20 of the last 23 NCAA Champions were ranked in the Top 6 of the KenPom rankings entering the tournament.  Here are the Top 6 this year:

1.  Duke

2. Arizona 

3. Michigan 

4. Florida 

5. Houston 

6. Iowa State

2002 - Maryland (#3)
2003 - Syracuse (#20)
2004 - Connecticut (#5)
2005 - North Carolina (#2)
2006 - Florida (#6)
2007 - Florida (#2)
2008 - Kansas (#1)
2009 - North Carolina (#3)
2010 - Duke (#2)
2011 - Connecticut (#16)
2012 - Kentucky (#1)
2013 - Louisville (#2)
2014 - Connecticut (#25)
2015 - Duke (#6)
2016 - Villanova (#5)
2017 - North Carolina (#3)
2018 - Villanova (#2)
2019 - Virginia (#1)
2021 - Baylor (#2)
2022 - Kansas (#3)
2023 - Connecticut (#4)
2024 - Connecticut (#1)
2025 - Florida (#2)

The number 2 hole is the place to be...6 champs from there.  4 Each from the 1,3 spots respectively.

Houston has never won a title.  I believe the overall number 1 has not won a title.

Arizona is looking at 25 plus years.

On 3/16/2026 at 11:18 PM, Randy Parker said:

20 of the last 23 NCAA Champions were ranked in the Top 6 of the KenPom rankings entering the tournament.  Here are the Top 6 this year:

1.  Duke

2. Arizona 

3. Michigan 

4. Florida 

5. Houston 

6. Iowa State

Two of the Top 6 are in the Final Four, and one of them will eliminate the other on Saturday.

Illinois was #7.  Connecticut was #12.

Interesting that this trend was broken 3 times since KenPom started the rankings in 2002 & Connecticut broke it two of those three times.

2002 - Maryland (#3)

2003 - Syracuse (#20)

2004 - Connecticut (#5)

2005 - North Carolina (#2)

2006 - Florida (#6)

2007 - Florida (#2)

2008 - Kansas (#1)

2009 - North Carolina (#3)

2010 - Duke (#2)

2011 - Connecticut (#16)

2012 - Kentucky (#1)

2013 - Louisville (#2)

2014 - Connecticut (#25)

2015 - Duke (#6)

2016 - Villanova (#5)

2017 - North Carolina (#3)

2018 - Villanova (#2)

2019 - Virginia (#1)

2021 - Baylor (#2)

2022 - Kansas (#3)

2023 - Connecticut (#4)

2024 - Connecticut (#1)

2025 - Florida (#2)

2026 - Michigan (#3)

 

21 of the last 24 years now.

Edited April 7Apr 7 by Randy Parker

On 3/17/2026 at 1:13 PM, Jack of all Trades said:

I believe the overall number 1 has not won a title.

Louisville was the overall #1 in 2013. 

4 minutes ago, TheDeuce said:

Louisville was the overall #1 in 2013. 

Is that the year stripped from them?

3 minutes ago, Jack of all Trades said:

Is that the year stripped from them?

Are we debating whether Louisville won the National Championship game, or just being flippant?

49 minutes ago, TheDeuce said:

Are we debating whether Louisville won the National Championship game, or just being flippant?

Just a question.  I did extensive research before selecting my bracket and one of the historical facts was that the “overall” number one seed for the tournament had never won the title.  I am referencing “seeding” and not KenPom.

2 minutes ago, Jack of all Trades said:

Just a question.  I did extensive research before selecting my bracket and one of the historical facts was that the “overall” number one seed for the tournament had never won the title.  I am referencing “seeding” and not KenPom.

You must have been using the Temu version of ChatGPT. 

1 hour ago, bugatti said:

You must have been using the Temu version of ChatGPT. 

Actually used ESPN.  Guessing since the 2013 title was vacated that is why they made that statement.   It was very useful information that led me to pick Florida despite odds of them repeating.

15 minutes ago, Jack of all Trades said:

Actually used ESPN.  Guessing since the 2013 title was vacated that is why they made that statement.   It was very useful information that led me to pick Florida despite odds of them repeating.

But it is nowhere near correct, unless I am missing something about what you are saying. UConn, just two seasons ago, was the overall #1 seed. And let's say they did throw out the UL title, the season before, UK was the overall #1 seed. I know Florida in their title defense was the overall #1, etc.

In fairness, I am not sure how long the NCAA has been declaring an overall #1 seed. That is a relatively new thing in the last 25 years or so?