Remember way back in 2021, when everyone was all abuzz about a men's Final Four (Baylor, Gonzaga, Houston and UCLA) where every team was based west of the Mississippi? Since then, six of the past eight teams to reach national semifinals have come from east of said river.
Who knows, maybe there really are geographic assertions to be made with respect to men's college hoops. In an attempt to find out, let's take a look at the big picture.
We've ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on how many tournament games they've won since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Drawing the start line at the beginning of the so-called modern era frees us from the unbalanced brackets and byes that prevailed through 1984.
As for subsequently vacated wins, well, we're not the NCAA. Those wins are good here. Our motto is if we saw it happen, it happened.
Here's our countdown of states that excel at winning NCAA tournament games.
51. State of Alaska
Tournament wins since 1985: N/A
While no Division I men's programs are located in our 49th state, University of Alaska teams in Anchorage (the Seawolves) and Fairbanks (Nanooks) compete at the D-II level.
49. States of Maine and New Hampshire (tie)
Tournament wins since 1985: 0
No institution hailing from either Maine or New Hampshire has been able to claim so much as a bid since 1985. Then again, there are in total just three such D-I programs. The University of Maine, University of New Hampshire and Dartmouth College are all seeking their first modern-era NCAA tournament invites.
46. States of Delaware, Idaho and South Dakota (tie)
Tournament wins since 1985: 0
While they have all recorded zero wins, the states of Delaware, Idaho and South Dakota at least merit participation trophies. The Delaware Blue Hens have reached six NCAA tournaments since 1985, while the Delaware State Hornets glimpsed March Madness in 2005. Idaho State (1987) and Idaho (1989 and 1990) went dancing, only to fall in the round of 64. South Dakota State is winless in six trips since 2012. Finally, Boise State is still looking for its first NCAA tournament win after eight modern-era tries.
44. States of Hawai'i and Montana (tie)
Tournament wins since 1985: 1
Hats off to the Montana Grizzlies and Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors, who got the job done in the round of 64 in 2006 and 2016, respectively.
42. States of North Dakota and Vermont (tie)
Tournament wins since 1985: 2
North Dakota State and Vermont have each won once in the round of 64 and once in the First Four. The Bison defeated Oklahoma in overtime to reach the 2014 round of 32. Speaking of OT, T.J. Sorrentine memorably drained a 3 "from the parking lot" in the extra session to seal the Catamounts' win over Syracuse in 2005.
41. State of Wyoming
Tournament wins since 1985: 3
Fennis Dembo and Wyoming played their way into the 1987 Sweet 16 with victories over Virginia and UCLA. Win number 3 came in 2002: Josh Davis blocked five shots and the Cowboys stunned a Gonzaga team that entered the round of 64 at 28-3.
40. State of Colorado
Tournament wins since 1985: 5
No team from the Centennial State has reached a regional semifinal since the field expanded in 1985. Still, Colorado appeared in the round of 32 in 1997, 2012 and 2021. Colorado State did so in 1989 and 2013.
39. State of New Mexico
Tournament wins since 1985: 10
Modern-era tournament victories in the Land of Enchantment have been divided on a fairly even basis, with six recorded by New Mexico and four posted by New Mexico State. The Lobos made it to four consecutive rounds of 32 from 1996 to 1999. For their part the Aggies reached the 1992 Sweet 16.
37. States of Minnesota and Nebraska (tie)
Tournament wins since 1985: 12
In each of these states, the wins have all been hoarded by one program. Though the victories in question were later wiped off the books by the NCAA, the Minnesota Golden Gophers were in fact glimpsed in real time at the 1997 Final Four. Conversely, no such asterisks appear on Creighton's track record. The Bluejays came within a basket of reaching a 2023 national semifinal in their own right.
36. State of Mississippi
Tournament wins since 1985: 15
Darryl Wilson, Erick Dampier and Dontae' Jones carried Mississippi State all the way to the 1996 Final Four. Archrival Ole Miss posted its best showing in 2001, when the Rebels earned a No. 3 seed and reached the Sweet 16.
35. State of South Carolina
Tournament wins since 1985: 16
Collaboration is everything in the Palmetto State, with 16 victories spread across no fewer than six programs. Clemson leads the way with eight wins, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 1990. South Carolina adds four victories, and Charleston, Furman (just ask Virginia), Winthrop and Wofford all have one apiece.
34. State of Rhode Island
Tournament wins since 1985: 18
Providence shot what at the time was regarded as a high number of 3s and appeared in the 1987 Final Four. Keep in mind, however, that with 10 wins, the Friars are working hard just to stay ahead of the University of Rhode Island and its eight tournament victories. The Rams made it all the way to the 1998 Elite Eight.
33. State of West Virginia
Tournament wins since 1985: 23
West Virginia University graced the 2010 Final Four under Bob Huggins five years after John Beilein took the Mountaineers as far as the Elite Eight. Further enhancing the state's win total is the upset Marshall posted against No. 4 seed Wichita State in the 2018 round of 64.
32. State of Oregon
Tournament wins since 1985: 24
Dana Altman's Oregon teams won games in five consecutive NCAA tournaments starting in 2013, a run that culminated in the 2017 Final Four. Throw in Oregon State's appearance in the 2021 Elite Eight and you have this respectable total.
31. State of Missouri
Tournament wins since 1985: 25
The Show Me State did its work early in the modern era, with 24 of its 25 wins coming between 1985 and 2014. Highlights include three Elite Eights for the University of Missouri (1994, 2002 and 2009), a Sweet 16 for Missouri State (in 1999 when it was known as Southwest Missouri) and five appearances in the round of 32 for Saint Louis.
30. State of Massachusetts
Tournament wins since 1985: 27
In a run fated to be expunged by the NCAA, Marcus Camby powered the Massachusetts Minutemen to the 1996 Final Four. Boston College reached three Sweet 16s and one Elite Eight between the mid-1980s and the mid-aughts. Harvard got into the act with round of 64 wins in 2013 and 2014. The Bay State's winning came to a close, however, with the surprising victory posted by a 14-19 Holy Cross team in the 2016 round of 68.
29. State of New Jersey
Tournament wins since 1985: 28
This current moment may be a golden age of New Jersey basketball. Saint Peter's played its way to the 2022 Elite Eight. Princeton reached the 2023 Sweet 16. Most improbably of all, Fairleigh Dickinson knocked off No. 1 seed Purdue last March. Then again, all of the above programs are merely following through on precedents set much earlier by Seton Hall. The Pirates pushed Michigan to the 45th minute of the 1989 national title game.
28. State of Georgia
Tournament wins since 1985: 29
If you're impressed with or even surprised by the state of Georgia's ranking here, give 76% of the credit to Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets won 22 tournament games between 1985 and 2010, including a run to the 2004 national championship game. Georgia, Georgia State and Mercer bring this total up to 29.
26. States of Louisiana and Nevada (tie)
Tournament wins since 1985: 30
With UNLV in 1990 we encounter the first modern-era national champion seen in these rankings. In-state rival Nevada claims Sweet 16 banners from 2004 and 2018. Speaking of banners, LSU has two of them from Final Fours in 1986 and 2006.
25. State of Utah
Tournament wins since 1985: 32
The Beehive State punches above its weight in star power. The late Rick Majerus still has coaches poring over YouTube to take notes on what he drew up on D for the Utah Utes on their way to the 1998 national title game. Jimmer Fredette made back-to-back March Madness appearances at BYU in 2010 and 2011. Damian Lillard never graced the dance with Weber State, but the Wildcats previously reached the round of 32 in 1995 and 1999.
24. District of Columbia
Tournament wins since 1985: 37
It's not just Georgetown! Well, it's mostly Georgetown, including the Perfect Game loss to Villanova in the 1985 national final and the 2007 Final Four run. (The Hoyas' 1984 national championship came one year too soon for this ranking.) Just remember George Washington reached the 1993 Sweet 16 as well. Nothing to show thus far from American University after three appearances (2008, 2009 and 2014) or Howard after two (1992, 2023).
23. State of Arkansas
Tournament wins since 1985: 41
Nolan Richardson's "40 minutes of hell" teams at the University of Arkansas won 24 tournament games between 1989 and 1997, including the 1994 national title. Now Eric Musselman is enjoying a run of his own, having taken the Razorbacks to two Elite Eights and three consecutive Sweet 16s.
21. States of Iowa and Maryland (tie)
Tournament wins since 1985: 43
Maryland's flagship university won it all in 2002, and the Terrapins alone account for 35 of the state's 43 victories. Looking beyond College Park, Navy reached the 1986 Elite Eight and UMBC notched a rather memorable win in 2018. The state of Iowa's 43, on the other hand, are more evenly distributed. Iowa State claims 20 (including the 2000 Elite Eight), Iowa has 18 (having appeared in a 1987 regional final) and Ali Farokhmanesh's heroics lifted Northern Iowa into the 2010 Sweet 16.
20. State of Alabama
Tournament wins since 1985: 49
The Alabama Crimson Tide appeared in five Sweet 16s in seven tournaments between 1985 and 1991. Auburn was peaking at that same time, showing up in two consecutive regional semifinals and the 1986 Elite Eight. More recently Nate Oats and Bruce Pearl have been giving their respective fan bases more of the same. UAB also has a 2004 Sweet 16 run to its credit.
18. States of Illinois and Wisconsin (tie)
Tournament wins since 1985: 57
Savor the symmetry. The Illinois Fighting Illini and Wisconsin Badgers lost close contests to ACC blue bloods in the national championship games of 2005 and 2015, respectively. Loyola Chicago and Marquette are Jesuit schools on Lake Michigan pairing 21st-century tournament success with national titles from the 1960s (the Ramblers) or 1970s (Golden Eagles). Bradley and Milwaukee both reached the second weekend in the mid-aughts. (End of symmetry. DePaul, Southern Illinois, Illinois State and Northwestern add 16 victories to the bottom line for the Land of Lincoln.)
17. State of Washington
Tournament wins since 1985: 58
Gonzaga has reached eight consecutive Sweet 16s. A run like that will boost a state's win total even though Washington and Washington State have combined for just one tournament victory since 2012. Then again this particular state win total is also helped along by the Huskies and Cougars combining to make five regional semifinal appearances between 1998 and 2010.
16. State of Virginia
Tournament wins since 1985: 60
That 2019 national title for the Virginia explains just 10% of this big number for the state as a whole. The remainder was a true team effort, starting with 18 non-national-title wins from the Hoos themselves. George Mason and VCU made some noise with Final Four runs in 2006 and 2011, respectively. Richmond played its way to Sweet 16s in 1988 and 2011. Hampton shocked the world as a No. 15 seed in 2001 and Norfolk State followed suit in 2012.
15. State of Connecticut
Tournament wins since 1985: 62
In addition to winning five national championships, what's equally amazing about UConn is the Huskies' hit rate. The only time this program has reached a national semifinal and not won it all was in 2009. Without UConn, the state would have one modern-era tournament win (Yale in 2016).
14. State of Arizona
Tournament wins since 1985: 63
Arizona State reached the 1995 Sweet 16 and has won five other tournament games (including victories in Dayton in 2019 and 2023). The other 56 wins are courtesy of the Arizona Wildcats, including a national title in 1997.
13. State of Tennessee
Tournament wins since 1985: 65
With a national championship game appearance in 2008 (later vacated by the NCAA) and another Final Four run in 1985, Memphis leads the way in the Volunteer State with 28 modern-era tournament wins. Speaking of Volunteers, the University of Tennessee has reached seven Sweet 16s since 1985, most recently just over eight months ago. Vanderbilt has appeared in four regional semifinals. Middle Tennessee surprised No. 2 seed Michigan State in 2016.
12. State of Oklahoma
Tournament wins since 1985: 74
Though the Oklahoma Sooners and Oklahoma State Cowboys have combined to win just three games in the past six tournaments, history suggests this may prove the exception to the rule. OU and OSU have played in five Final Fours since 1985. Tulsa went to the 2000 Elite Eight under Bill Self. Oral Roberts made it to the 2021 Sweet 16.
11. State of New York
Tournament wins since 1985: 85
In the 1985 NCAA tournament, St. John's won four games and Syracuse notched one victory. Since then it's been all about the Orange, to the tune of a national championship (2003) and five Final Fours. The only Empire State program other than Syracuse or the Red Storm to reach a modern-era Sweet 16 was No. 12 seed Cornell in 2010.
10. State of Florida
Tournament wins since 1985: 92
Five different programs from the Sunshine State have played through to the second weekend in the past decade: Florida, Florida State, Florida Gulf Coast and, most recently, Miami and Florida Atlantic. The consecutive titles won by the Gators in 2006 and 2007 set a standard that has remained not only unmatched but unapproached. Over the last 16 years no defending champion has made it as far as the Elite Eight.
9. State of Texas
Tournament wins since 1985: 109
The Lone Star State gets a lift in this category thanks to sheer volume. No fewer than 14 different programs from the state have won tournament games in the modern era. Texas (33 wins), Baylor (19, including the 2021 national championship), Texas Tech (16), Houston (12) and Texas A&M (10) lead the way. Not to be overlooked: UTEP, TCU, Texas Southern, SMU, Stephen F. Austin, Abilene Christian, North Texas, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and UTSA.
8. State of Ohio
Tournament wins since 1985: 113
Ohio State gave Florida a test before falling in the 2007 national final. Since 1985 the Buckeyes have advanced to the Final Four on two other occasions (1999 and 2012). Xavier has reached no fewer than nine modern-era Sweet 16s. Cincinnati heard its name called on 14 consecutive Selection Sundays under Bob Huggins, a run that opened with a Final Four appearance in 1992. Kent State (2002) and Dayton (2014) made trips to the Elite Eight. The Ohio Bobcats came within an overtime of matching that feat (2012).
7. State of Pennsylvania
Tournament wins since 1985: 114
With three national titles to its name (1985, 2016 and 2018), Villanova leads all challengers in the Keystone State by a healthy margin. Then again Temple won 22 tournament games between 1985 and 2001 under John Chaney and graced five Elite Eights. The only thing preventing No. 1 seed Pittsburgh from reaching the 2009 Final Four was a game-winning drive by Nova's Scottie Reynolds. Saint Joseph's earned a No. 1 seed in 2004 and came within a whisker of making that year's national semifinals.
6. State of Indiana
Tournament wins since 1985: 120
The Indiana Hoosiers and Purdue Boilermakers are rivals in every sense, including tournament wins. IU has won 37 times since 1985, including the title in 1987. The Boilers have 35 tournament victories -- but no national title. With help from the estimable likes of Butler (22 wins) and Notre Dame (19), the Hoosier State as a whole has no trouble posting a big number.
5. State of Michigan
Tournament wins since 1985: 121
Michigan State and Michigan together account for all but eight of their state's 121 victories. Within the era tracked here the Spartans won it all in 2000 and also reached seven other Final Fours. The Wolverines cut down the nets in 1989 and played their way through to the national title game on four other occasions.
4. State of Kansas
Tournament wins since 1985: 122
Kansas State and Wichita State together have won 29 times in the tournament since 1985. That's pretty good right there, and in fact would rank No. 28 on this list even without the help of a certain storied program with 93 wins of its own and modern-era titles in 1988, 2008 and 2022. The Kansas Jayhawks have appeared in every NCAA tournament since 1990.
3. State of California
Tournament wins since 1985: 128
While the state of Texas can claim 14 programs that have won in modern-era March Madness, the Golden State wins this particular title with 16 teams. UCLA, Stanford, USC, San Diego State, Cal and Saint Mary's have collectively recorded 113 such victories. The rest have been posted by Loyola Marymount, Pacific, Santa Clara, Fresno State, Pepperdine, San Diego, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly.
2. State of Kentucky
Tournament wins since 1985: 149
Congratulations to Kentucky and Louisville, the winningest modern-era in-state two-team combination in the tournament besides a certain other instate two-team combination (see below). Beyond the Wildcats and the Cardinals, Western Kentucky, Murray State and Morehead State have accounted for 16 collective wins. Not bad at all.
1. State of North Carolina
Tournament wins since 1985: 244
Duke alone has more tournament wins since 1985 (102) than 41 entire states. The University of North Carolina ranks No. 2 on the D-I list at 96. NC State, Wake Forest, Charlotte, Davidson, UNC Asheville, North Carolina A&T and UNC Wilmington round out this gaudy total. The state of North Carolina is No. 1 by a margin of nearly 100 wins over any other state.