The Most Frequent Matchups in NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament History
The NCAA tournament has turned repeat matchups into something fans track year after year, mainly because these pairings keep producing big storylines and plenty of bragging rights. With the tournament running since 1939, the field has witnessed thousands of games, so it’s no surprise that specific teams encounter each other more often than expected. These are 10 of the most frequent and memorable repeat meetings based on decades of tournament play.
Duke vs. Kansas (5)
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Duke and Kansas have met five times in officially recognized NCAA Tournament games, stretching from their 1986 Final Four matchup to the 2003 Sweet 16. Duke claimed the first meeting in 1986, while Kansas evened things with a 69–65 win in the 2003 Sweet 16. A later Kansas victory in 2018 was vacated and does not count in the official total. When these programs meet in March, the matchup usually reflects the moment, since both teams tend to arrive as legitimate title contenders.
Michigan State vs. North Carolina (6)
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The history between these two teams is like a timeline of changing eras in college basketball. The six tournament games between these teams include two Final Four clashes, a national title game in 2009, and a recent meeting in 2024 that extended a rivalry dating back to 1957. North Carolina won the opener in triple overtime, took the 2009 title game, and added the most recent win in 2024, finishing with an 85–69 record.
Kentucky vs. Utah (6)
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Utah faced Kentucky six times, and the meetings often came at tough moments for the Utes. Kentucky opened the series with an 83–62 win in the 1993 Second Round. The matchup continued into the 2005 Sweet 16, where Kentucky again controlled the game.
Kentucky vs. Ohio State (6)
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Their rivalry began in the 1945 First Round, when Ohio State won 45–37. Kentucky evened things out over the decades and sealed the latest result in the 2011 Sweet 16 with a 62–60 win. Each era saw a different style of play, but both programs consistently delivered tightly contested games.
Arkansas vs. North Carolina (6)
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The six NCAA tournament matchups between these programs stretch from the 1990 Sweet 16 to the 2017 Second Round. Arkansas opened the rivalry with a decisive win in the 1990 Sweet 16. North Carolina steadied the matchup in later years and earned the most recent victory in the 2017 Second Round.
San Francisco vs. UCLA (7)
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San Francisco, led by Bill Russell, won the first two in 1956 and 1963. UCLA then took over and captured the next five games, including those in 1964 and 1965, during its run of dominance. Their last battle came in 1979, when UCLA won 99–81. Overall, seven meetings take this rivalry back to the early days of the tournament.
North Carolina vs. Villanova (7)
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Seven matchups shape this series, and UNC leads 5–2, though Villanova owns two unforgettable wins. Every meeting carried weight, especially when titles were at stake. The 1985 Elite Eight victory propelled Villanova to its title run, and the 2016 National Championship ended with a buzzer-beater that set the building off.
Kansas vs. North Carolina (7)
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Their first clash came on the biggest stage in 1957 when North Carolina edged Kansas 54–53 in triple overtime for the national title. Kansas shifted the momentum in later decades and capped its surge with a 72–69 comeback win in the 2022 National Championship.
Duke vs. Michigan State (7)
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The series opened in the 1994 Second Round, establishing a pattern of high-stakes meetings that would recur. Duke holds a 5–2 tournament lead and has won the Final Four in 1999 and 2015. Michigan State broke through in the 2019 Elite Eight, and the 2022 showdown added another tight chapter to the pairing.
Kentucky vs. Marquette (10)
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Across 10 tournament games spanning more than five decades, this matchup stands as the most common in NCAA tournament history, featuring a series led 6–4 by Marquette. Marquette delivered the unforgettable 2003 Elite Eight win, powered by Dwyane Wade’s triple-double. Their history spans from 1955 to 2008 and provides both programs with a long track record of games that have shaped tournament paths and fan memories.