This is a summary of how far the #1 team in the final AP men's basketball poll made it in the NCAA Tournament since the field was expanded to 64 teams in 1984-85 (no tournament in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
| Season |
Final #1 |
Round |
Result |
| 2021 |
Gonzaga |
National Championship |
L 86-70 vs #3 Baylor |
| 2019 |
Duke |
Regional Final |
L 68-67 vs #5 Michigan State |
| 2018 |
Virginia |
First Round |
L 74-54 vs #16 UMBC |
| 2017 |
Villanova |
Second Round |
L 65-62 vs #8 Wisconsin |
| 2016 |
Kansas |
Regional Final |
L 64-59 vs #2 Villanova |
| 2015 |
Kentucky |
National Semifinal |
L 71-64 vs #1 Wisconsin |
| 2014 |
Florida |
National Semifinal |
L 63-53 vs #7 Connecticut |
| 2013 |
Gonzaga |
Regional Semifinal |
L 76-70 vs #9 Wichita State |
| 2012 |
Kentucky |
National Championship |
W 67-59 vs #2 Kansas |
| 2011 |
Ohio State |
Regional Semifinal |
L 62-60 vs #4 Kentucky |
| 2010 |
Kansas |
Second Round |
L 69-67 vs #9 Northern Iowa |
| 2009 |
Louisville |
Regional Final |
L 64-52 vs #2 Michigan State |
| 2008 |
North Carolina |
National Semifinal |
L 84-66 vs #1 Kansas |
| 2007 |
Ohio State |
National Championship |
L 84-75 vs #1 Florida |
| 2006 |
Duke |
Regional Semifinal |
L 62-54 vs #4 LSU |
| 2005 |
Illinois |
National Championship |
L 75-70 vs #1 North Carolina |
| 2004 |
Stanford |
Second Round |
L 70-67 vs #8 Alabama |
| 2003 |
Kentucky |
Regional Final |
L 83-69 vs #3 Marquette |
| 2002 |
Duke |
Regional Semifinal |
L 74-73 vs #5 Indiana |
| 2001 |
Duke |
National Championship |
W 82-72 vs #2 Arizona |
| 2000 |
Duke |
Regional Semifinal |
L 87-78 vs #5 Florida |
| 1999 |
Duke |
National Championship |
L 77-74 vs #1 Connecticut |
| 1998 |
North Carolina |
National Semifinal |
L 65-59 vs #3 Utah |
| 1997 |
Kansas |
Regional Semifinal |
L 85-82 vs #4 Arizona |
| 1996 |
Massachusetts |
National Semifinal |
L 81-74 vs #1 Kentucky |
| 1995 |
UCLA |
National Championship |
W 89-78 vs #2 Arkansas |
| 1994 |
North Carolina |
Second Round |
L 75-72 vs #9 Boston College |
| 1993 |
Indiana |
Regional Final |
L 83-77 vs #2 Kansas |
| 1992 |
Duke |
National Championship |
W 71-51 vs #6 Michigan |
| 1991 |
UNLV |
National Semifinal |
L 79-77 vs #2 Duke |
| 1990 |
Oklahoma |
Second Round |
L 79-77 vs #8 North Carolina |
| 1989 |
Arizona |
Regional Semifinal |
L 68-67 vs #4 UNLV |
| 1988 |
Temple |
Regional Final |
L 63-53 vs #2 Duke |
| 1987 |
UNLV |
National Semifinal |
L 97-93 vs #1 Indiana |
| 1986 |
Duke |
National Championship |
L 72-69 vs #2 Louisville |
| 1985 |
Georgetown |
National Championship |
L 66-64 vs #8 Villanova |
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