Result Reversal: NCAA Champions Rebounding From Regular-Season Defeat
April 2nd, 2017 - 9:12
When North Carolina defeated Kentucky, 75-73, in the South Regional final, the Tar Heels positioned themselves to join 12 previous NCAA Tournament titlists rebounding from a non-league defeat to upend the same opponent in the playoffs. UK outlasted UNC, 103-100, during the regular season. Every full decade of NCAA playoff competition had at least one of the following champions in this category (in reverse order):
| Year | Round | Champion Reversing Result | Earlier Margin of Defeat vs. Same Non-League Foe |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Regional Final | North Carolina 75, Kentucky 73 | two points at Las Vegas |
| 2016 | National Semifinals | Villanova 95, Oklahoma 51 | 23 points at Honolulu |
| 2012 | Regional Semifinals | Kentucky 102, Indiana 90 | one point at Indiana |
| 2004 | National Final | Connecticut 82, Georgia Tech 73 | 16 points at New York |
| 1996 | National Semifinals | Kentucky 81, Massachusetts 74 | 10 points at Springfield, MA |
| 1993 | National Final | North Carolina 77, Michigan 71 | one point at Honolulu |
| 1988 | National Semifinals | Kansas 66, Duke 59 | four points at home |
| 1981 | National Final | Indiana 63, North Carolina 50 | nine points at North Carolina |
| 1977 | First Round | Marquette 66, Cincinnati 51 | independent lost by one point at Cincy |
| 1974 | National Semifinals | North Carolina State 80, UCLA 77 (2OT) | 18 points at St. Louis |
| 1968 | National Semifinals | UCLA 101, Houston 69 | two points vs. independent at Astrodome |
| 1953 | Regional Final | Indiana 79, Notre Dame 66 | one point at independent Notre Dame |
| 1945 | Regional Final | Oklahoma A&M 68, Arkansas 41 | three points at Arkansas |
| 1941 | Regional Final | Wisconsin 36, Pittsburgh 30 | two points vs. independent at home |