With each passing year, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament captivates fans worldwide, showcasing the thrilling culmination of talent, teamwork, and sheer determination on the hardwood court. Over the last fifteen tournaments, a succession of victors has etched their names into the annals of basketball history, each team embodying the essence of excellence and resilience.
From Cinderella stories to dominant dynasties, these champions have left an indelible mark on the sport, perpetuating the tournament’s legacy as a stage where dreams are realized and legends are born. These are the most recent winners of the tournament going back 15 years.
2024: UConn Huskies
The Uconn Huskies completed back-to-back championships in 2024. They beat the Purdue Boilermakes by a score of 75-60. It was UConn coach Dan Hurley’s second national championship and the Huskies’ 6th overall men’s national championship. Glendale, Arizona, was the site of the Final Four (although the location was marketed as “Phoenix” in logos and promotional materials).
2023: UConn Huskies
The UConn Huskies beat the San Diego State Aztecs by a score of 76-59. It was UConn coach Dan Hurley’s first national championship and the Huskies’ 5th overall men’s national championship. Houston, Texas, was the site of the Final Four.
2022: Kansas Jayhawks
The Kansas Jayhawks beat the North Carolina Tar Heels by a score of 72-69. It was Kansas coach Bill Self’s second national championship and the Jayhawks’ 4th overall men’s national championship. New Orleans, Louisiana, was the site of the Final Four.
2021: Baylor Bears
The Baylor Bears beat the Gonzaga Bulldogs by a score of 86-70. It was Baylor coach Scott Drew’s first national championship and also the Bears’ first-ever men’s national championship. Indianapolis, Indiana, was the site of the Final Four.
2020: Tournament Cancelled
For the first time since the tournament was created in 1939, the NCAA canceled the Division I men’s basketball tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement, on March 12, was a mere five days before the event was to start. Atlanta, Georgia, was the scheduled location of the Final Four that missed out on hosting the event.
2019: Virginia Cavaliers
The Virginia Cavaliers beat the Texas Tech Red Raiders by a score of 85-77 in overtime. It was Virginia coach Tony Bennett’s first national championship and also the Cavaliers’ first-ever men’s national championship. Minneapolis, Minnesota, was the site of the Final Four.
2018: Villanova Wildcats
The Villanova Wildcats beat the Michigan Wolverines by a score of 79-62. It was Villanova coach Jay Wright’s second national championship and the Wildcats’ 3rd overall men’s national championship. San Antonio, Texas, was the site of the Final Four.
2017: North Carolina Tar Heels
The North Carolina Tar Heels beat the Gonzaga Bulldogs by a score of 71-65. It was North Carolina coach Roy Williams’s 3rd national championship and the Tar Heels’ 6th overall national championship. North Carolina has the 3rd most men’s basketball national championships of any school. Glendale, Arizona, was the site of the Final Four (although the location was marketed as “Phoenix” in logos and promotional materials).
2016: Villanova Wildcats
The Villanova Wildcats beat the North Carolina Tar Heels by a score of 77-74. It was Villanova coach Jay Wright’s first national championship and the Wildcats’ second overall men’s national championship. Houston, Texas, was the site of the Final Four.
2015: Duke Blue Devils
The Duke Blue Devils beat the Wisconsin Badgers by a score of 68-63. It was Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s 5th national championship as well as the Blue Devils’ 5th overall men’s national championship. Coach K’s five national titles are the second-most for a head coach, behind only John Wooden’s 10 championships at UCLA. The 2015 Final Four location was Indianapolis, Indiana.
2014: UConn Huskies
The UConn Huskies beat the Kentucky Wildcats by a score of 60-54. It was UConn head coach Kevin Ollie’s first national championship and the Huskies’ 4th overall men’s national championship. Arlington, Texas, was the site of the Final Four (although the location was marketed as “North Texas” in logos and promotional materials).
2013: Louisville Cardinals* (vacated)
The Louisville Cardinals beat the Michigan Wolverines by a score of 82-76. It would have been coach Rick Pitino’s 2nd national championship and the Cardinals’ 3rd overall men’s national championship had it stood. The NCAA later found that violations occurred at Louisville, specifically the men’s basketball team, from December 2010 to June 2014. Women were paid to dance for and entertain players and recruits. As a result, the NCAA vacated the Cardinals’ 2013 national championship and finalized the appeal in February 2018. The 2013 Final Four location was Atlanta, Georgia.
2012: Kentucky Wildcats
The Kentucky Wildcats beat the Kansas Jayhawks by a score of 67-59. It was Kentucky head coach John Calipari’s first national championship and the Wildcats’ 8th overall men’s national championship. Kentucky has the 2nd most men’s basketball national championships of any school. New Orleans, Louisiana, was the site of the Final Four.
2011: UConn Huskies
The UConn Huskies beat the Butler Bulldogs by a score of 53-41. It was UConn head coach Jim Calhoun’s 3rd national championship and the Huskies’ 3rd overall men’s national championship. Houston, Texas, was the site of the Final Four.
2010: Duke Blue Devils
The Duke Blue Devils beat the Butler Bulldogs by a score of 61-59. It was Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s 4th national championship and also the Blue Devils’ 4th overall men’s national championship. Indianapolis, Indiana, was the site of the Final Four.
