March Madness 2017: Who's Won The Most National Championships?

The one men’s basketball program that’s by far claimed the most national championships in history has also been labeled one of the favorites to win it all in 2017. Though it’s been nearly 22 years since they last tasted national glory, the UCLA Bruins stand well above the rest of the country’s top programs when it comes to crowns.

Led by star freshman guard Lonzo Ball, the No. 3 seeded Bruins have been given the fifth-best odds to claim this year’s championship at +1000. They were knotted with No. 2 seed Kentucky, in terms of odds, with the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils and the No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels had the most favorable odds at +600, followed by the No. 2 Arizona Wildcats +700 and No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks at +700, according to Bovada.lv. The No. 1 and defending champion Villanova Wildcats were next up at +800, then the No. 1 Gonzaga Bulldogs at +900.

Read: What Channel Is TruTV?

But even if odds makers wind up being correct, and UCLA doesn’t win it all this year, no men’s college program can catch the Bruins all-time titles record this year. Or even in the next three years.

Here’s a graphic breaking down each school’s national titles, total tournament and Final Four appearances.

UCLA has won 11 national championships, with the last coming in 1995 when it defeated Arkansas. Though they’ve experienced quite a title drought for more than two decades, no other squad’s been able to catch up to the Bruins.

The vast majority of UCLA’s titles came between 1964 and 1975, when it claimed 10 championships over the 12 seasons, thanks to Hall of Fame head coach John Wooden as well as star centers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton.

Read: Print Out Your March Madness 2017 Bracket

After the Bruins, Kentucky was next up on the all-time list with eight national titles. But the Wildcats have had some more recent success, securing 2012’s championship and the first for head coach John Calipari.

The Indiana Hoosiers, who were not selected for this year’s tournament, Duke and North Carolina, are tied up at five titles apiece.

Needless to say, UCLA’s record will stand up for at least next few years.