Even National Championship Teams Suffer Double-Digit Losses

As this fanbase tends to do, the overreaction from Tuesday night’s thrashing at the hands of Tennessee is rampant within BBN. Great teams don’t get blown out, some have said. This team is flawed. Get ready for a Sweet 16 exit. As if the previous month of games didn’t matter and our best player was injured. The same people who were stitching the banner for Title No. 9 last weekend are now canceling their Final Four hotels today.

Let me ease your fears, you doubters. The reality is that most national champions have stumbles like the one UK had in Knoxville. Since Calipari arrived in 2009-10, 8 of the 11 national champions have lost games by double digits. Only the ’12 Kentucky, ’13 Louisville (DIDN’T REALLY HAPPEN), and ’18 Villanova squads made it through the season without double-digit defeats. If you want to go further, 7 of the 11 lost MULTIPLE games by double digits during their season.

Point being, everybody relax. Good teams get blown out sometimes. Great teams get blown out sometimes. National champions get blown out almost every year.

THE LIST OF CHAMPIONS

2010: Duke (2)
at NC State: Lost by 14; at Georgetown: Lost by 12

2011: UCONN (3)
at Pitt: Lost by 15; at St. Johns: Lost by 17; at Louisville: Lost by 13

2012: Kentucky (None)

2013: Louisville (Season Never Happened, Also None)

2014: UCONN (3)
Louisville: Lost by 12; at Louisville: Lost by 33; Louisville: Lost by 10

2015: Duke (3)
at NC State: Lost by 12; Miami: Lost by 16; Notre Dame: Lost by 10

2016: Villanova (2)
Oklahoma: Lost by 23; at Virginia: Lost by 11

2017: North Carolina (4)
at Georgia Tech: Lost by 12; at Miami: Lost by 15; at Virginia: Lost by 10; Duke: Lost by 10

2018: Villanova (None)

2019: Virginia (2)
Duke: Lost by 10; Florida State: Lost by 10

2021: Baylor (1)
at Kansas: Lost by 13