) and Kansas (13), after all, rank first, second, and fourth (KU is tied with Kentucky) in Four appearances. And while Memphis is only making its third Final Four visit, their coach, John Calipari, allegedly sold his soul to the devil at a Dunkin Donuts in Amherst, Mass., in 1991.

Regardless, the appearance of all four No. 1 seeds in San Antonio next Saturday evening is not, nor should it be construed as, a referendum on the state of college basketball in 2008. First of all, it was only two years ago that none of the No. 1 seeds advanced to the Final Four (instead, it was No. 2 UCLA, No. 3 Florida, No. 4 LSU and No. 11 George Mason).

Second, half the field at the Final Four might be different if not for two poorly executed offensive possessions in the waning moments of the game. We've already covered Davidson's blunder, but the Jayhawks came within one three-pointer of failing to advance to the Alamodome.

UCLA, eight days earlier, also nearly bowed out. Texas A&M had the ball and also trailed by two with plenty of time to set up one final play. However, Donald Sloan, the Aggies' leading scorer that night, floated into the lane and had his shot blocked by Josh Shipp.

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