From Penthouse to Outhouse: No NCAA Tourney Guarantee for Title Team

Kentucky resembles the previous 11 schools, averaging 20 victories the next season, failing to return to the NCAA tourney the next year after advancing to the Final Four. As for championship clubs, UK could become the sixth titlist since the NCAA Tournament expanded to at least 48 teams in 1980 to fail to qualify for the playoffs the ensuing campaign.

Roy Williams was coach of the last two squads in this category (Kansas in 1988-89 and North Carolina in 2009-10). Since victories down the stretch in the mediocre SEC won't improve the Wildcats' national standing with or without Nerlens Noel all that much, they may join the following list of defending NCAA titlists shut out of the playoffs:

NCAA Title Team Record Next Season Coach League Finish While Out of NCAA Playoffs
Michigan State '79 12-15 in 1979-80 Jud Heathcote 9th in Big Ten
North Carolina State '83 19-14 in 1983-84 Jim Valvano 7th in ACC
Louisville '86 18-14 in 1986-87 Denny Crum 1st in Metro
Kansas '88 19-12 in 1988-89 Roy Williams 6th in Big Eight while on NCAA probation
North Carolina '09 20-17 in 2009-10 Roy Williams T9th in ACC