Preseason Treason: KU 3rd Early #1 Pick Finishing With Double-Digit Defeats
Kansas (26-10) became the 13th Associated Press preseason No. 1 selection and third in as many ears to go on and suffer at least eight defeats. The Jayhawks are only the third preseason #1 choice notching double figures in reversals. In relying solely on ranking of recruiting classes, are we bound for another such squad in 2019-20? Odds are comparable to Dedric Lawson (Kansas), Zion Williamson (Duke), Romeo Langford (Indiana), Coby White (North Carolina) and Nassir Little (North Carolina) attending more days of freshman classes this semester than games played in same time frame. Let's hope scholarly Lawson, Williamson, Langford, White and Little are as quick to answer professor questions in class this spring as they'll be resembling Oregon's Bol Bol in announcing intention to leave college early following NCAA playoffs.
The lowest winning percentage for a preseason top-ranked squad was registered by John Wooden-coached UCLA, which was 18-8 (.692) in 1965-66 when the Bruins finished second in the AAWU behind Oregon State. Duke accounted for four of the following 13 preseason #1 choices compiling a minimum of eight setbacks since 1961-62:
| PS #1 Team | Season | Coach | Record | Pct. | NCAA Tournament Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 2013-14 | John Calipari | 29-11 | .725 | Lost in NCAA title game against Connecticut, 60-54. |
| Connecticut | 1999-00 | Jim Calhoun | 25-10 | .714 | Lost in Second Round against Tennessee, 65-61. |
| Kansas | 2018-19 | Bill Self | 26-10 | .722 | Lost in Second Round against Auburn, 89-75. |
| Syracuse | 1987-88 | Jim Boeheim | 26-9 | .743 | Lost in Second Round against Rhode Island, 97-94. |
| Duke | 2016-17 | Mike Krzyzewski | 28-9 | .757 | Lost in Second Round against South Carolina, 88-81. |
| UCLA | 1965-66 | John Wooden | 18-8 | .692 | DNP after failing to win league title for only time in 18-year span. |
| Indiana | 1979-80 | Bob Knight | 21-8 | .724 | Lost in Regional Semifinals against Purdue, 76-69. |
| Duke | 1978-79 | Bill E. Foster | 22-8 | .733 | Lost playoff opener against St. John's, 80-78. |
| North Carolina | 1977-78 | Dean Smith | 23-8 | .742 | Lost in First Round against San Francisco, 68-64. |
| Cincinnati | 1996-97 | Bob Huggins | 26-8 | .765 | Lost in Second Round against Iowa State, 67-66. |
| Arizona | 2000-01 | Lute Olson | 28-8 | .778 | Lost in Championship Game against Duke, 82-72. |
| Duke | 1988-89 | Mike Krzyzewski | 28-8 | .778 | Lost at Final Four against Seton Hall, 95-78. |
| Duke | 2017-18 | Mike Krzyzewski | 29-8 | .784 | Lost in Regional Final against Kansas, 85-81 in OT. |