Sports deep dive

The Greatest Men's College Basketball Games

The best Men's College Basketball games, ranked by Game Score, with a clip where one exists.

Top 50 games by Game Score · MetroAreas workbook

Ranked by Game Score

NCAA tournament games, ranked by Game Score, with the round, venue and result of each. Filter to a decade.

How this is measured

Every postseason game earns a Game Score that blends how much was at stake (round and seeding), how good the two teams were (rating), and how close and consequential the game itself turned out to be. The result is a single number that lets a first-round upset and a Game 7 classic sit on the same ladder. Methodology.

Featured games

1992 East Regional Final#1

CBB

Duke 104-103 (OT) Kentucky

Laettner's turnaround beats the buzzer.

Game video

1979 NCAA Championship#3

CBB

Michigan State 75-64 Indiana State

Magic vs. Bird; the game that launched the sport.

Game video

2016 NCAA Championship#5

CBB

Villanova 77-74 North Carolina

Jenkins' buzzer-beater answers Paige's miracle.

Game video

Sort by

#1 Duke 104-103 #6 Kentucky (OT)

The Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Elite Eight

1992 · Mar 28, 1992 · Regional Finals

2.78

Game Score

#4 Kansas 75-68 #2 Memphis (OT)

Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas

National Title

2008 · Apr 7, 2008 · Championship Game

2.73

Game Score

#3 Michigan State 75-64 #1 Indiana State

Special Events Center, Salt Lake City-Provo, Utah

National Title

1979 · Mar 26, 1979 · Championship Game

2.72

Game Score

#6 Duke 79-77 #1 UNLV

Hoosier Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana

Final Four

1991 · Mar 30, 1991 · Final Four

2.71

Game Score

#6 Villanova 77-74 #3 North Carolina

NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

National Title

2016 · Apr 4, 2016 · Championship Game

2.63

Game Score

#2 Cincinnati 70-65 #1 Ohio State (OT)

Kansas City Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri

National Title

1961 · Mar 25, 1961 · Championship Game

2.62

Game Score

Texas Western 72-65 #1 Kentucky

Cole Field House, Washington-Baltimore, Maryland

National Title

1966 · Mar 19, 1966 · Championship Game

2.59

Game Score

#16 North Carolina State 54-52 #1 Houston

University Arena, Albuquerque, New Mexico

National Title

1983 · Apr 4, 1983 · Championship Game

2.51

Game Score

#3 Connecticut 77-74 #1 Duke

Tropicana Field, Tampa, Florida

National Title

1999 · Mar 29, 1999 · Championship Game

2.50

Game Score

Villanova 66-64 #1 Georgetown

Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky

National Title

1985 · Apr 1, 1985 · Championship Game

2.49

Game Score

#3 Loyola-Chicago 60-58 #1 Cincinnati (OT)

Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky

National Title

1963 · Mar 23, 1963 · Championship Game

2.43

Game Score

Kentucky 78-76 #2 Wichita State

Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri

2014 · Mar 23, 2014 · Second Round

2.43

Game Score

Show all 50 games

#1 North Carolina State 80-77 #2 UCLA (2OT)

Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro-Winston Salem, North Carolina

Final Four

1974 · Mar 23, 1974 · Final Four

2.42

Game Score

#6 North Carolina 71-65 #2 Gonzaga

University of Phoenix Stadium, Phoenix, Arizona

National Title

2017 · Apr 3, 2017 · Championship Game

2.39

Game Score

#2 Cincinnati 71-59 #1 Ohio State

Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky

National Title

1962 · Mar 24, 1962 · Championship Game

2.38

Game Score

#3 Wisconsin 71-64 #1 Kentucky

Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Final Four

2015 · Apr 4, 2015 · Final Four

2.38

Game Score

#6 North Carolina 75-73 #5 Kentucky

FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee

Elite Eight

2017 · Mar 26, 2017 · Regional Finals

2.37

Game Score

#2 North Carolina 75-70 #1 Illinois

Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

National Title

2005 · Apr 4, 2005 · Championship Game

2.34

Game Score

#5 Kentucky 86-84 #3 Duke

Tropicana Field, Tampa, Florida

Elite Eight

1998 · Mar 22, 1998 · Regional Finals

2.34

Game Score

#1 Kentucky 67-59 #6 Kansas

Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

National Title

2012 · Apr 2, 2012 · Championship Game

2.34

Game Score

George Mason 86-84 #2 Connecticut (OT)

Verizon Center, Washington-Baltimore, DC

Elite Eight

2006 · Mar 26, 2006 · Regional Finals

2.33

Game Score

#2 Kentucky 92-90 #3 Indiana

University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio

Elite Eight

1975 · Mar 22, 1975 · Regional Finals

2.33

Game Score

#5 Michigan State 68-67 #1 Duke

Capital One Arena, Washington-Baltimore, DC

Elite Eight

2019 · Mar 31, 2019 · Regional Finals

2.33

Game Score

#1 UCLA 92-85 #2 Kentucky

San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California

National Title

1975 · Mar 31, 1975 · Championship Game

2.32

Game Score

Hampton 58-57 #10 Iowa State

Boise State University Pavilion, Boise, Idaho

2001 · Mar 15, 2001 · First Round

2.31

Game Score

#7 Connecticut 73-72 #1 Duke

Capital One Arena, Washington-Baltimore, DC

Elite Eight

2026 · Mar 29, 2026 · Regional Finals

2.31

Game Score

Cleveland State 83-79 #16 Indiana

Carrier Dome, Syracuse, New York

1986 · Mar 14, 1986 · First Round

2.30

Game Score

#2 Houston 70-67 #1 Duke

Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas

Final Four

2025 · Apr 5, 2025 · Final Four

2.29

Game Score

#1 UCLA 76-72 San Francisco

Gill Coliseum, Portland, Oregon

Elite Eight

1964 · Mar 14, 1964 · Regional Finals

2.29

Game Score

#13 Syracuse 81-78 #6 Kansas

Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

National Title

2003 · Apr 7, 2003 · Championship Game

2.27

Game Score

#6 Kansas 64-62 #7 Ohio State

Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Final Four

2012 · Mar 31, 2012 · Final Four

2.27

Game Score

Lehigh 75-70 #8 Duke

Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro-Winston Salem, North Carolina

2012 · Mar 16, 2012 · First Round

2.25

Game Score

#1 Duke 81-78 #5 Indiana

Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Final Four

1992 · Apr 4, 1992 · Final Four

2.23

Game Score

#7 Connecticut 79-78 #6 Duke

Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas

Final Four

2004 · Apr 3, 2004 · Final Four

2.22

Game Score

#11 Kentucky 62-60 #1 Ohio State

Prudential Center, New York, New Jersey

Sweet 16

2011 · Mar 25, 2011 · Regional Semifinals

2.22

Game Score

#4 Kansas 85-81 #9 Duke

CenturyLink Center, Omaha-Lincoln, Nebraska

Elite Eight

2018 · Mar 25, 2018 · Regional Finals

2.22

Game Score

LSU 59-57 #3 Kentucky

The Omni, Atlanta, Georgia

Elite Eight

1986 · Mar 22, 1986 · Regional Finals

2.22

Game Score

Princeton 59-55 #8 Arizona

Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California

2023 · Mar 16, 2023 · First Round

2.21

Game Score

UCLA 77-71 #1 DePaul

University Activity Center, Phoenix, Arizona

1980 · Mar 9, 1980 · Second Round

2.20

Game Score

Siena 80-78 #13 Stanford

Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro-Winston Salem, North Carolina

1989 · Mar 16, 1989 · First Round

2.20

Game Score

#1 Indiana 65-56 #2 Marquette

Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Elite Eight

1976 · Mar 20, 1976 · Regional Finals

2.20

Game Score

#1 North Carolina 54-53 #2 Kansas (3OT)

Kansas City Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri

National Title

1957 · Mar 23, 1957 · Championship Game

2.20

Game Score

#3 Baylor 86-70 #1 Gonzaga

Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

National Title

2021 · Apr 5, 2021 · Championship Game

2.20

Game Score

#15 Arizona 84-79 #5 Kentucky (OT)

RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana

National Title

1997 · Mar 31, 1997 · Championship Game

2.19

Game Score

Kentucky 74-69 #5 Louisville

Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Sweet 16

2014 · Mar 28, 2014 · Regional Semifinals

2.19

Game Score

Georgia State 57-56 #16 Baylor

Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida

2015 · Mar 19, 2015 · First Round

2.18

Game Score

#1 Ohio State 74-64 #3 Kentucky

Iowa Field House, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Elite Eight

1962 · Mar 17, 1962 · Regional Finals

2.17

Game Score

#15 Arizona 85-82 #1 Kansas

Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center, Birmingham (AL), Alabama

Sweet 16

1997 · Mar 21, 1997 · Regional Semifinals

2.17

Game Score

#3 Florida 65-63 #2 Houston

Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas

National Title

2025 · Apr 7, 2025 · Championship Game

2.17

Game Score

North Carolina 81-77 #9 Duke

Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Final Four

2022 · Apr 2, 2022 · Final Four

2.16

Game Score

#			Round	Match
1	Mar 28, 1992	1992	Regional Finals	#1 Duke 104-103 #6 Kentucky (OT) The Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Elite Eight	2.78
2	Apr 7, 2008	2008	Championship Game	#4 Kansas 75-68 #2 Memphis (OT) Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas National Title	2.73
3	Mar 26, 1979	1979	Championship Game	#3 Michigan State 75-64 #1 Indiana State Special Events Center, Salt Lake City-Provo, Utah National Title	2.72
4	Mar 30, 1991	1991	Final Four	#6 Duke 79-77 #1 UNLV Hoosier Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana Final Four	2.71
5	Apr 4, 2016	2016	Championship Game	#6 Villanova 77-74 #3 North Carolina NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas National Title	2.63
6	Mar 25, 1961	1961	Championship Game	#2 Cincinnati 70-65 #1 Ohio State (OT) Kansas City Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri National Title	2.62
7	Mar 19, 1966	1966	Championship Game	Texas Western 72-65 #1 Kentucky Cole Field House, Washington-Baltimore, Maryland National Title	2.59
8	Apr 4, 1983	1983	Championship Game	#16 North Carolina State 54-52 #1 Houston University Arena, Albuquerque, New Mexico National Title	2.51
9	Mar 29, 1999	1999	Championship Game	#3 Connecticut 77-74 #1 Duke Tropicana Field, Tampa, Florida National Title	2.50
10	Apr 1, 1985	1985	Championship Game	Villanova 66-64 #1 Georgetown Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky National Title	2.49
11	Mar 23, 1963	1963	Championship Game	#3 Loyola-Chicago 60-58 #1 Cincinnati (OT) Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky National Title	2.43
12	Mar 23, 2014	2014	Second Round	Kentucky 78-76 #2 Wichita State Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri	2.43
13	Mar 23, 1974	1974	Final Four	#1 North Carolina State 80-77 #2 UCLA (2OT) Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro-Winston Salem, North Carolina Final Four	2.42
14	Apr 3, 2017	2017	Championship Game	#6 North Carolina 71-65 #2 Gonzaga University of Phoenix Stadium, Phoenix, Arizona National Title	2.39
15	Mar 24, 1962	1962	Championship Game	#2 Cincinnati 71-59 #1 Ohio State Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky National Title	2.38
16	Apr 4, 2015	2015	Final Four	#3 Wisconsin 71-64 #1 Kentucky Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana Final Four	2.38
17	Mar 26, 2017	2017	Regional Finals	#6 North Carolina 75-73 #5 Kentucky FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee Elite Eight	2.37
18	Apr 4, 2005	2005	Championship Game	#2 North Carolina 75-70 #1 Illinois Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri National Title	2.34
19	Mar 22, 1998	1998	Regional Finals	#5 Kentucky 86-84 #3 Duke Tropicana Field, Tampa, Florida Elite Eight	2.34
20	Apr 2, 2012	2012	Championship Game	#1 Kentucky 67-59 #6 Kansas Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana National Title	2.34
21	Mar 26, 2006	2006	Regional Finals	George Mason 86-84 #2 Connecticut (OT) Verizon Center, Washington-Baltimore, DC Elite Eight	2.33
22	Mar 22, 1975	1975	Regional Finals	#2 Kentucky 92-90 #3 Indiana University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio Elite Eight	2.33
23	Mar 31, 2019	2019	Regional Finals	#5 Michigan State 68-67 #1 Duke Capital One Arena, Washington-Baltimore, DC Elite Eight	2.33
24	Mar 31, 1975	1975	Championship Game	#1 UCLA 92-85 #2 Kentucky San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California National Title	2.32
25	Mar 15, 2001	2001	First Round	Hampton 58-57 #10 Iowa State Boise State University Pavilion, Boise, Idaho	2.31
26	Mar 29, 2026	2026	Regional Finals	#7 Connecticut 73-72 #1 Duke Capital One Arena, Washington-Baltimore, DC Elite Eight	2.31
27	Mar 14, 1986	1986	First Round	Cleveland State 83-79 #16 Indiana Carrier Dome, Syracuse, New York	2.30
28	Apr 5, 2025	2025	Final Four	#2 Houston 70-67 #1 Duke Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas Final Four	2.29
29	Mar 14, 1964	1964	Regional Finals	#1 UCLA 76-72 San Francisco Gill Coliseum, Portland, Oregon Elite Eight	2.29
30	Apr 7, 2003	2003	Championship Game	#13 Syracuse 81-78 #6 Kansas Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana National Title	2.27
31	Mar 31, 2012	2012	Final Four	#6 Kansas 64-62 #7 Ohio State Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana Final Four	2.27
32	Mar 16, 2012	2012	First Round	Lehigh 75-70 #8 Duke Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro-Winston Salem, North Carolina	2.25
33	Apr 4, 1992	1992	Final Four	#1 Duke 81-78 #5 Indiana Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota Final Four	2.23
34	Apr 3, 2004	2004	Final Four	#7 Connecticut 79-78 #6 Duke Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas Final Four	2.22
35	Mar 25, 2011	2011	Regional Semifinals	#11 Kentucky 62-60 #1 Ohio State Prudential Center, New York, New Jersey Sweet 16	2.22
36	Mar 25, 2018	2018	Regional Finals	#4 Kansas 85-81 #9 Duke CenturyLink Center, Omaha-Lincoln, Nebraska Elite Eight	2.22
37	Mar 22, 1986	1986	Regional Finals	LSU 59-57 #3 Kentucky The Omni, Atlanta, Georgia Elite Eight	2.22
38	Mar 16, 2023	2023	First Round	Princeton 59-55 #8 Arizona Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California	2.21
39	Mar 9, 1980	1980	Second Round	UCLA 77-71 #1 DePaul University Activity Center, Phoenix, Arizona	2.20
40	Mar 16, 1989	1989	First Round	Siena 80-78 #13 Stanford Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro-Winston Salem, North Carolina	2.20
41	Mar 20, 1976	1976	Regional Finals	#1 Indiana 65-56 #2 Marquette Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Elite Eight	2.20
42	Mar 23, 1957	1957	Championship Game	#1 North Carolina 54-53 #2 Kansas (3OT) Kansas City Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri National Title	2.20
43	Apr 5, 2021	2021	Championship Game	#3 Baylor 86-70 #1 Gonzaga Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana National Title	2.20
44	Mar 31, 1997	1997	Championship Game	#15 Arizona 84-79 #5 Kentucky (OT) RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana National Title	2.19
45	Mar 28, 2014	2014	Regional Semifinals	Kentucky 74-69 #5 Louisville Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana Sweet 16	2.19
46	Mar 19, 2015	2015	First Round	Georgia State 57-56 #16 Baylor Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida	2.18
47	Mar 17, 1962	1962	Regional Finals	#1 Ohio State 74-64 #3 Kentucky Iowa Field House, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Elite Eight	2.17
48	Mar 21, 1997	1997	Regional Semifinals	#15 Arizona 85-82 #1 Kansas Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center, Birmingham (AL), Alabama Sweet 16	2.17
49	Apr 7, 2025	2025	Championship Game	#3 Florida 65-63 #2 Houston Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas National Title	2.17
50	Apr 2, 2022	2022	Final Four	North Carolina 81-77 #9 Duke Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana Final Four	2.16

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Where these numbers come from

Game Score and game data are maintained per league in the MetroAreas workbook and emitted to the sport's data files at build time. Scores are calibrated per sport, so a 3.6 in baseball is not a 3.6 in basketball. A cross-sport scale is a future build, not a claim this page makes.