Archive

Greatest Single Season Teams Not To Win A National Championship

  • mallymal614
    Here are some that comes to my mind.

    Illinois 2005 - Loaded with star power and was dominate throughout the year. Came up just short against North Carolina

    Duke 2002 - Had just about EVERYBODY back from their national championship team a year ago. Indiana had other plans though.

    North Carolina 1998 - Vince Carter, Antwan Jamison, Ed Cota, Brandon Haywood. They were stacked! Didn't show up against Utah in the Final Four

    Michigan 1993 - Fab Five........Enough Said

    Ohio State 1961 & 1962 - It's hard to believe Lucas and company only won 1.
  • Azubuike24
    Kentucky in 2002-2003. 32-4 overall, 19-0 in the SEC, won 26 in a row, #1 overall seed, ran into Dwayne Wade in the Elite 8 and had an unfortunate injury to Keith Bogans in round 2, which really hurt their chances to make the Final Four. Marquette got slaughtered by Kansas, who barely lost to Syracuse, but I honestly think if UK is healthy and they beat Marquette, the title was theirs.

    Memphis in 2007-2008. 38-2 overall, only lost to eventual champion Kansas in OT of the title game and to another top 5 team in Tennessee. They won 16 of 19 conference games by 11+ points and really just ran through opponents this season. If not for foul shooting, it's tough to say this team wasn't going to be national champions.

    Arkansas in 1994-1995. 32-7 overall, were the favorites going into the season defending their title. Lost to UCLA in the title game.
  • Bond... James Bond
    1984 North Carolina (defeated by Indiana in the Sweet 16), 1997 Kentucky (and Kansas, and 1999 Duke all
  • Little Danny
    1991 UNLV was 34-0 going into the Final 4:

    had three 1st round picks (Larry Johnson, Stacy Augmon and Greg Anthony)
    had National Player of the Year (Larry Johnson)
    had National Defensive Player of the Year (Stacy Augmon)

    Would've love to see what the 1999 UC Bearcats would have done had Kenyon Martin not broken his leg
  • reclegend22
    Nineteen ninety-nine Duke and '91 Vegas are in a class by themselves, IMO.

    1999 Duke. That Blue Devil club had NPOTY and NBA Draft No. 1 pick Elton Brand, William Avery, Corey Maggette, Trajan Langdon, Chris Carrawell and Shane Battier, the nation's defensive player of the year -- the first of three Battier would win. All six would play in the NBA, and five were first round selections. After losing early to Cincinnati in the Great Alaska Shootout, Duke won 33 straight games by an average of 25 points, finishing undefeated in the ACC and cutting down the nets at the conference tournament in Charlotte in dominating fashion, running UNC off the floor 96 to 73. In the NCAAs, the Blue Devils reached the Final Four by winning games of 99-58, 97-57, 78-61 and 85-64 over Mark Karcher and Pepe Sanchez-led Temple in the Elite Eight. Before losing to UConn in the final seconds of the 1999 national championship game, Duke had accumulated a record of 37-1 and was likely to be referenced as the greatest team in modern history had it finished business.

    1991 Las Vegas. The Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon, Anderson Hunt and Greg Anthony loaded Vegas outfit needs no introduction. They were an NBA team. They were the defending national champion and had everyone back from the previous year's club that destroyed Christian Laettner and Duke by 30 points in the NCAA final. Heading into the 1991 Final Four in Minneapolis, the Runnin' Rebels were 34-0 and beating opponents by a 27 points per game clip. No other team in NCAA history has come close to approaching that kind of winning margin. Unfortunately for Vegas, what stood in its way of becoming "the greatest team ever" was once again Christian Laettner and Duke. Thank you, Bobby Hurley, for your timely three-point shooting.
  • Bond... James Bond
    1974 Maryland The Terrapins did not even qualify for the NCAA Tournament - they were defeated by eventual National Champion North Carolina State, 103-100, in overtime in the ACC Tournament Championship Game; this was the final season that only conference champions earned berths to the NCAA Tournament (this game was a major reason for this rule change). Maryland subsequently declined a spot in the NIT.

    1984 North Carolina The Tar Heels were defeated by Indiana, 72-68, in the Sweet 16. They were led by National Player Of The Year Michael Jordan and two-time first-team All-American Sam Perkins. Freshman Steve Alford scored 27 points for the Hoosiers in the upset.

    1997 Kentucky The Wildcats just missed defending their 1996 National Championship, losing to Arizona, 84-79, in overtime in the National Title Game). The Cats featured Ron Mercer, Scott Padgett, Jeff Sheppard, and Wayne Turner - all of whom would play crucial roles on UK's 1998 National Championship team.

    1997 Kansas The same Arizona squad defeated the Jayhawks, 85-82, in the Sweet 16. KU was led by first-team All-Americans Raef LaFrentz and Paul Pierce. I believe that Kansas had only lost once all season prior to that Regional Semi-Final meeting with the Wildcats.

    1999 Duke Like the 1997 Kansas team, the 1999 Blue Devils had lost only once entering the NCAA Tournament. Paced by National Player Of The Year Elton Brand, All-American Trajan Langdon, William Avery, Nate James, Corey Maggette, and future All-Americans Chris Carrawell and Shane Battier, Duke was a heavy favorite to capture the crown but was narrowly defeated by Connecticut, 77-74, in the National Championship Game.
  • Mulva
    96-97 Kansas
    91 UNLV (although I was too young to watch or remember)
    05 Illinois
  • Green Giggy
    No question 1991 UNLV. The most dominant team I have seen. They abused teams and actually struck fear into their opponents. They were coming off a 1990 season in which they spanked Duke by 30 in the championship game. A record that still stands and may not be broken.
  • wghfan
    91 UNLV
    can't believe nobody mentioned the 84 or was it the 85 Georgetown team, that lost to Villanova.
  • mallymal614
    I forgot the 1983 Houston team. Phi Slama Jama!
  • killer_ewok
    The 2005-06 Uconn team that lost to George Mason.
  • jhay78
    reclegend22;725673 wrote:Nineteen ninety-nine Duke and '91 Vegas are in a class by themselves, IMO.

    1999 Duke. That Blue Devil club had NPOTY and NBA Draft No. 1 pick Elton Brand, William Avery, Corey Maggette, Trajan Langdon, Chris Carrawell and Shane Battier, the nation's defensive player of the year -- the first of three Battier would win. All six would play in the NBA, and five were first round selections. After losing early to Cincinnati in the Great Alaska Shootout, Duke won 33 straight games by an average of 25 points, finishing undefeated in the ACC and cutting down the nets at the conference tournament in Charlotte in dominating fashion, running UNC off the floor 96 to 73. In the NCAAs, the Blue Devils reached the Final Four by winning games of 99-58, 97-57, 78-61 and 85-64 over Mark Karcher and Pepe Sanchez-led Temple in the Elite Eight. Before losing to UConn in the final seconds of the 1999 national championship game, Duke had accumulated a record of 37-1 and was likely to be referenced as the greatest team in modern history had it finished business.

    1991 Las Vegas. The Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon, Anderson Hunt and Greg Anthony loaded Vegas outfit needs no introduction. They were an NBA team. They were the defending national champion and had everyone back from the previous year's club that destroyed Christian Laettner and Duke by 30 points in the NCAA final. Heading into the 1991 Final Four in Minneapolis, the Runnin' Rebels were 34-0 and beating opponents by a 27 points per game clip. No other team in NCAA history has come close to approaching that kind of winning margin. Unfortunately for Vegas, what stood in its way of becoming "the greatest team ever" was once again Christian Laettner and Duke. Thank you, Bobby Hurley, for your timely three-point shooting.

    My first thought was UNLV 1991; I forgot about Duke in '99.
  • mallymal614
    Which team was more talented......1999 Duke or 2002 Duke?
  • jhay78
    killer_ewok;725893 wrote:The 2005-06 Uconn team that lost to George Mason.

    Ehhh, I thought they were overrated. They needed OT to escape past Brandon Roy and Washington in the Sweet 16.
  • mallymal614
    2002 Duke - Jason Williams, Carlos Boozer, Mike Dunleavey Jr, Chis Duhon, Daniel Ewing.
    1999 Duke - Elton Brand, William Avery, Shane Battier, Corey Maggette, Trajan Langdon.

    Tough one!
  • Skyhook79
    73-74 UCLA Bill Walton's senior year.

    67-68 Houston Cougars led by Elvin Hayes but UCLA ruined a lot of very good teams dreams.
  • Prescott
    The 2005-06 Uconn team that lost to George Mason.
    This.
  • GOONx19
    No mention of the 2010 Kentucky Wildcats? 32-2 going into the tourney. Had Wall and Cousins drafted in the top five and Patterson, Bledsoe, and Orton drafted later in the first round. Plus two potential NBA players in Darius Miller and DeAndre Liggins. Even bottom-of-the-bench player Josh Harrellson is now a potential draft pick. Patterson was a preseason All-American, the team went undefeated at Rupp, and Wall and Cousins were both named postseason All-Americans, with Wall in the conversation with Turner for POTY. Averaged an 18 point victory for the season.
  • GOONx19
    But I think the UNLV team wins it, no question.
  • Prescott
    73-74 UCLA Bill Walton's senior year.

    67-68 Houston Cougars led by Elvin Hayes but UCLA ruined a lot of very good teams dreams.
    National semifinals
    North Carolina State 80, UCLA 77

    NORTH CAROLINA STATE (80): Stoddard 4-11 1-2 9, Thompson 12-25 4-6 28, Burleson 9-20 2-6 20, Rivers 3-8 1-2 7, Towe 4-10 4-4 12, Spence 2-3 0-0 4, Hawkins 0-0 0-0 0. Team 34-77 (.442) 12-20 (.600) 80.

    UCLA (77): Meyers 6-9 0-1 12, Wilkes 5-17 5-5 15, Walton 13-21 3-3 29, Curtis 4-8 3-4 11, Lee 4-11 0-0 8, Johnson 0-3 0-0 0, McCarter 1-2 0-0 2. Team 33-71 (.465) 11-13 (.846) 77.

    Halftime: Tied 35-35. Regulation: Tied 65-65. First Overtime: Tied 67-67.
  • wghfan
    Prescott;725982 wrote:National semifinals
    North Carolina State 80, UCLA 77

    NORTH CAROLINA STATE (80): Stoddard 4-11 1-2 9, Thompson 12-25 4-6 28, Burleson 9-20 2-6 20, Rivers 3-8 1-2 7, Towe 4-10 4-4 12, Spence 2-3 0-0 4, Hawkins 0-0 0-0 0. Team 34-77 (.442) 12-20 (.600) 80.

    UCLA (77): Meyers 6-9 0-1 12, Wilkes 5-17 5-5 15, Walton 13-21 3-3 29, Curtis 4-8 3-4 11, Lee 4-11 0-0 8, Johnson 0-3 0-0 0, McCarter 1-2 0-0 2. Team 33-71 (.465) 11-13 (.846) 77.

    Halftime: Tied 35-35. Regulation: Tied 65-65. First Overtime: Tied 67-67.

    I remember how good David Thompson was.
  • reclegend22
    IMO (sorry Raef LaFrentz, Paul Pierce, Jacque Vaughn and Scott Pollard) a "greatest team to never win it" must at least reach a Final Four to be considered. In that instance, 2002 Duke, 2006 UConn and 2000 Cincy all are disqualified. I would agree, however, that '97 Kansas was the best team to never play in a Final Four.
  • Laley23
    I have...literally....no clue how Indiana in 74/75 has not been mentioned yet by some of you basketball nuts!

    I honestly dont think it is that close, sans maybe the UNLV team.

    IU in 1974/75 went 31-1. They were unbeaten in the regular season and lost to Kentucky in the Elite 8, by 2 points...They would have (easily, imo) won the title that year if NPOY Scott May had not been injured. Think about it, they would have been 34-0, and they followed it up the next season with 32-0 and national champions (with a healthy Scott May). It isnt as if they were kind of a fluke at 31-1....they proved it by not losing a game the next season. I dont think there is any question, they are the best team to never win a title.

    There were two memorable games in the 1975 tournament. Number 2 ranked Kentucky upset previously unbeaten Indiana 92-90 in their regional final. The Hoosiers, coached by Bob Knight, were undefeated and the number one team in the nation, when leading scorer Scott May suffered a broken arm in a win over arch-rival Purdue. This was the only loss Indiana would suffer between March 1974 and December 1976. ---Wikipedia.
  • Skyhook79
    Laley23;726166 wrote:I have...literally....no clue how Indiana in 74/75 has not been mentioned yet by some of you basketball nuts!

    I honestly dont think it is that close, sans maybe the UNLV team.

    IU in 1974/75 went 31-1. They were unbeaten in the regular season and lost to Kentucky in the Elite 8, by 2 points...They would have (easily, imo) won the title that year if NPOY Scott May had not been injured. Think about it, they would have been 34-0, and they followed it up the next season with 32-0 and national champions (with a healthy Scott May). It isnt as if they were kind of a fluke at 31-1....they proved it by not losing a game the next season. I dont think there is any question, they are the best team to never win a title.

    There were two memorable games in the 1975 tournament. Number 2 ranked Kentucky upset previously unbeaten Indiana 92-90 in their regional final. The Hoosiers, coached by Bob Knight, were undefeated and the number one team in the nation, when leading scorer Scott May suffered a broken arm in a win over arch-rival Purdue. This was the only loss Indiana would suffer between March 1974 and December 1976. ---Wikipedia.

    Did they win 2 straight NCAA titles and 88 straight games?...just sayin.
  • Laley23
    Skyhook79;726167 wrote:Did they win 2 straight NCAA titles and 88 straight games?...just sayin.

    Not really sure what that has to do with anything? lol