Over the last 25 years, men’s college basketball has delivered some of sports’ most unforgettable moments. Programs like Duke, Kansas, Baylor, and UConn have all left their mark, shaping the ever-evolving landscape of March Madness. Here’s a look back at every national champion since 2000 and the stories that made them legendary.

2000 – Michigan State (32-7)

Coach: Tom Izzo
Championship Game: Michigan State 89, Florida 76
Led by the “Flintstones,” Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson, and Charlie Bell, the Spartans powered past Florida to claim Izzo’s first national title, cementing Michigan State as a program built on toughness and defense.

2001 – Duke (35-4)

Coach: Mike Krzyzewski
Championship Game: Duke 82, Arizona 72
Led by Shane Battier and freshman Jason Williams, Duke captured its third national title under Coach K. Their balanced attack and defensive discipline made them nearly unbeatable that March.

2002 – Maryland (32-4)

Coach: Gary Williams
Championship Game: Maryland 64, Indiana 52
Juan Dixon led the Terps to their first national championship, redeeming their Final Four heartbreak from the year before. Maryland’s poise and precision carried them all the way in a grind-it-out final.

2003 – Syracuse (30-5)

Coach: Jim Boeheim
Championship Game: Syracuse 81, Kansas 78
Behind freshman phenom Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse delivered Boeheim his first and only national title. Melo’s brilliance and Hakim Warrick’s last-second block sealed the deal in a thriller.

2004 – Connecticut (33-6)Nov 19, 2006; Hartford, CT, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Jim Calhoun watches the play against theMississippi Rebels in the 1st period at the Hartford Civic Center. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © David Butler II

Coach: Jim Calhoun
Championship Game: UConn 82, Georgia Tech 73
Led by Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon, the Huskies dominated the tournament, giving Calhoun his second title and reaffirming UConn’s place among college basketball’s elite.

2005 – North Carolina (33-4)

Coach: Roy Williams
Championship Game: North Carolina 75, Illinois 70
Roy Williams captured his first championship with UNC as Sean May, Raymond Felton, and Rashad McCants powered the Tar Heels past Illinois in a battle of heavyweights.

2006 – Florida (33-6)

Coach: Billy Donovan
Championship Game: Florida 73, UCLA 57
The young Gators shocked the field behind Joakim Noah, Al Horford, and Corey Brewer — starting what would become a two-year run of dominance.

2007 – Florida (35-5)Mar 11, 2007; Atlanta, GA, USA; Florida Gators players hold up the championship trophy after the Gators defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks 77-56 to win the SEC Tournament championship game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA. Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports Copyright: 2007 Jason Parkhurst

Coach: Billy Donovan
Championship Game: Florida 84, Ohio State 75
With their entire starting five returning, the Gators became the first team in 15 years to repeat as champions, led again by Noah, Horford, and Taurean Green.

2008 – Kansas (37-3)

Coach: Bill Self
Championship Game: Kansas 75, Memphis 68 (OT)
In one of the greatest finishes ever, Mario Chalmers hit the shot of his life to force overtime and lift the Jayhawks to a title over Memphis. Bill Self’s first.

2009 – North Carolina (34-4)

Coach: Roy Williams
Championship Game: North Carolina 89, Michigan State 72
UNC steamrolled through the tournament behind Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson, winning every game by double digits.

2010 – Duke (35-5)

Coach: Mike Krzyzewski
Championship Game: Duke 61, Butler 59
Gordon Hayward’s half-court heave rimmed out, and Coach K’s Blue Devils survived a classic to win their fourth national title.

2011 – Connecticut (32-9)Apr 05, 2011; Storrs, CT, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Jim Calhoun waves the the crowd on stage at Gampel Pavilion after returning from the 2011 NCAA men’s college basketball championship game in Houston, TX. Connecticut Huskies defeated the Butler Bulldogs 53-41. Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Coach: Jim Calhoun
Championship Game: UConn 53, Butler 41
Kemba Walker’s magical postseason run carried UConn from Big East tournament champs to national champions in one of the great Cinderella stories.

2012 – Kentucky (38-2)

Coach: John Calipari
Championship Game: Kentucky 67, Kansas 59
Anthony Davis and a loaded freshman class dominated the field, giving Calipari his first championship in Lexington.

2013 – Louisville (35-5)

Coach: Rick Pitino
Championship Game: Louisville 82, Michigan 76
A fast-paced, emotional title run capped by a comeback win over Michigan gave Pitino his second championship, though the title was later vacated.

2014 – Connecticut (32-8)

Coach: Kevin Ollie
Championship Game: UConn 60, Kentucky 54
Shabazz Napier channeled his inner Kemba Walker and led the seventh-seeded Huskies to yet another improbable title run.

2015 – Duke (35-4)Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski and his players including Quinn Cook watch “One Shining Moment” after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2015 NCAA Men’s Division I Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Coach: Mike Krzyzewski
Championship Game: Duke 68, Wisconsin 63
Behind freshmen Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones, and Justise Winslow, Duke took down Wisconsin to give Coach K his fifth national crown.

2016 – Villanova (35-5)

Coach: Jay Wright
Championship Game: Villanova 77, North Carolina 74
Kris Jenkins hit one of the most iconic buzzer-beaters in NCAA history to stun North Carolina and deliver Villanova’s first title since 1985.

2017 – North Carolina (33-7)

Coach: Roy Williams
Championship Game: North Carolina 71, Gonzaga 65
After losing the previous year’s title game, UNC bounced back with redemption, grinding out a win against Gonzaga for its sixth national title.

2018 – Villanova (36-4)

Coach: Jay Wright
Championship Game: Villanova 79, Michigan 62
The Wildcats shot the lights out in another dominant title run, led by Donte DiVincenzo’s 31-point explosion in the final.

2019 – Virginia (35-3)Virginia Cavaliers guard Kyle Guy celebrates winning the NCAA 2019 men’s basketball championship game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in overtime on April 8, 2019 in Minneapolis. Credit: Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY

Coach: Tony Bennett
Championship Game: Virginia 85, Texas Tech 77 (OT)
A year after being the first No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16, Virginia completed the ultimate redemption arc with an overtime win over Texas Tech.

2020 – Canceled due to COVID-19

The tournament was called off for the first time in its history, leaving a year without a champion and a void in college hoops history.

2021 – Baylor (28-2)

Coach: Scott Drew
Championship Game: Baylor 86, Gonzaga 70
Baylor’s relentless defense and sharp shooting derailed Gonzaga’s perfect season, giving the Bears their first-ever national title.

2022 – Kansas (34-6)

Coach: Bill Self
Championship Game: Kansas 72, North Carolina 69
The Jayhawks completed the largest comeback in title game history, storming back from 16 points down to top the Tar Heels.

2023 – Connecticut (31-8)

Coach: Dan Hurley
Championship Game: UConn 76, San Diego State 59
The Huskies dominated the field again, winning every game by double digits to secure their fifth national championship.

2024 – Connecticut (37-3)

Coach: Dan Hurley
Championship Game: UConn 75, Purdue 60
Back-to-back dominance. The Huskies repeated as champs, led by a suffocating defense and clutch play from Tristen Newton.

2025 – Florida (36-4)Apr 12, 2025; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden holds the new National Championship banner during the National Championship celebration at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Coach: Todd Golden
Championship Game: Florida 65, Houston 63
In a defensive slugfest, the Gators edged Houston to win their first national title since the Billy Donovan era, completing college basketball’s latest comeback story.

Moments that defined the game

Each season brings its own flavor: a new hero, a fresh storyline, and one shining moment that sticks forever. Whether it was Florida’s back-to-back dominance, UConn’s dynasty run, or Virginia’s redemption story, these champions remind us why March Madness is one of the most thrilling events in college sports.