Kentucky's Worst NCAA Tournament Enemies

(updated through the 2016 tournament)

UK has had enormous success in the NCAA Tournament - 55 appearances, 36 Elite Eights, 17 Final Fours, 12 title games, and 8 championships. 

Their overall record is 121-49.  That's the most wins in the history of the tournament.  Note that 2 wins (over Southern and Maryland) and 1 loss (to Villanova) in 1988 were voided by the NCAA.  

But they have had trouble with certain opponents, and a number of these probably popped into your head before you even clicked this link.  The following five teams combine to account for 19 of our 49 losses.

1) CONNECTICUT HUSKIES

UK's overall record against them: 1-4 (they never played each other until 2006)

UK's tournament record against them: 0-3

Tournament wins: none

Tournament losses: 2006 Round of 32, 2011 Final Four, 2014 championship game

Most significant loss: 2014 title game.  But both of their recent titles basically came at our expense. 

2) OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

UK's overall record against them: 11-8

UK's tournament record against them: 1-5

Wins: 2011 Sweet 16 (a memorable upset on Brandon Knight's jumper)

Losses: 1945 Elite 8, 1961 Elite 8, 1962 Elite 8, 1968 Elite 8, 1987 First Round

Most significant loss: Probably 1962, because that was the best team of the bunch, ranked #3 nationally at the time.  Ohio State won the national title in 1960 and was runner-up in 1961 and 1962, so losing to them certainly was no embarrassment.

3) MARQUETTE GOLDEN EAGLES

UK's overall record against them: 7-7

UK's tournament record against them: 4-6 (more NCAA defeats than any other opponent)

Wins: 1959 consolation, 1968 Sweet 16, 1972 Sweet 16, 1975 First Round

Losses: 1955 Sweet 16, 1969 Sweet 16, 1971 consolation, 1994 Round of 32, 2003 Elite 8

Most significant loss: 2003 Elite 8.  Dwyane Wade helped end UK's 26 game winning streak and magical season.

4) MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS 

UK's overall record against them: 13-11

UK's tournament record against them: 1-3 (every game was a regional final)

Wins: 1978 Elite 8

Losses: 1957 Elite 8, 1999 Elite 8, 2005 Elite 8

Most significant loss: The double-overtime thriller in 2005.  Patrick Sparks' heroics at the end of regulation went for naught.  The most lasting memory is their failure to get a shot off at the end of the first overtime.

5) NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS

UK's overall record against them: 15-23 (our worst mark against any of the "blue bloods")

UK's tournament record against them: 1-2 (every game was a regional final)

Wins: 2011 Elite 8.  Our 2011 team got some vengeance against two teams on this list.

Losses: 1977 Elite 8, 1995 Elite 8.

Most significant loss: Impossible to choose.  The 1977 and 1995 teams were incredibly similar - the year before a championship, with lots of talent and a high ranking but not quite ready to seal the deal.  Really should've beaten UNC both times, but both UNC teams had quite a bit of talent as well.

Just for the heck of it, here are UK's records against other teams they've met multiple times.

6-0 vs. Utah
4-0 vs. Miami (Ohio)
4-0 vs. Illinois
4-2 vs. Louisville
3-0 vs. Notre Dame
3-0 vs. Wake Forest
3-1 vs. Florida State
3-2 vs. Indiana
3-2 vs. Duke
2-0 vs. Cincinnati
2-0 vs. Kansas State
2-0 vs. UMass
2-0 vs. Baylor
2-0 vs. Iowa State
2-0 vs. Kansas State
2-0 vs. Penn State
2-1 vs. Wisconsin
2-1 vs. Kansas
2-1 vs. West Virginia
2-1 vs. Western Kentucky
2-1 vs. Michigan
2-1 vs. Iowa
2-1 vs. Syracuse
2-1 (2-0) vs. Villanova (the loss, in 1988, was vacated)
1-1 vs. UCLA
1-1 vs. Ohio
1-1 (0-1) vs. Maryland (the win, in 1988, was vacated)
1-2 vs. UAB

And some memorable teams they've faced only once:

1-0 vs. UNLV
1-0 vs. Arkansas
1-0 vs. Alabama
1-0 vs. Wichita State
0-1 vs. UTEP
0-1 vs. LSU (our only loss against an SEC school in the tournament)
0-1 vs. Arizona