The Thrill is Gone: Four Former Final Four Schools Winless in Last 24 Tourneys

March 19th, 2024 - 10:28

Whether we need backbone transplants or vaccine injections emphasized by Dr. Fraudci, these are bubble-wrapped times trying sports fans' souls. Even before cancellation of 2020 extravaganza, a significant number of schools turn sheepish at the mention of recent NCAA Tournament success. Among Division I institutions making at least 10 NCAA playoff appearances, four former Final Four participants - St. John's, San Francisco, Southern Methodist and Texas-El Paso - combined to go winless in the past 24 tourneys.

DePaul and USF each have won more than 20 NCAA tourney games but collaborated for only one win in the past 34 years (DePaul over Dayton in double overtime in 2004). With B.B. King "The Thrill is Gone" lyrics in the background, following is an alphabetical list of schools with at least 10 NCAA playoff appearances for which Sweet 16 is a distant memory:

School (Playoff Appearances) Recent NCAA Tournament Travails
Boston College (18) winless past 16 tourneys with only one appearance
Charlotte (11) no appearance past 18 tourneys; winless past 22 tourneys
DePaul (22) no appearance past 19 tourneys; one victory past 34 tourneys
George Washington (11) one victory past 29 years
Georgia (12) one victory past 27 years
Holy Cross (13) posted first win since 1953 eight seasons ago in play-in game
Idaho State (11) winless past 46 tourneys
Old Dominion (12) one victory past 28 tourneys
Penn (24) one victory past 43 tourneys
Pepperdine (13) one victory past 41 tourneys
St. John's (30) winless past 24 tourneys
San Francisco (17) appeared twice past 41 tourneys
Santa Clara (11) no appearance past 27 tourneys
Seattle (11) winless since 1964
Southern Methodist (12) winless past 35 tourneys
Texas-El Paso (17) winless past 31 tourneys
Utah State (22) one victory past 53 tourneys
Weber State (15) winless past 24 tourneys
Wyoming (16) one victory past 36 tourneys