Wisconsin defeated defending national champion Villanova 65-62 in the second round of the 2017 NCAA men’s basketball tournament Saturday, which means a new national champion will be crowned at the Final Four.
The Wildcats were the No. 1 seed in the East Region coming off their national championship run in 2016, but they learned — as other recent national champions have — that the road to a repeat isn’t easy.
MORE: SN's printable, interactive bracket
Florida is the last school to repeat as national champion. The Gators won back-to-back NCAA titles in 2006 and 2007. They failed to make the tournament in 2008, though, and that started a trend of the defending national champion struggling the following season.
ELLENTUCK: Villanova deserved easier second-round matchup
Villanova is the latest victim. None of the past 10 national champions have advanced past the Sweet 16 the following year. Here's how their seasons ended:
Florida, 2007 champion
2008: Lost to UMass in the NIT semifinals
Kansas, 2008
2009: Lost to Michigan State in the Sweet 16
North Carolina, 2009
2010: Lost to Dayton in the NIT championship
Duke, 2010
2011: Lost to Arizona in the Sweet 16
Connecticut, 2011
2012: Lost to Iowa State in the NCAA first round
Kentucky, 2012
2013: Lost to Robert Morris in the NIT first round
Louisville, 2013
2014: Lost to Kentucky in the Sweet 16
Connecticut, 2014
2015: Lost to Arizona State in the NIT first round
Duke, 2015
2016: Lost to Oregon in the Sweet 16
Villanova, 2016
2017: Lost to Wisconsin in the NCAA second round
MORE: Wisconsin pros troll NCAA, selection committee
