This is the second time in NCAA tournament history that three coaches arrive at the Final Four with previous national championships in hand. Villanova's Jay Wright knows full well who's holding the empty bucket.

"This is definitely like one of those pictures you look at and choose who doesn't belong here," Wright said. "I'm the new guy on the block."

Jim Calhoun of Connecticut, Roy Williams of North Carolina and Tom Izzo of Michigan State have won a collective four titles since 1999 and coached in 15 Final Fours. Wright has Villanova in the semifinals for the first time since the Wildcats won the 1985 championship under Rollie Massimino.

"I love Jay's team this year. They play hard," Izzo said. "Jay will be in line for a few more Final Fours before his career is over. And he's a good guy. Sometimes it's a hard combination these days."

Wright's reputation as one of Division I's brightest young coaches has been burnished by Villanova's advance through this year's tournament. The third-seeded Wildcats trailed American by 14 points in the second half in the opening round before winning 80-67. Then they throttled UCLA (89-69) and Duke (77-54) before edging Pittsburgh 78-76 in the tournament's signature game thus far.

That game produced eight ties and 13 lead changes in the second half alone and ended on Scottie Reynolds' floater from the lane with 0.5 seconds remaining.

ESPN analyst and former Vermont coach Tom Brennan went against Wright for seven years when Wright was at Hofstra. Brennan said this Villanova team is a perfect reflection of its coach.

"He's ultra-competitive, and he has them playing without fear because he coaches without fear," Brennan said. "He's a great communicator, he looks like George Clooney. He was a star in making from the minute I first met him."

Wright is in his seventh season at Villanova after seven years at Hofstra. He grew up in suburban Philadelphia dreaming of playing for the Wildcats. His talent level led him to Bucknell, but after coaching stints at Division III Rochester (N.Y.) and Drexel, he joined Massimino for seven years, five at Villanova and two at UNLV.

"Wanting to have played at Villanova and not being good enough makes you appreciate every day that you through this as opposed to maybe having been a player at Villanova and that's all you know," Wright said. "I know how hard I worked. I know how important it was to me.

"I never take any of this for granted. And I make sure our players understand how fortunate they are to be here, every day."

Wright wasn't an overnight success at Villanova, going a combined 52-46 and missing the NCAA tournament his first three seasons.

"Our first three years were wild," he said. "And when you look back on it now, you say it made you stronger. At the time, you definitely think you're spinning your wheels."

The Wildcats began a streak of five consecutive NCAA trips in 2004-05. They are 11-4 under Wright in the tournament in that span.

"I think Jay defined his career a long time before this but this is a special, special time for his kids, for Villanova University," Calhoun said. "Postseason play has become the ultimate judgment of success and failure in this business. Jay certainly has succeeded now … and he'll be looked at a little bit differently, as well he should be."

One of Wright's goals has been to bring the Villanova basketball family closer, to reach out to former players and coaches to share in the program he has built.

"I'm so happy for all the players, that's what I feel great about," he said. "They're way happier than me. That's what it's all about, delivering for them."

Wright's success has thrown him into the conversation for coaching vacancies at high-profile schools Kentucky and Arizona.

"It's a crazy business we're in, and you have to deal with it this time of year," he said of the speculation. "Someone mentions your name, you're flattered. You're crazy if you don't say that, or not being truthful.

"But I don't want my name mentioned anywhere. I love Villanova. I don't want to be anywhere else. I feel very, very fortunate to be in this position."