Wondering who had the biggest comeback in NCAA basketball championship history? Let's dive in to it!
March Madness has been a beloved American tradition for decades, and we all have fond memories of watching the tournament with family and friends. Every selection Sunday we eagerly fill out our brackets in the hopes of becoming the first person to craft a perfect bracket.
One of the most fun aspects of March Madness is watching the intense crunch time at the end of games. March is jam-packed with buzzer beaters, game winning blocks, and everything in between. There have been some incredible rallies throughout the tournament's history you'd have to see to believe.
Here are the biggest comebacks in NCAA basketball championship history.
Kansas vs. UNC 2022 - 16 point comeback
Final Score: Kansas 72 UNC 69
There has been no bigger comeback in the NCAA championship game than the epic battle between Kansas and UNC in 2022. Both teams are considered 'Blue Bloods" and have some of the biggest fanbases in all of basketball.
Kansas found themselves trailing by 15 at halftime and had a 10% chance of winning the game. They rallied in the second half to pull off the most miraculous comeback in championship history, ultimately defeating UNC by three points in one of the most memorable games in the history of the sport.
Notable Comebacks In Earlier Rounds of March Madness
BYU vs. Iona 2012 - 25 point comeback
First Round
Final Score: 78-72
There is no single comeback in NCAA tournament history that trumps BYU's epic win against IONA in the first round of 2012. That season, Iona had the top rated offense in the country and came out swinging. Their lead blossomed into a massive 25 point advantage that seemed insurmountable. However, BYU pulled off the impossible and currently claim the largest comeback in NCAA history. This could be a record that will stand the test of time.
Duke vs. Maryland 2001 - 22 point comeback
Final Four
Finals Score: 95-84
There are few colleges in the country who are as menacing in March as the great Duke Blue Devils. They consistently are named as tournament favorites and have multiple National Championships to back it up.
In the 2001 Final Four, they found themselves with their back against the wall, down 22 points. They battled all game but still found themselves down 10 points with just minutes to go. However, they pulled off the near-impossible, erasing the deficit and winning the game by an 11 point margin.
Nevada vs. Cincinnati 2018 - 22 point comeback
Round 2
Final Score: 75-73
Cody and Caleb Martin became National icons when the brothers suited up and helped Nevada win a handful of March Madness games. In 2018, they found themselves trailing by 22 in the second round of the tournament. However, Nevada rallied back and with just 9 seconds left nailed a go-ahead basket to solidify one of the greatest comebacks in NCAA history.
Louisville vs. West Virginia 2005 - 20 point comeback
Regional Final
Final Score: 93-85
With Louisville down 13 points at halftime, their great coach Rick Pitino told his squad that he was sure they were going to come back. After the game, he admitted that he was lying. Motivational tactics aside, the Cardinals punched their ticket to the Final Four in this epic overtime game that was led by a cramping, exhausted Larry O'Bannon's 24 points.
I really hope to see Louisville get back to being a contender every March because the tournament is just that much better when the Cards show up. They unfortunately lost in the National Semifinal to #1 seeded Illinois 72-57, falling just short of a National Title.
Which of the games on my biggest comeback in NCAA basketball championship history list were you watching live as it unfolded? Shoot us a tweet @137pm and let us know!
