UConn Vs. Kentucky Has The Highest Combined Seed Total Of Any National Championship Game Ever
When 7-seed UConn faces 8-seed Kentucky in Monday night's National Championship Game, it will be the highest combination of seeds to ever play in the NCAA Tournament's final game.
UConn was also involved in the previous leader in this category, when they beat Butler in 2011. Here are the highest seeded National Championship Games since the tournament began assigning seeds in 1979.
This year's game is also the first that does not feature a team that was seeded three or higher. Incredibly, there is no Cinderella involved here. Both of these programs are among the best in college basketball history.
Year | Higher Seed | Lower Seed | Seed Total | Game Result |
2014 | 7 Connecticut | 8 Kentucky | 15 | TBD |
2011 | 3 Connecticut | 8 Butler | 11 | 53-41 UConn |
1980 | 2 Louisville | 8 UCLA | 10 | 59-54 Louisville |
1985 | 1 Georgetown | 8 Villanova | 9 | 66-64 Villanova |
1983 | 1 Houston | 6 N.C. State | 7 | 54-52 N.C. State |
1988 | 1 Oklahoma | 6 Kansas | 7 | 83-79 Kansas |
1992 | 1 Duke | 6 Michigan | 7 | 71-51 Duke |
That list includes a few all-time classics, like N.C. State's famous upset of Houston, and 8-seed Villanova knocking off conference rival Georgetown. If Kentucky's other games in this tournament are any indication, Monday's game will be must-see TV.
If Kentucky wins, they would tie for the highest seed to ever win a National Championship with 1985 Villanova. UConn would be the second highest seed ever, and first 7-seed to win the NCAA Tournament.
