SWC75
Bored Historian
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- Aug 26, 2011
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It's premature, I know, but I decided to look at national championship games between teams from the same conference.
It's happened three times. (For decades only one team from a conference could go to the NCAA tournament.) In 1976, Indiana beat Michigan 86-68. It was the third time they had met. Indiana had also won the first two, (they were the last undefeated national champions at 32-0), 80-74 and 72-67. The title game was their biggest margin of victory.
In 1985, Villanova had lost twice to Georgetown, 50-52 and 50-57 but shot 79% to beat the Hoyas in the final, 66-64.
In 1988, Kansas had lost to Oklahoma 65-73 and 87-95 before triumphing in the national title game, 83-79.
The Big Ten had no post-season tournament in 1976. The Big East and Big 12, (actually it was still the Big 8 in 1988), did but Villanova did not meet Georgetown and Kansas did not play Oklahoma in those tournaments. If we were to play Louisville in the final, we would be the first teams to be playing for a fourth time in a year, with the last one for the national title.
But it's good to know that 2 of 3 times the team that had lost the season's series triumphed in the title game. Basically, it's about playing your best game of the season in the game that matters the most, (which is also what Indiana did).
But first we need to get there.
It's happened three times. (For decades only one team from a conference could go to the NCAA tournament.) In 1976, Indiana beat Michigan 86-68. It was the third time they had met. Indiana had also won the first two, (they were the last undefeated national champions at 32-0), 80-74 and 72-67. The title game was their biggest margin of victory.
In 1985, Villanova had lost twice to Georgetown, 50-52 and 50-57 but shot 79% to beat the Hoyas in the final, 66-64.
In 1988, Kansas had lost to Oklahoma 65-73 and 87-95 before triumphing in the national title game, 83-79.
The Big Ten had no post-season tournament in 1976. The Big East and Big 12, (actually it was still the Big 8 in 1988), did but Villanova did not meet Georgetown and Kansas did not play Oklahoma in those tournaments. If we were to play Louisville in the final, we would be the first teams to be playing for a fourth time in a year, with the last one for the national title.
But it's good to know that 2 of 3 times the team that had lost the season's series triumphed in the title game. Basically, it's about playing your best game of the season in the game that matters the most, (which is also what Indiana did).
But first we need to get there.