From Penthouse to Outhouse: No Guaranteed Success For Defending Titlist

There is virtually no chance for North Carolina running the risk of joining Stanford '42 and Michigan State '79 as the only defending NCAA champions compiling a losing record the next season. But the Tar Heels could be a candidate for reaching double digits in defeats similar to what occurred to them in 2009-10 as defending titlist.

Following is a chronological list of reigning titlists suffering more than a dozen setbacks or posting a losing mark overall coming off a national crown:

NCAA Champion Coach Record Next Season as Reigning Titlist Conference Finish
Stanford '42 Everett Dean 10-11 in 1942-43 T2nd in PCC South
Indiana '76 Bob Knight 14-13 in 1976-77 5th in Big Ten
Michigan State '79 Jud Heathcote 12-15 in 1979-80 9th in Big Ten
North Carolina State '83 Jim Valvano 19-14 in 1983-84 7th in ACC
Louisville '86 Denny Crum 18-14 in 1986-87 1st in Metro
North Carolina '09 Roy Williams 20-17 in 2009-10 T9th in ACC
Connecticut '14 Kevin Ollie 20-15 in 2014-15 T5th in American Athletic

NOTE: Everett Shelton-coached Wyoming '43 went 10-18 in 1944-45 after failing to field a team in 1943-44 during World War II.