By Mike Douchant

The NCAA Tournament probably has never embraced so many key players whose fathers previously played in the tourney. Three No. 1 seeds fall into the category.

Sam Clancy (Southern California), Brian Cook (Illinois), T.J. Cummings (UCLA), Mike Dunleavy (Duke), Martin Ingelsby (Notre Dame), Michael McDonald (Stanford), Scott Robisch (Butler) and Luke Walton (Arizona) won their opening-round games this year. But the stress of the playoffs probably pales in comparison to the stiff competition they faced in their driveways while growing up.

Sizing up the father-son tandems:

Clancys--Father Sam played in two West Regional games for Pittsburgh (game highs of 22 points and 13 rebounds in a 70-69 overtime victory against Idaho and 16 points, six rebounds and game-high five steals in a 74-57 defeat against national runnerup-to-be North Carolina and the Tar Heels' frontcourt that included Sam Perkins and James Worthy). Son with same name is leading scorer and rebounder for Southern California's #6 seed in the East Regional.

Cooks--Father Norm was the second-leading rebounder and fourth-leading scorer for Kansas' fourth-place team in 1974 NCAA Tournament (23-7 record). He averaged 8.4 points and 7.4 rebounds in five NCAA Tournament games for the Jayhawks in 1974 and 1975 (2-3 record). Son Brian is a starting forward for Illinois' #1 seed in the Midwest Regional.

Cummings--Father Terry averaged 16.3 points and 9.7 rebounds for DePaul in three NCAA Tournament games from 1980 through 1982 (0-3 record). Son T.J. is a key backup for UCLA's #4 seed in the East Regional.

Dunleavys--Father Mike averaged 11.5 points for South Carolina in four NCAA Tournament games in 1973 and 1974 (2-2 record). Son Mike Jr. is a starter for Duke's #1 seed in the East Regional.

Ingelsbys--Father Tom, the starting point guard as a sophomore for Villanova's NCAA Tournament runner-up in 1971, averaged 13.9 points, five rebounds and 4.1 assists in eight NCAA playoff games in 1971 and 1972 (5-3 record). Son Martin is the starting playmaker for Notre Dame's #6 seed in the Midwest Regional.

McDonalds--Father Glenn averaged 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds for Long Beach State in six NCAA Tournament games in 1972 and 1973 (4-2 record). Son Michael is the starting playmaker for Stanford's #1 seed in the West Regional. Waltons--Father Bill averaged 28.8 points and 17.8 rebounds per game for UCLA at the Final Four in 1972 and 1973. His championship game-record 44 points against Memphis State in 1973 when he hit 21 of 22 field-goal attempts will probably never be duplicated in NCAA playoff competition. Son Luke is a vital contributor for Arizona's #2 seed in the Midwest Regional. Son Nate was the starting center for Princeton's NCAA Tournament squad that lost to #2 seed North Carolina in the South Regional.

Former Kansas star Dave Robisch had another son (Brett at Oklahoma State) participate in the NCAA playoffs. The following list will soon need an overhaul, but here is an assessment of the top 20 father-son combinations to appear in the NCAA Tournament entering 2001:

1. Bibbys (combined for 21-1 record in NCAA playoffs)
Father Henry, the second-leading scorer for UCLA's undefeated 1972 NCAA champion, averaged 15.2 points and 4.4 rebounds for the Bruins in 12 NCAA Tournament games from 1970 to 1972 (12-0 record). Son Mike, an All-NCAA Tournament team selection as a freshman in 1997, averaged 17.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists for Arizona in 10 NCAA Tournament games in 1997 and 1998 (9-1 record).

2. Walker/Rose (15-5)
Father Jimmy Walker averaged 20 points for Providence in four NCAA Tournament games in 1965 and 1966 (2-2 record). Son Jalen Rose, named to the 1992 All-NCAA Tournament team as a freshman, averaged 15.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists for Michigan in 16 NCAA playoff games from 1992 through 1994 (13-3 record).

3. Johnsons (21-6)
Father Marques, an All-NCAA Tournament selection as a junior, averaged 14.6 points and 8.6 rebounds for UCLA in 16 NCAA Tournament games from 1974 through 1977 (13-3 record). Son Kris averaged 9.5 points and 3.6 rebounds for UCLA in 11 NCAA playoff contests from 1995 through 1998 (8-3 record; did not play in three games for 1995 champion). They are the only father-son combination to be underclassmen on the rosters of two teams from the same school to win NCAA titles--Marques (1975) and Kris (1995).

4. Chapmans (4-4)
Father Wayne, an All-Mideast Regional selection as a sophomore, averaged 14.5 points and 5.5 rebounds for Western Kentucky in four NCAA Tournament games in 1966 and 1967 (2-2 record). Son Rex, an All-Southeast Regional selection as a sophomore, averaged 22.3 points, 3 rebounds and 3.3 assists for Kentucky in four NCAA Tournament games in 1987 and 1988 (2-2 record).

5. Robischs (3-3 minus Scott)
Father Dave, the Most Outstanding Player in the Midwest Regional as a senior, averaged 24 points and 10.3 rebounds for Kansas in four NCAA Tournament games in 1971 (2-2 record). Son Brett averaged 16 points and 8.5 rebounds for Oklahoma State in two NCAA Tournament games in 1998 (1-1 record). Oft-injured son Scott, who transferred from the Cowboys to Butler, has been a center for the Bulldogs' NCAA playoff teams the last two years.

6. Buntins (8-6)
Father Bill, an All-NCAA Tournament selection as a junior and All-Mideast Regional choice both years, averaged 22.6 points and 11.4 rebounds for Michigan in eight NCAA Tournament games in 1964 and 1965 (6-2 record). Son Nathan, who scored a game-high 21 points in his final college game against Northern Iowa, averaged 5.5 points and 2.3 rebounds for Missouri in six NCAA Tournament games from 1987 through 1990 (2-4 record).

7. Thigpens (3-4)
Father Justus Sr., a 1969 NCAA Tournament All-West Regional selection, averaged 12.5 points for Weber State in four NCAA Tournament games in 1968 and 1969 (2-2 record). Son Justus Jr. averaged 24 points and 3 assists for Iowa State as the Cyclones' leading scorer in each of three NCAA Tournament games in 1992 and 1993 (1-2 record).

8. Piatkowskis (0-5)
Father Walt scored a team-high 27 points for Bowling Green in a 72-71 loss to Marquette in the 1968 playoffs. Son Eric averaged 16 points and 5 rebounds for Nebraska in four NCAA Tournament games from 1991 through 1994 (0-4 record).

9. Flynns (10-5)
Father Mike, an All-Mideast Regional selection as a senior after scoring a team-high 22 points against previously undefeated Indiana, averaged 11.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists for Kentucky in seven NCAA Tournament games in 1973 and 1975 (5-2 record). Son B.J. averaged 6.8 points and 3.1 rebounds for Louisville in eight NCAA Tournament games from 1995 through 1997 (5-3 record).

10. Pollards (9-6)
Father Pearl, who scored a game-high 21 points in a 71-65 loss to Idaho State in a West Regional third-place contest, averaged 15 points for Utah in two NCAA Tournament games in 1959 (0-2 record). Son Scot averaged 9.5 points and 8.1 rebounds for Kansas in 13 NCAA Tournament games from 1994 through 1997 (9-4 record).

11. Jones duo (4-4)
Father Wali, a two-time All-East Regional selection, averaged 22.5 points and 5.5 rebounds for Villanova in six NCAA Tournament games in 1962 and 1964 (4-2 record). Wali scored a game-high 34 points as a senior in a 74-62 victory over Bill Bradley-led Princeton in a third-place contest. Son Askia averaged 11 points for Kansas State in two NCAA Tournament games in 1990 and 1993 (0-2 record).

12. Ferrys (15-5)
Father Bob collected six points and three rebounds for St. Louis in one NCAA Tournament game as a sophomore in 1957. Son Danny, an All-NCAA Tournament selection as a senior, averaged 14.2 points and 6.9 rebounds for Duke in 19 NCAA Tournament games from 1986 through 1989 (15-4 record).

13. McGuires (7-5)
Father Al averaged seven points and four rebounds for St. John's in three NCAA Tournament games in 1951 (2-1 record). Son Allie averaged 10.1 points in nine NCAA Tournament games from 1971 through 1973 (5-4 record).

14. Mills family (13-5)
Father Terry averaged 7.4 points for Kentucky in five NCAA Tournament games from 1969 through 1971 (1-4 record; did not play as a sophomore in Mideast Regional third-place game triumph). Son Cameron supplied key three-pointers against Duke and Utah this year for champion Kentucky after leading the Wildcats in three-point field-goal percentage and averaging 11.8 points in the NCAA playoffs for the 1997 national runnerup (12-1 record from 1996 through 1998; played in only one playoff game for 1996 NCAA champion).

15. Porters (6-5)
Father Howard Sr., the Final Four Most Outstanding Player as a senior, averaged 24.1 points and 12.9 rebounds for Villanova in nine NCAA Tournament games from 1969 through 1971 (6-3 record). Son Howard Jr. averaged 2.5 points and 5 rebounds for Central Florida in two NCAA Tournament games in 1994 and 1996 (0-2 record).

16. Parkinsons (1-2)
Father Jack, a member of Kentucky's 1948 NCAA titlist although he didn't participate in the playoffs that year, averaged eight points for the Wildcats in two NCAA Tournament games in 1945 (1-1 record). Son Bruce scored 10 points for Purdue against eventual NCAA runner-up North Carolina in 1977.

17. Ellis tandem (4-4)
Father LeRoy collected 12 points and 16 rebounds for St. John's in one NCAA Tournament game in 1961. Son LeRon averaged 4.1 points and 4.1 rebounds for Kentucky (1988) and Syracuse (1990 and 1991) in seven NCAA Tournament games (4-3 record).

18. Schayes (5-5)
Father Dolph averaged 8.8 points for New York University in five NCAA Tournament games in 1945 and 1946 (3-2 record). Son Dan averaged 5.6 points and 2.4 rebounds for Syracuse in five NCAA Tournament games from 1978 through 1980 (2-3 record).

19. Suttons (6-3 with Oklahoma State)
Father Eddie averaged 6.7 points and 3.7 rebounds for Oklahoma State in three NCAA Tournament games in 1958 (2-1 record). Son Sean averaged 14.3 points and 4.7 assists for Oklahoma State in six NCAA Tournament games in 1991 and 1992 (4-2 record). Sean also played briefly for his dad in one 1988 NCAA Tournament game with Kentucky.