Defending Champion Baylor "Bearly" Breathing Regarding Playoff Prospects
January 16th, 2022 - 8:52
Baylor became the first AP top-ranked team in history twice losing at home in the same week. If history means much, the Bears will be fortunate to reach the Final Four, let alone successfully defend their NCAA championship. Magic Johnson-led Michigan State '79 is the only NCAA titlist among six F4 participants in this category. Following is a list of #1-ranked schools losing back-to-back contests within a week (in reverse order):
| AP Top-Ranked Team (Final Record) | Season | Back-to-Back Defeats Within a Week as #1 | NCAA Playoff Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baylor (27-7) | 2021-22 | Jan. 11 (Texas Tech/65-62) and Jan. 15 (Oklahoma State/61-54) | Lost Second Round |
| Syracuse (28-6) | 2013-14 | Feb. 19 (Boston College/62-59) and Feb. 22 (at Duke/66-60) | Lost Second Round |
| Texas (24-10) | 2009-10 | Jan. 18 (at Kansas State/71-62) and Jan. 23 (at Connecticut/88-74) | Lost First Round |
| Wisconsin (30-6) | 2006-07 | Feb. 20 (at Michigan State/64-55) and Feb. 25 (at Ohio State/49-48) | Lost Second Round |
| Duke (32-4) | 2005-06 | March 1 (at Florida State/79-74) and March 4 (North Carolina/83-76) | Lost Regional Semifinal |
| Florida (20-11) | 2003-04 | Dec. 10 (Maryland/69-68 in OT) and Dec. 13 (at Louisville/73-65) | Lost First Round |
| Duke (28-8) | 1988-89 | Jan. 18 (North Carolina/91-71) and Jan. 21 (at Wake Forest/75-71) | Lost National Semifinal |
| North Carolina (28-6) | 1985-86 | Feb. 20 (Maryland/77-72) and Feb. 23 (at North Carolina State/76-65) | Lost Regional Semifinal |
| Georgetown (35-3) | 1984-85 | Jan. 26 (St. John's/66-65) and Jan. 28 (at Syracuse/65-63) | Lost National Final |
| UNLV (28-3) | 1982-83 | Feb. 24 (at Cal State Fullerton/86-78) and Feb. 27 (at West Virginia/87-78) | Lost Second Round |
| Duke (24-9) | 1979-80 | Jan. 9 (at Clemson/87-82) and Jan. 12 (North Carolina/82-67) | Lost Regional Final |
| Michigan State (26-6) | 1978-79 | Jan. 11 (at Illinois/57-55) and Jan. 13 (at Purdue/52-50) | Won National Final |
| Duke (22-8) | 1978-79 | Dec. 29 (Ohio State at New York City/90-84) and Dec. 30 (at St. John's/69-66) | Lost Second Round |
| UCLA (26-4) | 1973-74 | Feb. 15 (at Oregon State/61-57) and Feb. 16 (at Oregon/56-51) | Lost National Semifinal |
| Houston (31-2) | 1967-68 | March 22 (at UCLA/101-69) and March 23 (Ohio State at Los Angeles/89-85) | Lost National Semifinal and 3rd-Place Game |
| UCLA (18-8) | 1965-66 | Dec. 10 (at Duke/82-66) and Dec. 11 (Duke at Charlotte/94-75) | DNP |
| Kentucky (21-6) | 1963-64 | Jan. 4 (at Georgia Tech/76-67) and Jan. 6 (at Vanderbilt/85-83) | Lost Regional Semifinal |
| Kansas State (22-5) | 1957-58 | March 3 (at Nebraska/55-48) and March 8 (Kansas/61-44) | Lost National Semifinal |
| Duquesne (26-3) | 1953-54 | Feb. 25 (at Cincinnati/66-52) and Feb. 27 (at Dayton/64-54) | DNP (NIT Runner-up) |
| Seton Hall (21-8) | 1952-53 | March 1 (at Dayton/70-65) and March 2 (at Louisville/73-67) | DNP (NIT Champion) |
| Bradley (32-6) | 1950-51 | Jan. 11 (at St. John's/68-59) and Jan. 15 (Detroit/70-65) | DNP |