Not all NCAA males’s basketball nationwide championships are created equal. Some surprised the hoops world, others discovered their season prime slightly later than others, whereas much more caught lightning in a bottle.
Right here is our rating of 20 unlikely nationwide champions.
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Impossible males’s faculty basketball nationwide champions
![Most unlikely men's college basketball national champions](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1343,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/8/a/8aeab57f1d05ca6611a0c2705ff92784b43e66e2/unlikely-mens-college-basketball-national.jpg)
Deal with Sport by way of Getty Pictures
Right here is our record of the 20 greatest males’s gamers in Virginia basketball historical past. Listed in chronological order.
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20. Baylor (2020-21)
![Baylor (2020-21)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1333,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/e/e/ee20bbc7f33fb0680c80e9c0144f260faa1241a1/20-baylor-2000-21.jpg)
Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports activities
First off, Baylor was well-deserving and a more-than worthy first-time nationwide champion to conclude the ’20-’21 season. Nevertheless, coming into the nationwide last, all pundits and followers appeared to be speaking about was opponent Gonzaga’s quest to win its first title and cap an undefeated season. The 28-2, third-seeded Bears appeared like an afterthought. Then Davion Mitchell, Jared Butler and Co. dominated from the beginning. Baylor hit 43.5-percent of its 3-point makes an attempt and held a 16-5 benefit on the offensive glass en path to an 86-70 rout of the Zags for one of many nice performances within the historical past of the nationwide championship recreation.
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19. Texas Western (1965-66)
![Texas Western (1965-66)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1243,w_1750,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/d/4/d4b738595f93dd97d872fb9dc2b81716bc0beaca/19-texas-western-1965-66.jpg)
Wealthy Clarkson/NCAA Images by way of Getty Pictures
The story of Texas Western’s run to the 1966 nationwide title is without doubt one of the most vital in all sports activities historical past. The Miners’ 1966 nationwide last win over an all-white and intensely gifted Kentucky crew stays a big occasion when it comes to the American civil rights motion. Coached by Don Haskins, who did not see coloration, however solely expertise, when it got here to his athletes, Western was the primary squad to win a nationwide championship with 5 black starters. It beat Kentucky, among the many nation’s nice packages and one which, as typically reported, sided with conformity when it got here to the racial perspective of the occasions. Bobby Joe Hill scored 20 factors to steer Texas Western, which shot 45 p.c from the sector and went 28-of-34 from the free-throw line to assert the title with a 27-1 file.
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18. CCNY (1949-50)
![CCNY (1949-50)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_750,w_1000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/2/2/22df90241bc40e6994b3030188c0e6c1f695243f/18-ccny-1949-50.jpg)
WBUR
The Metropolis School of the Metropolis College of New York loved a lot success in 1950. Along with successful the eight-team NCAA Match championship, CCNY additionally claimed the NIT title that 12 months. The Beavers, who went 24-5 that season, met a 32-win Bradley squad within the nationwide last. CCNY star Irwin Dambrot scored 15 factors within the championship contest, and was the beneficiary of a late non-call on what appeared like a foul on Gene Melchiorre, that might have put the Braves in place to win the sport. After all, this was the identical CCNY crew identified for the notorious faculty basketball point-shaving scandal of the late Forties and into 1950. That in the end led to the Division I demise of this system.
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17. Wisconsin (1940-41)
![Wisconsin (1940-41)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_534,w_720,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/a/8/a80d643d69533b17c5c95eb8d0c75ba0e34fdf0a/17-wisconsin-1940-41.jpg)
College of Wisconsin-Madison
When these Badgers, coached by Harold “Bud” Foster sat 3-2, then finally 5-3, there wasn’t a lot considered successful a nationwide championship. Nevertheless, following a 17-point loss to Minnesota of their Massive Ten opener, the Badgers by no means misplaced once more. Paced by breakout stars John Kotz and Gene Englund, Wisconsin received 15 in a row. Highlighted by that 39-34 win over Washington State within the NCAA Match last to assert, what stays, this system’s solely nationwide championship in males’s basketball.
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16. Louisville (1985-86)
![Louisville (1985-86)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1411,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/9/2/925fd3437778f1d782c66603c8850f982c2a1cf0/16-louisville-1985-86.jpg)
Wealthy Clarkson/NCAA Images by way of Getty Pictures
Actually? A No. 2 seed that received 11 consecutive video games coming into the NCAA Match is unlikely to win all of it? Effectively, when its national-final opponent is a 37-win Duke squad that is the No. 1 seed and had not misplaced since Jan. 21 of ’86, then the Cardinals had a tall activity in entrance of them. Nevertheless, “By no means-Nervous” Pervis Ellison recorded 25 factors and 11 rebounds for one of many best title-game performances by a freshman in NCAA historical past. As a crew, Louisville shot 58 p.c from the sector and held the Blue Devils to 40.3 p.c for a 72-69 triumph.
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15. Kentucky (1957-58)
![Kentucky (1957-58)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_641,w_1140,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/4/b/4b231dfa898bbd00bf3457ed8e591a7d78cb2d0f/15-kentucky-1957-58.jpg)
Lexington Herald Chief
Kentucky already had three nationwide championships beneath its belt when the 1957-58 season rolled round. Adolph Rupp was faculty basketball teaching royalty, however these Wildcats entered the ’58 NCAA Match with six losses — one fewer than Rupp’s earlier three title-winning groups mixed. Kentucky closed the common season 3-2, so it was proper to query whether or not a fourth title was actually attainable. Effectively, it was. After pulling out a one-point victory over Temple within the nationwide semifinal, the Wildcats erased a pair of 11-point first-half deficits to beat celebrity Elgin Baylor and Seattle 84-72 for the championship.
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14. UCLA (1974-75)
![UCLA (1974-75)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1276,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/9/c/9c64f8c750ab46d3d93dcf3d0761a11ca8facb86/14-ucla-1974-75.jpg)
Wealthy Clarkson/NCAA Images by way of Getty Pictures
UCLA received 9 nationwide titles from 1964-1973, however by the 1975 NCAA Match, the Bruins’ total dominance on the hardcourt appeared to be waning. The 1973-74 group had 4 losses and was surprised by eventual nationwide champion North Carolina State within the Closing 4. Coming into the ’75 occasion, UCLA had three regular-season losses and no superstars, thus leaving many questioning if a tenth title was potential. Whereas it wasn’t simple, requiring additional time victories over Michigan and Louisville simply to succeed in the nationwide championship recreation, the Bruins had been certainly the final ones standing. Richard Washington’s 28 factors fueled UCLA to a 92-85 title-game win over fellow perennial energy Kentucky in what was legendary coach John Wood’s last recreation.
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13. Holy Cross (1946-47)
![Holy Cross (1946-47)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_720,w_1200,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/c/c/ccc8c8eda3676959256a7c7b70af1e40c8359824/13-holy-cross-1946-47.jpg)
Spectrum Information
Tiny Holy Cross had simply three losses on the 1946-47 marketing campaign, however was seeded final within the eight-team NCAA Match discipline that season. However of their first look within the event, Doggie Julian’s group, which included star Joe Mullaney and a freshman level guard named Bob Cousy, ran the desk. The Crusaders, aka the “Cinderella Children,” capped a 23-game successful streak with their 58-47 victory over Oklahoma to turn out to be the primary and, up to now, solely faculty from Massachusetts to win a Division I basketball nationwide championship.
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12. Duke (1990-91)
![Duke (1990-91)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1343,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/5/d/5dc258457374436921c6a3a06991df54e9bf5847/12-duke-1990-91.jpg)
Wealthy Clarkson/NCAA Images by way of Getty Pictures
After being humiliated by UNLV throughout a 103-73 loss within the 1990 nationwide championship recreation, the Blue Devils had been again on the Massive Dance as a No. 2 seed with seven losses. And, as issues would go, Duke discovered itself in a rematch with the undefeated and favored Runnin’ Rebels within the nationwide semifinals. Given little probability to prevail, the Blue Devils might need performed the best recreation within the historical past of the storied program. Star Christian Laettner scored 28 factors, Duke shot 51.8 p.c as a crew and held UNLV stars Larry Johnson and Stacey Augmon to 19 mixed factors en path to the 79-77 upset victory. The Blue Devils then capped their fairly shocking run with a 72-65 win over Kansas for the college’s first nationwide title.
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11. Marquette (1976-77)
![Marquette (1976-77)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1135,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/f/6/f6eedec3f70c6633bf154146df632bfc3839ee67/11-marquette-1976-77.jpg)
Wealthy Clarkson/NCAA Images by way of Getty Pictures
When Marquette bested Dean Smith and vaunted North Carolina, 67-59 within the NCAA Match last, it turned the primary crew, on the time, with no less than seven losses to win a nationwide title. 5 of these defeats got here throughout the then-Warriors’ last 11 regular-season video games. However Butch Lee, Bo Ellis and Jerome Whitehead acquired sizzling within the event, as Marquette beat 5 ranked opponents to win the college’s first and, up to now, solely nationwide championship in beloved coach Al McGuire’s farewell season.
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10. Connecticut (2010-11)
![Connecticut (2010-11)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1333,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/3/c/3cfcf0658bc0c7b34a8b7903c5ed351da2b8b9a1/10-connecticut-2010-11.jpg)
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Some followers or faculty hoops pundits may assume these Huskies caught a sequence of breaks to win the college’s third nationwide title, contemplating because the No. 3 seed, they confronted decrease seeds from the Elite Eight on. That mentioned, UConn began 17-2, then endured a 4-7 stretch to tie for ninth within the Massive East. Nevertheless, Kemba Walker and the Huskies considerably magically refocused to win 11 in a row, capping that spectacular run with a 53-41 victory over Cinderella eight-seeded Butler within the nationwide last. Since UConn’s triumph in 2011, no crew has received a nationwide title with greater than eight losses.
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9. California (1958-59)
![California (1958-59)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1268,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/6/b/6b45516c8335d3e2a40ec57059de5d6ca20c5c89/9-california-1958-59.jpg)
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The 1959 nationwide championship recreation continues to be one West Virginia followers cringe at when fascinated about. In the one nationwide last in program historical past, the Jerry West-led Mountaineers failed to carry a 13-point first-half benefit. Cal, in the meantime, fought again to drag out the 71-70 victory because of Darrall Imhoff’s bucket with 17 seconds remaining. West completed 28 factors and 11 rebounds. In the meantime, the Golden Bears (24-5) nonetheless look like an afterthought despite the fact that they received their last 16 video games, and beat an Oscar Robinson-led Cincinnati squad within the nationwide semifinals earlier than taking down West and the Mountaineers.
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8. Indiana (1980-81)
![Indiana (1980-81)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1356,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/d/e/de2cbe4b607a1b69c58bc7636c898e497f02b7eb/8-indiana-1980-81.jpg)
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Underachievement just isn’t taken evenly throughout the Indiana basketball program, regardless who’s in cost. However, particularly when Bob Knight is round. So, when it mattered most, Knight’s second NCAA championship squad stepped up its collective recreation, however notably eventual legendary guard Isiah Thomas. The Hoosiers opened the NCAA Match because the No. 3 seed with 9 losses — 5 coming in December. Nevertheless, Indiana’s closest margin of victory throughout the Massive Dance was 13 factors within the title-game victory over second-seeded North Carolina. That got here after it downed No. 1 LSU by 18 within the semifinal.
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7. Michigan (1988-89)
![Michigan (1988-89)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1350,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/d/a/da4ffd30519ae68d3f59de45e9f08661b6968451/7-michigan-1988-89.jpg)
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Discuss getting sizzling on the proper time — and amid adversity. These Wolverines had been poised for giant issues in 1988-89, and spent roughly half the marketing campaign ranked within the high 10. Nevertheless, they took seven losses into the NCAA Match, and earlier than the occasion started, coach Invoice Frieder introduced he was leaving on the conclusion of the season to teach Arizona State. Athletic director and legendary soccer coach Bo Schembechler made Frieder resign instantly. Assistant coach Steve Fisher took over, and Michigan caught hearth behind Glen Rice and Rumeal Robinson, claiming the college’s first nationwide title with a extremely entertaining additional time victory over upstart Seton Corridor in a battle of No. 3 seeds.
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6. Syracuse (2002-03)
![Syracuse (2002-03)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1294,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/e/d/edd302c33ed8ed3065e164d32dd83901e32d6004/6-syracuse-2002-03.jpg)
Craig Jones/Getty Pictures
As famous with different groups on this record, an excellent crew can nonetheless shock with regards to being the final group standing on the Massive Dance. Working example with this Syracuse squad. Then often called the Orangemen, this system’s solely nationwide championship crew received 30 video games and by no means misplaced consecutive contests all season. Nevertheless, with just one senior on the crew, Jim Boeheim’s squad was not given a lot probability because the No. 3 seed within the NCAA Match. Then, freshman phenom Carmelo Anthony took his recreation to a different degree from the Candy 16 on, averaging 24.3 factors, 11.3 rebounds and going 7-of-13 from three-point vary in wins over Oklahoma, Texas and nationwide runner-up Kansas.
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5. Arizona (1996-97)
![Arizona (1996-97)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1346,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/2/7/271a0efc301b2065eafbd44c7216eefc458d94f3/5-arizona-1996-97.jpg)
Brian Bahr/Workers/Getty Pictures
With a roster that included notable names like Mike Bibby, Miles Simon, Michael Dickerson and Jason Terry, these Wildcats ought to have been actually good. In the end, the Wildcats had been the category of the nation. Nevertheless, they went 11-7 in opposition to Pac-10 competitors and earned a fourth seed within the NCAA Match. The identical Arizona crew that dropped its last two video games heading into the Massive Dance stormed to this system’s first nationwide championship because of victories over three No. 1 seeds: Kansas within the Candy 16, North Carolina within the nationwide semifinal and Kentucky within the championship recreation.
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4. Connecticut (2013-14)
![Connecticut (2013-14)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1383,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/7/1/716677e13ac1ee415b660bfbcdd835b246a29c38/4-connecticut-2013-14.jpg)
Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY
The 2014 NCAA Match may greatest be described because the bizarro Massive Dance. UConn’s fourth — and most up-to-date — nationwide championship and second in 4 seasons was historic. Historic within the sense that the title-game individuals — the seventh-seeded Huskies and No. 8 Kentucky — totaled the best seed (15) for a nationwide last. Connecticut entered with eight losses, however reached the American Athletic Convention Match title recreation, so it was an improved squad. Then the Huskies knocked off No. 2 seed Villanova, third-seeded Iowa State, No. 4 Michigan State and top-seeded Florida en path to turning into the primary seventh seed to win all of it.
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3. Kansas (1997-88)
![Kansas (1997-88)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1307,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/9/e/9e841c2f744157d77036999ccf1c48e09f88cb4c/3-kansas-1997-88.jpg)
Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Pictures
These Jayhawks had been crammed with excessive expectations coming into the season, however they misplaced two of their first three video games and endured a four-game dropping streak throughout the marketing campaign. When it got here time for the postseason, Kansas entered the NCAA Match with 11 losses, however received three of its first 4 video games by double digits. Then, the Jayhawks beat No. 1 seed Duke within the nationwide semifinal and acquired 31 factors and 18 rebounds from Danny Manning in an 83-79 title-game win over rival and favourite Oklahoma. Danny and the Miracles” would give Larry Brown his solely collegiate nationwide championship.
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2. North Carolina State (1982-83)
![North Carolina State (1982-83)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1330,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/c/3/c3f4f8cc89ca55d2ebdfbfcd7cd31781ac8fa496/2-north-carolina-state-1982-83.jpg)
Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Pictures
By now, anybody that fancies itself a real faculty basketball fan is aware of this story. The Wolfpack had 10 losses coming into the ACC Match, and wanted to win the occasion simply to succeed in the Massive Dance. They did, beating Michael Jordan’s North Carolina Tar Heels and a Ralph Sampson-led Virginia squad alongside the way in which to assert the league championship. After needing two overtimes to beat Pepperdine within the first spherical, NC State finally made it to the Closing 4. A heavy underdog in opposition to Houston’s Phi Slama Jama within the title recreation, the “Cardiac Pack” weren’t completed, beautiful the Cougars on Lorenzo Charles’ last-second dunk of a Dereck Whittenburg miss. Who can overlook Wolfpack coach Jim Valvano trying to find somebody to hug in celebration.
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1. Villanova (1984-85)
![Villanova (1984-85)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1203,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/7/7/77ee5eb1334eed7238acd2efaa8a039a1acb2906/1-villanova-1984-85.jpg)
The Philadelphia Inquirer/The Related Press
Two years after North Carolina State pulled off its unbelievable run to a nationwide title, Villanova went a step higher. Just like the Wolfpack, these Wildcats had been guided by a charismatic head coach in Rollie Massimino and had 10 defeats coming into the event. Because the No. 8 seed, ‘Nova received its first three event video games by a mixed 9 factors, and when it managed to succeed in the nationwide last, Massive East rival and No. 1 seed Georgetown was ready. It did not matter. The Wildcats shot a exceptional 78.6 p.c from the sector and held the benefit on the defensive boards to drag out a surprising 66-64 victory — turning into the bottom seed to win the title in what’s thought-about the best championship recreation upset in NCAA Match historical past.
A Chicago native, Jeff Mezydlo has professionally written about sports activities, leisure and popular culture for practically 30 years. If he might do it once more, he’d attend Degrassi Junior Excessive, Ampipe Excessive and Grand Lakes College.