Kristian Ferrell
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's basketball tournament, also known as March Madness, is a single-elimination tournament played annually in the United States to determine the men's college basketball national champion. The first NCAA tournament was held in 1939, with the Oregon Ducks crowned as champions. Since then, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has been the most successful college in the tournament, winning 11 national titles, with 10 of those championships occurring during a 12-year stretch from 1964 to 1975.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| School with the most NCAA Division I men's basketball championships | UCLA |
| Number of championships | 11 |
| Year of the first NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament | 1939 |
| Number of teams in the first tournament | 8 |
| First champion | Oregon Ducks |
| School with the second-most championships | Kentucky |
| Number of championships by the school with the second-most championships | 8 |
| School with the most NCAA college basketball championships, combining wins from the school's men's and women's programs | UConn |
| Number of championships by the school with the most combined men's and women's championships | 18 |
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What You'll Learn
UCLA has won the most men's championships
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins have won the most NCAA Division I men's basketball championships. They have won 11 national titles since the tournament began in 1939. Ten of those championship wins came during a 12-year stretch from 1964 to 1975.
UCLA also holds the record for the most consecutive championship wins, securing seven back-to-back wins from 1967 to 1973. John Wooden, who coached UCLA during their period of success in the 1960s and 1970s, is the all-time leader with 10 championship wins.
UCLA's success in the 1960s and 1970s was so dominant that they were responsible for several highly ranked teams being denied bids in the early 1970s. For example, in 1970, South Carolina was undefeated in conference play but lost in the ACC tournament. In 1971, second-ranked USC missed out because their conference was represented by top-ranked UCLA.
UCLA's remarkable run in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament has cemented their place in the history of college basketball. Their sustained excellence, with multiple championships across different seasons, showcases the programme's consistent ability to develop winning teams.
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UConn has won the most combined men's and women's championships
The University of Connecticut (UConn) has dominated in both men's and women's basketball, winning a combined 18 NCAA college basketball championships. This makes UConn the overall title holder, with a nine-championship margin over its closest rivals. UConn's men's and women's teams have each won six championships, with the women's team most recently taking the title in the 2024-2025 season.
UConn's success in the NCAA Tournament, which began in 1939, is remarkable. The university's teams have accounted for roughly half of the championships won since 1982, when the women's tournament was first held. UConn's men's team is the current champion, with consecutive wins against San Diego State and Purdue in the 2023 and 2024 tournaments, respectively.
UConn's closest competitors in the overall championship tally are North Carolina, with a combined total of seven titles, and Kentucky, with eight championships to its name. UCLA holds the record for the most men's championships, with 11 wins, while UConn ties with Tennessee for the most women's championships, with 12 and eight titles, respectively.
The NCAA Tournament, also known as March Madness, is a single-elimination tournament that captivates college basketball fans across the United States. With its unpredictable upsets and passionate fan base, it has become one of the most prestigious annual sporting events in the country.
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Oregon won the first NCAA championship in 1939
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has been the most successful college in the NCAA Tournament, winning 11 national titles. UCLA also holds the record for the most consecutive championships, winning seven in a row from 1967 to 1973.
However, Oregon won the first-ever NCAA championship in 1939. The 1939 NCAA Tournament was the first of its kind, and it has been held annually since then, except in 2020 when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the 1939 tournament, Oregon, known as the Webfoots, had a strong run of form, winning twice in three days before losing to Stanford in San Francisco. Despite this setback, they bounced back in the PCC championship series, defeating California twice to claim the conference championship and secure their place in the NCAA Tournament.
In the NCAA Tournament, Oregon continued their winning streak, defeating Texas in their first game and earning a place in the national semifinals. They then faced Oklahoma, winning by an 18-point margin to advance to the championship game. Oregon entered the final contest with a record of 28-5, and on March 27, 1939, they made history by winning the first-ever NCAA championship.
Oregon's success in the inaugural NCAA Tournament set the stage for future competitions and contributed to the growth of the tournament, which expanded from eight teams initially to 68 teams as of 2011.
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The 1949-50 CCNY team won both tournaments
The 1949-50 CCNY Beavers men's basketball team represented the City College of New York. The team was composed of two Black and three Jewish players, recruited from various Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) schools in New York City. The head coach was Nat Holman, considered one of the game's greatest innovators and playmakers. The team was also the reigning NIT champion, having defeated Bradley University in the championship game of the NIT tournament.
In the 1950 NCAA University Division Basketball Championship Game, the CCNY Beavers faced Bradley University again, this time for the national championship. The game was played on March 28, 1950, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Beavers defeated the Bradley Braves, securing a 71-68 victory and becoming the only college basketball team to win both the NIT and NCAA tournaments in the same year. This feat was later barred by the NCAA, which prevented universities from playing in multiple tournaments.
The CCNY Beavers' road to the national championship included notable victories against defending champion San Francisco in the opening round and against Kentucky in the second round. The blowout win over Kentucky, a racially segregated school, was particularly significant due to the refusal of several Kentucky players to shake hands with the CCNY players before the game. The CCNY players responded by dismantling Kentucky in every aspect of the game, resulting in an 89-50 score and handing Kentucky's head coach, Adolph Rupp, his worst loss ever.
The CCNY Beavers' achievement was later tainted by a point-shaving scandal that implicated the team and several other schools. While head coach Nat Holman was cleared of any wrongdoing, the scandal led to the suspension of the CCNY basketball program and its move from Division I to Division III. The team has not appeared in either the NCAA or NIT tournaments since. Despite this, the 1949-50 CCNY Beavers remain the only team in college basketball history to achieve the elusive double championship.
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The 2020 NCAA Tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
The NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament is an annual single-elimination tournament that determines the champion of Division I, the top level of play in the NCAA. The tournament has been held annually since 1939, except for 2020, when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic threw the world of sports into chaos in 2020. On March 11, 2020, the NBA announced it was suspending its season after Utah center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. This was quickly followed by the suspension of other sports leagues, including spring training. The NCAA Tournament, also known as March Madness, was set to begin around this time, and the decision was made to cancel it out of concern for public health and safety.
This decision had long-lasting consequences, especially for schools and athletes who had worked hard to earn their spot in the tournament and for whom this could have been their only chance to compete for a national championship. Schools like Robert Morris, which had won the 2020 Horizon League tournament, had to put their NCAA dreams on hold for two more seasons. The cancellation also affected the host cities and states that benefit economically from the tournament.
The 2021 NCAA Tournament was also impacted by the pandemic, with all tournament games held in Indiana rather than across the country to reduce travel and logistical complexities. This was the first time in the tournament's history that a single state hosted the entire event.
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Frequently asked questions
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has been the most successful college in the history of the NCAA Tournament, winning 11 national titles.
The Kentucky Wildcats are second to UCLA, with eight championship wins.
UConn has won 18 NCAA college basketball championships, combining wins from both the men's and women's programs.
