NCAA Basketball Champions (1971 to 2021) Quiz

Answer:

In 2021, Baylor beat Gonzaga to win their first NCAA men's championship by a score of 86 to 70. The team was coached by Scott Drew and gave Gonzaga their only loss on the season.

In 2019, the Virginia Cavaliers needed overtime to win the title beating Texas Tech in the finals. The game was played in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Virginia came into the tournament as a number one and had previously lost in the opening round the previous year.

In 2013, Rick Pitino led the Louisville Cardinals to the NCAA title beating the Big 10's Michigan Wolverines. Louisville was led by guard Russ Smith. That title was later vacated due to a sex scandal, but the team also won in 1986 and 1980.

The Florida Gators won multiple titles during this span including back to back titles in 2006 and 2007. Those squads were paced by the enthusiastic center play of Joakim Noah, the son of a men's Grand Slam tennis champion.

The 2003 Syracuse Orangemen were led by All-American Carmelo Anthony. The freshman forward was a leading scorer and rebounder for the team that beat Kansas by three points in the title game.

The 2002 Maryland Terrapins from the Atlantic Coast Conference won the title beating the Big 10's Indiana Hoosiers. The team was coached by Gary Williams and went 32-4 over the season.

Duke won the title in 1991 and 1992 but in 1994 the powerhouse couldn't knock off the Arkansas Razorbacks in the championship game. Arkansas was coached by the legendary Nolan Richardson. The team used a high pressure defense to force Duke out of the comfort zone all game.

In 1990, the Running Rebels from UNLV became the first team to score over 100 points while taking home the NCAA title. The powerhouse team went 35-5 that season and took down the Duke Blue Devils in the finals, 103 to 73. It was one of the most dominant wins in recent finals history.

In 1983, the Cinderella story of the North Carolina State Wolfpack is one for Hollywood legends. The team was a lower seed in the tournament and met the heavily favored Houston Cougars in the finals. The charismatic Wolfpack team, coached by Jim Valvano. won on a last second dunk by Lorenzo Charles.

In 1977, Marquette University was an underdog in the tournament. The team won the title but only finished 25-7 over the course of the season. Led by guard Butch Lee and legendary coach Al McGwire, the team based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin beat North Carolina by eight points to win their first NCAA mens' basketball title.