By demolishing Kansas and Florida over the weekend, Michigan silenced a growing chorus of skepticism about the Big Ten conference, which had been hailed all year as the toughest conference in college basketball, only to watch six of its seven teams in the tournament bow out ahead of Sunday's action, including Indiana, the top seed in the East.

WSJ: Michigan Advances to Final Four

The Koreans will bow out of the tournament following Friday's final group game against Ivory Coast, having lost their opening two matches.

BBC: World Cup 2010: Kim takes blame for North Korea defeat

Four years after being appointed, Johansson is in some ways starting from scratch - an unexpected way for the 57-year-old itinerant Swede to bow out, which he will do after the tournament.

BBC: Bo Johansson

The bulk of the Spanish team wasn't even alive the last time that happened more than 30 years ago, at the 1982 World Cup, when it lost to West Germany (2-1) and then limped out of the tournament following a 0-0 draw with England, becoming the first host nation ever to bow out of soccer's biggest showcase in the first round.

WSJ: Spain's Red Fury Soccer Team Loses Some Fire