Best men’s and women’s NCAA Tournament runner-ups

Led by the legendary pair of Cazzie Russell (averaging 25.7 points) and Bill Buntin (20.1 ppg), this was the second of three straight Big Ten championship squads at Michigan. These Wolverines finished 24-4 and began and ended the season as the No. 1 team in The Associated Press poll. However, after rolling over a Bill Bradley-led Princeton squad group in the Final Four, Michigan, making the first NCAA tournament final appearances in program history, was upended 91-80 by UCLA, which won its second consecutive national title under John Wooden. 

Twelve years after Old Dominion won its only women’s NCAA basketball national championship, it was finally playing for another. Behind the star-studded trio of Ticha Penicheiro, Nyree Roberts and Clarisse Machanguana, the Monarchs won 34 games. However, they had to work hard just to reach the 1997 title contest. ODU beat No. 8 seed Purdue by four in the second round, edged Florida 53-51 in the Elite Eight and pulled out a one-point victory over fellow No. 1 seed Stanford in the national semifinals. The Monarchs’ good fortune ended against Tennessee with a national championship on the line, losing 68-59 — just its second defeat of the season.

Back in 1963, the Bearcats were trying to make college basketball history by becoming the first team to win three straight national championships. Led by Tom Thacker and Ron Bonham, Cincinnati was 26-1 entering the national title contest against a strong, and rather historic, Loyola, Chicago squad. Both teams rolled in their respective national semifinal games, and the Bearcats led 29-21 at halftime against the Ramblers. But, despite holding Loyola to 27.4-percent shooting, the Bearcats could not overcome 16 turnovers in falling 60-58 in overtime. In terms of historical significance, the 1963 title game was important for the fact that seven African-American players started the contest.

The claim to fame of the 2016-17 Bulldogs was ending Connecticut’s 111-game winning streak. Morgan William’s buzzer-beating jumper in overtime, which delivered the 66-64 win in the Final Four, might be the greatest moment in the history of Mississippi State women’s sports. However, this was one special team overall, even as a No. 2 seed, and considering it couldn’t handle Aj’a Wilson and Co. during its 67-55 loss to South Carolina in the national championship game. Mississippi State finished the season 34-5, but would have a chance for some unfinished business in 2017-18.

Nearly two decades in the making, Gonzaga finally reached the national championship game. After tapping into the transfer market for studs like Nigel Williams-Goss (16.8 ppg), Jordan Mathews (10.6 ppg) and Johnathan Williams (10.2 ppg), the Zags averaged 82.6 points per contest and suffered just one regular-season loss, 79-71 at home to BYU. Gonzaga, which tied the Division I record for wins in a season at 37, had a tougher time during NCAA tournament play, with three wins by six points or fewer. The fun then ended with a 71-65 loss to North Carolina, in a rather poorly played (at least from a shooting standpoint) national championship game.

Led by three of college basketball’s best ever, Harvey Grant, Stacey King and Mookie Blaylock, the 1987-88 Sooners won their first 14 games, then another 12 straight and held a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Oklahoma held serve throughout the tournament after getting by fellow-No. 1 seed Arizona in the national semifinal. Then, they looked in good position to win the school’s first title by beating Kansas for a third time that season. However, “Danny and The Miracles” had other ideas. The upstart, 11-loss Jayhawks shot a blistering 63.6 percent and star Danny Manning scored 31 and pulled down 18 rebounds during the 83-79 upset that ended the Sooners’ season at 35-4.

Winners of the inaugural women’s NCAA Tournament in 1982, the Lady Techsters were runners-up in ’83 (more on that group in a bit). It was four years later, led by superstar Teresa Weatherspoon, that Louisiana Tech returned to national final. That’s after knocking off fellow top seed Texas, which had one loss and was playing that Final Four matchup on its home court. However, the Lady Techsters took down the Longhorns. The party ended there for Louisiana Tech, as Pat Summitt’s Tennessee Volunteers avenged a nine-point regular season loss with a resounding 67-44 win for their first championship. Tech finished 32-2.

The Lady Vols were poised to record a fourth national championship under legendary coach Pat Summitt. Following a third straight undefeated run during the SEC regular season, Tennessee earned a No. 1 appeared poised to claim its first national championship since 1991. Led by the versatile Nikki McCray, the Lady Vols rolled through their first five games of the NCAA tournament, winning each by at least 20 points. However, Tennessee ran into a hotter team in Connecticut. Paced by future legends Rebecca Lobo and Jennifer Rizzotti, UConn overcame a nine-point second-half lead to win 80-74 and cap a 35-0 campaign with its title — thus beginning women’s college basketball’s most renowned dynasty. Tennessee, meanwhile, finished 34-3.

When it comes to women’s basketball greatness at Virginia, Debbie Ryan’s ’90-91 bunch is still the gold standard. The Cavaliers, who featured standout Tonya Cardoza and a hot-shot guard by the name of Dawn Staley, went 31-3. They earned a No. 1 seed in the 1991 tournament and reached the Final Four for the second installment of a stretch of three straight such appearances. UVA eventually met powerhouse Tennessee in for its first, and to date only, NCAA tournament final appearance. The Cavaliers led by five in the final two minutes, but went cold from the field, and the Lady Vols, thanks to some key free throws from Dena Head forced overtime. Tennessee then controlled the extra session for a 70-67 victory.

Truth be told, it was rather tough to decide which of Auburn’s squads that made three consecutive national finals, from 1988-’90, was worthy of inclusion on this list. So, the first two within that run are worthy of recognition. The ’87-88 group, led by the legendary Ruthie Bolton, went 32-3 and appeared to have Louisiana Tech on the ropes in the national championship game. That’s until the aforementioned Teresa Weatherspoon led her team to a comeback 56-54 victory. The next season, with the great Vickie Orr leading the way, the Tigers earned some revenge by beating Louisiana Tech in the national semifinals. However, Tennessee proved too much in the end, rolling to a 76-60 victory over Auburn, which finished the season 32-2.

In 1992, Michigan’s vaunted Fab Five reached the national championship game after winning three straight NCAA tournament contests by a combined 11 points. That run ended with a 20-point loss to Duke, but set the stage for some unfinished business in 1992-93. In one of the most exciting seasons in program history (which was eventually erased through sanctions and penalties from the infamous Ed Martin scandal), the brash and boisterous Wolverines opened as the No. 1 team in the country. After finishing second in the Big Ten, Michigan set its sights on winning that national title. However, Chris Webber, Jalen Rose and Co., needed to work just to reach the title game, including an overtime win versus UCLA in the second round and against Kentucky in the national semifinals. The Wolverines’ championship game tilt with North Carolina was one of the most entertaining finals in tournament history, but for Michigan fans, mostly remembered for Webber’s timeout call when his team had none in the 77-71 defeat, thus ending the 31-5 campaign.

Anchored by stars Greg Oden (15.7 ppg, 9.6 rebounds per game) and Mike Conley (11.3 ppg, 6.1 assists per game) boasted two of the best players in the college game. These Buckeyes won both the Big Ten’s regular season and tournament titles, while losing just once against conference opponents all season. Ohio State was also a stout defensive squad, notably because of the interior play from the 7-foot Oden, allowing 62 points per game. However, there was one team better than the Buckeyes in 2006-07 — Florida, which repeated as national champion with its 84-75 victory over them in the NCAA final.

Behind Patrick Ewing (14.6 ppg, 9.2 rebounds per game), Georgetown looked poised to repeat as national champion in 1985. The Hoyas started 18-0, then following back-to-back losses in Big East play, took a 17-game winning streak into their national championship game matchup against upstart No. 8 seed Villanova, who it beat twice during the regular season. A big reason for Georgetown’s success was a defense that held opponents to 57.3 points per game. However, it could not find a way to contain the Wildcats, who went a blistering 22-of-28 from the field and made all but five of their 27 free-throw attempts en route to a stunning 66-64 triumph. Oh yeah, the Hoyas, who finished 35-3, shot 54.7 percent in that contest.

Like other teams on this list, the accomplishments of the ’07-08 have been erased by the NCAA due to various violations. In this case, testing issues involving star Derrick Rose. That said, the Tigers’ now-unofficial 38-2 mark was the best on-court performance the school has ever seen, and in the history of NCAA basketball, for that matter. Though Rose (14.9 ppg, 4.7 apg) and Chris Douglas-Roberts (18.1 ppg) were two of the game’s top offensive stars at the time, this Memphis squad played some stellar defense while allowing 61.9 points per game. However, Kansas shot 52.7 percent, and Mario Chalmers and Sherron Collins hit big shots to help take down the Tigers, 75-68 in overtime of the national final.

Dubbed “The Untouchables,” the ’96-97 squad at Kentucky featured several players who went on to enjoy various levels of NBA success. Notably Ron Mercer (18.1 ppg), Scott Padgett and Nazr Mohammed. The Wildcats went 3-1 against top-10 opponents that season, and took a 35-4 record into their national championship contest against Arizona, which was the No. 4 seed and owner of nine losses. However, those pesky Wildcats, led by Mike Bibby and Miles Simon, would not go away, and eventually outlasted the favorites for an 84-79 overtime triumph.

As the Blue Devils’ basketball stock continued to rise during the 1980s under Mike Krzyzewski, the program was getting closer to winning its first national championship. The 1985-86 group appeared to be the one that would finally accomplish that feat. With Johnny Dawkins, Mark Alarie, Jay Bilas, Tommy Amaker and Danny Ferry on board, Duke won both the ACC regular season and tournament crowns. After losing its first two games of the season — back to back — against ranked North Carolina and Georgia Tech teams in January, these Blue Devils reeled off 21 straight wins. That’s before being upset 72-69 by Pervis Ellison and Louisville in the national championship game.

After falling short of the program’s first national title in 2017, the Bulldogs were back in the tournament championship game one year later. Mississippi State carried a 37-1 record into its title matchup with a two-loss Notre Dame squad. That’s after needing overtime to beat Louisville in the Final Four. In what might be considered the greatest final game in the history of the women’s tournament, Teaira McCowan and Victoria Vivians (21 points in the final) helped the Bulldogs to a 30-17 halftime lead. However, the Irish fought back, and star Arike Ogunbowale dashed Mississippi State’s dreams of that first title via her 3-pointer with 0.1 seconds left in regulation for a 61-58 Notre Dame triumph.

Looking to become the first team since Indiana in 1975-76 to run the table, Gonzaga appeared in good shape to not only win its first national title, but make history in the process. Drew Timme (19.0 ppg), Corey Kispert (18.6 ppg) and Jalen Suggs (14.4 ppg) were among college basketball’s elite, and these Bulldogs were winning games by more than an average of 20.0 points. However, maybe it was an omen when the Bulldogs needed Suggs’ shot from just in front of half court to bail them out in overtime versus UCLA in the Final Four. Gonzaga was then roughed up 86-70 by a plucky Baylor group that made 10 3-pointers, held a 38-22 rebounding advantage and forced 14 turnovers. 

Not only one of the greatest teams in Indiana State history, but when it comes to the entirety of college hoops as well. National Player of the Year Larry Bird averaged 28.6 points, but this was more than a one-man show for an Indiana State squad that reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever. Carl Nicks (19.3 ppg) was also an underrated star for the Sycamores, who carried a 33-0 record into their much-anticipated national-title matchup against Magic Johnson and Michigan State. Yet, in the most-watched college basketball game of all time, Johnson’s Spartans were the true stars. Bird had 19 points with 13 rebounds, but Magic scored 24 and Michigan State shot 60.5 percent en route to a 75-64 victory.

The hype surrounding the 2004-05 Illini essentially began after they lost to Duke in the Sweet 16 the season prior. And, this Illinois club, led by Deron Williams (12.5 ppg, 6.8 apg), Dee Brown (13.3 ppg, 4.5 apg) and Luther Head (15.9 ppg), and ran out the same starting lineup every game, was ranked No. 1 most of the season, sat 29-0 before losing to Ohio State by a point in the regular-season finale. Sadly for Illinois, it didn’t lose again until the school’s first national championship-game appearance, 75-70 to North Carolina. A 37-2, these Illini just might be the best team in college basketball history to not win a national title.

Looking to win the first two NCAA women’s national championships, Louisiana Tech appeared to be in good shape by taking a 31-1 record into the season’s third meeting with USC — which just happened to be for a national title. The teams split the two regular-season matchups, and it would be the Trojans who handed the Lady Techsters their only other defeat of the 1982-83 season. Behind one of the all-time greats, Cheryl Miller, USC led late. Louisiana Tech had a final chance to tie the game, but a last-second shot by Kim Mulkey (yes, the longtime Baylor coach now at LSU) missed for the 69-67 finish.

This 2009-10 Stanford group lost just two games. Both were at the hands of Connecticut. The first came at Hartford just before Christmas. The other would be to conclude the season, 53-47, in the national championship game. Aside from those setbacks, the Cardinal won a program-record 36 games. Jayne Appel, Jeanette Pohlen and Nnemkadi Ogwumike starred for a squad that produced Stanford’s second national runner-up over a three-year span. During the season, Appel became the Pac-10’s all-time leading rebounder by breaking Lisa Leslie’s record of 1,214.

Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Michael Young, Benny Anders, Larry Micheaux. Phi Slama Jama. Before UNLV’s great Runnin’ Rebels’ teams of the 1990s and Michigan’s “Fab Five,” this was the most exciting team in college basketball. High-flying, dunk after dunk, these Cougars seemed poised to win the school’s first national title after reaching the Final Four a year earlier. After dropping back-to-back games after a 4-0 start, Houston won 26 straight games starting in mid-December. And when the Cougars drew a 10-loss North Carolina State squad in the national championship game, that title seemed like a foregone conclusion. However, Jim Valvano’s “Cardiac Pack” were a destined group, which held the Cougars to 38.2 percent shooting and Drexler, Micheaux and Young to a combined 14 points. Houston players could only watch as Lorenzo Charles turned Dereck Whittenburg’s airball into a game-winning dunk for a 54-52 NC State victory, thus shattering the hearts of the Cougars and their faithful on an otherwise legendary 31-3 campaign.

By the early 2010s, there was a nice rivalry brewing between Notre Dame and UConn within the women’s game. So, it was all a basketball fan could ask when the two powers met in the 2014 national final, and each without a loss, marking the first time that happened in the history of the women’s NCAA Tournament. In the end, the game proved anti-climatic as the Huskies rolled to a 79-58 won to win the second of what would be four straight titles. But, that shouldn’t take away from the season’s accomplishments by the Irish, led by Kayla McBride and Jewell Loyd, who set a school record with 37 wins while dominating most of their opponents.

Following a 5-0 start, Duke lost by two against Cincinnati. With studs like Elton Brand (17.7 ppg, 9.8 rpg), Trajan Langdon (17.3 ppg) and Corey Maggette (10.6 ppg), the Blue Devils won their next 32 in a row. A remarkable feat for any team, but seemingly commonplace for this group, which averaged 91.8 points, shot 51.4 percent from the field and nearly 40 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. Duke won its first two NCAA Tournament games by 41 points each, then rolled over Temple to earn a spot in the Final Four. The Blue Devils then held off second-ranked Michigan State to set up another marquee matchup, this time with No. 3 Connecticut for the national championship. UConn brought a 33-2 record into that contest, and thanks to 27 points from Richard Hamilton, a collective 52.5 percent shooting effort, and also a 38-27 rebounding advantage, it won 77-74 to end the mighty Blue Devils’ season at 37-2 and without a title.