College Basketball's 25 Most Prestigious Programs
Here's a good offseason top 25 for you. What are the top 25 most storied programs in the game?
I'm sure many of you will disagree with my rankings, but that's OK because, really, the part that cannot be argued is the top seven. After that, the debate is clearly on.
How do we rate the most prestigious programs? Is it championships won? Is it the players that have gone to the NBA and done well? Does it depend on the conference the school is in?
All of these are factors in determining the most prestigious programs in the game's history. Also, the coaches that have walked that school's sidelines is a big factor.
So here are my top 25.
No. 25 Arkansas Razorbacks
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Checking in at No. 25 are the Arkansas Razorbacks. Their resume includes six Final Four trips, two national championship game appearances and winning the 1994 national championship. Twenty-four former Hogs have been or are currently in the NBA. Perhaps the greatest player among these is Sidney Moncrief, who was a star for the Milwaukee Bucks for many years in the 1980s.
No. 24 Houston Cougars
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The Houston Cougars check in at No. 24 on the list. When you think Houston, you have to think of Phi Slamma Jamma. The Cougars are more than just that era, however.
Houston also had Elvin Hayes and beat UCLA at the Astrodome. It was, at the time, the largest basketball crowd ever. And to beat UCLA back then was quite a feat.
But the Phi Slamma Jamma days were the pinnacle of Houston Hoops. Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon were the stars of those teams.
Hayes, Drexler and Olajuwon all went on to become huge NBA stars.
Houston has made five Final Fours and two national championship games in its illustrious history.
No. 23 Illinois Illini
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At No. 23, we have Illinois. Illinois has made five Final Four appearances. What is impressive about the Illini is that they have been able to spread them out. Their first one was in 1942. The most recent was 2005.
Notable players include Bulls legend Johnny "Red" Kerr, Nick Anderson, See Brown and Kendall Gill.
The Illini have been to the Sweet 16 10 times, advanced to the Elite Eight in nine of those and the Final Four in five.
No. 22 UNLV Runnin Rebels
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The Runnin' Rebs check in at No. 22 on the list. Under Jerry Tarkanian, they were a dominant force for many years. UNLV won the 1990 national championship with a 30-point blowout of a good Duke team. In fact, those Dukies went on to win the next two titles in 1991 and 1992 and made the national title game again in 1994.
The Rebs have appeared in four Final Fours in their history.
Notable players include:
Reggie Theus
Sidney Green
Larry Johnson
Armon Gilliam
Stacey Augmon
Greg Anthony
No. 21 Marquette Eagles
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Marquette checks in at No. 21 on the list. The Warriors/Eagles have had a couple of great eras in their history. The Al Maguire Era and the 2000s were the heydays.
The greatest was during the run of Al Maguire, who led them to the 1977 NCAA tournament title. Maguire coached them from 1964-1977. During that time, Marquette made the Sweet 16 eight times.
Marquette has been to three Final Fours and six Elite Eights. The most recent Final Four was in 2003, when a guy named Dwyane Wade led them. The Eagles have been to the NCAA tournament every year since 2006.
No. 20 Villanova Wildcats
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At No. 20, we have the first group of Wildcats—Villanova.
Villanova is most famous for winning the 1985 national championship over a powerful Georgetown team. Rollie Massimino was a legendary coach at 'Nova who led the Cats to 11 NCAA tournaments. His greatest year, of course, was 1985, when he led the underdog eighth-seeded Cats to the title.
Villanova has been to the Elite Eight 12 times and the Final Four four times (their 1971 trip has since been vacated). Their first trip the the Final Four was the very first one in 1939. The most recent trip was in 2009. That's longevity.
No. 19 Michigan Wolverines
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At No. 19, we have the Wolverines of Michigan. Most famous for the "Fab Five" era of Webber, Rose, King, Howard and Jackson, Michigan has a very storied history in basketball.
People think of football when they think Michigan, but here are some of their great hoops accomplishments:
1989 NCAA tournament champions
Four trips to the championship game (although two have been vacated).
Six Final Fours (two vacated)
22 NCAA appearances
21 Michigan players named All-Americans
Some of these players include:
Cazzie Russell
Rudy Tomjanovich
Chris Webber
Glen Rice
Juwan Howard
Jalen Rose
No. 18 Ohio State Buckeyes
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At No.18, we have another school more known for football, Ohio State.
Don't be fooled. The Buckeyes are a basketball powerhouse. They won the 1960 NCAA tournament and have been to the championship game four times.
Ohio State also has been to the Final Four 10 times (one vacated). They were in the first NCAA championship game in 1939, and their most recent trip to the title game was in 2007. Thirteen times the Buckeyes have been to the Sweet 16, including the last two seasons.
Notable players include:
John Havlicek
Jerry Lucas
Jim Jackson
Evan Turner
Greg Oden
Mike Conley
Jared Sullinger
No. 17 Arizona Wildcats
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At No. 17, we have our second group of Wildcats—Arizona.
Arizona won the 1997 NCAA tournament and appeared in the championship game in 2001.
The Cats have made 15 Sweet 16s and nine Elite Eights in their illustrious history.
Lute Olson is a coaching legend. He coached from 1983 to 2007. In those years, the Cats went to four Final Fours, six Elite Eights and 11 Sweet 16s.
Notable players include:
Steve Kerr
Sean Elliott
Damon Stoudamire
Mike Bibby
Miles Simon
Jason Terry
Loren Woods
Luke Walton
Andre Iguodala
No. 16 Syracuse Orange
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Syracuse makes the list at No. 16. The Orange have long been a Big East powerhouse and, of course, a national power.
Led by legendary coach Jim Boeheim, the Orange are always a contender.
The Orange have been to 19 Sweet 16s, seven Elite Eights, four Final Fours, three title games and the 2003 team won the NCAA tournament.
A Keith Smart buzzer-beater kept the Orange from another national title in 1987. In 1996, they lost in the title game to a great Kentucky team that many Wildcats fans feel was their best team ever.
The Orange have a slew of great players to boast of, including:
Carmelo Anthony
Dave Bing
Derrick Coleman
Sherman Douglas
Rony Seikaly
Gerry McNamara
Leo Rautins
Pearl Washington
Danny Schayes
No. 15 Georgetown Hoyas
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At No. 15, we have Georgetown. The Hoyas have been a national power now for the last three decades. They have included some of the game's greatest teams and players.
In the early 1980s, the Hoyas appeared in the national championship game three times between 1982 and 1985. They won it all in 1984.
Georgetown has been to five Final Fours—the most recent one was 2007.
The Hoyas have been a dominant program in the powerful Big East, winning seven Big East tournaments since 1980.
Notable players include:
Patrick Ewing
Sleepy Floyd
Dikembe Mutombo
Alonzo Mourning
Allen Iverson
Jeff Green
Roy Hibbert
No. 14 San Francisco Dons
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At No. 14, we have the San Francisco Dons. Many of you are saying "who?" But the Dons were once a very powerful program.
The Dons won back-to-back NCAA tournament titles in 1955 and 1956. They also went to the Final Four in 1957.
San Fran has seven Elite Eights and 11 Sweet 16s in their history. Although they have only made one NCAA tournament since 1982, they were no joke before that.
Notable players include:
Bill Russell
KC Jones
Bill Cartwright
Ollie Johnson
Quinton Dailey
No. 13 Oklahoma State Cowboys
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Oklahoma State is at No. 13 on the list. Formerly known as Oklahoma A&M when they won back-to-back national titles in 1945 and 1946, the Cowboys have a long and illustrious basketball history.
They have reached the Final Four six times and the Elite Eight 11 times. Two of the game's greatest coaches, Henry Iba and Eddie Sutton, have coached at OSU.
The program has overcome tragedy. In 2001, a plane crash killed 10 members of the team. By 2004, the Cowboys had recovered and were in the Final Four.
Notable players include:
Doug Gottlieb
Don Haskins
Byron Houston
Bryant Reeves
Bill Self
John Starks
No. 12 Cincinnati Bearcats
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At No. 12, we have the Cincinnati Bearcats.
Cincy won back-to-back national championships in 1961 and 1962. They were the runner up in 1963.
The Bearcats were also in the Final Four in 1959 and 1960. That's a five-year run as good as just about anybody in the game's history not named UCLA.
They have been to nine Sweet 16s in their history and seven Elite Eights. They were also in the 1992 Final Four to go along with the five straight from 1959-63.
Notable players include:
Oscar Robertson
Kenyon Martin
Jason Maxiell
Lance Stephenson
No. 11 North Carolina State Wolfpack
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At No. 11, we have North Carolina State. Who can forget their incredible run through the NCAA tournamnet in 1983, when they upset the Houston Cougars?
Who can forget Jim Valvano running around looking for someone to hug? Who can forget Jimmy V's courageous fight with cancer and his famous ESPY speech?
And how about the early 70s Wolfpack teams that finally slayed the dragon known as UCLA?
The Pack won the NCAA tournament in 1974 and 1983. They have been to three Final Fours. They have been to six Elite Eights and nine Sweet 16s.
Notable players include:
David Thompson
Thurl Bailey
Sidney Lowe
Derek Whittenburg
Vinny Del Negro
Chris Corchiani
Tom Burleson
Monte Towe
Tom Gugliotta
No. 10 Florida Gators
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At No. 10, we have the Florida Gators. Wait? Florida? The football school? Yes, that's right. Florida is one of the top basketball schools in the nation.
The Gators have won two NCAA tournaments (2006, 2007).
Florida has been to three NCAA championship games, four Final Fours, five Elite Eights and seven Sweet 16s. All of this has been since 1987, when UF made its first NCAA tournament appearance. Florida has had 13 straight 20-win seasons under Billy Donovan, who is well on his way to legendary status.
Notable players include:
Neal Walk
Udonis Haslem
Matt Bonner
Joakim Noah
Al Horford
Corey Brewer
David Lee
Taurean Green
Lee Humphrey
Marrese Speights
Chandler Parsons
Jason Williams
Vernon Maxwell
No. 9 Louisville Cardinals
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At No. 9, we have the Louisville Cardinals. The Cards have had an illustrious basketball tradition in one of the most basketball-mad states in the country. Although they are the "little brother" in their own state, the Cards are one of the premier programs in the nation.
The Cards list of accomplishments includes the NCAA championship twice (1980, 1986).
They have been to eight Final Fours and 23 Sweet 16s.
Notable players include:
Pervis Ellison
Milt Wagner
Wes Unseld
Felton Spencer
Earl Clark
Derrick Carracter
Lancaster Gordon
LaBradford Smith
No. 8 Michigan State Spartans
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Michigan State cracks the list at No. 8. The Spartans are a dominant force in the game today, and have been for the past 15 years.
State has won two NCAA titles (1979, 2000).
The Spartans were also the runners up in 2009. They have been to eight Final Fours (six since 1998).
They have also been to 11 Elite Eights and 15 Sweet 16s.
They are coached by Tom Izzo, who is a legend and has a lot of years left to go.
Notable players include:
Magic Johnson
Greg Kelser
Jay Vincent
Scott Skiles
Steve Smith
Sam Vincent
Kevin Willis
Zach Randolph
Morris Peterson
Mateen Cleaves
No. 7 Connecticut Huskies
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At No. 7, we have this year's champs, the UConn Huskies. The Huskies have now won three NCAA Tournament titles—all since 1999 (1999, 2004, 1011).
The Huskies have been to four Final Fours, 10 Elite Eights (nine since 1990) and 16 Sweet 16s.
The past two decades have seen UConn become one of the greatest programs in the game's history. They are one of only seven schools with three NCAA tournament Titles. Jim Calhoun will go down as one of the coaching greats of all-time.
Notable players include:
Ray Allen
Richard Hamilton
Kemba Walker
Emeka Okafor
Cliff Robinson
Donyell Marshall
No. 6 Kansas Jayhawks
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Kansas is at No. 6 on the list. The Jayhawks are truly one of the game's most storied programs. A three-time NCAA tournament winner (1952, 1988, 2008), the Jayhawks boast of one of college basketball's best records. They are 2038-799 all-time.
Kansas has been to eight NCAA championship games, 13 Final Fours and 26 Sweet 16s.
Every coach that has been at KU since the start of the NCAA tournament has taken them to the Final Four.
Notable players include:
Wilt Chamberlain
Clyde Lovellette
Nick Collison
Drew Gooden
Paul Pierce
Danny Manning
Brandon Rush
Kirk Hinrich
Jo Jo White
Jaques Vaughn
No. 5 Duke Blue Devils
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At the No. 5 spot, we have the Duke Blue Devils. Duke has been a national powerhouse since the 1980s. Their coach is one of the legends of the game in Mike Krzyzewski.
Coach K has won four NCAA tournaments in his career at Duke. That is a truly remarkable feat considering that Duke is a small private school located eight miles away from one of the nation's true basketball juggernauts, the big state university in Chapel Hill.
Together Duke and North Carolina have become one of sport's greatest rivalries.
The Blue Devils' list of accomplishments includes NCAA titles in 1991, 1992, 2001 and 2010. They also appeared in the championship games in 1964, 1978, 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1999.
Duke has been to 18 Elite Eights, 26 Sweet 16s, and ESPN named them the No. 1 men's program of the modern era.
Notable players include:
Danny Ferry
Christian Laettner
Bobby Hurley
Mike Gminski
Jim Spanarkel
Tommy Amaker
Grant Hill
Shane Battier
Carlos Boozer
Corey Maggette
Elton Brand
Cherokee Parks
Chris Duhon
Seth Curry
Kyle Singler
Nolan Smith
J.J. Redick
No. 4 Indiana Hoosiers
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Indiana checks in at No. 4. It's easy to forget about them since we haven't heard much from them lately. But make no mistake, this is a sleeping giant that could awaken at any moment and wreak havoc.
No place has a more rabid fanbase in a more basketball-crazed state than Indiana. Look what happens when the Hoosiers find themselves in a down period. A tiny school like Butler becomes the beneficiary and finds itself in two straight title games. Imagine what will happen when the big dog wakes up.
Indiana boasts of one of the game's greatest accomplishments. They have won five NCAA tournaments (1940,1953,1976,1981,and 1987).
The Hoosiers also have had a national runner up in 2002. They have been to the Final Four eight times, the Elite Eight 11 times and the Sweet 16 19 times. Unfortunately for Hoosier fans, none of this has been since 2002.
The Hoosiers haven't been in the tournament since 2008. They also missed it in 2004 and 2005.
Notable players include:
Dick Van Arsdale
Tom Van Arsdale
Kent Benson
Scott May
Quinn Buckner
Isiah Thomas
Landon Turner
Randy Wittman
Steve Alford
Calbert Cheaney
Keith Smart
Eric Gordon
No. 3 Kentucky Wildcats
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The Kentucky Wildcats make three sets of Wildcats in our top 25. They are clearly the top cat.
Over 2,000 wins in their storied history (the first to reach that mark) and seven NCAA tournament championships are among the school's proud achievements.
UK is known for perhaps the most loyal and passionate fans in the game. Wherever the Cats play, there is a sea of blue in the stands. Whether it's Maui in November or Atlanta in March, the Big Blue Nation snatches up the tickets.
Kentucky won the NCAA tournament in 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1978, 1996, and 1998. They were the runner-up in 1966, 1975, and 1997.
UK has been to 14 Final Fours, an astonishing 33 Elite Eights and 42 Sweet 16s. Amazing.
Notable players include:
Louie Dampier
Frank Ramsey
Dan Issel
Pat Riley
Kyle Macy
Rick Robey
Jack Givens
Kevin Grevey
Sam Bowie
Kenny Walker
Jamal Mashburn
Tayshaun Prince
Rex Chapman
Keith Bogans
Chuck Hayes
John Pelfrey
Rajon Rondo
John Wall
Demarcus Cousins
Patrick Patterson
No. 2 North Carolina Tar Heels
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North Carolina checks in at No. 2 on the list. Truly one of the game's greatest national powers, the Heels have won five NCAA tournaments and over 2,000 games.
Their national championships include 1957, 1982, 1993, 2005 and 2009. UNC has also been national runner-up four times (1946, 1968, 1977,1981).
The Heels have been in the Final Four an amazing 18 times. They have 25 Elite Eights and 31 Sweet 16s.
Some of the greatest players in the game have come from UNC, including the greatest player of all-time, Michael Jordan. The Heels have had no real down periods either. The1958-1966 stretch was the longest they've been without a Final Four appearance.
Notable players include:
Michael Jordan
James Worthy
Sam Perkins
Jerry Stackhouse
Antawn Jamison
Vince Carter
Tyler Hansbrough
Mich Kupchak
J. R. Reid
Mike O'Koren
Eric Montross
Rick Fox
Brad Daugherty
Kenny Smith
Bobby Jones
No. 1 UCLA Bruins
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And the all-time greatest college basketball program is none other than UCLA.
UCLA dominated the sport like few teams have dominated at any sport for over a decade. UCLA has won 11 NCAA tournaments. All of them came between 1964 and 1975, except for their last one in 1995.
The Bruins won every NCAA tournament between 1964 and 1975 except for 1966 (Glory Road) and 1974.
Their record in Final Four games is unparalleled. They have 18 Final Four appearances. Thirteen times, they have advanced to the championship game. Eleven times, they won it all.
UCLA is currently on a three-game losing streak in Final Four games. The Bruins won 24 of 26 Final Four games at one point. In games that matter, they are 24-6 all-time in the Final Four.
They were once in 10 consecutive Final Fours (1967-1976). They once won 88 consecutive games (a men's record). They have four perfect seasons. They've made a Final Four appearance in every decade since the 1960s.
Notable players include:
Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
Bill Walton
Sidney Wicks
Henry Bibby
Larry Farmer
Marques Johnson
Gail Goodrich
Ed O'Bannon
Tyus Edney
Kiki Vandeweghe
Reggie Miller
Kevin Love
Aaron Afflalo
Jordan Farmar
Jamal Wilkes
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