From Penthouse to Outhouse: No Tourney Guarantee for Final Four Teams

April 28th, 2012 - 16:09

It has previously happened once to Kansas and Ohio State, but they aspire not to join Louisville and Louisiana State as schools to twice fail to appear in the NCAA Tournament the season after reaching a Final Four. A total of 27 schools since the NCAA Tournament field expanded to at least 48 teams in 1980 failed to qualify for the NCAA playoffs the ensuing season after advancing to the national semifinals.

However, Butler found this past year that all isn't lost when failing to return to the tourney. Despite the disappointment of not participating in the NCAA playoffs, the last 11 schools in this category averaged 20 victories.

Final Four Team Record Next Year League Finish
Indiana State '79 16-11 in 1979-80 T5th in MVC
Michigan State '79 12-15 in 1979-80 9th in Big Ten
Purdue '80 21-11 in 1980-81 4th in Big Ten
Louisiana State '81 14-14 in 1981-82 T4th in SEC
Georgia '83 17-13 in 1983-84 T7th in SEC
North Carolina State '83 19-14 in 1983-84 7th in ACC
Houston '84 16-14 in 1984-85 T5th in SWC
Virginia '84 17-16 in 1984-85 8th in ACC
Louisville '86 18-14 in 1986-87 1st in Metro
Providence '87 11-17 in 1987-88 8th in Big East
Kansas '88 19-12 in 1988-89 6th in Big Eight
Seton Hall '89 12-16 in 1989-90 T7th in Big East
UNLV '91 26-2 in 1991-92 1st in Big West
Duke '94 13-18 in 1994-95 9th in ACC
Oklahoma State '95 17-10 in 1995-96 T4th in Big Eight
Mississippi State '96 12-18 in 1996-97 T3rd in SEC Western
Syracuse '96 19-13 in 1996-97 T4th in Big East 7
Minnesota '97 20-15 in 1997-98 8th in Big Ten
Marquette '03 19-12 in 2003-04 8th in C-USA
Louisville '05 21-13 in 2005-06 T11th in Big East
George Mason '06 18-15 in 2006-07 T5th in CAA
Louisiana State '06 17-15 in 2006-07 6th in SEC Western
Florida '07 24-12 in 2007-08 4th in SEC Eastern
Ohio State '07 24-13 in 2007-08 5th in Big Ten
Connecticut '09 18-16 in 2009-10 T11th in Big East
North Carolina '09 20-17 in 2009-10 T9th in ACC
Butler '11 22-15 in 2011-12 T3rd in Horizon League

NOTES: Kansas and UNLV were on NCAA probation. . . . Duke, George Mason, Indiana State, Louisiana State '07, Louisville '87, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, Providence and Seton Hall were eligible schools that also didn't participate in the NIT.