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Throughout NCAA Men’s Basketball history, several powerhouse teams have captivated fans with their dominance on the court, only to fall short of clinching the ultimate prize: the National Championship. These squads, despite their remarkable talent and memorable seasons, remain etched in the annals of the sport as the best to never claim collegiate basketball’s top honor.
25. Virginia Cavaliers (2017-18)
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These Cavaliers were the No. 1 overall seed heading into the 2018 NCAA Tournament. However, upstart Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) didn’t care. Virginia entered this 1 vs. 16 matchup with a 31-2 record and allowing an average of 54 points, but UMBC hit 12 3-pointers and shot 54.2 percent from the field to become the first team to score 70 or more points on the Cavaliers and win 74-54 for the NCAA Tournament’s greatest upset.
24. Saint Joseph’s Hawks (2003-04)
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Led by Jameer Nelson (20.6 points per game) and Delonte West (18.9 PPG), the Hawks ended the regular season 27-0 and had just one loss and a No. 1 seed entering the NCAA Tournament in 2014. After needing to work past Liberty, Texas Tech and Wake Forest, Saint Joe’s saw the good times end with a 64-62 loss to Oklahoma State in the Elite Eight.
23. Gonzaga Bulldogs (2016-17)
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Mark Few loaded up with transfers like Nigel Williams-Goss (Washington), Jordan Mathews (Cal) and Johnathan Williams (Missouri) to take the Zags to their first NCAA Tournament Final in program history. In one of the better title games in recent memory, Gonzaga had its chance but struggled down the stretch in a 71-65 loss to North Carolina to cap its season at 37-2.
22. Wisconsin Badgers (2014-15)
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It’s often somewhat of an afterthought that this Wisconsin team did not win the National Title. That’s because Frank Kaminsky (18.8 PPG, 8.2 rebounds per game, 2.6 assists per game) and Co. are best known for taking down a juggernaut — the undefeated Kentucky Wildcats (38-0) — in the national semifinals. The Badgers (36-4) looked as if they were headed to a national crown, but Duke turned it up late en route to a 68-63 victory.
21. UMass Minutemen (1995-96)
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The best team in UMass basketball history had its run to the Final Four vacated when it was determined star Marcus Camby (20.5 ppg, 8.2 RPG) took gifts from an agent. Still, John Calipari’s Minutemen were a talented group with Donta Bright (14.5 PPG) and the backcourt of Carmelo Travieso (14.8 PPG, 3.2 APG) and Edgar Padilla. On the court, UMass lost just two games all season with their season ending in the Final Four in a 74-81 defeat to Kentucky.
20. Memphis Tigers (2007-08)
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Another John Calipari-led team which had its accomplishments of arguably the best group in the program’s history vacated. Led By Derrick Rose (14.9 PPG), who would ultimately be responsible for the Tigers’ 38 wins and NCAA Tournament Final Four appearance being vacated, and Chris Douglas-Roberts (18.1 PPG), this squad held a late lead over Kansas in the title game, but the Jayhawks rallied to force overtime – hello, Mario Chalmers — and win the championship.
19. Wichita State Shockers (2013-14)
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One season after reaching the Final Four, these Shockers looked poised to finish the job in 2014. With four players averaging double figures (most notably Fred VanVleet, Cleanthony Early and Ron Baker) and holding opponents to just under 60 points per game, Wichita State was 35-0 when it faced a 10-loss, but improving Kentucky squad in the Elite Eight. In one of the best NCAA Tournament games of the decade, the Wildcats squeaked out a 78-76 victory to end Wichita State’s perfect season.
18. Indiana State Sycamores (1978-79)
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With Larry Bird leading the way, the greatest team in school history entered the highly anticipated NCAA Tournament championship with a 33-0 record and No. 1 ranking. However, Magic Johnson and Michigan State were ready for the challenge as the two superstars tipped off what would become one of the great individual basketball rivalries at any level. Bird had 19 points and 13 rebounds, but Magic’s Spartans prevailed 75-64.
17. Duke Blue Devils (2001-02)
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There was plenty of star power on this Blue Devils roster as Jason Williams, Carlos Boozer and Mike Dunleavy Jr. each averaged more than 17 points. Duke averaged nearly 90 as a team, but it could not hold an 11-point halftime lead against Indiana in the Sweet 16 as its season came to an end with a crushing 74-73 loss to the Hoosiers.
16. Kentucky Wildcats (2002-03)
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These Wildcats were riding an impressive 26-game winning streak into their Elite Eight contest against Marquette. Kentucky (32-4) held opponents to 64.1 points per game that year, but Dwyane Wade and Robert Jackson combined for 53 as the Golden Eagles shot a sizzling 56.4 percent to roll to an 83-69 NCAA Tournament upset.
15. Kansas Jayhawks (2009-10)
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Kansas was aiming for a second National Championship in three seasons and looked to be in good shape early in the NCAA Tournament. The No. 1 seed Jayhawks got by Lehigh to open the tourney and it seemed like they caught a break with ninth-seeded Northern Iowa waiting in the second round. However, Ali Farokhmanesh (16 points, four three-pointers) and the Panthers led by eight at halftime and held on for a 69-67 upset to end Kansas’ season at 33-3.
14. UCLA Bruins (2007-08)
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The roll call of talent on this UCLA roster that finished 35-4 is off the charts. Kevin Love (17.5 PPG, 10.6 RPG), Russell Westbrook, Darren Collison, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Josh Shipp. The Bruins were riding a 14-game winning streak when they came across fellow No. 1 seed Memphis in the Final Four. UCLA, though, shot just 37.5-percent and managed just 28 second-half points during the 78-63 loss.
13. Ohio State Buckeyes (2006-07)
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It would end up being the one shot at collegiate glory for Greg Oden (15.7 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 3.3 blocks per game) and Mike Conley Jr. (11.3 PPG, 6.1 APG). The Buckeyes (35-4) were riding a 22-game win streak heading into a matchup with the defending National Champion Florida Gators in the much-anticipated NCAA Tournament Final. Though Oden and Conley combined for 45 points, the Gators were too much for Ohio State to handle.
12. North Carolina Tar Heels (1997-98)
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Antawn Jamison (22.2 PPG, 10.5 RPG) and Vince Carter (15.6 PPG) were big names for a squad that started 17-0 and made its way to the Final Four. No. 3 seed Utah was waiting in the national semifinals and seemed to have a greater sense of urgency than the Tar Heels (34-4). UNC trailed 35-22 at halftime and were never able to catch up and avoid the upset — falling to Utah, 65-59.
11. Illinois Fighting Illini (2004-05)
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Paced by Luther Head (15.9 PPG), Deron Williams (12.5 PPG, 6.8 APG) and Dee Brown (13.3 PPG, 4.5 APG), the Illini were a squad that had title aspirations from the onset of the season. The Illini put together one of the greatest comebacks of all-time to upend the Arizona Wildcats in the Elite Eight, and easily dispatched Louisville in the Final Four. However, Illinois (37-2) struggled to make baskets as they fell to a North Carolina team that hit 52-percent of its shots towards a 75-70 title-game victory.
10. Kansas Jayhawks (1996-97)
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The Jayhawks’ lone regular-season loss came at Missouri in double overtime in February as the squad led by Raef LaFrentz (18.5 PPG, 9.3 RPG) and Paul Pierce (16.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG) looked like a team poised to be a National Champion. What the country did not see coming was a gritty, confident fourth-seeded Arizona squad that got hot at the right time. The Wildcats, with starting guards Mike Bibby and Miles Simon, upset Kansas (34-2) 85-82 in the Sweet 16 en route to their National Title.
9. Florida Gators (2013-14)
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These Gators did not have a true marquee name, but plenty of solid pieces like Casey Prather (13.8 PPG) and Scottie Wilbekin (13.1 PPG) to make one strong collective. Top-seeded Florida (36-3) was amid a 30-game winning streak when it faced seventh-seeded UConn in the Final Four. The Gators missed 10-of-11 three-pointers while the Huskies shot 55.8-percent overall to continue their improbable National Championship run with a 63-53 victory.
8. Michigan Wolverines (1992-93)
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This would turn out to be the final run for the “Fab Five.” Michigan finished 31-5 and lost 77-71 to North Carolina in one of the more memorable finals in NCAA history. Of course, that game and Chris Webber’s stellar collegiate career will be remembered for his infamous and unavailable time out. Their surge to the National Championship game would later be vacated due to Webber’s alleged association with a booster.
7. North Carolina Tar Heels (1983-84)
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Michael Jordan, Sam Perkins, Brad Daugherty, Kenny Smith. What a roster. Yet, the Tar Heels (28-3) were unable to get the job done and win the program’s second National Title in three seasons, even though they were a favorite along with Georgetown. Indiana was not buying that and showed it would not be intimidated while shooting a remarkable 64.9-percent during a 72-68 Sweet 16 upset win over North Carolina.
6. Duke Blue Devils (1998-99)
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Led by Elton Brand (17.7 PPG, 9.8 RPG), Duke was rolling along, a winner of 32-straight games when it met up with Connecticut in the 1999 National Championship. Though the Blue Devils (37-2) led by one at halftime, Richard Hamilton’s hot shooting helped the Huskies — a double-digit underdog who shot 52.5-percent as a team — take over and pull out the 77-74 stunner.
5. Indiana Hoosiers (1974-75)
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The Hoosiers had to wait another season to win the program’s third National Title and did so in grand fashion by going undefeated. However, many believe the 1974-75 Hoosiers were an overall better team with the same cast of characters in Scott May, Quinn Buckner and Kent Benson. Indiana took a 31-0 record into its Elite Eight contest versus Kentucky, where Benson had 33 points and 23 rebounds, but the Wildcats pulled off a 92-90 upset victory.
4. Georgetown Hoyas (1984-85)
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Patrick Ewing was a force in the middle, Reggie Williams remains one of the greatest defenders in college basketball history and David Wingate was an all-around star. Yet, the Hoyas (35-3) were unable to repeat as National Champions. Instead, it was Big East rival Villanova who stunned Georgetown by shooting 78.6-percent from the field en route to a 66-64 victory in the National Championship.
3. Houston Cougars (1982-83)
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Otherwise known as “Phi Slama Jama,” this was one of the most dominant teams in college basketball history. Led by Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon (then going by Akeem), the Cougars dunked every chance they could and lost their only two regular-season games in December. Houston (31-3) was expected to roll over upstart North Carolina State in the National Championship, but Drexler got into foul trouble, Olajuwon ran out of gas and N.C. State’s Lorenzo Charles sealed the 54-52 upset with a dunk at the buzzer.
2. Kentucky Wildcats (2014-15)
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Karl-Anthony Towns (10.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG) might have been the overall best player on this Kentucky team, and there might not have been a deeper group of talent than this bunch possessed (Devin Booker didn’t even start). It seemed like a foregone conclusion that Kentucky would win the National Title as it entered the Final Four at 38-0. However, a two-point win over Notre Dame in the Elite Eight showed some vulnerability in the Wildcats, and they couldn’t keep Wisconsin from shooting 47.9-percent and going 18-of-22 from the free-throw line in their memorable 71-64 Final Four defeat.
1. UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (1990-91)
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The reigning National Champions were once again loaded with marquee talent (Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon, Anderson Hunt and Greg Anthony), and finished the regular season 27-0. Aiming to become the first team to go undefeated since that 1975-76 Indiana squad, the Rebels were upended 79-77 by Christian Laettner, Grant Hill, Bobby Hurley and Duke in the Final Four. While UNLV finished 34-1, that loss still stings Rebels’ fans to this day.
