Runaway Winners: Most Dominant Regular-Season Conference Kingpins
March 8th, 2021 - 18:14
Three years ago, Virginia became the first ACC member since Duke in 1999-00 to win the regular-season league title by as many as four games in final standings. The most dominant clubs in conference competition this season could be a surprise - Navy won Patriot League/South Division by six games.
The SEC is the only power league in the previous decade to have a team finish atop conference standings by at least five games (Kentucky in 2011-12 and Florida in 2013-14). Navy joined UK and UF among the following teams to win a DI conference regular-season crown by at least six games since Stephen Curry-led Davidson achieved the feat in 2007-08 (listed in reverse order):
| Season | League Champion (Coach) | Conference | Mark | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | Navy (Ed DeChellis) | Patriot League/South | 12-1 | +6 |
| 2019-20 | New Mexico State (Chris Jans) | Western Athletic | 16-0 | +6 |
| 2017-18 | Buffalo (Nate Oats) | Mid-American/East | 15-3 | +6 |
| 2014-15 | Murray State (Steve Prohm) | Ohio Valley/West | 16-0 | +6 |
| 2013-14 | Wichita State (Gregg Marshall) | Missouri Valley | 18-0 | +6 |
| 2013-14 | Florida (Billy Donovan) | SEC | 18-0 | +6 |
| 2011-12 | Kentucky (John Calipari) | SEC | 16-0 | +6 |
| 2011-12 | Middle Tennessee State (Kermit Davis) | Sun Belt/East | 14-2 | +6 |
| 2009-10 | Butler (Brad Stevens) | Horizon League | 18-0 | +6 |
| 2007-08 | Davidson (Bob McKillop) | Southern/South | 20-0 | +7 |