Seven Teams Who Dominated NCAA Basketball With Unbeaten Championship Runs

The 2021 March Madness tournament is drawing to an end. With the last three games left, it has been a very entertaining tournament so far. The favorites Gonzaga Bulldogs are eyeing to become the first team in over four decades to win the NCAA basketball title after an undefeated season. Let’s look at the seven teams who have pulled this off in the past.

The 1955-56 San Francisco Dons

The San Francisco Dons were the first team to achieve this feat. Hall of Famer Bill Russell was the star of the show, averaging a ridiculous 20.6 points and 21 rebounds per game. In the previous season, they went 28-1 but won the title, so they improvised in the following season by going 29-0, with a win over the Iowa Hawkeyes in the final.

The 1956-57 North Carolina Tar Heels

Long before Michael Jordan took over, Lennie Rosenbluth was tearing it up for the UNC Tar Heels. Averaging 28 points and 8.8 rebounds, he led the team to a 32-0 season. It was their first-ever NCAA title, and it was a thriller, as they beat Kansas in the final by just one point.

The 1963-64 UCLA Bruins

The UCLA Bruins were a dominant team in the 60s and 70s. This was their first title win in college history, and it came after a terrific 30-0 season. They finished the season with a blowout win over Duke to claim the NCAA championship. It also marked the beginning of an outstanding tenure under the legendary coach John Wooden.

The 1966-67 UCLA Bruins

Since freshmen weren’t allowed to play back in the day, this season marked the debut of sophomore Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Arguably the greatest NCAA player of all-time, Kareem led the Bruins averaging 29 points and 15.5 rebounds per game. They went 30-0 and beat Dayton in the final to get their third title in four years.

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The 1971-72 UCLA Bruins

Kareem was succeeded by Sidney Wicks, and after his departure, Bill Walton rose to the scene. This was his debut season, and he averaged 21.1 points and 15.5 rebounds, as the Bruins went on a 30-0 season.

The 1972-73 UCLA Bruins

Despite winning eight titles in nine years, the Bruins wanted more. Following a masterclass from Walton in the final against Memphis State, UCLA won their seventh consecutive title and continued their dominant streak.

The 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers

The most recent team to do it, the Indiana Hoosiers, were on a roll in the 1975-76 season. Led by the legendary coach Bob Knight, the Hoosiers were unstoppable. They went 30-0 in the season and defeated Michigan in the Final to win their third title.

All of these teams have etched themselves in history with these sensational seasons. Can the Gonzaga Bulldogs win their next two games and make NCAA basketball history?

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