Kentucky's record in each round of the NCAA tournament

(updated through 2017 Sweet 16 win over UCLA)

If you're here, you probably know...UK has the most wins in NCAA basketball history, AND the most tournament wins.

But let's get to the specific point of this post...wins in each round of the tournament.

It's important to note the changes in format, since the tournament began in 1939.  Bold years below signify major expansions (adding a round for some/all teams).

1939: 8 teams (all teams play at least 3 rounds)
1951: 16 teams (all teams play at least 4 rounds)
1953: 22 teams
1954: 24 teams
1956: 25 teams
1957: 23 teams
1958: 24 teams
1959: 23 teams
1960: 25 teams
1961: 24 teams
1962: 25 teams
1964: 26 teams
1965: 23 teams
1966: 22 teams
1967: 23 teams
1969: 25 teams
1975: 32 teams (all teams play at least 5 rounds)
1979: 40 teams 
1980: 48 teams
1983: 52 teams
1984: 53 teams
1985: 64 teams (all teams play at least 6 rounds)
2001: 65 teams (play-in added)
2011: 68 teams

So, how has UK fared in specific rounds?

Round of 64 (6-round tournament for all teams since 1985, but UK also had to play First Round in 1982): 25-3
Wins: 1985, 1986, 1988 (vacated), 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Losses: 1982, 1987, 2008

Round of 32 (since 1975): 25-7
Wins: 1975, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988 (vacated), 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017
Losses: 1981, 1994, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2016

Sweet 16 (only existed since 1951): 33-9
Wins: 1951, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017
Losses: 1955, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1971, 1980, 1985, 1988 (vacated), 2001, 2002

Elite 8 (existed since 1939): 17-19
Wins: 1942, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1966, 1975, 1984, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015
Losses: 1945, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1961, 1962, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1983, 1986, 1992, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2010

National Semifinals: 12-5
Wins: 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1966, 1975, 1978, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2012, 2014
Losses: 1942, 1984, 1993, 2011, 2015

Championship Games: 8-4
Wins: 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1978, 1996, 1998, 2012
Losses: 1966, 1975, 1997, 2014

Note: UK has also played in six consolation games...
1945: WIN over Tufts
1955: WIN over Penn State
1959: WIN over Marquette
1964: LOSS to Loyola (Chicago)
1969: WIN over Miami (Ohio)
1971: LOSS to Marquette

Overall record, NOT including consolation games: 120-47

Overall record, including consolation games: 124-49