Rating champions is all the time tough simply as a result of nature of change. Just about no champion offers with the identical obstacles or benefits as anybody else, however a rankings system has to contemplate each the panorama of the game throughout that championship season in addition to attempt to preserve a throughline that hyperlinks standards collectively.
That’s actually true with NCAA Match champions. When making a listing of one of the best match champions since 1990, you’re contemplating champions in the course of the senior-heavy seasons, the period when one of the best highschool prospects did not even go to school and the one-and-done period. Now you can be factoring colleges that at present dwell within the NIL format and a free agent strategy to transfers with the portal. That does not even take into consideration how the match is now held, with the pod system and true seeding. Oh, and there was a canceled match and one held in a bubble of kinds with restricted followers.
That is what really makes rating these champions a lot enjoyable — you get to return in time and contemplate what their world was about after they completed one of many nice achievements of their lives. Their one shining second.
So listed below are the champions since 1990, ranked.
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#33 – UConn Huskies, 2014
![UConn Huskies, 2014](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1258,w_1749,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/1/5/151dc99cb5f7e16a6ab658fb94931640c5e4cb7b/uconn-huskies-2014.jpg)
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports activities
Anybody on this record deserves their championship, however it is a record of the place the champions rank towards one another. So let’s be actual — the 2014 UConn Huskies have been a second place group within the American Athletic Convention (and truly the No. 4 seed within the AAC match) that misplaced their ultimate common season sport by 33 factors. They have been the No. 7 seed within the NCAA match and wanted extra time to get out of the primary spherical. After that, Shabazz Napier (who was on the 2011 title group) simply carried his group on his again and fought off this record of colleges: Villanova, Michigan State, Florida and Kentucky to win UConn’s fourth nationwide championship.
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#32 – UConn Huskies, 2011
![UConn Huskies, 2011](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1331,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/0/e/0e8fb1ed8f4a697a50976251bb97570cd8c7c76e/uconn-huskies-2014.jpg)
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports activities
I swear I’m not choosing on the Huskies! This model of UConn actually struggled to shut out the common season, going 4-7 to finish Massive East play. That is when Kemba Walker and the Huskies turned it on. UConn would win 5 video games in 5 days to seize the Massive East match crown — beating Pitt, Syracuse and Louisville in back-and-forth video games — earlier than making their NCAA match run. They might beat a pair of Wildcats (Arizona and Kentucky) in shut video games earlier than successful presumably the ugliest NCAA championship sport ever over Butler. Kemba Walker was the nation’s second-leading scorer and received assist from Jeremy Lamb, Alex Oriakhi and Shabazz Napier on their method to the one Ultimate 4 with no No. 1 or No. 2 seeds.
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#31 – Florida Gators, 2006
![Florida Gators, 2006](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1368,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/b/f/bf830a2ef587b81b270d02aeb84f61957435b8b0/florida-gators-2006.jpg)
Streeter Lecka/Getty Pictures
You will see principally the identical Florida Gators group a lot additional down this record in a bit, however the 2006 model wasn’t fairly the juggernaut but. The unranked Gators shot out to a 17-0 file and the nation’s No. 2 rating earlier than hitting a tough patch of six losses in 11 video games mid-season. Florida hit their stride once more within the SEC match and used their suffocating protection (led by Joakim Noah) to stuff any challengers within the NCAA match. Once more, we’ll see Noah, Corey Brewer, Al Horford, Taurean Inexperienced and Lee Humphrey once more on this record.
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#30 – Michigan State Spartans, 2000
![Michigan State Spartans, 2000](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1355,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/d/8/d83a8fc75beee8dabcff7310cf6716c50f2ebf0e/michigan-state-spartans-2000.jpg)
Bruce L. Schwartzman/Icon Sportswire
Tom Izzo’s “Flintstones” remains to be his solely nationwide championship group and as of now the final Massive Ten group to win the NCAA match. Izzo’s group was stuffed with upperclassmen, with Mateen Cleaves the unquestioned chief. Mo Peterson, Charlie Bell, Andre Hutson and A.J. Granger (with freshman Jason Richardson) embodied what we all know Michigan State basketball to be — arduous nosed, powerful and bodily.
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#29 – Duke Blue Devils, 2010
![Duke Blue Devils, 2010](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1385,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/5/d/5d6ba136fcad727bd072679d770192ae7dbda828/duke-blue-devils-2010.jpg)
Andy Lyons/Getty Pictures
Mike Krzyzewski’s profession is so profitable that individuals typically neglect in regards to the 2009-2010 nationwide championship group. It wasn’t the star-studded roster you usually consider while you bear in mind championship Blue Devils, however this was a unit that labored so properly collectively and took full benefit of their alternatives. Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith, Lance Thomas and present Duke head coach Jon Scheyer (and the beginning of the run of Plumlees) led Coach Okay’s bunch slowly however certainly up the rankings and into the championship sport towards Cinderella Butler. After all, what if Gordon Hayward’s shot went in?
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#28 – Louisville Cardinals, 2013
![Louisville Cardinals, 2013](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1334,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/9/1/91215bb18c79e720defeaebbd324f40a69bba6d8/louisville-cardinals-2013.jpg)
Will Schneekloth/Icon Sportswire
Sure, on this record, the 2013 Louisville Cardinals championship nonetheless counts. Louisville started the season 16-1 earlier than struggling a 3 sport dropping streak mid-season … then entered the match on a 10-game successful streak and the highest general seed. Louisville blew by means of the Midwest Area (although misplaced Kevin Ware to a grotesque leg harm throughout their win over Duke) earlier than dispatching Cinderella Wichita State within the Ultimate 4 and Michigan in a tough fought title sport. The backcourt of Peyton Siva and Russ Smith have been practically unstoppable in the course of the match whereas Gorgui Dieng defended the paint. Luke Hancock remains to be the one bench participant to win the Ultimate 4’s Most Excellent Participant award.
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#27 – Arizona Wildcats, 1997
![Arizona Wildcats, 1997](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/4/2/4244783b4964c36ed09e592075e4af310d53b7b4/arizona-wildcats-1997.jpg)
Elsa Hasch /Allsport/ Getty Pictures
Arizona’s lone nationwide championship group type of got here out of nowhere to create historical past. Arizona was simply 11-7 within the Pac-10 and had misplaced 4 of their final eight common season video games earlier than coming into the NCAA Match as a No. 4 seed. After barely getting previous South Alabama and Faculty of Charleston, Lute Olson’s squad would go on an epic two-week stretch of basketball. They might beat Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky (with Windfall caught in there) to win the nationwide championship. Three of the bluest of bloods and all three No. 1 seeds, making Arizona the one group to defeat three No. 1 seeds in a single match. Curiously, this wasn’t thought-about an ideal group on the time, although the roster would say in any other case: Miles Simon, Jason Terry, Mike Bibby and Michael Dickerson.
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#26 – Kentucky Wildcats, 1998
![Kentucky Wildcats, 1998](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1359,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/b/3/b3d74b173198e712b4b289e653fa370e765ec95d/kentucky-wildcats-1998.jpg)
Andy Lyons / Getty Pictures
If you consider Kentucky’s championship groups, you consider squads dripping with NBA expertise. The 1997-1998 group wasn’t actually that type of group. Positive, Nazr Mohammed performed about 40 years within the NBA (okay, really 18) and his backup Jamaal Magloire had a pleasant professional profession, however this was a stable faculty group that was larger than the sum of its elements. Their high six guys have been all upperclassmen. Wayne Turner, Jeff Sheppard and Scott Padgett received some measure of revenge towards Duke within the regional ultimate earlier than knocking of Stanford and Utah within the Ultimate 4 and title video games. Kentucky’s seventh nationwide championship accomplished a formidable run of three straight title video games and two championships and gave Tubby Smith his solely championship.
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#25 – North Carolina Tar Heels, 2017
![North Carolina Tar Heels, 2017](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/3/6/365c0645b12ce6e372a7535a1e7804013bc01ec5/north-carolina-tar-heels-2017.jpg)
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports activities
Roy Williams’ ultimate nationwide championship group was merely nicknamed “Redemption”. After dropping the 2016 nationwide championship sport on a buzzer beater, the Heels clawed again to the title sport by needing their solely last-second shot to beat Kentucky within the regional ultimate and key offensive rebounds to get previous Oregon within the Ultimate 4 earlier than beating a one-loss Gonzaga group in a clunky and bodily championship sport. Not probably the most NBA-talented Roy Williams or North Carolina squad, however one which was pushed with a objective and would not be stopped till they discovered … redemption.
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#24 – Syracuse Orange, 2003
![Syracuse Orange, 2003](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1337,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/7/b/7b84dc640c0e18bf00aed6ec729d6a325bff8042/syracuse-orange-2003.jpg)
Jason Cohn/Icon Sportswire
A reasonably legendary squad for just a few causes. For one, it confirmed how a freshman participant (in a day the place elite highschool skills went straight to the NBA) might pull a group to a nationwide championship. Carmelo Anthony introduced Jim Boeheim and Syracuse their lone nationwide title with a revered run by means of the Massive Dance and an enormous block by Hakim Warrick on Michael Lee to lock down the title win. Melo averaged 22 factors and 10 rebounds for the season.
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#23 – Kansas Jayhawks, 2022
![Kansas Jayhawks, 2022](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/7/b/7bddd852505e9206c62a25f656b72eb31839bb2a/kansas-jayhawks-2022.jpg)
Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports activities
If you take a look at this record, you may discover that there isn’t a champion for the 2020 season because the match was canceled as a result of world pandemic. Kansas was the highest group within the nation when the world stopped. Whereas the 2022 Jayhawks weren’t the very same group, guys like Christian Braun, David McCormack and Ochai Agbaji have been there and made the most important comeback in nationwide championship historical past towards North Carolina. McCormack referred to as it “avengement”, however any manner you set it, this title vaulted Invoice Self into the dialog among the many nice coaches.
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#22 – UConn Huskies, 2004
![UConn Huskies, 2004](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1549,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/e/9/e92ddf4360af805b36696798c29fc70202a6a353/uconn-huskies-2004.jpg)
Bob Falcetti/Icon Sportswire
All 4 of UConn’s title groups will be outlined by their dominant guard, and the 2004 model was Ben Gordon. Gordon led the Huskies in scoring, however heart Emeka Okafor was so dominant. The junior averaged 17.6 factors and 11.5 rebounds and was a two-time nationwide defensive participant of the 12 months. UConn cruised to the Ultimate 4 however wanted an enormous comeback to down Duke (led by Luol Deng, Chris Duhon, J.J. Redick and Sheldn Williams) earlier than pushing apart Georgia Tech within the title sport. Six future NBA gamers have been on this roster.
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#21 – UCLA Bruins, 1995
![UCLA Bruins, 1995](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1360,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/7/b/7b31919abc4164e547e3c898c9159fdc8c8e2c61/ucla-bruins-1995.jpg)
Stephen Dunn, Getty Pictures
That is UCLA’s lone nationwide championship exterior the John Picket period and was the Bruins’ first Ultimate 4 since 1980. UCLA gained their ultimate 19 video games of the season to carry dwelling their file eleventh nationwide title. Nationwide Participant of the 12 months Ed O’Bannon led a gifted bunch that included his brother Charles O’Bannon, Tyus Edney, George Zidek, Cameron Greenback and freshmen Toby Bailey and J.R. Henderson. Edney’s layup to beat Missouri within the second spherical saved UCLA’s title hopes alive, then beat defending champion Arkansas within the championship sport.
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#20 – Villanova Wildcats, 2016
![Villanova Wildcats, 2016](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1279,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/e/9/e9aa20bddd855d27004799602d0460dc5ef6c8b3/villanova-wildcats-2016.jpg)
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports activities
The ’16 Wildcats will ceaselessly be remembered by Kris Jenkins’ buzzer-beater and confetti immediately falling from the ceiling, however that simply scratches the floor of Villanova’s rebirth as a nationwide energy. And take a look at that roster: Jenkins, Josh Hart, Ryan Arcidiacono, Daniel Ochefu, Donte DiVincenzo, Phil Sales space, and future Nationwide Participant of the 12 months Jalen Brunson. An enormous second for a program that was finest identified for his or her championship upset in 1985 and a then-recent string of disappointing postseason efforts.
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#19 – Duke Blue Devils, 2015
![Duke Blue Devils, 2015](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/6/6/6622da0627366398713eac31bbae2e6305b7e0c2/duke-blue-devils-2015.jpg)
Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire
This was Mike Krzyzewski’s ultimate nationwide championship group and his just one dominated by freshmen. Coach Okay embraced the one-and-done tradition late in his profession, and the freshmen trio of Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones (plus an enormous effort from fellow frosh Grayson Allen) took it to a Wisconsin group that took down undefeated Kentucky within the nationwide semifinal. The important thing to the success of this group was senior level guard Quinn Cook dinner, who adopted within the footsteps of skilled and cool-headed lead guards that Krzyzewski trusted with all 5 of his title squads.
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#18 – UNLV Rebels, 1990
![UNLV Rebels, 1990](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1336,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/d/f/df7e2025e0cb56de3bd88575f9d561358053444b/unlv-rebels.jpg)
Deal with Sport by way of Getty Pictures
This was an ideal group, however not as nice as the next season. The 1990-1991 Rebels have been legendary, however the 1989-1990 group was the one which gained the nationwide championship. The group of Larry Johnson, Stacy Augmon, Greg Anthony and Anderson Hunt are most remembered for blowing out Duke by 30 within the nationwide championship sport and blowing out excessive scoring Loyola-Marymount by 30 within the Elite 8, however that they had some puzzling losses as properly. They misplaced two Massive West video games and have been practically taken out by Ball State within the Elite 8. The shining second of Jerry Tarkanian’s profession.
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#17 – North Carolina Tar Heels, 1993
![North Carolina Tar Heels, 1993](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1367,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/8/d/8db9c635d692017b0e448ffa2f9b5f9e5b5801d0/north-carolina-tar-heels-1993.jpg)
Doug Pensinger/Getty Pictures
Whereas most individuals bear in mind Chris Webber’s timeout placing the nail within the coffin in one other Fab 5 championship loss, many are likely to neglect that North Carolina had their very own elite recruiting class the 12 months previous to Michigan’s legendary class. That class — led by Eric Montross, Derrick Phelps, Brian Reese, Pat Sullivan and Kevin Salvadori — grew to become the core of Dean Smith’s second nationwide championship group. Senior George Lynch dominated the paint whereas candy capturing sophomore (and Ultimate 4 MOP) Donald Williams bombed away from deep.
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#16 – Kansas Jayhawks, 2008
![Kansas Jayhawks, 2008](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1425,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/1/9/190ca8e17e4483228e850b793332ec03752a2e62/kansas-jayhawks-2008.jpg)
San Antonio Categorical-Information/ZUMA Press/Icon Sportswire
The Jayhawks gained the best Ultimate 4 ever assembled, seed-wise. All No. 1 seeds made it to San Antonio, with Kansas blowing out North Carolina within the semifinals earlier than outlasting Memphis in extra time (Memphis’ missed free throws and Mario Chalmers’ shot will dwell ceaselessly in NCAA match historical past). The Jayhawks have been led by Chalmers, Darrell Arthur, Brandon Rush, Sherron Collins and bigs Sasha Kaun, Cole Aldrich and Darnell Jackson. Kansas received to the Ultimate 4 by holding on towards Steph Curry’s Davidson.
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#15 – Maryland Terrapins, 2002
![Maryland Terrapins, 2002](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1311,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/f/9/f9e1340438da3357bec32955a74f7b90d3b49d38/maryland-terrapins-2002.jpg)
Doug Pensinger/Getty Pictures
The 2001-2002 Maryland Terrapins have been the fruits of what Gary Williams constructed at Faculty Park. After reaching the Ultimate 4 in 2001 and dropping to Duke (these Duke-Maryland video games within the early 2000s have been epic), the Terps dominated a tricky ACC with a 15-1 file and took maintain of their future with their title win over Indiana. Steve Blake, Juan Dixon, Chris Wilcox, Lonny Baxter and Byron Mouton will all the time be legends within the DMV space.
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#14 – Virginia Cavaliers, 2019
![Virginia Cavaliers, 2019](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1512,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/0/5/056f98d145803184e23a911baabed112eea696b8/virginia-cavaliers-2019.jpg)
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY
Discuss a redemption! Virginia was the laughingstock of the sports activities world after turning into the primary No. 1 seed to lose to a 16-seed in match historical past in 2018 (and so they have been overwhelmed unhealthy by UMBC, 74-54). However the Cavs picked themselves up and made one of the grueling runs ever by including stable offense to their powerful pack-line protection. Kyle Man, De’Andre Hunter, Ty Jerome, Mamadi Diakite, Braxton Key and freshman Kihei Clark hit massive shot after massive shot throughout March. They held on to beat Oregon, had one of many best game-tying performs to beat Purdue, and slowed down Auburn’s speedy guards in a squeaker of a win earlier than beating Texas Tech in extra time for the nationwide championship.
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#13 – Arkansas Razorbacks, 1994
![Arkansas Razorbacks, 1994](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1382,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/3/a/3a375a27d98b1931663ac58d241d597d106e3524/arkansas-razorbacks-1994.jpg)
Getty Pictures Sport
Nolan Richardson’s “40 Minutes of Hell” was completely exemplified by the Razorbacks’ 1994 championship group. Corliss “Massive Nasty” Williamson bullied his manner across the paint whereas Scotty Thurman had a whale of a Ultimate 4 in Charlotte to carry dwelling Arkansas’ first and solely title. The Razorbacks misplaced two common season video games by a complete of three factors earlier than dropping to Kentucky within the SEC match semifinals. The Hogs then barreled by means of the NCAA match earlier than Thurman’s big three-pointer topped Duke within the nationwide championship sport.
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#12 – Duke Blue Devils, 1991
![Duke Blue Devils, 1991](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1353,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/7/1/715f876b98df009600de56ec4cd7ded30417eaa2/duke-blue-devils-1991.jpg)
Deal with Sport by way of Getty Pictures
A youthful, much less highly effective model of the 1992 group, the 1991 Duke Blue Devils gained the ACC common season championship and stomped their manner again to the Ultimate 4. There they might get a rematch of the earlier season’s nationwide championship sport towards undefeated UNLV. The Blue Devils performed with poise and beat the Rebels, then knocked off Roy Williams’ Kansas Jayhawks for this system’s first nationwide championship.
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#11 – UConn Huskies, 2024
![UConn Huskies, 2024](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1602,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/4/5/45df9de55521336d374ddbcc4a9be5a0c74869f0/11-uconn-huskies-2024.jpg)
Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
This Huskies group blew by means of the NCAA match, setting a file for level differential in a single match. The 2024 group grew to become simply the third repeat champion on this record however the first to not return a bulk of their starters. Connecticut was relentless in 2023-2024, aggressively attacking defenses with their exact offensive motion whereas placing stress on opponents with their protection. Danny Hurley’s combination of holdovers from their earlier title group (led by Tristan Newton), guys stepping up into new roles (Donovan Clingan), freshman (Stephon Fort) and a switch who match completely (Cam Spencer) appears to be the trendy manner of successful championships. They’re an excellent champion for the explanations the greats one are: the one group that may beat them is themselves and it’s important to reap the benefits of each alternative after they do have an off night time.
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#10 – North Carolina Tar Heels, 2005
![North Carolina Tar Heels, 2005](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1329,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/6/4/641f301f7f47115d36bb9a130098227fde3ccb72/north-carolina-tar-heels-2005.jpg)
Ryan McKee/NCAA Images by way of Getty Pictures
Roy Williams was introduced again to his alma mater to revive North Carolina to glory and it took him simply two seasons to do it. Led by juniors Raymond Felton, Sean Could and Rashad McCants, the 2004-2005 Tar Heels cruised by means of the season after dropping their opener towards Santa Clara, going 33-4, and beating No. 1 Illinois within the ultimate. Simply three years faraway from an 8-20 season, Ol’ Roy wins his first nationwide championship and returned Carolina to glory.
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#9 – Florida Gators, 2007
![Florida Gators, 2007](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/b/7/b77eea1e898ed953e4fce9086d35bf8c96b28240/florida-gators-2007.jpg)
Streeter Lecka/Getty Pictures
That is the final group to repeat as nationwide champions. A 12 months after stunning everybody to win their first title, the Gators ran it again and have become the primary faculty since 1991-1992 Duke to win back-to-back titles. Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, Al Horford, Taurean Inexperienced and Lee Humphrey made up one of the gelled beginning items on this record and ran out to a 24-2 file earlier than dropping three straight street video games on the finish of the common season, Florida received again on monitor and pushed by means of the SEC and NCAA tournaments, successful each titles … together with beating a really sturdy Ohio State Buckeyes group within the title sport. Curiously, Florida additionally beat Ohio State for the soccer nationwide championship that 12 months.
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#8 – Villanova Wildcats, 2018
![Villanova Wildcats, 2018](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1362,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/8/2/821f0614da6a465be368d5cd5b5e45c1959b2b49/villanova-wildcats-2018.jpg)
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports activities
This Villanova group was one of many best offensive champions in historical past. Nationwide Participant of the 12 months Jalen Brunson led a lineup with Mikal Bridges, Donte DiVincenzo, Omari Spellman, Phil Sales space and Eric Paschall have been so environment friendly and will beat you in a wide range of methods, together with peppering threes from anyplace. The Wildcats would start the season 22-1 earlier than hitting some turbulence late within the season (they misplaced three video games in a six-game stretch in February). Nova blew by means of the match, blowing out Kansas and Michigan within the Ultimate 4 to carry dwelling their third championship and second in three years.
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#7 – Baylor Bears, 2021
![Baylor Bears, 2021](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/2/f/2f8d2eda4920ee3ab0e5632c65e94ed6cd7ce74f/baylor-bears-2021.jpg)
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports activities
These Bears have been underappreciated all season lengthy as Gonzaga’s undefeated season took many of the headlines, however the Bears have been proper there with the Zags. No champion on this record went by means of as a lot throughout their season. Keep in mind that this was the COVID season, the place video games have been performed in empty arenas and schedules have been topic to vary at any second. Baylor had 10 video games cancelled or postponed on account of COVID points, together with the Bears program primarily shutting down for 2 weeks in February. Baylor’s first lack of the season was to Kansas, which was their first sport after the COVID shutdown. As soon as the match started, Baylor’s bodily play carried them by means of the dance as they dominated undefeated Gonzaga within the title sport. The trio of MaCio Teague, Davion Mitchell and Jared Butler have been suffocating that season.
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#6 – North Carolina Tar Heels, 2009
![North Carolina Tar Heels, 2009](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/f/d/fda2ff4a05d24528947f9654af03987938dede42/north-carolina-tar-heels-2009.jpg)
Streeter Lecka/Getty Pictures
Whereas the 2017 Tar Heels championship is called “Redemption”, the 2009 Heels have been all about domination. North Carolina was blown out of the health club by Kansas within the 2008 Ultimate 4 and all people got here again to complete the job and win the championship — and so they did. Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Inexperienced ran by means of the common season after which smoked the match, successful each sport by at the least 12 factors. They destroyed Michigan State within the championship sport in Detroit, crowning Roy Williams’ finest Tar Heels group as champions.
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#5 – UConn Huskies, 1999
![UConn Huskies, 1999](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1683,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/7/0/70d00b6b293c7e28bd15e5c82736c228e1fc8206/uconn-huskies-1999.jpg)
Jamie Squire, Getty Pictures
It’s uncommon that we watch two groups sizing one another up all 12 months after which meet within the nationwide championship sport, however similar to Baylor and Gonzaga did in 2021, UConn and Duke did so in 1999. UConn went 34-2 that season, with Richard Hamilton main the best way (21.5 ppg), alongside Khalid El-Amin, Ricky Moore, Kevin Freeman and Jake Voskuhl. The Huskies beat 12 ranked groups in the course of the season and regardless of dropping simply two video games, successful the Massive East common season and convention match, have been shipped out to the West Area the place they needed to play in Denver and Phoenix. Jim Calhoun ran with the shortage of respect angle and rumbled to this system’s first Ultimate 4 the place they’d showdown with Duke within the finale. That sport was every thing you’d need it to be, as Hamilton outscored Duke’s Trajan Langdon, 27-25, and the Huskies win their first title, 77-74.
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#4 – Kentucky Wildcats, 2012
![Kentucky Wildcats, 2012](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1465,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/1/c/1c3fd63092e6f43d7d696914969b82e6cbd17206/kentucky-wildcats-2012.jpg)
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This model of the Wildcats have been led by Anthony Davis, who had the most effective one-and-done seasons in historical past. Kentucky misplaced twice all season — a buzzer beater at Indiana and a curious loss to Vanderbilt within the SEC championship sport. Davis was dominant as a defensive power, principally locking up the paint and vacuuming each rebound. That allowed Doron Lamb, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrence Jones, Marquis Teague and Darius Miller the liberty to take probabilities on protection and have faith of their pictures on offense. This wasn’t as dominant a Kentucky group as a few of their earlier champions, however the most effective defensively.
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#3 – Duke Blue Devils, 2001
![Duke Blue Devils, 2001](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1145,w_1606,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/7/2/72061d4b659a1831d7e3c065b6dfc85c040dcc24/duke-blue-devils-2001.jpg)
Ezra Shaw/ Getty Pictures
This Blue Devils group was ridiculously gifted. Jay Williams, Mike Dunleavy Jr., Shane Battier, Carlos Boozer and Nate James led the Blue Devils to their third-ever nationwide championship and completed a four-year run the place Duke went 133-15. That is how nice they have been: Williams gained the NABC Participant of the 12 months award whereas Battier gained the Naismith and Picket Awards. Sure, two participant of the 12 months winners on the identical squad. Three of their 4 losses that season have been by two factors or much less and their comeback towards Maryland on the peak of their rivalry remains to be one of many best moments in program historical past.
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#2 – Kentucky Wildcats, 1996
![Kentucky Wildcats, 1996](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1466,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/2/b/2b6124a03ecb51b067d1d424ce5e0fdc3541bc27/kentucky-wildcats-1996.jpg)
Doug Pensinger/Getty Pictures
Rick Pitino’s Wildcats went 34-2 this season, with the lone losses coming to John Calipari’s UMass squad (who Kentucky would go on to beat within the Ultimate 4) and Mississippi State (who would additionally attain the Ultimate 4) within the SEC championship sport. Tony Delk, Antoine Walker and Walter McCarty led the Cats with Ron Mercer, Derek Anderson and Mark Pope as main contributors. Kentucky blew by means of the Midwest Area (together with dominating Tim Duncan’s Wake Forest) and held off UMass and Syracuse for the nationwide title.
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#1 – Duke Blue Devils, 1992
![Duke Blue Devils, 1992](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1326,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/0/5/053e13765ce7a926ba939c1365bc4b6e4f539b76/1-duke-blue-devils-1992.jpg)
Deal with Sport by way of Getty Pictures
The highest group is without doubt one of the oldest groups on this record. The Duke Blue Devils returned most of their 1991 championship group. Christian Laettner, Grant Hill and Bobby Hurley anchored one of the cohesive items during the last 30 years and gained Mike Krzyzewski his second nationwide title. The Blue Devils capped it off by beating the Fab 5 Michigan Wolverines within the nationwide championship sport, 71-51. After all, the long-lasting second of this group was Laettner’s shot to beat Kentucky within the East Area ultimate.