Ranking college basketball’s past 20 national championship games

The NCAA Division I men’s college basketball national championship game was supposed to take place Monday night.

It would’ve been the grand finale to the annual three-week ride of bracket-busting upsets and thrilling finishes that captivates sports fans each spring.

But this March, there was no Madness. No team will be cutting down the nets in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Like so many other aspects of life, the coronavirus pandemic has shut down the sports world.

Yet while a champion won’t be crowned this season, it provides an opportunity to remember some of the great title games of years past. Here’s a look back at each of the past 20 national championship games, ranked from best to worst:

1. 2016 — Villanova 77, North Carolina 74

This all-time classic featured one of the more incredible late-game sequences not just in college basketball, but in all of sports.

After rallying from a 10-point deficit in the final five minutes, North Carolina tied the game on an off-balance, double-clutch 3-pointer from Marcus Paige with 4.7 seconds to play. Had the Tar Heels gone on to win, that shot would have earned a spot in college basketball lore. Instead, it was overshadowed by what happened next.

Following a timeout, Villanova point guard Ryan Arcidiacono dribbled upcourt in the closing seconds and flipped the ball back to teammate Kris Jenkins. Jenkins let it fly from beyond the arc and drained one of the all-time buzzer-beaters in college basketball history, sending the Wildcats into euphoria as streamers and confetti showered them from above.

Jenkins’ iconic shot and the dramatic finish were reasons enough to put this game atop the list, but this back-and-forth contest was full of intrigue throughout.

There were nine ties and nine lead changes, including eight lead changes in the first half alone. There was an unlikely star in Villanova’s Phil Booth, who came off the bench to hit a halftime buzzer-beater and score a season-high 20 points. There even was the highly compelling storyline of two stepbrothers — Jenkins and North Carolina’s Nate Britt — squaring off on opposite sides for a national title.

And for both teams, this game served as part of a larger story. For the Tar Heels, this heartbreaking loss fueled them throughout their national championship run the following season. And for the Wildcats, this was the first of two national titles in a three-year span that elevated Jay Wright’s program to rare heights in college basketball’s modern era.

2. 2008 — Kansas 75, Memphis 68 (OT)

This heavyweight clash of No. 1 seeds pitted two teams that entered with just four losses combined. And it certainly lived up to the hype, resulting in the first overtime national championship game since 1997.

Future NBA star Derrick Rose took over the game for Memphis in the second half, scoring 14 of his team’s 16 points during an eight-minute stretch. He capped the run by banking in an off-balanced 18-footer as the shot clock expired, extending the Tigers’ lead to seven points with 4:15 to play.

Memphis led 60-51 with two minutes remaining, but left the door open with poor free-throw shooting down the stretch. Kansas came roaring back from the nine-point deficit, and Mario Chalmers forced overtime by swishing a game-tying 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left in regulation.

The Jayhawks then scored the first six points of the extra period and pulled away for the third national championship in their program’s storied history. Meanwhile, the Tigers were left wondering ‘what if?’ after missing four of their final five free throws in regulation.

This was the first of two national championship meetings between Kansas coach Bill Self and Memphis coach John Calipari. They squared off again in the 2012 title game, after Calipari took over at Kentucky.

3. 2019 — Virginia 85, Texas Tech 77 (OT)

One year after infamously becoming the first No. 1 seed to lose to a 16-seed in NCAA Tournament history, Virginia completed the ultimate redemption story by outlasting Texas Tech in an overtime classic.

What began as a low-scoring grind between two elite defensive teams turned into yet another wild finish for the Cavaliers, who were coming off improbable last-second victories over Purdue and Auburn in the previous two rounds.

Texas Tech erased a 10-point second-half deficit and pulled in front on a spinning layup by Jarrett Culver with 35.1 seconds remaining in regulation. The Red Raiders then added a pair of free throws to make it a three-point game. But once again, Virginia pulled off some late heroics.

Ty Jerome found De’Andre Hunter open in the corner for a game-tying 3-pointer with 12.9 seconds to play, and the Cavaliers’ defense came up with a stop on the other end to force overtime. Virginia fell behind again in the extra period, but the NBA-bound Hunter hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:10 remaining, and the Cavaliers pulled away for their first-ever national championship.

The late-game drama, combined with Virginia’s storybook journey from one-and-done to national champion, makes this one of the best title games in recent memory.

4. 2010 — Duke 61, Butler 59

On the surface, this matchup had a definite David vs. Goliath feel. Duke, a blue-blooded powerhouse, was making its 10th national championship game appearance. Butler, a small school from the obscure Horizon League, had never advanced past the Sweet 16 prior to this underdog title-game run.

These Bulldogs, however, were not your typical Cinderella team. With future NBA star Gordon Hayward leading the way, and future Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens roaming the sideline, fifth-seeded Butler went toe-to-toe with the mighty Blue Devils and came within inches of winning it all.

This back-and-forth affair — played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, less than six miles from Butler’s campus — was exceptionally tight from start to finish. There were seven ties and 15 lead changes, and the teams were separated by less than five points nearly the entire way. A game this good deserved a dramatic finish, and that’s exactly what transpired.

With Butler trailing 60-59 and less than 10 seconds to play, Hayward drove to the right baseline and attempted a fadeaway jumper that clanked off the rim. Duke’s Brian Zoubek grabbed the rebound and was fouled, sending him to the free-throw line with 3.6 seconds remaining. Zoubek sank the first free throw to make it a two-point game, then purposely missed the second.

Hayward snatched the rebound, took several dribbles to midcourt and launched his memorable last-second heave. It came oh-so-close to falling for a championship-winning buzzer-beater, but instead bounced off the backboard and the rim before dropping to the floor. Duke prevailed for its fourth national championship, while the upstart Bulldogs fell just short of a Hollywood ending.

5. 2003 — Syracuse 81, Kansas 78

LeBron James’ chase-down swat in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals was one of the biggest blocks in NBA history. The college basketball equivalent might be the last-second block by Syracuse’s Hakim Warrick in this epic title game.

With the Jayhawks trailing by three points in the closing seconds, Kansas point guard Kirk Hinrich found teammate Michael Lee wide-open in the left corner for a potential game-tying 3-pointer. But the 6-foot-9 Warrick sprinted from the middle of the key, soared toward Lee and used his long wingspan to send the shot out of bounds with 1.5 seconds remaining. Hinrich’s ensuing off-balance heave at the buzzer missed the rim entirely, and Syracuse prevailed for its first-ever national championship.

Warrick’s legendary block helped seal the victory, but it was the Orangemen’s red-hot shooting that propelled them to an 18-point first-half lead. Syracuse scored 47 points in the game’s first 15 minutes and sank 10 3-pointers in the first half, including six from Gerry McNamara.

The Jayhawks rallied at the start of the second half and again in the game’s final five minutes, cutting a late 12-point deficit down to two. But the Orangemen held on and future NBA star Carmelo Anthony capped his one-year college career in style, leading Syracuse with 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in a massive title-game performance.

6. 2005 — North Carolina 75, Illinois 70

This showdown of No. 1 seeds seemed headed toward a runaway win for North Carolina. The Tar Heels were in complete control, leading by 15 points early in the second half.

But just like Illinois’ epic Elite Eight comeback against Arizona, the Fighting Illini stormed back. Illinois rattled off a 10-0 run to tie the game with under six minutes to play, then evened the score again on a 3-pointer by Luther Head with 2:39 remaining.

North Carolina reclaimed the lead on a tip-in by Marvin Williams, which gave the Tar Heels a 72-70 edge with 1:30 to go. Later on, clinging to a three-point lead with less than 20 seconds remaining, North Carolina left Head open for a potential game-tying 3-pointer. But the ball clanked off the rim, and the Tar Heels sank a pair of free throws to seal their fourth national championship.

North Carolina center Sean May was the star of the game, finishing 10-of-11 from the field while dominating in the paint with 26 points and 10 rebounds. The victory gave coach Roy Williams his first national title, just two years after he left Kansas following the Jayhawks’ loss to Syracuse in the 2003 championship game.

7. 2013 — Louisville 82, Michigan 76

This might be one of the more underrated national title games. Though it didn’t feature a dramatic finish like the ones listed above, this fast-paced, high-scoring affair was wildly entertaining.

The first half was highlighted by a pair of unlikely stars. Michigan freshman reserve Spike Albrecht, who entered the night averaging less than two points per game, seemingly emerged out of nowhere. Albrecht caught fire with four 3-pointers and 17 first-half points, helping the fourth-seeded Wolverines to a 33-21 lead.

But just as Albrecht was on his way to cult hero status, Louisville forward Luke Hancock stole the show. Hancock came off the bench to score a team-high 22 points, including a barrage of four 3-pointers late in the first half. He single-handedly outscored Michigan with a personal 12-1 run during that stretch, bringing the top-seeded Cardinals within a point by halftime.

After the break, Louisville pulled in front and maintained a narrow lead as the teams traded blows during an action-packed second half. Michigan was within three points with just over five minutes to play, but the Cardinals gained separation in the closing minutes for their third national championship.

However, the title was later stripped from Louisville because of violations discovered during an escort scandal investigation. 

8. 2015 — Duke 68, Wisconsin 63

Two nights prior, Wisconsin had ended Kentucky’s bid for a perfect season, knocking off the previously unbeaten Wildcats in the national semifinals. That prevented the blue-blooded Duke-Kentucky championship showdown many expected, but this battle of No. 1 seeds turned out to be quite a matchup in its own right.

Led by 7-foot senior Frank Kaminsky, the Badgers went toe-to-toe with Duke’s freshman trio of first-round NBA draft picks. After a back-and-forth first half that ended in a tie, Wisconsin built a nine-point lead with 13 minutes to play.

But the Blue Devils rallied to tie the game, and then surged ahead in the closing minutes with their one-and-done stars. Point guard Tyus Jones sank a pair of 3-pointers and 6-foot-11 center Jahlil Okafor added a pair of baskets inside, combining for a go-ahead 10-0 run as Duke pulled away for its fifth national championship. 

This also was the night Grayson Allen introduced himself to the nation. The Duke freshman provided a major spark, coming off the bench to score 16 points.

The victory gave Mike Krzyzewski his fifth national title, which put the Blue Devils’ legendary coach alone at second place on the all-time list, behind only the great John Wooden.

For the Badgers, it was another near-miss at the ultimate prize. The previous year, Wisconsin lost a one-point heartbreaker to Kentucky in the national semifinals.

9. 2001 — Duke 82, Arizona 72

This star-studded title game was brimming with future pros. Duke had Carlos Boozer, Shane Battier, Mike Dunleavy and Chris Duhon. Arizona had Gilbert Arenas, Richard Jefferson and Luke Walton. All seven of those players went on to have long careers in the NBA.

The overall collection of talent on the Metrodome court in Minneapolis this night was rare, and the game itself was pretty good too.

Dunleavy hit three 3-pointers early in the second half, helping the Blue Devils stretch a two-point halftime lead to double digits. Then after Arizona sliced the margin back to two points, Duke again pushed it to double digits. But the Wildcats wouldn’t go away. With less than three minutes to play, Arizona closed the deficit to 75-72.

Then came a pair of back-breaking plays from the Blue Devils. Jay Williams — the current ESPN basketball analyst — assisted Battier for a thunderous one-handed jam. Williams then added a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession, helping Duke pull away for its third national championship.

None of it, however, would have been possible without the Blue Devils’ epic comeback against Maryland in the national semifinal two nights prior. Duke rallied from a 22-point first-half deficit in that contest, scoring an astounding 57 second-half points to race past the Terrapins and into the title game.

10. 2017 — North Carolina 71, Gonzaga 65

One year after falling to Villanova on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the national championship game, North Carolina completed its redemption quest by outlasting Gonzaga in a battle of No. 1 seeds.

This certainly wasn’t the most aesthetically pleasing game, as frequent whistles disrupted the flow and at times turned it into a free-throw shooting contest. The referees called 44 fouls, leading to 52 combined free throws and both teams reaching the bonus just seven minutes into the second half.

But because this down-to-the-wire contest was so tight throughout, it remains on the upper half of this list. There were 11 ties and 12 lead changes, and neither team led by more than seven points.

Nigel Williams-Goss scored eight straight points for the Zags down the stretch, including a banked-in jumper that broke a tie with 1:52 to play. But the Tar Heels answered right back, regaining the lead with a three-point play by Justin Jackson on the ensuing possession.

Then after North Carolina added another basket to make it a three-point game with 25 seconds remaining, Kennedy Meeks blocked a Williams-Goss shot and Jackson slammed home a fast-break jam to seal the Tar Heels’ sixth national championship.

11. 2007 — Florida 84, Ohio State 75

After rolling past UCLA in the previous year’s title game, Florida defended its crown and beat Ohio State to become college basketball’s first repeat national champion since Duke accomplished the feat in 1992.

To this date, the Gators and Blue Devils remain the only programs to earn back-to-back national titles since John Wooden’s UCLA dynasty won seven straight from 1967 to 1973. This Florida squad also earned its own spot in college basketball history as the only team to repeat as national champions with an identical starting lineup.

This clash of top seeds was filled with future NBA talent, including the likes of Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Corey Brewer, Marreese Speights, Mike Conley and soon-to-be No. 1 draft pick Greg Oden. Horford led the Gators with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while the 7-foot Oden totaled 25 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks for the Buckeyes.

Florida was in control most of the way after building an 11-point lead late in the first half. Ohio State twice cut the deficit to six points in the second half, but couldn’t pull any closer.

In an extreme rarity, these two schools also squared off in college football’s national championship game less than three months prior. And just like the gridiron showdown, the Gators had their way on the hardwood.

12. 2012 — Kentucky 67, Kansas 59

Kentucky’s star-laden team of future NBA talent was simply too much for the Jayhawks. The top-seeded Wildcats had six players who were selected in the ensuing NBA draft, including the top two picks in Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

Davis struggled from the field, finishing with just six points. But the 6-foot-10 freshman still made a massive impact, totaling 16 rebounds, six blocks, five assists and three steals. Doron Lamb, a second-round draft pick, led Kentucky with 22 points.

Kansas pulled off three double-digit comeback wins during its run to the title game, but an 18-point first-half deficit against mighty Kentucky proved insurmountable. The Jayhawks trimmed the margin to five points in the final two minutes, but the Wildcats sank free throws down the stretch to capture their first national title since 1998 and their eighth in program history.

This was the second national championship game meeting in five seasons between Kentucky coach John Calipari and Kansas coach Bill Self. Back when he was Memphis’ coach, Calipari suffered an overtime loss to Self’s Jayhawks in the 2008 title game.

13. 2014 — Connecticut 60, Kentucky 54

The seventh-seeded Huskies and eighth-seeded Wildcats both made surprising runs to the title game, resulting in the lowest-seeded national championship matchup in tournament history.

UConn jumped in front early and led by as many as 15 points in the first half. Kentucky’s team of talented freshmen fought back, cutting the deficit to one point shortly after halftime, and to one point again with just over eight minutes to play.

But Shabazz Napier and the Huskies held off the Wildcats down the stretch to prevail in the low-scoring affair. It was UConn’s second national title in four seasons and its fourth since 1999.

Napier capped his dazzling tournament run in style, scoring a game-high 22 points to lead the Huskies. The senior guard was among those who stuck with the UConn program, despite the Huskies being handed a postseason ban the previous year because of a failure to meet academic requirements. 

14. 2002 — Maryland 64, Indiana 52

There was no heartbreaking collapse this time. One year after Maryland blew a 22-point first-half lead in a national semifinal loss to Duke, the Terrapins completed their redemption journey by capturing their first-ever national title.

Similar to the nightmare Duke loss, the senior-laden Terps watched a 12-point first-half advantage whittle away in this one. The underdog Hoosiers closed the gap and eventually took their first lead with just under 10 minutes to go. But it didn’t last long.

Maryland star Juan Dixon immediately answered with a go-ahead 3-pointer, kickstarting a 22-5 pull-away run for the top-seeded Terps. Dixon scored a game-high 18 points to cap an exceptional tournament in which he averaged 25.8 points per contest.

It was a sloppy game on both sides, with each team committing 16 turnovers. Indiana shot well from 3-point range but struggled mightily inside, finishing a woeful 10-of-35 (28.6%) on 2-point attempts.

This was the first national title game loss in six appearances for the Hoosiers, who made an underdog run to the championship game as a No. 5 seed, with upset wins over top-seeded Duke and second-seeded Oklahoma.

15. 2000 — Michigan State 89, Florida 76

Michigan State dispatched Florida to complete a dominant national championship run in which it won all six tournament games by double digits.

The top-seeded Spartans broke the Gators’ full-court press and shot a scorching 55.9% from the field, led by a combined 58 points from Morris Peterson, A.J. Granger and Mateen Cleaves. Michigan State’s efficient shooting offset a 27-point performance from Florida center Udonis Haslem.

The Spartans built a 43-32 halftime lead and were in control most of the way. The fifth-seeded Gators trimmed the deficit to six points early in the second half, but Michigan State stretched the margin to 18 points and cruised to its second national championship.

This was the second of eight Final Four trips for the Spartans under Tom Izzo, but it remains the only national title won by the accomplished coach.

16. 2018 — Villanova 79, Michigan 62

In a March filled with upsets and parity, Villanova simply was a class above the rest.

Led by five eventual NBA draft picks, the top-seeded Wildcats steamrolled to their second national title in three seasons. Villanova won all six tournament games by double figures and outscored those opponents by an average of 21 points.

Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Omari Spellman garnered many of the headlines for the Wildcats throughout the season. But in the title game, it was another soon-to-be draft pick who stole the show.

Donte DiVincenzo came off the bench to score a career-high 31 points, including five 3-pointers. The sophomore sixth man netted 12 points during a go-ahead first-half run, then later scored 11 straight points for Villanova to help put the game out of reach in the second half. The Wildcats led by as many as 22 points late in their championship romp.

Michigan shot a woeful 3-of-23 from 3-point range and finished as the national runner-up for the second time in six seasons. The Wolverines fell to 1-6 in national championship games, with their lone title coming in 1989.

17. 2006 — Florida 73, UCLA 57

This was the first of back-to-back national titles for a group of Gators that included future NBA players Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer.

Florida pulled in front early and cruised the rest of the way, stretching its lead to 20 points in the second half en route to its first national championship. Noah led the Gators with a dominant all-around performance, totaling 16 points, nine rebounds, three assists and a title-game-record six blocks.

UCLA shot a miserable 3-of-17 from 3-point range in the loss. It was the first of three disappointing Final Four trips for the Bruins, who fell short all three times of adding another title to their program’s decorated history.

18. 2011 — Connecticut 53, Butler 41

One year after falling to Duke in an all-time classic, Butler made another surprising run to the national championship game. This one, however, wasn’t nearly as memorable.

The Bulldogs shot a historically low 18.8% from the field, the worst-ever in a national title game. Butler was even worse inside the arc, finishing an abysmal 3-of-31 on 2-point attempts. UConn shot an unspectacular 34.5% from the field, yet still won by double digits on this brutal night of shooting inside Houston’s Reliant Stadium.

The only thing keeping this game from the bottom of the list was the fact it was relatively close most of the way. Butler actually led 25-19 early in the second half, but went ice-cold while UConn pulled away with a 22-3 run.

Though this wasn’t the most flattering game, it capped an epic postseason ride for Kemba Walker and the third-seeded Huskies.

UConn was a complete afterthought just one month prior, having finished 9-9 in the Big East. But Walker led the Huskies on an incredible run, beginning with five wins in five days to claim the Big East Tournament title. UConn then added six more victories in the NCAA Tournament, completing an improbable journey to its third national championship. Walker led the way, averaging 23.5 points per game in the NCAA Tournament.

19. 2004 — Connecticut 82, Georgia Tech 73

This game wasn’t nearly as close as the final score indicates. UConn built a 41-26 halftime lead and pushed the margin to 25 points in the second half while rolling to its second national title in six seasons.

The Huskies were led by center Emeka Okafor and guard Ben Gordon — two of the top three picks in the ensuing NBA draft. Okafor dominated in the paint with 24 points and 15 rebounds, and Gordon added 21 points. In a statistical rarity, UConn’s starters combined for 81 of the team’s 82 points.

The Huskies’ victory avenged a 16-point loss to Georgia Tech in the Preseason NIT four months prior, when Okafor was hampered by an ailing back.

20. 2009 — North Carolina 89, Michigan State 72

Led by a trio of first-round NBA draft picks, North Carolina capped one of the most dominant NCAA Tournament runs of all time with a complete dismantling of Michigan State.

The Tar Heels raced to a 34-11 first-half lead and led by 21 points at halftime, the biggest such margin in national championship game history. It was all but over at that point, as North Carolina cruised the rest of the way to its fifth national title. The top-seeded Tar Heels outscored their opponents by an average of 20.2 points in their six tournament games.

Like they had all season, the NBA-bound trio of Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Tyler Hansbrough combined for 58 points to lead North Carolina. Lawson also set a title-game record with eight steals, helping the Tar Heels force Michigan State into 21 turnovers.