How Many Years In A Row Has Duke Made March Madness?

Earning a spot in the NCAA men's basketball tournament isn't easy. It's even tougher to keep appearing year after year. Since the tournament began in 1939, only five Division I programs have made it for 20 or more years in a row. One of those standout teams is the Duke Blue Devils. Let’s delve deeper into How far have the Duke Blue Devils come?

How far have the Duke Blue Devils come?

The Duke Blue Devils have made an impressive 24 appearances in the tournament. They had a remarkable streak of five consecutive appearances from 1988 to 1992. Over the years, Duke has achieved a lot in the tournament, boasting five championships and one runner-up finish.

Duke's Achievements

Duke's success in the NCAA tournament is truly remarkable. They have reached the Final Four 17 times, which is tied for third place alongside Kentucky, trailing only North Carolina and UCLA. What's more, all of Duke's championships were won after the NCAA introduced the shot clock.

Duke holds the best winning percentage in NCAA tournament history at .755. This speaks volumes about their dominance in college basketball. Moreover, Duke has produced numerous star players, with 11 National Players of the Year and 71 NBA draft picks.

How many March Madness titles has Duke won?

Duke has captured the national championship trophy on five occasions, in 1991, 1992, 2001, 2010, and 2015. This places them in an elite group, tied for fourth all-time with Indiana and UConn, behind only UCLA, Kentucky, and North Carolina. Additionally, Duke has appeared in 11 championship games and 17 Final Fours, cementing their status as one of the most successful teams in NCAA history.

When is the last time Duke missed the NCAA Tournament?

For Duke, missing the NCAA Tournament is a rarity. After their coach Mike Krzyzewski's initial three seasons with no tournament appearances (from 1980 to 1983), the Blue Devils embarked on an impressive streak of 11 consecutive tournament appearances. During this period, they made six Final Fours, clinched the runner-up spot three times, and won the national championship twice.

However, Duke faced an unexpected setback when they missed the tournament for the first time in 35 seasons. This happened not only because of the end of their streak of 24 consecutive appearances but also marked only the second time in 35 seasons that they failed to qualify for March Madness (excluding 2020, which was canceled due to COVID-19).

Duke's recent season was cut short due to a COVID-19 positive case within the team. This led to the cancellation of their quarterfinal meeting with Florida State, ending their tournament hopes for that year.