Memphis Tigers College Basketball's Undefeated

The Memphis Tigers sit on top of the college basketball world. At least for the moment they are the number one team in all of America. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact they have yet to lose a game. Many teams,over the years, have started the college season with a great streak of wins. Only a handful of teams have been able to finish the season with a zero in the loss column. It takes a special group of players and coaches to complete an entire season undefeated. Not only do you have to have tremendous talent, but you also need a little luck along the way. Do the Memphis Tigers have what it takes? Only time will tell. But here is a look at some teams that did accomplish this great feat.

The 1976 Indiana Hoosiers are arguably the greatest team of all time. Not only did they finish the 1976 season at a remarkable 32-0, but Bobby Knight's Hoosiers had a run over two years that was an amazing 63-1. Knights roster included the likes of Quinn Buckner, Scott May and Kent Benson. All three players were All Americans with May being the Player of the Year. Much like the current Memphis Tigers, many people in the media doubted the Hoosiers talent and predicted they would eventually lose. That talk would be silenced though, when the Hoosiers but together two great performances in the Final Four The Hoosiers had to beat another great team, the UCLA Bruins to finish their perfect season in 1976.

Just a few years earlier another great team was working to finish their own perfect season. The 1972 UCLA Bruins dominated opponents in almost every game. The team defeated opponents by an average of nearly 30 points a game. Led by the Hall of Famer Bill Walton the Bruins finished the 1972 season at an amazing 30-0. This great team also included future NBA players Swen Nater, Henry Bibby and Keith Wilkes. This team was so great that winning the Championship was not enough. Bill Walton, the team's star, was said to be disappointed with the team's five point victory over Florida State in the Title game. He felt the team could have played much better. That's pretty impressive for a guy who had just finished an undefeated

Another great undefeated was the 1957 North Carolina Tarheels. Years before the Dean Smith era, coaching legend Frank McGuire led the heels to a perfect 32-0. The heels were led by 5-11 guard Tommy Kearns and All-American Lennie Rosenbluth. UNC capped off their magical season by slowing down one of the greatest basketball players of all time in Wilt Chamberlain. UNC collapsed their defense around the seven footer allowing him only thirteen shots in the entire game. The heels won the game in triple overtime 54-53. This is pretty remarkable considering they one another triple overtime game against Michigan State just the night before.

Other notable teams:

1956 San Francisco Dons (29-0)
1954 Kentucky Wildcats (25-0)
1974 NC State Wolfpack (30-1)