Since the Big 12’s inception in the 1996-97 season, here’s a list of national champions, starting in 1997: Arizona (Pac-10), Kentucky (SEC), Connecticut (Big East), Michigan State (Big 10), Duke (ACC), Maryland (ACC), Syracuse (Big East), Connecticut (Big East), North Carolina (ACC), Florida (SEC) and Florida (SEC).

All major BCS conferences are accounted for on that list, with the exception of the Big 12.

The conference certainly has had its chances. Since 1996-97, six Big 12 teams have made the Final Four.

In fact, that’s more than any other conference in the nation.

Nick Krug

Kansas (2003, New Orleans) is the only Big 12 team to have played in a national title game.

Here are the other five Big 12 teams, to go along with the 2008 Jayhawks, to reach the Final Four:

2004 Oklahoma State Cowboys (2 seed)

Lost to: Georgia Tech, 67-65, semifinals

Key players: Tony Allen (Boston Celtics guard), Joey Graham (Toronto Raptors guard/forward), John Lucas (Houston Rockets guard)

Record since Final Four: 82-52 (.612)

2003 Kansas Jayhawks (2 seed)

Lost to: Syracuse, 81-78, finals

Key players: Nick Collison (Seattle Sonics forward), Kirk Hinrich (Chicago Bulls guard), Keith Langford (NBADL), Aaron Miles (Europe), Jeff Graves, Michael Lee (KU graduate student manager)

Record since Final Four: 140-32 (.814)

2003 Texas Longhorns (1 seed)

Lost to: Syracuse, 95-84, semifinals

Key players: T.J. Ford (Toronto Raptors guard), Royal Ivey (Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward), James Thomas, Brandon Mouton, Brad Buckman

Record since Final Four: 131-43 (.753)

2002 Kansas Jayhawks (1 seed)

Lost to: Maryland, 97-88, semifinals

Key players: Collison, Drew Gooden (Chicago Bulls forward), Hinrich, Miles, Jeff Boschee

Record since Final Four: 170-40 (.810)

2002 Oklahoma Sooners (2 seed)

Lost to: Indiana, 73-64, semifinals

Key players: Hollis Price, Quannas White, Ebi Ere, Aaron McGhee, Jabahri Brown

Record since Final Four: 131-62 (.679)