Penthouse to Outhouse: No NCAA Tourney Guarantee for F4 Teams Next Year

Gonzaga, Oregon and South Carolina are in transition. Next year could mark the first time since the NCAA Tournament field expanded to at least 48 teams in 1980 that three Final Four participants fail to appear in the NCAA playoffs the next season. Consider:

• Gonzaga lost four of the Bulldogs' five double-digit scorers, putting the Zags' streak of 19 consecutive NCAA tourney appearances in jeopardy.

• Departures from Oregon's roster include six members of the Ducks' seven-man core rotation.

• After South Carolina secured its first NCAA playoff victory since 1973, the Gamecocks will be without their top three point producers.

A total of 32 schools since the NCAA Tournament field expanded to at least 48 teams in 1980 failed to qualify for the NCAA playoffs the ensuing season after advancing to the national semifinals. Despite the disappointment of not participating in the NCAA playoffs, the last 16 schools in this category averaged 20 victories.

Final Four Team	Record Next Year	League Finish
Indiana State '79	16-11 in 1979-80	T5th in MVC
Michigan State '79	12-15 in 1979-80	9th in Big Ten
Purdue '80	21-11 in 1980-81	4th in Big Ten
Louisiana State '81	14-14 in 1981-82	T4th in SEC
Georgia '83	17-13 in 1983-84	T7th in SEC
North Carolina State '83	19-14 in 1983-84	7th in ACC
Houston '84	16-14 in 1984-85	T5th in SWC
Virginia '84	17-16 in 1984-85	8th in ACC
Louisville '86	18-14 in 1986-87	1st in Metro
Providence '87	11-17 in 1987-88	8th in Big East
Kansas '88	19-12 in 1988-89	6th in Big Eight
Seton Hall '89	12-16 in 1989-90	T7th in Big East
UNLV '91	26-2 in 1991-92	1st in Big West
Duke '94	13-18 in 1994-95	9th in ACC
Oklahoma State '95	17-10 in 1995-96	T4th in Big Eight
Mississippi State '96	12-18 in 1996-97	T3rd in SEC Western
Syracuse '96	19-13 in 1996-97	T4th in Big East 7
Minnesota '97	20-15 in 1997-98	8th in Big Ten
Marquette '03	19-12 in 2003-04	8th in C-USA
Louisville '05	21-13 in 2005-06	T11th in Big East
George Mason '06	18-15 in 2006-07	T5th in CAA
Louisiana State '06	17-15 in 2006-07	6th in SEC Western
Florida '07	24-12 in 2007-08	4th in SEC Eastern
Ohio State '07	24-13 in 2007-08	5th in Big Ten
Connecticut '09	18-16 in 2009-10	T11th in Big East
North Carolina '09	20-17 in 2009-10	T9th in ACC
Butler '11	22-15 in 2011-12	T3rd in Horizon League
Kentucky '12	21-12 in 2012-13	T2nd in SEC
Connecticut '14	20-15 in 2014-15	T5th in AAC
Florida '14	16-17 in 2014-15	T8th in SEC
Oklahoma '16	11-20 in 2016-17	9th in Big 12
Syracuse '16	19-15 in 2016-17	T7th in ACC

NOTES: Kansas and UNLV were on NCAA probation. . . . Duke, Florida '14, George Mason, Indiana State, Louisiana State '07, Louisville '87, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Providence and Seton Hall were eligible schools also failing to participate in the NIT.