How many NCAA teams have won men's and women's basketball championships? Just as interesting as the teams that are on the list, are the teams that are not. On the men's side, powerhouse Duke has won three men's championships (1991, 1992, 2001), but its female counterparts have lost both of their NCAA championship games (1999, 2006).
Meanwhile, while Tennessee women's basketball squads have won eight NCAA championships (1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2007, 2008), their male counterparts have never reached the NCAA tournament championship. So, which schools have won championships in both the men's and women's tournaments? Here is the comprehensive (and short) list:
1. Connecticut Huskies
The Lady Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Connecticut Huskies have won 13 of the 27 NCAA women's basketball tournaments. UConn has won five championships, ironically beating eight-time champs Tennessee, four of those times (1995 def. Tennessee, 2000 def. Tennessee, 2002 def. Oklahoma, 2003 def. Tennessee, 2004 def. Tennessee). Furthermore, the Lady Huskies have never lost an NCAA championship game.
Though less successful than their female counterparts, the male Huskies have also won multiple NCAA championships. During the 1999 tournament, the Huskies edged the Duke Blue Devils, by a score of 77-74. Then in 2004, UConn defeated Georgia Tech in the championship game, by a more resounding win: 82-73. The men's team also has never lost an NCAA championship game.
2. Maryland Terrapins
In their second consecutive trip to the NCAA Final Four, the Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team won its first NCAA tournament. The game was a defensive battle versus the Indiana Hoosiers, who had already won five national titles. Although Indiana played Maryland tough, Terrapin players such as Juan Dixon and Lonny Baxter responded with solid plays of their own.
Famous for their overtime heroics, the Lady Maryland Terrapins needed another OT to win its first NCAA championship, in the 2006 tournament. Down 13 points to the Duke Blue Devils, they rallied back and won in OT, 78-75. Amazingly, the team was 6-0 in overtime games during the season. That included five away games and the NCAA championship.
3. North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina's men's basketball team has appeared in the NCAA championship eight times, and has won four NCAA championships (1957 def. Kansas, 1982 def. Georgetown, 1993 def. Michigan, 2005 def. Illinois). Famous Tar Heels players include:
Vince Carter
Billy Cunningham
Tyler Hansborough
Brendan Haywood
Bobby Jones
Michael Jordan
Rasheed Wallace
James Worthy
The Lady North Carolina Tar Heels edged Louisiana Tech in the 1994 NCAA tournament, by the slimmest of margins: 60-59. The teams played the championship n Richmond Virginia, in the Richmond Coliseum. Sylvia Hatchell served as the coach of the winning Tar Heels. Meanwhile, Tonya Sampson and Charlotte Smith basketball the All-Tournament players who were key players for North Carolina.
While several NCAA colleges and universities have won either a men's or women's Division I basketball championship, only three have basketball both. Use NCAA merchandise to cheer on your team to become the tournament's "Final One"!
Rick Grantham is an avid sports fan. Most of Rick's articles focus on Maryland Terrapins merchandise. Many articles are related to college merchandise for sale and other sports related topics. Rick is a contributing author to BooYah Village
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