Unfinished Business: Xavier Shows Potential of Reaching Final Four First Time

February 25th, 2016 - 17:23

Weep On It/Think On It/Sleep On It/Drink On It. That could have been the motto for Xavier after the Musketeers remained a "Susan Lucci" school in Division I last season after losing in the NCAA Tournament. Brigham Young, Missouri and Xavier are the only three schools participating in at least 25 NCAA Tournaments but never advancing to a Final Four. But X is exhibiting traits where it could mark a spot at the national semifinals in 2016.

Missouri has reached a regional final on four occasions but fell short in advancing to the Promised Land. Boston College is another bridesmaid multiple times, 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 Through 2015) 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