College Basketball’s Best Programs of All-Time

Rick Pitino The U of L head coach guided the Cardinals to the 2013 NCAA Basketball championship and has the tattoo to prove it!

Rick Pitino
The U of L head coach
guided the Cardinals to
the 2013 NCAA Basketball
championship and has
the tattoo to prove it!

Since the NCAA Tournament first tipped off in 1939, we track the top 30 performing College Basketball teams.

 Discover which NCAA Basketball programs have earned the most points in our analysis that factors national championships, Final Four and Elite 8 appearances and Naismith Award winners.

 How rankings are calculated: Starting in 1939, the first year of the NCAA Men's College Basketball Tournament, we award the following points in each category: National Championship (30 points), Final 4 (15 points), Elite 8 (5 points), Naismith Award Winner (2 points)

Why include the Naismith Award:  Much like winning a Heisman Trophy adds prestige to a college football program, so does the Naismith shine the spotlight on basketball programs that have produced college basketball's top player.

NCAA Basketball Program Rankings Updated through 2012/2013 season as Louisville surges to #7
R A N K College National Champion Seasons Points 30 per title # of Final 4's Points 15-Per Final 4 # of Elite 8's Points 5 per Elite 8 Naismith Winners Points 2 for each Total Points
1 UCLA 11 330 18 270 23 115 5 10 725
2 Kentucky 8 240 15 225 34 170 1 2 637
3 North Carolina 5 150 18 270 26 130 3 6 551
4 Duke 4 120 15 225 19 95 7 14 454
5 Kansas 3 90 14 210 21 105 1 2 407
6 Indiana 5 150 8 120 11 55 2 2 329
7 Louisville 1 90 10 150 13 65 0 0 305
8 Ohio State 1 30 11 165 14 70 1 2 267
9 Michigan St. 2 60 8 120 11 55 0 0 235
10 Oklahoma St. 2 60 6 90 11 55 0 0   205
With 7 consecutive national championships (1967-73), the John Wooden led Bruin dynasty boosted UCLA to the top ranked position.

With 7 consecutive national championships
(1967-73), the John Wooden led Bruin
dynasty boosted UCLA to the top ranked
position.

A Devil of a Good Time With last-second winning shots against UK and Coach K directing the program, the Blue Devils have been a long-time NCAA force

A Devil of a Good Time
With last-second winning shots against UK and
Coach K directing the program, the Blue Devils
have been a long-time NCAA force

UNC Flies Air Jordan Before he became the greatest player in NBA history, Michael Jordan helped North Carolina to a March Madness title run in 1982.

UNC Flies Air Jordan
Before he became the greatest player in NBA
history, Michael Jordan helped North Carolina to
a March Madness title run in 1982.

R A N K College National Champion Seasons Points 30 per title # of Final 4's Points 15-Per Final 4 # of Elite 8's Points 5 per Elite 8 Naismith Winners Points 2 for each Total Points
11 UConn 3 90 4 60 10 50 0 0 200
12 Michigan 1 30 7 105 11 55 1 2 192
13 Cincinnati 2 60 6 90 7 35 1 2 187
14 Arkansas 1 30 6 90 10 50 1 0 170
15 Florida 2 60 4 60 7 35 0 0 155
16 Georgetown 1 30 5 75 9 45 1 2 152
17 Villanova 1 30 4 60 12 60 0 0 150
17 Syracuse 1 30 5 75 9 45 0 0 150
18 San Francisco 2 60 3 45 7 35 0 0 140
19 NC State 2 60 3 45 6 30 1 2 137
20 Arizona 1 30 4 60 9 45 0 0   135
 
Rock Chalk Jayhawk Danny Manning won the Naismith Award in 1988 while leading Larry Brown's Kansas squad to a 1988 NCAA Basketball title.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk
Danny Manning won the Naismith
Award in 1988 while leading
Larry Brown's Kansas squad to a
1988 NCAA Basketball title.

The Stars Shine on UK With the beautiful Ashley Judd cheering on the Cats, Kentucky has remained a dominant force

The Stars Shine
on UK
With the beautiful Ashley
Judd cheering on the
Cats, Kentucky has
remained a dominant force

The Center of Attention While starring for Georgetown in the early 80s, Patrick Ewing and the Hoyas made 3 Final Four appearances and won 1 national championship from (1982-85).

The Center of Attention
While starring for Georgetown in the early
80s, Patrick Ewing and the Hoyas made 3
Final Four appearances and won 1 national
championship from (1982-85).

Don't Ever Give Up NC State Head Coach Jim Volvano's catch phrase rang true with a last-second upset win over Houston in 1983.

Don't Ever Give Up
NC State Head Coach Jim
Volvano's catch phrase rang true
with a last-second upset win
over Houston in 1983.

R A N K College National Champion Seasons Points 30 per title # of Final 4's Points 15-Per Final 4 # of Elite 8's Points 5 per Elite 8 Naismith Winners Points 2 for each Total Points
21 Syracuse 1 30 5 75 9 45 0 0 150
22 Kansas St. 0 0 4 60 12 60 0 0 120
22 Illinois 0 0 5 75 9 45 0 0 120
24 UNLV 1 30 4 60 5 25 1 2 117
24 Utah 1 30 4 60 5 25 1 2 117
26 Marquette 1 30 3 45 7 35 1 2 112
27 Oklahoma 0 0 4 60 8 40 1 2 102
28 California 1 30 3 45 5 25 0 0 100
28 Houston 0 0 5 75 5 25 0 0 100
30 LSU 0 0 4 60 6 30 1 2 92
Seeing Cardinal Red Head Coach Denny Crum and his Louisville basketball squad showed that UK wasn't the only dominant basketball program in the Bluegrass State.

Seeing Cardinal Red
Head Coach Denny Crum and his
Louisville basketball squad
showed that UK wasn't the only
dominant basketball program in the
Bluegrass State.

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The Spartans Had Magic
Earvin "Magic" Johnson's epic NCAA finals match up against Larry Bird brought tremendous interest to the college game and a 1979 National Championship for Michigan State

IU's Knight Bob Knight delivered a fiery disposition and 5 NCAA Championships while coaching the Hoosiers

IU's Knight
Bob Knight delivered a fiery
disposition and 5 NCAA
Championships while coaching the
Hoosiers

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