Largest Margin Of Victory In Ncaa Basketball Championship Game
When it comes to sports, there is always something that sets one team apart from another. In the history of NCAA basketball, few things are as impressive as the largest margin of victory in a championship game. In this article, we will dive into the top ten games with the biggest winning margins in NCAA basketball championship history, the stories behind the games, and what made these teams so dominant.
1949: Kentucky vs. Oklahoma A&M - 25 points
The 1949 championship game saw the Kentucky Wildcats take on the Oklahoma A&M Aggies in what would be one of the most dominant performances in NCAA championship history. The Wildcats were led by the legendary coach Adolph Rupp and star player Alex Groza. They outscored the Aggies 46-25 in the first half and never looked back, winning the game 46-21. It was the first of four championships for Kentucky during the decade and set the tone for their future success in NCAA basketball.
1961: Cincinnati vs. Ohio State - 27 points
The 1961 championship game saw the Cincinnati Bearcats take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Bearcats dominated the game from start to finish, with star player Paul Hogue leading the way. Cincinnati outscored Ohio State 70-43, en route to a 27 point victory. This was Cincinnati's second championship in three years, and it solidified their place as one of the top teams in NCAA basketball during the early 1960s.
1996: Kentucky vs. Syracuse - 33 points
The 1996 championship game was a matchup between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Syracuse Orange. Kentucky was led by future NBA stars Antoine Walker and Tony Delk, while Syracuse had future NBA player John Wallace. The game was close for the first few minutes, but Kentucky took control after that and never looked back. They outscored Syracuse 45-24 in the second half and won the game 76-43, a 33 point victory. This was Kentucky's sixth NCAA championship and their first since 1978.
2009: North Carolina vs. Michigan State - 21 points
The 2009 championship game saw the North Carolina Tar Heels take on the Michigan State Spartans. North Carolina was led by future NBA players Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, and Danny Green. Michigan State was led by future NBA player Draymond Green. The Tar Heels dominated the game from start to finish and won 89-72, a 21 point victory. This was North Carolina's fifth NCAA championship and their first since 2005.
1990: UNLV vs. Duke - 30 points
The 1990 championship game was a matchup between the UNLV Runnin' Rebels and the Duke Blue Devils. UNLV was led by future NBA player Larry Johnson, while Duke was led by future NBA player Christian Laettner. UNLV dominated the game from start to finish and won 103-73, a 30 point victory. This was UNLV's first NCAA championship and solidified their place as one of the top teams in NCAA basketball during the 1990s.
1973: UCLA vs. Memphis State - 21 points
The 1973 championship game was a matchup between the UCLA Bruins and the Memphis State Tigers. UCLA was led by future NBA stars Bill Walton and Keith Wilkes, while Memphis State was led by future NBA player Larry Finch. UCLA dominated the game from start to finish and won 87-66, a 21 point victory. This was UCLA's seventh NCAA championship in nine years, solidifying their place as one of the greatest dynasties in college basketball history.
1951: Kentucky vs. Kansas State - 30 points
The 1951 championship game saw the Kentucky Wildcats take on the Kansas State Wildcats. Kentucky was led by star player Cliff Hagan, while Kansas State was led by future NBA player Ernie Barrett. Kentucky dominated the game from start to finish and won 68-48, a 30 point victory. This was Kentucky's second NCAA championship and solidified their place as one of the top teams in NCAA basketball during the early 1950s.
2016: Villanova vs. North Carolina - 1 point
The 2016 championship game was a matchup between the Villanova Wildcats and the North Carolina Tar Heels. Villanova was led by future NBA player Josh Hart, while North Carolina was led by future NBA players Marcus Paige and Brice Johnson. The game was close throughout, but it was Villanova's Kris Jenkins who hit a buzzer-beating three-point shot to win the game 77-74, giving Villanova their second NCAA championship and one of the most memorable finishes in NCAA championship history.
1971: UCLA vs. Villanova - 23 points
The 1971 championship game was a matchup between the UCLA Bruins and the Villanova Wildcats. UCLA was led by star player Sidney Wicks, while Villanova was led by future NBA player Howard Porter. UCLA dominated the game from start to finish and won 68-45, a 23 point victory. This was UCLA's fifth NCAA championship and solidified their place as one of the greatest dynasties in college basketball history.
1985: Villanova vs. Georgetown - 2 points
The 1985 championship game was a matchup between the Villanova Wildcats and the Georgetown Hoyas. Villanova was led by future NBA player Ed Pinckney, while Georgetown was led by future NBA player Patrick Ewing. The game was close throughout, but it was Villanova who pulled off one of the biggest upsets in NCAA championship history, winning the game 66-64. This was Villanova's first NCAA championship and one of the most memorable championship games of all time.
Conclusion
From 1949 to 2016, NCAA basketball has seen many dominant performances, with the largest margin of victory in a championship game being one of the most impressive. These ten games stand out as some of the greatest performances in NCAA championship history, with each team leaving their mark on the sport. Whether it was Kentucky in the 1940s or Villanova in the 2010s, these teams proved why they were the best and cemented their place in college basketball lore.
