Runaway Winners: Most Dominant Regular-Season Conference Kingpins
March 3rd, 2023 - 17:19
Five years ago, Virginia became the first ACC member since Duke in 1999-00 to win the regular-season league title by as many as four games in final standings. The most dominant clubs in conference competition this season were Colgate (won Patriot League by six games) and Oral Roberts (won Summit League by five games).
The SEC is the only power league in the previous decade to have a team finish atop conference standings by at least five games (Kentucky in 2011-12 and Florida in 2013-14). Colgate joined UK and UF among the following teams to win a DI conference regular-season crown by at least six games since Stephen Curry-led Davidson achieved the feat in 2007-08 (listed in reverse order):
| Season | League Champion (Coach) | Conference | Mark | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | Colgate (Matt Langel) | Patriot League | 17-1 | +6 |
| 2021-22 | Longwood (Griff Aldrich) | Big South/North | 15-1 | +7 |
| 2021-22 | Vermont (John Becker) | America East | 17-1 | +6 |
| 2020-21 | Navy (Ed DeChellis) | Patriot League/South | 12-1 | +6 |
| 2019-20 | New Mexico State (Chris Jans) | Western Athletic | 16-0 | +6 |
| 2017-18 | Buffalo (Nate Oats) | Mid-American/East | 15-3 | +6 |
| 2014-15 | Murray State (Steve Prohm) | Ohio Valley/West | 16-0 | +6 |
| 2013-14 | Wichita State (Gregg Marshall) | Missouri Valley | 18-0 | +6 |
| 2013-14 | Florida (Billy Donovan) | SEC | 18-0 | +6 |
| 2011-12 | Kentucky (John Calipari) | SEC | 16-0 | +6 |
| 2011-12 | Middle Tennessee State (Kermit Davis) | Sun Belt/East | 14-2 | +6 |
| 2009-10 | Butler (Brad Stevens) | Horizon League | 18-0 | +6 |
| 2007-08 | Davidson (Bob McKillop) | Southern/South | 20-0 | +7 |