Twice Wasn't Enough: 15 Champions Lost > Once Against Same Opponent
The first 38 NCAA titlists, from Oregon (29-5 record in 1938-39) through Indiana (the last unbeaten team with a 32-0 mark in 1975-76), averaged barely over two setbacks per season. No kingpin sustained more than six reversals until Marquette's Al McGuire-coached squad was 25-7 in 1976-77. However, McGuire's swan song was a sign of things to come as six of the 11 championship clubs from 1981 through 1991 finished with at least seven losses. Two of the six - Villanova '85 and Kansas '88 - entered the playoffs unranked in a wire-service final Top 20 since the AP and UPI both were conducting polls in 1951.
In 2018-19, Duke, sparked by a total of 56 points from freshman R.J. Barrett in two victories against Virginia, defeated the eventual NCAA champion twice for the second time in three seasons. Feeling like a sixth-grader trying to collect $20G from ESPN after Bracket Boy tied for winning NCAA tourney contest several years ago, following is a list of the 15 titlists losing at least twice in their title season against a total of 20 different opponents:
| Season | NCAA Champion | Record | Team(s) Defeating Titlist at Least Twice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1953-54 | La Salle | 26-4 | Niagara (24-6) defeated the Explorers twice by a total of 27 points before finishing in third place in the NIT. |
| 1980-81 | Indiana | 26-9 | Iowa (21-7) defeated the Hoosiers twice by a total of 16 points before losing its NCAA playoff opener in second round against Wichita State on the Shockers' home-court. |
| 1982-83 | North Carolina State | 26-10 | Maryland (20-10) defeated the Wolfpack twice by a total of 14 points before losing in second round against national runner-up Houston. Virginia (29-5) defeated the Wolfpack twice by a total of 19 points before losing against N.C. State by one point in West Regional final. |
| 1984-85 | Villanova | 25-10 | St. John's (31-4) defeated the Wildcats three times by a total of 22 points before losing against Georgetown in national semifinals. Georgetown (35-3) defeated the Wildcats twice by a total of nine points before losing against Villanova by two points in national final. |
| 1985-86 | Louisville | 32-7 | Kansas (35-4) defeated the Cardinals twice by a total of seven points before losing against Duke in national semifinals. |
| 1987-88 | Kansas | 27-11 | Kansas State (25-9) defeated the Jayhawks twice by a total of 26 points before losing against KU in Midwest Regional final. Oklahoma (35-4) defeated the Jayhawks twice by eight points in Big Eight Conference regular-season competition before losing against KU by four points in national final. |
| 1988-89 | Michigan | 30-7 | Illinois (31-5) defeated the Wolverines twice by a total of 28 points before losing against UM by two points in national semifinals. Indiana (27-8) defeated the Wolverines twice by one point before losing against eventual national runner-up Seton Hall in West Regional semifinals. |
| 1996-97 | Arizona | 25-9 | UCLA (24-8) defeated the Wildcats twice by a total of eight points before losing against Minnesota in Midwest Regional final. |
| 2002-03 | Syracuse | 30-5 | Connecticut (23-10) defeated the Orangemen twice by a total of 27 points before losing against Texas in South Regional semifinals. |
| 2005-06 | Florida | 33-6 | South Carolina (23-15) defeated the Gators twice by a total of 10 points before successfully defending its NIT championship. Tennessee (22-8) defeated the Gators twice by four points apiece before losing against Wichita State in second round of Washington (East) Regional. |
| 2010-11 | Connecticut | 32-9 | Notre Dame (27-7) defeated the Huskies twice by three points each time before losing against Florida State in second round of South Regional. Louisville (25-10) defeated the Huskies twice by a total of 14 points before losing against Morehead State in opening round of South Regional. |
| 2013-14 | Connecticut | 32-8 | SMU (27-10) defeated the Huskies twice by nine points each time before finishing NIT runner-up. Louisville (31-6) defeated the Huskies three times by a total of 55 points before bowing against eventual national runner-up Kentucky in Midwest Regional semifinals. |
| 2014-15 | Duke | 35-4 | Notre Dame (32-6) defeated the Blue Devils twice by a total of 14 points before losing against Kentucky in Midwest Regional final. |
| 2016-17 | North Carolina | 33-7 | Duke (28-9) defeated the Tar Heels twice by a total of 18 points before losing against Final Four-bound South Carolina in second round of East Regional. |
| 2018-19 | Virginia | 35-3 | Duke (32-6) defeated the Cavaliers twice by a total of 12 points before losing against Michigan State in East Regional final. |