Preseason Treason: North Carolina En Route to Worst Mark for Preseason #1
Who among the mentally-challenged #MessMedia echo chamber thought bluebloods North Carolina and Villanova both were Top 16 teams? In mid-February, Florida Atlantic was ranked in the Top 25 but not UNC and Nova. Defending NCAA playoff runner-up Carolina is the 15th Associated Press preseason No. 1 selection overall and fifth in the last six years to suffer at least eight defeats. The Tar Heels (16-11), after losing five of their first six ACC contests in February, were on the precipice of posting the most setbacks and lowest winning percentage in history for a preseason #1 choice.
The previous 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 what happened to the first 14 preseason #1 choices compiling a minimum of eight setbacks since 1961-62 (none of whom captured an NCAA crown although three reached Final Four):
| PS #1 Team | Season | Coach | Record | Pct. | NCAA Tournament Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 2013-14 | John Calipari | 29-11 | .725 | Lost in NCAA Championship Game against Connecticut, 60-54. |
| Connecticut | 1999-00 | Jim Calhoun | 25-10 | .714 | Lost in Second Round against Tennessee, 65-61. |
| Kansas | 2018-19 | Bill Self | 26-10 | .722 | Lost in Second Round against Auburn, 89-75. |
| Michigan State | 2019-20 | Tom Izzo | 22-9 | .710 | No tourney because of COVID pandemic. |
| Syracuse | 1987-88 | Jim Boeheim | 26-9 | .743 | Lost in Second Round against Rhode Island, 97-94. |
| Duke | 2016-17 | Mike Krzyzewski | 28-9 | .757 | Lost in Second Round against South Carolina, 88-81. |
| 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 in Second Round (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 NCAA Championship Game against Duke, 82-72. |
| Duke | 1988-89 | Mike Krzyzewski | 28-8 | .778 | Lost at Final Four against Seton Hall, 95-78. |
| Duke | 2017-18 | Mike Krzyzewski | 29-8 | .784 | Lost in Regional Final against Kansas, 85-81 in OT. |