Andrew Pace
The NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, also known as March Madness or The Big Dance, is a single-elimination tournament played in the United States to determine the men's college basketball national champion. The 2023 tournament saw a total of 68 teams compete, with the UConn Huskies defeating the San Diego State Aztecs 76-59 in the final. The tournament is known for its upsets of favoured teams and has become one of the greatest annual sporting events in the US.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Division 1 Boys Basketball Colleges | 350+ |
| Championship Location 2025 | Alamodome, San Antonio, TX |
| Championship Location 2026 | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN |
| 2025 Champion | Florida |
| 2025 Runner-up | Houston |
| Most National Championships | UCLA (11) |
| Second Most National Championships | Kentucky (8) |
| Third Most National Championships | North Carolina (6), UConn (6) |
| National Championships This Century | Connecticut (5) |
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What You'll Learn
Top Division 1 basketball colleges
Division 1 basketball colleges are some of the most popular in the nation, with student-athletes and their peers recognising and supporting powerhouse programmes. Getting to the D1 level requires a high level of dedication, passion, and hard work. Athletes who compete at the top colleges are rewarded with well-funded athletic facilities, experienced coaches, and even a chance at a partial or fully funded athletic scholarship.
The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Duke University are two of the most well-known D1 basketball colleges. Duke University is known for its highly competitive recruiting guidelines and its students are among the best student-athletes in the nation. The University of Notre Dame is another highly ranked D1 college, with a 97% freshman retention rate, a 989 academic progress rate, and an impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1.
Other top D1 basketball colleges include Villanova University, which has a 100% academic progress rate and a 96% freshman retention rate, and Purdue University, which has a 91% freshman retention rate and made a profit of $10,089,469 for its sports team. Baylor University also made a substantial profit of $13,308,914, with an 88% freshman retention rate, and Gonzaga University, which made a profit of $5,091,489.
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Championship history
Division 1 boys basketball is an extremely competitive field, with over 350 colleges competing for the national championship. The championship has a rich history, with several teams dominating different eras.
In the middle of the 20th century, Kentucky was a powerhouse, winning four championships between 1948 and 1952. They continued their success over the following decades, winning four more championships between 1964 and 1975. UCLA had a dominant run in the '60s and '70s, winning 10 national championships, including seven in a row.
More recently, Connecticut has been a force to be reckoned with, winning five championships this century and boasting a perfect 6-0 record in championship games. North Carolina is another historically successful team, with six national championships, including an undefeated season in 1957 led by coach Frank McGuire.
The 2025 championship was won by Florida, their third title after back-to-back wins in 2006 and 2007. Houston is currently the favourite to win the 2025-26 championship.
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Recruiting rankings
Several organizations offer NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball recruiting rankings, including the NCAA, USA Today Sports, and the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. The NCSA Power Rankings also provide an overview of the top Division 1 basketball schools.
ESPN, for example, releases annual recruiting rankings for the top boys' basketball recruits in the nation. In 2025, the top recruits included A.J. Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer. Looking ahead to the 2026, 2027, and 2028 classes, Bentley Lusakueno debuted as the No. 1 recruit in the 2028 rankings, with Babatunde Oladotun retaining the top spot for the 2027 class.
Division 1 basketball colleges are highly competitive, attracting the best student-athletes in the nation. These colleges offer well-funded athletic facilities, experienced coaches, and the potential for national recognition. The recruiting process is rigorous, with student-athletes needing to meet or exceed competitive guidelines and demonstrate exceptional athletic skills and physical measurables.
In addition to recruiting rankings, it is important to consider other factors when evaluating basketball programs, such as the school's location and corresponding athletic conference, and the overall fit for the student-athlete.
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National championships
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's basketball tournament is a single-elimination tournament that determines the top-level champion in the NCAA. It is often described as the national championship of college basketball. The tournament has been held annually since 1939, except in 2020 when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oregon won the inaugural tournament in 1939, defeating Ohio State 46-33. Before 1941, the tournament was controlled by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, after which it was handed over to the NCAA. In the early years, the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), a New York City-based event, was considered a more prestigious tournament. Teams could compete in both events, and three teams that did so—Utah in 1944, Kentucky in 1949, and City College of New York (CCNY) in 1950—won the NCAA Tournament. The 1949-50 CCNY team remains the only college basketball team to win both tournaments in the same year.
UCLA holds the record for the most men's college basketball championships with 11 titles, including seven in a row from 1967 to 1973. Kentucky is second with eight titles, followed by North Carolina and UConn with six championships each.
Some notable national championship wins include North Carolina's undefeated season in 1957, led by coach Frank McGuire, and Indiana's perfect season in 1976, led by coach Bob Knight, which was the last perfect season by a national champion. In 2018, junior guard Donte DiVincenzo won the MOP as the Wildcats won their second championship in three years. In 2022, Kansas beat North Carolina, giving coach Bill Self his second national championship. In 2025, the Florida Gators defeated the Houston Cougars to win their third national title.
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NCAA tournament records
NCAA Division 1 boys basketball is the highest level of college basketball in the US. There are over 350 colleges in the division, with student-athletes needing to meet strict athletic and academic criteria to compete. The division includes popular and well-known basketball programs such as the University of North Carolina and Duke University.
The NCAA Men's Basketball Championship is the pinnacle of the Division 1 basketball calendar. The 2025 Championship was held in the Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, and was won by Florida. The 2026 Championship will take place in Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana.
There are numerous records for the NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball Tournament. Oregon (1939), Kentucky (1949), San Francisco (1956), Ohio State (1960), UCLA (1967, 1970, 1973), Michigan State (1979, 2000), Indiana (1981), Duke (2001), North Carolina (2009), Villanova (2018), and UConn (2023, 2024) all won every game in their tournaments by 10 points or more.
Other records include triple-doubles, where a player reaches double figures in three of five statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots). The NCAA recognises the following as unofficial triple-doubles: B.H. Born (Kansas vs. Indiana, 1953): 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 13 blocked shots; Oscar Robertson (Cincinnati vs. Louisville, 1959): 39 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists; and Magic Johnson (Michigan State vs. Penn, 1979): 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. The largest margin of victory in a game was 44 points, when Villanova beat Oklahoma in 2016.
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Frequently asked questions
Florida won the 2025 championship.
UCLA has won the most championships, with 11 wins.
Connecticut has won the most national championships this century, with five wins.
Louisville's participation in the 2013 tournament was vacated by the Committee on Infractions.
Rick Pitino won the 1996 championship with Kentucky.
