Twice Wasn't Enough: 15 NCAA Kingpins 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. In 2022, Texas, TCU and Texas Tech came close to beating eventual NCAA kingpin twice but combined to lose at Kansas by a total of 14 points. 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. |