Unfinished Business: Xavier and BYU Never Have Reached Elusive Final Four

March 27th, 2015 - 8:08

Weep On It/Think On It/Sleep On It/Drink On It. That could be the motto for Xavier and Brigham Young after they remained "Susan Lucci" schools in Division I after losing in the NCAA Tournament this year. The tandem and Missouri are the only three schools participating in at least 25 NCAA Tournaments but never advancing to a Final Four.

Missouri has reached a regional final four times but fell short in advancing to the Promised Land. Boston College is another bridesmaid on multiple occasions, losing three regional finals (1967, 1982 and 1994) in 18 tourney appearances (22-19 record) since the field expanded beyond eight teams in 1950.

Alabama (20-20) is the only school with a non-losing NCAA playoff record among the following list of five frustrated institutions in a quagmire because they've made a minimum of 20 appearances without reaching the Final Four:

School Tourney Appearances (Playoff Record) Regional Final Losses
Utah State 20 (6-22 mark, .214) 1970
Brigham Young 29 (15-32, .319) 1951 and 1981
Missouri 26 (22-26, .458) 1976, 1994, 2002 and 2009
Xavier 25 (23-25, .479) 2004 and 2008
Alabama 20 (20-20, .500) 2004