First Down

ON WASHINGTONTIMES.COM

Chatter: Mark Zuckerman from Philadelphia on the Nationals’ series with the Phillies.

TODAY’S BEST BET ON TELEVISION

The Capitals play host to the Carolina Hurricanes with a chance to pull even in the race for the Southeast Division title.

7 p.m., CSN

TRIVIA

Of the four coaches left in the NCAA tournament, who has the best Final Four winning percentage?

NUMBER OF THE DAY

143-9 Combined record of North Carolina, Kansas, Memphis and UCLA. All four No. 1 seeds reached the Final Four for the first time in NCAA tournament history. The combined winning percentage of the squads at this week’s Final Four (.941) is easily the highest in NCAA tournament history.

TWT THREE — NCAA SUPER STALLIONS

The most impressive performances in the NCAA tournament thus far:

1. Kevin Love, UCLA — Memo to Tyler Hansbrough disciples: the Bruins’ big has been better in every conceivable way during the tournament, averaging more points (21.8), more rebounds (11.0) and more blocks (4.3) while shooting better (67.3) and boasting a 1.43-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio as opposed to Psycho T’s 1-to-2 giveaway fest. By the way, UCLA’s versatile superfrosh also has made six 3-pointers.

2. Stephen Curry, Davidson — Sure, Davidson fell one 3-pointer short against mighty Kansas, but not before the Wildcats dispatched Gonzaga, Georgetown and Wisconsin behind the scintillating exploits of their sophomore gunner, who led the field in scoring (32.0 points) and steals (3.3) while compiling an astounding 2.8-1 assist-turnover ratio with opponents draped all over him.

3. Derrick Rose, Memphis — The Memphis point guard dwarfed Texas counterpart D.J. Augustin in Sunday’s head-to-head matchup and has averaged 20.5 points, 6.0 assists and only 1.3 turnovers while directing the Tigers to four tournament victories. The gulf between this trio and the rest of this year’s NCAA tournament participants has been wide.

Trivia answer

North Carolina’s Roy Williams has the best winning percentage at .500, going 4-4 with a national title in 2005. UCLA’s Ben Howland (1-2, .333) is making his third straight appearance after falling to eventual champion Florida the last two seasons. Memphis’ John Calipari is 0-1, having lost his only Final Four appearance with Massachusetts in 1996. This is the first Final Four for Kansas’ Bill Self.