The Unchosen Few: Exploring College Basketball Teams That Have Never Reached the NCAA Tournament
Since the inception of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament in 1939, thousands of opportunities to participate have arisen. Yet, among the hundreds of men's basketball teams currently competing in Division I, a select group of eligible programs has never experienced the thrill of playing in the NCAA Tournament. The dream of reaching March Madness remains elusive for these teams, who must navigate the challenges of their respective conferences and hope to secure an automatic bid by winning their conference tournament.
The Landscape of the "Never Made The Tourney" Club
Of the 355 men’s basketball programs eligible to be selected by the NCAA Tournament committee, a portion constitutes the "Never Made the Tournament Club (NMTC)". These programs come from diverse backgrounds, encompassing public and private institutions, as well as schools with varying enrollment sizes. Some have been eligible since the tournament's inception, while others are in their first year of eligibility.
The Quest for an Automatic Berth
Given that at-large bids are predominantly reserved for teams from power conferences, members of the "Never Made The Tourney" club typically need to win their conference tournament to secure an automatic berth and realize their March Madness aspirations. The journey is often fraught with challenges, as these teams compete against formidable opponents within their leagues.
Teams Still in the Running
Despite the odds, numerous teams remain in contention for their program's first ticket to the Big Dance. These teams are spread across various conferences, each striving to overcome obstacles and emerge victorious in their respective conference tournaments.
The Teams That Have Never Reached the NCAA Tournament
Here is a list of teams that have never reached the men's NCAA tournament:
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- Army (eligible since the inaugural tournament in 1939)
- The Citadel (1939)
- William & Mary (1939)
- St. Francis Brooklyn (1939)
- New Hampshire (1939)
- Maine (1939)
- Denver (1939)
- Texas-Rio Grande Valley (1969)
- Maryland Eastern Shore (1974)
- Grambling State (1978)
- Bethune-Cookman (1981)
- Western Illinois (1982)
- Youngstown State (1982)
- Kansas City (1990)
- Sacramento State (1992)
- UT Martin (1993)
- Quinnipiac (1999)
- High Point (2000)
- Elon (2000)
- Sacred Heart (2000)
- UC Riverside (2002)
- Kennesaw State (2010)
- NJIT (2010)
- Utah Valley (2010)
- USC Upstate (2012)
- Presbyterian (2013)
- SIU Edwardsville (2013)
- South Dakota (2013)
- Omaha (2015)
- UMass Lowell (2018)
- Incarnate Word (2018)
- California Baptist (2023)
Programs on the Verge
Some teams are favored to win their conference tournament and go dancing for the first time:
- Kennesaw State (No. 1 seed in ASUN)
- Youngstown State (No. 1 seed in Horizon)
- Utah Valley (projected No. 1 seed in WAC)
- Grambling State (projected No.
The Evolution of the NCAA Tournament
The NCAA tournament's format has undergone significant changes since its inception. The inaugural tournament in 1939 featured only eight teams and did not expand to 16 until 1951. Play-in games have made appearances throughout the years but became a permanent fixture in 2001, when the total number of teams was bumped to 65. In 2011, the play-in was expanded to create the First Four, an opening round that helped fill out the Round of 64.
Unique Circumstances and Near Misses
Two teams have made the NCAA tournament but haven’t been part of the bracket as most of us know it. Houston Baptist made the preliminary round in 1984 when there were 53 teams in the tournament but lost to Alcorn State. In 1968, Army actually did qualify for the NCAA tournament, but coach Bobby Knight thought the Black Knights would have a better shot in the NIT and turned down the invite.
A Closer Look at William & Mary's Trials
William & Mary stands out as a program with a particularly poignant history. The trials of William & Mary began in 1958. That season, the Tribe advanced to the Southern Conference championship game by upsetting both 2 seed Virginia Tech and 3 seed George Washington. Unfortunately for William & Mary, they then faced 1 seed West Virginia. The Mountaineers had a 25-1 record, were ranked #1 in the AP poll, and had a PG named Jerry West. Three years later, Jerry West was off in the NBA and the Tribe defeated the 1 seed West Virginia in order to advance to the championship game.
William & Mary have lost NINE conference tournament championship games with an automatic bid on the line. For reference, Maryland - a program with a national title and widely considered the best basketball program never to be ranked #1 in the AP poll - has played in just nine conference championship games. In 1965, the 6 seeded Tribe made their third appearance in the Southern championship game once again facing off against West Virginia. Ten years later, William & Mary made their fourth and final Southern Conference championship appearance where they lost to 1 seed Furman.
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After the 1977 season, William & Mary became a Division I independent. William & Mary would eventually join the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) - South region. As an ECAC South/Colonial Athletic/Coastal Athletic member, William & Mary has had their share of down seasons.
In 2003, Tony Shaver became the head coach of William & Mary - a position he would hold until the conclusion of the 2019 season. In 2014, William & Mary faced the 1 seed in the final (this time the Delaware Blue Hens). The Tribe took a 66-65 lead with 4:19 to play. With 81 seconds to play, the Tribe’s Marcus Thornton made a three pointer to extend the lead to six! Unfortunately, after that Thornton three the Tribe didn’t score again. The following season, the Tribe bounced back to win a share of the Colonial regular season title and earn the 1 seed. They narrowly defeated Hofstra in the semifinals (double overtime) to advance to the championship game for their ninth time. Awaiting them was Northeastern.
William & Mary parted ways with Tony Shaver after 16 seasons without a NCAA tournament appearance. A new hope for college basketball fans hoping to see William & Mary break through has emerged this season. First year head coach Brian Earl is quickly returning the Tribe to respectability.
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