Kentucky is just six wins away from being the first NCAA men’s basketball team to complete an undefeated season since Indiana in 1976. And while Wildcats fans might want to reserve an engraver for the trophy, there’s a reason why no team has completed the task in 39 years: It’s really, really hard. Since Bob Knight and the Hoosiers cut down the nets, five teams have finished the regular season with zero losses and came up short.
Alcorn State Braves, 1978-79
There were only 40 teams invited to the 1979 NCAA Tournament, and none of those were Alcorn State, despite finishing the regular season 27-0. The team did get an NIT bid but lost in the second round to Indiana.
Indiana State, 1978-79
Previous to 1979, no Indiana State team made the NCAA Tourney. And post 1979, few made it back. But that team that finished the regular season at 29-0 was special. Well, OK, Larry Bird was special. And the rest of the team played WITH Larry Bird. The Cinderella season continued in the postseason, with the Sycamores shooting to 33-0 and making the final. Unfortunately, ISU ran into another team of destiny: Michigan State, led by Magic Johnson.
UNLV, 1990-91
The Runnin’ Rebels won the title in 1990 — led by Larry Johnson, Greg Anthony and Stacey Augmon — against a mismatched Duke squad. It was fitting, then, that many of the same players met for the rematch in the semis a year later. Christian Laettner and Bobby Hurley led the Dukies past UNLV in 1991, ruining a run that saw the team go 30-0 in the regular season and 34-1 overall.
Saint Joseph’s, 2003-04
Despite finishing the regular season 27-0 (27-1 after losing in the Atlantic 10 tourney), not everyone was convinced Saint Joseph’s was worthy of its No. 1 seed. However, Jameer Nelson and Delonte West carried the Hawks to the Elite Eight and were just a late Oklahoma State three pointer away from making the Final Four. The team finished 30-2.
Wichita State, 2013-14
Kentucky need only look to last season for a reminder of how regular season and tourney runs are not the same thing. The Shockers were 34-0 and a No. 1 seed heading into March. The team didn’t make it far, though — losing to the Wildcats in the round of 32. John Calipari is sure to repeatedly remind his young squad of that fact in the next few weeks.