Top 10 Greatest College Basketball Programs

You've seen the banners. You've watched the buzzer beaters. You've felt the madness in March. Now it's time to decide which college basketball programs truly tower above the rest. This isn't about who had a hot season last year or which team got lucky with a one-and-done superstar. This is about the programs that built legacies brick by brick, season after season, with sold-out arenas, iconic coaches, and enough tournament wins to fill a highlight reel that runs longer than a Final Four pregame show.

These are the schools that don't rebuild, they reload. The ones with fans who treat the regular season like a religion and the tournament like a pilgrimage. Their rosters have read like a who's who of future NBA stars. Their rivalries have fueled decades of trash talk, heartbreak, and court-storming euphoria.

Now it's your turn to decide which programs truly belong at the top. Vote for the ones you believe earned it with grit, consistency, and buckets of wins.

The Top Ten

  1. Kentucky Wildcats

    The Kentucky Wildcats are the athletic teams of the University of Kentucky, located in Lexington, Kentucky. They compete in the Southeastern Conference and are especially known for their successful men's basketball program. The Wildcats' official colors are blue and white.

    In Kentucky, we are proud of what we've done. When we lose, we may get mad and burn couches. Aside from that, we and Louisville have one of the best rivalries, almost like Duke and NC. Overall, we are better in more wins, win percentage, national tournament wins, Final Four wins, Elite Eight and Sweet Sixteen wins, and have been to the tournament the most. So those who say NC or Duke should be at the top are wrong, especially since UCLA won on a terrible system.

    Most wins. Longest active home streak. Spouting out NBA players like it's going out of style. Second most championships (because the majority of UCLA's came from a crummy championship system where they had to play nobody to get to the championship). Cal is constantly bringing in the best recruiting classes and unanimously the most devout fans in basketball. I dare someone to argue with that.

  2. North Carolina Tar Heels

    UNC...greatest of all time. People can talk until their lips fall off about other basketball colleges being the best of all time, but the truth plain and simple is that North Carolina is the greatest basketball college EVER. I love the haters. You hate North Carolina because you are not North Carolina. North Carolina can lose every player on their bench, and still take in incoming players and make it to the Final Four the next year. They are superior.

    UNC and Kentucky are the most consistent college basketball teams over the decades. If you're measuring since the start of the century, then UNC and Duke are at the top. Let's make sure not to discount UNC, Kansas, and Kentucky's pre-NCAA National Championships. UNC is the only team that has won a championship in the past four decades and is constantly competing with teams among the toughest in conference and out.

  3. Duke Blue Devils

    Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. It was originally founded by Methodists and Quakers in the town of Trinity in 1838 before relocating to Durham in 1892.

    In 1924, James Buchanan Duke established The Duke Endowment, leading the institution... read more

    People think that Coach K has an advantage because he has coached the Olympic team three times. It supposedly helps him with his recruiting. I don't think that matters because he won three championships before any of that. Duke's rival UNC has a much bigger advantage. They have the sports media wrapped around their finger, which helps them get out of scandals. Besides, Duke has owned UNC over the past 19 seasons.

    Duke is gaining on Carolina at a rapid pace. They already have more ACC tournament titles and are tied in national titles. All they need now is a couple more Final Fours and to close the shrinking head-to-head gap. I just wonder what will happen after Coach K retires in the next 5-10 years.

  4. Kansas Jayhawks

    The Kansas Jayhawks, commonly referred to as KU, are the athletic teams representing the University of Kansas. They compete in the NCAA Division I and are members of the Big 12 Conference. The Jayhawks are especially known for their successful men's basketball program.

    Most Conference Championships, Most Consecutive Conference Championships, Most Consecutive NCAA Tournament Appearances, Most Olympic Players, Most Consensus All-American Selections, Most Consensus All-American Players, and 2nd Most Wins. The arenas that North Carolina (Smith) and Kentucky (Rupp) play in are named after Kansas basketball players who both won National Championships. The inventor of the game was Kansas's first coach and is buried in Lawrence. Naismith's original rules of the game are housed in Lawrence. Allen Fieldhouse is generally regarded as the greatest arena in college basketball.

  5. UCLA Bruins

    Historically, UCLA basketball started out strong, winning 6 out of 7 conference titles before falling into disarray. Things changed when John Wooden arrived in Westwood in 1948. Since then, UCLA has been virtually dominant in its conference every season, with only one or two notable exceptions, such as the drought from 1998 to 2005. Kentucky is the only school that could even make a legitimate claim to UCLA's basketball crown. Since 1950, the University of Kentucky has been nearly as successful in terms of conference titles. Both schools have had remarkable success in dominating their competition.

    I would give the edge to UCLA. Although it's harder to win championships today, no one else has been able to replicate UCLA's success during the 1960s and 1970s. We're not talking about ancient history. This level of success has never been seen in modern sports. Furthermore, UCLA often doesn't get the proper credit for its consistency over time. While they may not have maintained their standard of National Championships, they hold a record for 54 straight winning seasons and have won the conference title almost every year.

    The biggest wrinkle in their modern history, since 1950, has been the Steve Lavin era. During this time, he won only one conference title, and the furthest he got was the Elite Eight. This was also the period when Arizona took over the Pac-10. However, Lavin was still able to reach the Sweet Sixteen every season under his direction, except for twice (once when they failed to make the NCAA Tournament).

  6. Indiana Hoosiers

    Hailing from Muncie, Indiana, the Ball State Cardinals are the athletic teams representing Ball State University. They compete in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and participate in a range of sports, including men's basketball and women's volleyball.... read more

    Indiana should be no lower than #5 on this list. If I was gonna rank them, I'd say #1 UCLA, #2 Kentucky, #3 North Carolina, #4 Indiana, #5 Duke, with Kansas and a bunch of Big East teams following them. Five National Titles, eight Final Fours, and countless tournament appearances. Beyond championships, there is just something magical about IU and the state of Indiana and basketball. The only other state that comes close is North Carolina.

    Indiana's 1987 NCAA championship team with Steve Alford was THE BOMB! They beat much bigger teams in order to win that year, teams ranked higher than them. I still think IU is a better team when they are made up of in-state players who know and love the tradition of Indiana basketball. We really faltered when they got rid of Bob Knight and Mike Davis went South for players. I know Keith Smart was from the South and was a big factor at the end of the game. There are always exceptions. Still...

  7. UConn Huskies

    The University of Connecticut's athletic program, commonly known as UConn, is based in Storrs, Connecticut. The Huskies compete in the Big East Conference, participating in a wide range of NCAA Division I sports.

    They are especially known for their dominant women's basketball team, which has won... read more

    In the past twenty years alone, UConn has joined the upper echelons of basketball blue bloods.

    One of the best teams over the last 20 years.

  8. Louisville Cardinals

    The Louisville Cardinals are the athletic teams representing the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky. The Cardinals compete in NCAA Division I sports and are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They are particularly known for their basketball and football programs, which have achieved... read more

    Hard to believe Louisville and Kentucky are seeded where they are on the list. UCLA has way more national championships than any other program and would be considered the most dominant in any era. But how is Kentucky not the all-time #1? Kinda hard to believe. Mad love for Louisville, Kentucky, and both of the programs. Best state in basketball!

    I'm guessing this list was made prior to 2012... things have changed since. Adding two more Final Fours and a title to the list... not to mention three more conference tournament championships. Louisville comes in at #6 all-time for me, right behind Kansas, and just ahead of both UConn and Indiana.

  9. Michigan State Spartans

    Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, United States. It is widely known for its men's basketball program, which has won two NCAA national championships. The university also has a strong academic reputation, particularly in education, business, and agriculture... read more

    Although we have fewer National Championships than other programs (B10 included) and play in a conference with several respectable opponents, I would say we belong ahead of at LEAST Indiana, if not Kansas. We're in the Izzo era now, and if he keeps going like he does, I predict at least three more MSU NCAAM Championships! My full support to Izzo, and GO GREEN!

    P.S., I feel OHU goes right behind Indiana. UofM is a bunch of dirtbag cheaters, yet MSU STILL wrecks them almost every year (by which I mean sweep them). Just something to think about...

  10. Syracuse Orange

    Located in Syracuse, New York, the Syracuse Orange athletic program is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The program is particularly notable for its men's basketball and lacrosse teams, which have won multiple national championships. Orange is the team's official color.

    Carrier Dome... 35,000-plus fans. Great university and some amazing talent through the years: Pearl, Coleman, Warrick, C. Anthony, Louie-Bouie Show, with a long line of players turning pro. A consistent top ten basketball program for almost forty years. #Amazing.

    Boeheim is second all-time in wins! Attendance records galore, regular contenders, four Final Fours, and a title.

    Horrible choice of a top ten team!

    11. The Newcomers
  11. ?

    Gonzaga Bulldogs

    The Gonzaga Bulldogs are the athletic teams that represent Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. The school's basketball team has become especially prominent in NCAA Division I competition. Gonzaga's basketball program has made consistent appearances in the NCAA Tournament since the late 1990s.

  12. ?

    Georgia Bulldogs

    The Georgia Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs are the athletic teams of the University of Georgia. The Bulldogs compete in NCAA Division I and are members of the Southeastern Conference. The football team, in particular, has won multiple national championships.

    13. The Contenders

  13. Villanova Wildcats

    More all-time wins and NCAA bids than UConn in 20 fewer years. Nova > UConn.

  14. Georgetown Hoyas

    Back on the rise after a few down years.

  15. Arizona Wildcats

    Arizona is the most consistent team in basketball. Always in the tournament, always to the Elite Eight. Plus, the most impressive tournament championship of any team. The only team to beat three number 1 seeds to pull off the title.

  16. Michigan Wolverines

  17. Ohio State Buckeyes

  18. NC State Wolfpack

  19. Florida Gators

    We beat the Cinderella team FGCU, and Minnesota and Evansville - really?! Even Einstein doesn't know what school that is. And UNLV, just because of Anthony Bennett! Wow, Florida is better than all these teams. It should be in the TOP 15 at the very least!

  20. Texas Longhorns

  21. Illinois Fighting Illini

    Seriously, FGCU ahead of Illinois? Illinois is one of the winningest ball teams out there. FGCU is some small school that joined Division 1 15 years ago and made a lucky run. An Atlantic Sun team should never be ahead of a Big Ten team. Go Illini! Please vote for them.

  22. Wichita State Shockers

  23. Pittsburgh Panthers

  24. Wisconsin Badgers

    Why are we not in the top 2?! We are arguably the best college team! UW for life!

  25. Virginia Cavaliers

  26. Cincinnati Bearcats

    2 national titles, 6 Final Fours, and the greatest college basketball player of all time, Oscar Robertson. 14 straight tournament appearances from 1992 to 2005, and they would've won another national title in 2000 if National Player of the Year Kenyon Martin didn't break his leg in the conference tournament.

  27. Oklahoma State Cowboys

    If we're talking about all time, OK State is top ten, top 20 at worst. Far and away above ISU and KSU.

    Two national championships, one runner-up, six Final Fours, eleven Elite Eights, eleven Sweet 16s, twenty-eight appearances, and nineteen conference championships. Far better résumé than ISU and KSU. The father of the current college basketball offense and the creation of goaltending, Bob Kurland. Desmond Mason, Tony Allen, Big Country, Eddie Sutton, John Starks, Henry Iba. Need I say more? Better than most of the teams ahead of them on this list.

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