Playing Favorites: UVA is #1 Seed Despite Failing to Earn Conference Crown
March 13th, 2016 - 21:54
The sampling isn't extensive but Virginia, runner-up to North Carolina in both the ACC regular season and tournament, aspires to duplicate what defending NCAA champion Duke achieved last year in capturing the NCAA championship after the Blue Devils were accorded a #1 seed despite failing to win either the ACC regular-season or conference tournament title. Following is a chronological list detailing what happened in the NCAA tourney to the first six #1 seeds in this non-regular-season champion category:
| No. 1 Seed | Year | League Finish | NCAA Playoff Result | Summary of Principal Conference Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 1989 | 2nd in Big Ten | lost in national semifinals | regular-season champion Indiana lost in regional semifinals; Big Ten did not conduct postseason tourney |
| Michigan | 1993 | 2nd in Big Ten | lost in national final | regular-season champion Indiana lost in regional final; Big Ten did not conduct postseason tourney |
| Texas | 2003 | 2nd in Big 12 | lost in national semifinals | regular-season champion Kansas lost in national final; Big 12 tourney champion Oklahoma lost in regional final |
| Connecticut | 2009 | T2nd in Big East | lost in national semifinals | regular-season and Big East tourney champion Louisville lost in regional final |
| Pittsburgh | 2009 | T2nd in Big East | lost in regional final | regular-season and Big East tourney champion Louisville lost in regional final |
| Duke | 2015 | 2nd in ACC | won NCAA title | regular-season champion North Carolina lost in regional semifinals |