In 1997-98, Tubby Smith became the first man to coach one son against another son--point guards Saul Smith (Kentucky freshman) and G.G. Smith (Georgia junior). In 1996, Tubby was in his first year at Georgia when G.G. helped him become the only coach to guide three consecutive clubs to regional semifinals despite not being accorded a top four seed during the span. Tubby's two previous tourney teams were with Tulsa. Tubby entered the 2001 East Regional semifinals with the fifth-best record in NCAA Tournament history with more than 20 decisions (18-6, .750).

Whether some Kentucky fans like it or not, oft-maligned Saul has helped the Smith clan become the current first family of hoops. There has been a striking number of father-son, coach-player combinations bless college programs and keep them prospering. But many of them never participated in the NCAA Tournament, including SEC scoring sensations Pete Maravich, who played for his father (Press) at LSU, and Allan Houston, who played for his father (Wade) at Tennessee. The opinion here is that the most recent Smith duo will eventually become one of the top 10 father-son, coach-player tandems in NCAA playoff history. Here is a ranking of another dozen duos in this category:

1. Drews (Valparaiso/88-36 record, .710)

Father/Son: Homer Drew/Bryce Drew, G Summary: Valparaiso, the nation's premier Cinderella story in the 1990s, donned its glass Air Jordans in the 1998 Midwest Regional when a miracle length-of-the-court pass and three-point basket by guard Bryce ave the #14 seed Crusaders a stunning 70-69 victory over #3 seed Mississippi. Bryce hit his first six three-point attempts in the opening half the previous year, but the Crusaders faded down the stretch and bowed to Boston College, 73-66, in the first round. He became the school's all-time leader in assists and scoring to help turn around a program that compiled losing records each of its first 16 years at the major-college level.

2. Acres (Oral Roberts/47-34 record, .580)

Father/Sons: Dick Acres/Jeff Acres, F and Mark Acres, C Summary: Dick coached his sons from midway through the 1982-83 campaign through 1984-85. Jeff, who missed the 1982-83 season because of a knee injury, averaged 12.1 ppg and 6.5 rpg from 1980-81 through 1984-85. Mark averaged 18.5 ppg and 9.6 rpg and shot 56.4% from the floor from 1981-82 through 1984-85. ORU lost to Memphis State, 92-83, in the first round of the 1984 NCAA Tournament despite a total of 44 points and 28 rebounds by the Acres brothers.

3. Bennetts (Wisconsin-Green Bay/87-34 record, .719)

Father/Son: Dick Bennett/Tony Bennett, G Summary: Tony averaged 19.4 ppg and 5.1 apg from 1988-89 through 1991-92, finishing as UWGB's all-time leading scorer (2,285 points). He holds the NCAA career record for highest three-point field-goal percentage (.497/minimum of 200 made). The Phoenix won the 1991 Mid-Continent Tournament and 1992 regular-season title. UWGB lost to Michigan State, 60-58, in the first round of the 1991 NCAA playoffs.

4. Tarkanians (UNLV/77-19 record, .802)

Father/Son: Jerry Tarkanian/Danny Tarkanian, G Summary: Danny led the Rebels in assists and steals each of his three seasons from 1981-82 through 1983-84 after transferring from Dixie Junior College (Utah). The All-Pacific Coast Athletic Association second-team selection finished second in the nation with 8.5 assists per game as a senior. UNLV participated in the NIT in 1982 and NCAA Tournament in 1983 and 1984. The Rebels captured the PCAA regular-season championship in 1983 and 1984 before going 2-2 in the NCAA playoffs. They were eliminated by NCAA champions-to-be N.C. State (1983) and Georgetown (1984).

5. McGuires (Marquette/78-9 record, .897)

Father/Son: Al McGuire/Allie McGuire, G Summary: Allie averaged 9.1 ppg and 4 apg from 1970-71 through 1972-73 for three NCAA Tournament teams that went 5-4 in the NCAA playoffs. He led the Warriors in assists each of his seasons. Allie's best tourney performance was 15 points against undefeated Indiana in the 1975 Mideast Regional semifinals.

6. Connors (Boise State/54-54 record, .500)

Father/Son: Bus Connor/Steve Connor, G Summary: Steve, who averaged 17.8 ppg from 1974-75 through 1977-78, led the Broncos in scoring and assists as a junior (17.3 ppg/5.6 apg) and senior (19.6 ppg/4.4 apg). He ranks among the top five free-throw shooters in school history (79.2%) after pacing Boise State in that category three of his four seasons. He scored a game-high 26 points in a 103-78 defeat to UNLV in the 1976 NCAA Tournament after capturing the Big Sky Conference championship. Steve was a first five All-Big Sky choice as a senior and second five selection as a sophomore and junior.

7. Smithsons (Illinois State and Wichita State/67-23 record, .744)

Father/Son: Gene Smithson/Randy Smithson, G Randy averaged 6.7 ppg for Illinois State's 1978 NIT team that compiled a 24-4 mark. After playing one season for Cowley County Community College, Randy averaged 10.9 ppg for Wichita State's NIT team in 1979-80 and 13 ppg for an NCAA Tournament team in 1980-81. The Shockers won the 1981 Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title before finishing Midwest Regional runner-up to LSU. Randy, now coaching his alma mater, was an all-regional selection.

8. Meyers (DePaul/56-22 record, .718)

Father/Son: Ray Meyer/Tom Meyer, G Summary: Tom averaged 10.3 ppg from 1963-64 through 1965-66, including 14.1 ppg as a senior. The Blue Demons appeared in national postseason competition each of his seasons--NIT in 1964 and 1966 and NCAA Tournament in 1965. His best playoff game was in the Mideast Regional opener when he collected 20 points and seven rebounds.

9. Reids (Brigham Young/84-42 record, .667)

Father/Sons: Roger Reid/Randy Reid, G and Robbie Reid, G Summary: Randy averaged 6.2 ppg and 4.1 apg for a 25-9 team that shared the 1993 WAC regular-season championship and 11.2 ppg and 5.1 apg for a 15-13 club in 1996. Randy (11.8 ppg) and Robbie (6.8 ppg) combined for 18.6 ppg for the Cougars' 22-10 NIT participant in 1994. They collaborated for 18.7 ppg the next season for an NCAA playoff team that also compiled a 22-10 mark. Robbie, who enrolled at Michigan after a two-year Mormon mission, had a great NCAA playoff opening-round game this year for the Wolverines against Davidson.

10. Suttons (Kentucky and Oklahoma State/90-40 record, .692/38-24 with UK and 52-16 with OSU)

Father/Son: Eddie Sutton/Sean Sutton, G Summary: Sean averaged 5.9 ppg and a team-high 4.7 apg as a sophomore starter for UK in 1988-89. He averaged 11 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 4.4 apg in 1990-91 and 1991-92 for two NCAA Tournament teams after transferring from Kentucky. Sean led the Cowboys in assists and three-point shooting both seasons. They shared the Big Eight Conference regular-season title in 1991.

11. Allens (Kansas/44-19 record, .698)

Father/Son: Phog Allen/Robert (Bobby) Allen, C Summary: Bobby, a three-year letterman from 1938-39 through 1940-41, was an All-Big Six Conference selection as a junior and senior. He was captain of the team his final year. The Jayhawks, Big Six co-champions in 1940 and 1941, finished runner-up in the 1940 NCAA Tournament. Bob, the only player to lead an NCAA championship game in scoring while playing for his father, managed 13 points in a 60-42 loss against Indiana.

12. Smiths (Georgia/44-19 record, .698)

Father/Son: Tubby Smith/G.G. Smith, G Summary: G.G. averaged 6.3 ppg and 2.8 apg for two NCAA Tournament teams in 1995-96 and 1996-97. His brother, Saul, has been Kentucky's starting point guard the past two seasons.