Last of Unbeatens: Odds Against Sun Devils Winning NCAA Playoff Crown
No NCAA Division I men's team has compiled an undefeated record since Indiana in 1975-76. Arizona State was the last remaining unbeaten team this season until the Sun Devils bowed at Arizona in their 13th contest of the campaign.
The historical odds are against ASU winning the NCAA title because only three final undefeated teams in the previous 38 years - (Duke '92, UConn '99 and Florida '06) - went on to capture the national crown.
Prior to probation-shackled SMU two seasons ago, Clemson (winner of its first 17 outings in 2006-07), was the only school in this last-of-the-unbeaten category to fail to participate in the NCAA playoffs. The Tigers finished runner-up in the NIT.
It's the first time no NCAA DI team was undefeated entering the new year since national polling was introduced in the late 1940s. Following in reverse order are vital facts on final unbeaten teams since the Hoosiers a half-century ago:
| Season | Last Unbeaten (Wins) | First Defeat | Date | Score | Final Record/Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | Arizona State (12) | Arizona | 12-31-17 | 84-78 | To be determined |
| 2016-17 | Gonzaga (29)* | Brigham Young | 2-25-17 | 79-71 | 37-2/National Runner-up |
| 2015-16 | Southern Methodist (18) | at Temple | 1-24-16 | 89-80 | 25-5/Probation |
| 2014-15 | Kentucky (38)* | vs. Wisconsin | 4-4-15 | 71-64 | 38-1/NCAA Final Four |
| 2013-14 | Wichita State (35)* | vs. Kentucky | 3-23-14 | 78-76 | 35-1/Second Round |
| 2012-13 | Michigan (16) | at Ohio State | 1-13-13 | 56-53 | 31-8/NCAA Runner-up |
| 2011-12 | Murray State (23)* | Tennessee State | 2-9-12 | 72-68 | 31-2/Second Round |
| 2010-11 | Ohio State (24) | at Wisconsin | 2-12-11 | 71-67 | 34-3/Regional Semifinal |
| 2009-10 | Kentucky (19) | at South Carolina | 1-26-10 | 68-62 | 35-3/Regional Final |
| 2008-09 | Wake Forest (16) | Virginia Tech | 1-21-09 | 78-71 | 24-7/First Round |
| 2007-08 | Memphis (26) | Tennessee | 2-23-08 | 66-62 | 38-2/National Runner-up |
| 2006-07 | Clemson (17)* | at Maryland | 1-13-07 | 92-87 | 25-11/NIT Runner-up |
| 2005-06 | Florida (17)* | at Tennessee | 1-21-06 | 80-76 | 33-6/NCAA Champion |
| 2004-05 | Illinois (29)* | at Ohio State | 3-6-05 | 65-64 | 37-2/NCAA Runner-up |
| 2003-04 | Saint Joseph's (27)* | vs. Xavier | 3-11-04 | 87-67 | 30-2/Regional Final |
| 2002-03 | Duke (12) | at Maryland | 1-18-03 | 87-72 | 26-7/Regional Semifinal |
| 2001-02 | Duke (12) | at Florida State | 1-6-02 | 77-76 | 31-4/Regional Semifinal |
| 2000-01 | Stanford (20) | UCLA | 2-3-01 | 79-73 | 31-3/Regional Final |
| 1999-00 | Syracuse (19) | Seton Hall | 2-7-00 | 69-67 | 26-6/Regional Semifinal |
| 1998-99 | Connecticut (19) | Syracuse | 2-1-99 | 59-42 | 34-2/NCAA Champion |
| 1997-98 | Utah (18) | at New Mexico | 2-1-98 | 77-74 | 30-4/NCAA Runner-up |
| 1996-97 | Kansas (22) | at Missouri (2OT) | 2-4-97 | 96-94 | 34-2/Regional Semifinal |
| 1995-96 | Massachusetts (26)* | George Washington | 2-24-96 | 86-76 | 35-2/NCAA Final Four |
| 1994-95 | Connecticut (15) | at Kansas | 1-28-95 | 88-59 | 28-5/Regional Final |
| 1993-94 | UCLA (14) | at California | 1-30-94 | 85-70 | 21-7/First Round |
| 1992-93 | Virginia (11) | at North Carolina | 1-20-93 | 80-58 | 21-10/Regional Semifinal |
| 1991-92 | Duke (17) | at North Carolina | 2-5-92 | 75-73 | 34-2/NCAA Champion |
| 1991-92 | Oklahoma State (20) | at Nebraska | 2-5-92 | 85-69 | 28-8/Regional Semifinal |
| 1990-91 | UNLV (34) | vs. Duke | 3-30-91 | 79-77 | 34-1/NCAA Final Four |
| 1989-90 | Georgetown (14) | at Connecticut | 1-20-90 | 70-65 | 24-7/Second Round |
| 1988-89 | Illinois (17) | at Minnesota | 1-26-89 | 69-62 | 31-5/NCAA Final Four |
| 1987-88 | Brigham Young (17)* | at UAB | 2-6-88 | 102-83 | 26-6/Sweet 16 |
| 1986-87 | DePaul (16) | at Georgetown | 1-25-87 | 74-71 | 28-3/Regional Semifinal |
| 1985-86 | Memphis State (20) | at Virginia Tech | 2-1-86 | 76-72 | 28-6/Second Round |
| 1984-85 | Georgetown (18) | St. John's | 1-26-85 | 66-65 | 35-3/NCAA Runner-up |
| 1983-84 | North Carolina (21) | vs. Arkansas | 2-12-84 | 65-64 | 28-3/Regional Semifinal |
| 1982-83 | UNLV (24) | at Cal State Fullerton | 2-24-83 | 86-78 | 28-3/Second Round |
| 1981-82 | Missouri (19) | Nebraska | 2-6-82 | 67-51 | 27-4/Regional Semifinal |
| 1980-81 | Oregon State (26)* | Arizona State | 3-7-81 | 87-67 | 26-2/Second Round |
| 1979-80 | DePaul (26)* | at Notre Dame (2OT) | 2-27-80 | 76-74 | 26-2/Second Round |
| 1978-79 | Indiana State (33)* | vs. Michigan State | 3-26-79 | 75-64 | 33-1/NCAA Runner-up |
| 1977-78 | Kentucky (14) | at Alabama | 1-23-78 | 78-62 | 30-2/NCAA Champion |
| 1976-77 | San Francisco (29) | at Notre Dame | 3-5-77 | 93-82 | 29-2/First Round |
*All-time top winning streaks.
NOTES: North Carolina lost in Pine Bluff, Ark. . . . Saint Joseph's lost in Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament quarterfinals at Dayton.