The Real Prestige Rankings: Part I

• 1 Elite Eight Appearance, 3 Sweet Sixteen Appearances, 16 Missed Tournaments
• ESPN Rank: 67

West Virginia has really only come on as an elite basketball program in the last couple of years.  They have made the Sweet Sixteen in three of the past four seasons, with an Elite Eight appearance in 2005.  From 1993-2004 the Mountaineers made the tournament only once.

49) Mississippi State Bulldogs – Total Points:  252

• 1 Final Four Appearance, 1 Sweet Sixteen Appearance, 16 Missed Tournaments
• ESPN Rank: T-86

Mississippi State achieved the bulk of the success by making the Sweet Sixteen in 1995 and then the Final Four in 1996.  However, they also won all but two of their first round games, which is what put them ahead of West Virginia.

T-47) Notre Dame Fighting Irish – Total Points:  278

• 2 Sweet Sixteen Appearances, 13 Missed Tournaments
• ESPN Rank: T-86

The Irish have participated in the tournament just under half of the years, but have never made it past the round of sixteen.  They failed to qualify for the tournament for ten years in a row from 1991-2000, which hurt their chances to be higher in the rankings greatly.  Notre Dame has advanced the first round in eight of their eleven appearances, putting them among the top 50 teams.

T-47) Virginia Cavaliers – Total Points:  278

• 2 Elite Eight Appearances, 1 Sweet Sixteen Appearance, 13 Missed Tournaments
• ESPN Rank: T-70

Virginia’s win over Albany in the 2007 tournament was the Cavalier’s first tournament victory since the 1995 season, when they made the Elite Eight.  Most of Virginia’s success was sandwiched between their two Elite Eight appearances in 1989 and 1995.

Five first round losses and very little recent success keeps UVA at the bottom of the top 50.

46) Tulsa Golden Hurricane – Total Points:  302

• 1 Elite Eight Appearance, 2 Sweet Sixteen Appearances, 13 Missed Tournaments
• ESPN Rank: 39

Out of all of the top 50 teams, Tulsa is from the lowest rated conference (WAC is the 13th rated conference).  

Almost all of Tulsa’s success came between 1993 and 2004, and they have not been back to the tournament since.  Their high rating can be attributed to the fact that they have made it to at least the second round seven times in the 24-year time frame. 

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