Mid-Major Schools Dominate List of Longest Winning League Record Streaks

Who are the "Final Four" schools boasting no losing season record in conference competition thus far in 21st Century? Three of them aren't much of a surprise - Kansas (37 consecutive non-losing league marks in Big Eight/Big 12), Gonzaga (35 in WCC before joining Pac-12) and Duke (31 in ACC). However, a fervent hoops observer is unlikely capable of naming the fourth institution in this rare-air category. Well, it's Norfolk State (28 in MEAC), which has never posted a losing league worksheet since the Spartans' commenced competing in the loop in 1998-99.

New Pac-12 member San Diego State is next in line with 21 successive non-losing marks in Mountain West (one .500/9-9 in 2016-17). Taking conference success to the next level, what if campaign criteria is elevated for dominating schools to longest league winning streaks because Gonzaga (7-7 in 1994-95), Duke (8-8 in 1995-96, 8-8 in 2006-07 and 9-9 in 2020-21) plus Norfolk State (9-9 in 2001-02 and 8-8 in 2010-11) have each incurred at least one breakeven mark similar to SDSU during those spans? With this upgraded guideline, Belmont (24) and Vermont (20) join Kansas (37) and Gonzaga (31) among the four schools with at least 20 straight season winning records in league play. Stretch of winning excellence for KU (31) and the Zags (25) resulted in each of them securing a striking number of undisputed league titles.

Will new Belmont coach Evan Bradds carry on the Bruins' tradition of league marks at least four games above .500 in three different conferences since going 8-12 in inaugural year in Atlantic Sun in 2001-02? Following is a summary regarding the seven current schools with at least 14 season winning records in a row in league play:

School | Streak (Last Non-Winning Season) | First-Place Finishes | Coach(es) - | - | - | - Kansas | 37 in Big Eight and Big 12 (since 6-8 in 1988-89) | 1991-92-93-95-96-97-98 and 2002-03-05-06-07-08-09-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-20-22-23 | Roy Williams (through 2002-03)/Bill Self Gonzaga | 31 in West Coast (7-7 in 1994-95) | 1996-98-99 and 2001-02-03-04-05-06-07-08-09-10-11-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-22-23-26 | Dan Fitzgerald (1996-97)/Dan Monson (1998-99)/Mark Few Belmont | 24 in Atlantic Sun, Ohio Valley and Missouri Valley (8-12 in 2001-02) | 2003-06-08-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-19-20-21-26 | Rick Byrd (2018-19)/Casey Alexander (2025-26) Vermont | 20 in America East (7-9 in 2005-06) | 2007-09-11-14-17-18-19-20-21-22-23-24 | Mike Lonergan (2010-11)/John Becker Yale | 16 in Ivy League (6-8 in 2009-10) | 2015-16-19-20-23-25-26 | James Jones Norfolk State | 15 in MEAC (8-8 in 2010-11) | 2013-19-21-22-24-25 | Anthony Evans (2012-13)/Robert Jones UC Irvine | 14 in Big West (6-10 in 2011-12) | 2014-16-17-19-20-23-24-26 | Russ Turner
*Tied for first.