Most well-versed basketball fans could guess the usual suspects who make a deep run in March Madness every year.
Perennial programs like Duke and Kansas on the men’s side along with UConn and Stanford on the women’s end have made at least a dozen appearances each in the Final Four.
Who holds the all-time record though? Here are the programs with the most Final Four appearances for the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments.
Which NCAA DI men’s basketball team has the most Final Four appearances?
One of the winningest teams across all sports, the Tar Heels have made their way to 21 separate Final Fours.
With six national titles and 12 total appearances in the NCAA Tournament championship game, it's no surprise to find UNC atop this list. The program was founded in 1910 and the Tar Heels played their first-ever game on Jan. 27, 1911.
Since its inception, UNC has made it to the Final Four in 1946, 1957, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2017, and 2022.
This year, the Heels are ranked No. 4 in the nation on the AP Poll Top 25 as they head into the ACC Tournament. UNC has byes in the first and second rounds. The Tar Heels are scheduled to play the winner of Virginia Tech and Florida State on March 14 in the quarterfinals.
Which NCAA DI women’s basketball team has the most Final Four appearances?
Edging out the Tar Heels, the UConn Huskies have had 22 appearances in the NCAA Tournament Final Four.
What’s truly shocking about the Huskies’ success is the speed at which they’ve amassed the Final Four appearances. The team played its first game in 1974 and the women’s NCAA Tournament didn’t start until 1982.
This means that UConn has made it to the Final Four in more than 50 percent of the years it has existed.
The Huskies also have the most national titles, by a long shot, with 11. Head coach Geno Auriemma has been with UConn since 1985 and is taking the team to its 35th NCAA Tournament.
Which NCAA DI team has the most Final Four appearances, combining men and women?
Not only do the Huskies have the most Final Four appearances by an individual program, but they are also the only team in history to win both the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments in the same season.
In 2013-14 the UConn men and women doubled down on this accomplishment after the Huskies had already won both tournaments in 2004.
With two Dual Championships in UConn’s trophy case, the Huskies lay claim to one of the most impressive athletic programs ever.