These are the states which have had the most schools win NCAA Championships in college basketball. My favorite college basketball team, the Syracuse Orange, have won one NCAA Tournament in 2003. Syracuse is in New York State. The only other school from New York to win a NCAA college basketball championship is CCNY (1950).
So New York State has two NCAA Championships in college basketball. That’s not enough to make this list. Before I get to the list, a little bit of trivia for you.
The state of Illinois has produced plenty of great basketball players like reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose (who went to Memphis), but the state has only one team that has won a NCAA Championship. Can you name the school from Illinois that won the NCAA Tournament?
States with the Most Total NCAA Championships in College Basketball
1. California – 15
Fifteen teams from the state of California have won NCAA Championships in college basketball. The UCLA Bruins lead the way with 11 total championships which they won in 1964, 1965, 1968-1973, 1975, and 1995.
The other teams from California to win the NCAA Tournament are the San Francisco Dons (1955 and 1956), the Stanford Cardinal (1942), and the California Golden Bears in 1959.
2. North Carolina – 11
Teams from the state of North Carolina have won a total of 11 NCAA Championships in college basketball. The University of North Carolina Tar Heels lead the way with five championships in 1957, 1982, 1993, 2005, and 2009. Right behind North Carolina is the Duke Blue Devils with four titles in 1991, 1992, 2001, and 2010.
The North Carolina State Wolfpack have won two NCAA Tournaments in 1974 and 1983. With North Carolina and Duke, the state of North Carolina has a decent chance of adding another title in 2012.
3. Kentucky – 9
The state of Kentucky has nine total NCAA college basketball championships. The University of Kentucky Wildcats have won seven championships in 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1978, 1996 and 1998. The Louisville Cardinals have won two NCAA Tournaments in 1980 and 1986.
4. Indiana – 5
The Indiana Hoosiers have won five NCAA Championships in basketball in 1940, 1953, 1975, 1981, and 1987.
5. Four Different States
The following four states have all had three college basketball championships. The UConn Huskies won three titles in 1999, 2004, and 2011 for the state of Connecticut. The Kansas Jayhawks have also won three championships for the state of Kansas in 1952, 1988 and 2008.
The Michigan State Spartans have won two NCAA Tournaments in 1979 and 2000, while the Michigan Wolverines won a title in 1989 for the state of Michigan. The Cincinnati Bearcats won two titles in 1961 and 1962, while the Ohio State Buckeyes won a title in 1960, for three consecutive championships for the state of Ohio.
Trivia Answer – the Loyola University of Chicago Ramblers won the NCAA Tournament in 1963.
