Kentucky 4th Unbeaten and 24th with fewer than 2 losses to not win National Title since 1976

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

Big 12 misses Elite Eight for Third Straight Year

For the third consecutive year, there was no Big 12 team in the Elite Eight.  It is the second time that this has happened in the Big 12.  The other time was from 1997 to 1999.  However, in 1999, the Big 12 did not have a 1 or 2 seed, so there was not an expectation to reach the Elite 8 that year.

The Big 12 becomes the second conference to miss Elite Eight three consecutive years while having a team that was expected to reach the Elite Eight (by having a 1 or 2 seed).  The Pac 10 (now Pac 12) missed 3 straight from 1989 to 1991.

Here is the number of years each conference has missed the Elite Eight with the number of years having a 1 or 2 seed (since 1985):

• Atlantic Coast - missed 3 out of 30 - never in consecutive apperances
• Atlantic Ten - missed 3 out of 7 - never in consecutive appearances
• Big East - missed 5 out of 28 - has missed the last two, first time with 2 consecutive
• Big Eight/Big Twelve - missed 10 out of 28 - missed the last three years
• Big Ten - missed 8 out of 26 - last time missed two straight was 1985-86
• Big West - missed 0 out of 3
• Conference USA - missed 4 out of 8 - missed three consecutive appearances with a 1 or 2 seed, but not in consecutive years (1998, 2000, 2002)
• Great Midwest - missed 0 out of 1
• Metro - missed 0 out of 2
• Missouri Valley - missed 1 out of 1 - 2014 Wichita State
• Mountain West - missed 1 out of 1 - 2011 San Diego State
• Pac 10/12 - missed 7 out of 22 - missed three consecutive years with a 1 or 2 seed from 1989 to 1991
• Southeastern - missed 4 out of 24
• Southwest - missed 0 out of 1
• Sun Belt - missed 1 out of 1 - 1985 VCU
• West Coast - missed 2 out of 3
• Western Athletic - missed 1 out of 2

Michigan State Elite Eight Facts

Michigan State defeats Oklahoma 62-58 to advance to the Elite Eight.

Michigan State is in their 13th Elite Eight and their 2nd consecutive.

They are 8-4 in their previous 12 appearances.

• Defeated Kentucky 80-68 in 1957
• Lost to Louisville 88-81 in 1959
• Lost to Kentucky 52-49 in 1978
• Defeated Notre Dame 80-68 in 1979
• Defeated Kentucky 73-66 in 1999
• Defeated Iowa State 75-64 in 2000
• Defeated Temple 69-62 in 2001
• Lost to Texas 85-76 in 2003
• Defeated Kentucky 94-88 in 2005
• Defeated Louisville 64-52 in 2009
• Defeated Tennessee 70-69 in 2010
• Lost to Connecticut 60-54 in 2014

Michigan State's Elite Eight is Tom Izzo's 9th.  He is tied with Jim Calhoun for 8th all-time and 5th among active coaches.

With Michigan State and Wisconsin advancing to the Elite Eight, the Big Ten has multiple teams in the Elite Eight for the 3rd consecutive year.  It is the first time since 1999-2001 that they have had multiple Elite Eight teams in 3 straight years.

Michigan State is the second consecutive #7 seed to advance to the Elite Eight.  Connecticut advanced to the Elite Eight last year.  It is also the second consecutive year that a #7 will face a #4 in the East Regional Final.  Michigan State was the #4 seed last year.

It is the third consecutive year that a team from Michigan is in the Elite Eight.  That is the first time it has happened since 1999-2001.

Duke Elite Eight Facts

Duke defeated Utah 63-57 to advance to the Elite Eight

Duke is in their 20th Elite Eight and their first since 2013.

Duke is 15-4 in their 19 previous Elite Eights.  Their winning percentage is the second best for teams that have been to at least 10 Elite Eights behind UCLA at 18-4.

• Lost to New York 74-59 in 1960
• Defeated St. Joseph's 73-59 in 1963
• Defeated Connecticut 101-54 in 1964
• Defeated Syracuse 91-81 in 1966
• Defeated Villanova 90-72 in 1978
• Lost to Purdue 68-60 in 1980
• Defeated Navy 71-50 in 1986
• Defeated Temple 63-53 in 1988
• Defeated Georgetown 85-77 in 1989
• Defeated Connecticut 79-78 in 1990
• Defeated St. John's 78-61 in 1991
• Defeated Kentucky 104-103 in 1992 in OT
• Defeated Purdue 69-60 in 1994
• Lost to Kentucky 86-84 in 1998
• Defeated Temple 85-64 in 1999
• Defeated Southern Cal 79-69 in 2001
• Defeated Xavier 66-63 in 2004
• Defeated Baylor 78-71 in 2010
• Lost to Louisville 85-93 in 2013

Duke's Elite Eight appearance is Mike Krzyzewski's 14th.  He is one behind Adolph Rupp and Dean Smith for the most all-time.

Duke is the third ACC team to advance to the Elite Eight.  It is the third straight year that there has been a conference with three teams in the Elite Eight.  The Big Ten had 3 in 2014 and the Big East had 3 in 2013.  The last time the ACC had three teams in the Elite Eight was 1985.

Duke is the third #1 seed to advance to the Elite Eight.  It is the first time since 2012 that at least 3 #1 seeds have advanced to the Elite Eight.

Duke's Elite Eight marks a return for the state of North Carolina to the Elite Eight.  Last year, no team from the state of North Carolina was in the Elite Eight for the first time in 8 years.

Louisville Elite Eight Facts

Louisville defeated North Carolina State 75-65 to advance to the Elite Eight.

Louisville is in their 14th Elite Eight and their 3rd in 4 years.

Louisville is 10-3 in their 13 previous appearances.  It is the 3rd best winning percentages for teams that have been to at least 10 Elite Eights. Only UCLA (18-4) and Duke (15-4) have are better.

• Defeated Michigan State 88-81 in 1959
• Defeated Kansas State 72-65 in 1972
• Defeated Maryland 96-82 in 1975
• Defeated Louisiana State 86-66 in 1980
• Defeated UAB 75-68 in 1982
• Defeated Kentucky 80-68 in 1983
• Defeated Auburn 84-76 in 1986
• Lost to North Carolina 97-74 in 1997
• Defeated West Virginia 93-85 in 2005
• Lost to North Carolina 83-73 in 2008
• Lost to Michigan State 64-52 in 2009
• Defeated Florida 72-68 in 2012
• Defeated Duke 85-63 in 2013

Louisville's Elite Eight is Rick Pitino's 12th appearance.  He is 5th all-time and 2nd among active coaches.  It is his 6th Elite Eight with Louisville which is second behind Denny Crum who had 7.

Louisville along with Notre Dame in the Elite Eight marks the first time since 2004 that the ACC has multiple teams in the Elite Eight.  It is the longest drought without multiple teams in the Elite Eight for the ACC since the tournament started allowing more than 1 team per conference in 1976.

It is the 5th consecutive year that a #4 seed has advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.  It ties the longest such streak set from 1988 to 1992.

Gonzaga Elite Eight Facts

Gonzaga defeated UCLA 74-62 to advance to the Elite Eight.

Gonzaga is in their 2nd Elite Eight and their first since 1999.

Gonzaga is 0-1 in the Elite Eight.  They lost to Connecticut 67-62 in 1999.  Gonzaga came into the tournament tied for 9th with the most appearances (17) without a Final Four.  Conference mate Brigham Young has the most with 29.

Gonzaga's Elite Eight is the first for Mark Few in 16 tournament appearances.  He was tied with Fran Dunphy (currently at Temple) for the most tournaments with no Elite Eights.

The coach that he defeated, Steve Alford, now has 9 tournament appearances with no Elite Eight which is tied for 9th all-time and 4th among active coaches.

Gonzaga is the first team from the West Coast Conference to advance to the Elite Eight since Gonzaga last went in 1999.  It is the 16th overall.  San Francisco has the most Elite Eights among West Coast Conference members:

• San Francisco 7
• Santa Clara 4
• Gonzaga 2
• Loyola Marymount 1
• Pacific 1
• St. Mary's 1

With Gonzaga advancing to the Elite Eight, it is the 7th consecutive year that exactly 2 #2 seeds have advanced to the Elite Eight.

Gonzaga is the first team from the state of Washington to advance to the Elite Eight since Gonzaga last went in 1999.  It is the 8th overall.  Washington has the most Elite Eights:

• Washington 4
• Gonzaga 2
• Seattle 1
• Washington State 1

ACC Tournament Matchups

Tonight's game between Louisville and North Carolina State marks the 4th time that 2 teams from the ACC have played each other in the ACC tournament.  It is the earliest round that they have ever played.  The other 3 are:

• North Carolina defeated Virginia 78-65 in the 1981 National Semifinals
• North Carolina State defeated Virginia 63-63 in the 1983 Elite Eight
• Duke defeated Maryland 95-84 in the 2001 National Semifinals