Kentucky failed to become the first team to finish the season unbeaten since Indiana went undefeated to win the National Championship in 1976. Since that time, 24 teams have entered the NCAA Tournament with fewer than 2 losses. None of them have won the tournament.
- 1977: Arkansas (26-1) lost to Wake Forest 86-80 in the Round of 32
- 1977: San Francisco (29-1) lost to UNLV 121-95 in the Round of 32
- 1979: Indiana State (29-0) lost to Michigan State 75-64 in the National Championship
- 1980: Alcorn State (27-1) lost to Louisiana State 98-88 in the Round of 32
- 1980: DePaul (26-1) lost to UCLA 77-71 in the Round of 32
- 1981: DePaul (27-1) lost to St. Joseph's 49-48 in the Round of 32
- 1981: Oregon State (26-1) lost to Kansas State 50-48 in the Round of 32
- 1982: DePaul (26-1) lost to Boston College 82-75 in the Round of 32
- 1987: UNLV (33-1) lost to Indiana 97-93 in the National Semifinals
- 1988: Temple (29-1) lost to Duke 63-53 in the Elite Eight
- 1990: La Salle (29-1) lost to Clemson 79-75 in the Round of 32
- 1991: UNLV (30-0) lost to Duke 79-77 in the National Semifinals
- 1996: Massachusetts (31-1) lost to Kentucky 81-74 in the National Semifinals
- 1996: Texas Tech (28-1) lost to Georgetown 98-90 in the Sweet Sixteen
- 1997: Kansas (32-1) lost to Arizona 85-82 in the Sweet Sixteen
- 1998: Princeton (26-1) lost to Michigan State 63-56 in the Round of 32
- 1999: Duke (32-1) lost to Connecticut 77-74 in the National Championship
- 2004: St. Joseph's (27-1) lost to Oklahoma State 64-62 in the Elite Eight
- 2004: Stanford (29-1) lost to Alabama 70-67 in the Round of 32
- 2005: Illinois (32-1) lost to North Carolina 75-70 in the National Championship
- 2008: Memphis (33-1) lost to Kansas 75-68 in the National Championship
- 2012: Murray State (30-1) lost to Marquette 62-53 in the Round of 32
- 2014: Wichita State (34-0) lost to Kentucky 78-76 in the Round of 32
- 2015: Kentucky (34-0) lost to Wisconsin 71-64 in the National Semifinals