Preseason Treason: Kentucky Finishes With Most Losses for Preseason #1
March 8th, 2014 - 15:20
Kentucky (29-11) came close deep in the heart of Texas but needed to win the NCAA Tournament to avoid posting the most defeats ever for an Associated Press preseason No. 1 selection. Only two of the first nine preseason #1 choices with at least eight reversals - Duke '89 and Arizona '01 - compiled a winning NCAA Tournament record that year.
The lowest winning percentage for a preseason top-ranked squad was registered by John Wooden-coached UCLA, which was 18-8 (.692) in 1965-66 when the Bruins finished second in the AAWU behind Oregon State. Following is a list of the 10 preseason #1 choices compiling a minimum of eight setbacks since 1961-62:
| PS #1 Team | Season | Coach | Record | Pct. | NCAA Tournament Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 2013-14 | John Calipari | 29-11 | .725 | Lost in NCAA title game against Connecticut, 60-54. |
| Connecticut | 1999-00 | Jim Calhoun | 25-10 | .714 | Lost in Second Round against Tennessee, 65-61. |
| Syracuse | 1987-88 | Jim Boeheim | 26-9 | .743 | Lost in Second Round against Rhode Island, 97-94. |
| UCLA | 1965-66 | John Wooden | 18-8 | .692 | DNP after failing to win league title for only time in 18-year span. |
| Indiana | 1979-80 | Bob Knight | 21-8 | .724 | Lost in Regional Semifinals against Purdue, 76-69. |
| Duke | 1978-79 | Bill E. Foster | 22-8 | .733 | Lost playoff opener against St. John's, 80-78. |
| North Carolina | 1977-78 | Dean Smith | 23-8 | .742 | Lost in First Round against San Francisco, 68-64. |
| Cincinnati | 1996-97 | Bob Huggins | 26-8 | .765 | Lost in Second Round against Iowa State, 67-66. |
| Arizona | 2000-01 | Lute Olson | 28-8 | .778 | Lost in Championship Game against Duke, 82-72. |
| Duke | 1988-89 | Mike Krzyzewski | 28-8 | .778 | Lost at Final Four against Seton Hall, 95-78. |