The highlight for Maryland was winning the NCAA Championship in 2002. They won the tournament without playing a game closer than eight points as a No. 1 seed and one of the tournament favorites.
Maryland also reached the Final Four the previous season in 2001 as a No. 3 seed. They lost their semi-final match-up to conference foe and eventual champion Duke, who was a No. 1 seed that year.
The six Sweet Sixteen appearances for the Terrapins is very high. Only the No. 1 ranked team has as many losses in the third round of the NCAA tournament in the last 24 seasons.
13) IllinoisFighting Illini – Total Points: 616
- 1 Championship Game Appearance, 1 Final Four Appearance, 1 Elite Eight Appearances, 3 Sweet Sixteen Appearances, 5 Missed Tournaments
- ESPN Rank: 23
Despite not having won a National Championship, Illinois still is one of the most prestigious college basketball programs in the past 24 seasons. Illinois only has missed out on the tournament five times and has several top finishes.
The best finish for the Fighting Illini was in 2005. They reached the finals of the NCAA tournament as a No. 1 seed with the help of a miraculous comeback to defeated No. 2-seeded Arizona in the Elite Eight. They lost in a close game to another No. 1 seed and extremely talented team, North Carolina.
Illinois also qualified for the Final Four in 1989 as a No. 1 seed. There they lost a two point game to No. 2-seeded and eventual champion Michigan.
12) Texas Longhorns – Total Points: 632
- 1 Final Four Appearance, 3 Elite Eight Appearances, 3 Sweet Sixteen Appearances, 6 Missed Tournaments
- ESPN Rank: 18
Texas also does not have an NCAA championship in the past 24 seasons, or even a championship game appearance. But the Longhorns do have other tournament success to speak of.
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