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All-Time NCAA Men’s Basketball Program Rankings
Posted on 4/7/25 at 9:51 am
Posted on 4/7/25 at 9:51 am
Based on a formula that rewards NCAA Tournament success… anything in the modern era of the Tournamant is weighted heavier than back when the tournament had fewer teams.
1. North Carolina- 311.7
2. Kentucky- 305.1
3. Duke- 297.4
4. Kansas- 241.0
5. UCLA- 241.0
6. UConn- 189.7
7. Michigan St.- 174.7
8. Indiana- 162.5
9. Villanova- 154.3
10. Syracuse- 153.2
11. Louisville- 145.6
12. Arizona- 129.8
13. Florida- 122.0 (will pass AZ with a win tonight)
14. Michigan- 119.6
15. Arkansas- 119.5
16. Georgetown- 104.4
17. Ohio St.- 99.2
18. Houston- 95.0 (will pass OSU and Georgetown with a win tonight)
19. Oklahoma- 94.4
20. Purdue- 92.4
21. Illinois- 91.1
22. Maryland- 88.8
23. NC State- 86.9
24. Cincinnati- 86.7
25. Gonzaga- 85.5
Other SEC:
28. Texas- 83.7
35. LSU- 68.0
39. Alabama- 60.2
41. Tennessee- 56.6
48. Missouri- 49.3
54. Auburn- 44.9
79. Texas A&M- 29.0
81. Mississippi St.- 28.0
83. Vanderbilt- 27.3
90. Georgia- 24.2
94. South Carolina- 21.4
121. Ole Miss- 14.8
How the SEC moved this year compared to last year:
2. Kentucky- even
13. Florida- Up 2; passed Arkansas and Michigan… can also pass Arizona with a win tonight
15. Arkansas- Down 1; passed by Florida
19. Oklahoma- Down 1; passed by Houston
28. Texas- even
35. LSU- even
39. Alabama- Up 1; passed Xavier
41. Tennessee- Up 2; passed St. John’s and Baylor
48. Missouri- Down 1; passed by Texas Tech
54. Auburn- Up 14; passed Seton Hall, Washington, Dayton, Penn, Princeton, USC, Boston College, Wichita St, Florida St, Creighton, Cal, Providence, Memphis, and Stanford
79. Texas A&M- Up 1; passed Clemson
81. Mississippi State- Up 1; passed New Mexico State
83. Vanderbilt- even
90. Georgia- Up 1; passed Arizona State
94. South Carolina- Down 1; passed by New Mexico
121. Ole Miss- Up 10; passed FAU, UMass, Washington St, Indiana St, Drake, Old Dominion, George Washington, Seattle, St Bonaventure, and Iona
1. North Carolina- 311.7
2. Kentucky- 305.1
3. Duke- 297.4
4. Kansas- 241.0
5. UCLA- 241.0
6. UConn- 189.7
7. Michigan St.- 174.7
8. Indiana- 162.5
9. Villanova- 154.3
10. Syracuse- 153.2
11. Louisville- 145.6
12. Arizona- 129.8
13. Florida- 122.0 (will pass AZ with a win tonight)
14. Michigan- 119.6
15. Arkansas- 119.5
16. Georgetown- 104.4
17. Ohio St.- 99.2
18. Houston- 95.0 (will pass OSU and Georgetown with a win tonight)
19. Oklahoma- 94.4
20. Purdue- 92.4
21. Illinois- 91.1
22. Maryland- 88.8
23. NC State- 86.9
24. Cincinnati- 86.7
25. Gonzaga- 85.5
Other SEC:
28. Texas- 83.7
35. LSU- 68.0
39. Alabama- 60.2
41. Tennessee- 56.6
48. Missouri- 49.3
54. Auburn- 44.9
79. Texas A&M- 29.0
81. Mississippi St.- 28.0
83. Vanderbilt- 27.3
90. Georgia- 24.2
94. South Carolina- 21.4
121. Ole Miss- 14.8
How the SEC moved this year compared to last year:
2. Kentucky- even
13. Florida- Up 2; passed Arkansas and Michigan… can also pass Arizona with a win tonight
15. Arkansas- Down 1; passed by Florida
19. Oklahoma- Down 1; passed by Houston
28. Texas- even
35. LSU- even
39. Alabama- Up 1; passed Xavier
41. Tennessee- Up 2; passed St. John’s and Baylor
48. Missouri- Down 1; passed by Texas Tech
54. Auburn- Up 14; passed Seton Hall, Washington, Dayton, Penn, Princeton, USC, Boston College, Wichita St, Florida St, Creighton, Cal, Providence, Memphis, and Stanford
79. Texas A&M- Up 1; passed Clemson
81. Mississippi State- Up 1; passed New Mexico State
83. Vanderbilt- even
90. Georgia- Up 1; passed Arizona State
94. South Carolina- Down 1; passed by New Mexico
121. Ole Miss- Up 10; passed FAU, UMass, Washington St, Indiana St, Drake, Old Dominion, George Washington, Seattle, St Bonaventure, and Iona
This post was edited on 4/7/25 at 9:53 am
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Posted on 4/7/25 at 9:53 am to AUTiger789
quote:
Based on a formula that rewards NCAA Tournament success… anything in the modern era of the Tournamant is weighted heavier than back when the tournament had fewer teams.
Posted on 4/7/25 at 9:56 am to AUTiger789
Nobody is ever going to agree with these but I've thought this is about as reasonable an overall formula as I've seen the last few years.
I'd almost "all years equal" and "more recent weighted more" separate rankings just to placate folks who that sticks out for. But other than that, it hits most of the right spots. The tournament absolutely matters the most in college basketball and any ranking should reflect that.
I'd almost "all years equal" and "more recent weighted more" separate rankings just to placate folks who that sticks out for. But other than that, it hits most of the right spots. The tournament absolutely matters the most in college basketball and any ranking should reflect that.
This post was edited on 4/7/25 at 9:56 am
Posted on 4/7/25 at 10:02 am to AUTiger789
only difference between vols and bama basketball programs is that one final four bama got last year. Maybe one day vols will get it...not likely
Posted on 4/7/25 at 10:03 am to SummerOfGeorge
Thanks.
It’s the Arkansas fans and to a lesser degree Kentucky fans who seem to have the most disdain for a formula that rewards recent success in the modern era more so than back in the 1930s and 1940s.
Arkansas fans will argue that their 1941 Final Four appearance should carry equal weight as a Final Four today. The tournament then had just 8 teams, and the Hogs won one game over a 14-4 Wyoming squad and then lost their next game.
Does it count? Sure. Should it count the same as a team nowadays having to win 4 games to get to that same round? Absolutely not.
It’s the Arkansas fans and to a lesser degree Kentucky fans who seem to have the most disdain for a formula that rewards recent success in the modern era more so than back in the 1930s and 1940s.
Arkansas fans will argue that their 1941 Final Four appearance should carry equal weight as a Final Four today. The tournament then had just 8 teams, and the Hogs won one game over a 14-4 Wyoming squad and then lost their next game.
Does it count? Sure. Should it count the same as a team nowadays having to win 4 games to get to that same round? Absolutely not.
Posted on 4/7/25 at 10:04 am to VFL67
quote:
only difference between vols and bama basketball programs is that one final four bama got last year.
Truly. Bama and Tennessee basketball has been virtually even for decades…. But then Bama got their final four. Tennessee will probably have to make an equal run to catch up anytime soon.
Posted on 4/7/25 at 10:08 am to SummerOfGeorge
quote:
Nobody is ever going to agree with these but I've thought this is about as reasonable an overall formula as I've seen the last few years.
I'd almost "all years equal" and "more recent weighted more" separate rankings just to placate folks who that sticks out for. But other than that, it hits most of the right spots. The tournament absolutely matters the most in college basketball and any ranking should reflect that.
I don't have a dog in this fight as our rankings will end up about the same.. but here is the difference imo.
1) Historical Rankings - Should not be weighted at all. In that year, that was all that existed.
2) Current/Recent/Future Rankings - Should be weighted to reflect current success and what it looks like going forward.
This title says All-Time Rankings.. therefore they shouldn't be weighted imo..
This post was edited on 4/7/25 at 10:10 am
Posted on 4/7/25 at 10:14 am to AUTiger789
I have a hard time accepting a list that has Gonzaga and Maryland in the top 25 but not Marquette.
Posted on 4/7/25 at 10:23 am to Bama Bird
quote:
I have a hard time accepting a list that has Gonzaga and Maryland in the top 25 but not Marquette.
All are very close. Marquette is ranked #27.
Marquette is hurt by the fact that since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, they have 19 NCAA Tournament wins compared to Maryland’s 36 and Gonzaga’s 47.
Posted on 4/7/25 at 10:46 am to AUTiger789
Can you post schools with the most Natty's also?
Posted on 4/7/25 at 11:27 am to AUTiger789
quote:
It’s the Arkansas fans and to a lesser degree Kentucky fans who seem to have the most disdain for a formula that rewards recent success in the modern era more so than back in the 1930s and 1940s.
Are you sure that's Arkansas fans?
I've never heard an Arkansas fan argue that.. Arkansas had 3 Final Fours in the 90s and 6 Elite 8's since 1990...2 in the past 4 years.
Posted on 4/7/25 at 11:36 am to AUTiger789
quote:
It’s the Arkansas fans and to a lesser degree Kentucky fans who seem to have the most disdain for a formula that rewards recent success in the modern era more so than back in the 1930s and 1940s.
Arkansas fans will argue that their 1941 Final Four appearance should carry equal weight as a Final Four today. The tournament then had just 8 teams, and the Hogs won one game over a 14-4 Wyoming squad and then lost their next game.
Eh?
Since the tournament expanded in 1975, Arkansas has had mostly all of its programs success.
1 National Title
2 National Title Games
4 Final Fours
8 Elite Eights
14 Sweet Sixteens
32 NCAA Tournament Invites
49 NCAA Tournament Wins
7 Conference Tournament Titles
10 Conference Regular Season Titles
It is great to have and be able to claim Final Fours from the 1940's, but I don't think there are many, if any, Razorback fans who would tell you that you are dead wrong on counting them the same as an expanded tournament Final Four.
Posted on 4/7/25 at 12:07 pm to AUTiger789
I think this is a solid list. What stands out is how so far behind the SEC is in basketball. Were quickly catching up but It’s always been UK and that’s it.
Posted on 4/7/25 at 12:35 pm to AUTiger789
quote:
anything in the modern era of the Tournament is weighted heavier than back when the tournament had fewer teams.
If fewer teams were allowed in, then less of a chance to make the field.
This being the case, wouldn't the opposite hold true?
Posted on 4/7/25 at 12:42 pm to BigBro
quote:
1) Historical Rankings - Should not be weighted at all. In that year, that was all that existed.
This is correct.
Should we discount present-day success in anticipation of future teams being better still?
This post was edited on 4/7/25 at 12:43 pm
Posted on 4/7/25 at 1:33 pm to AUTiger789
Now do a poll with all time fantasy team. The top players in history on the same team.
LSU
Shaq
Pistol Pete
Chris Jackson
Bob Pettit
Rudy Macklin.
No Ben Simmons just because.
LSU
Shaq
Pistol Pete
Chris Jackson
Bob Pettit
Rudy Macklin.
No Ben Simmons just because.
Posted on 4/7/25 at 1:34 pm to AUTiger789
Ha, ha! SUCK IT, Sun Devils!
Posted on 4/7/25 at 1:35 pm to AUTiger789
quote:
anything in the modern era of the Tournamant is weighted heavier than back when the tournament had fewer teams
You counted your success as more valuable, and it still only managed to get Auburn to 54th on your list.
...And the top three schools are still Kentucky, Florida, and Arkansas. What a self-own of a thread.
Posted on 4/7/25 at 2:33 pm to GatorNation4Lyfe
quote:
I think this is a solid list. What stands out is how so far behind the SEC is in basketball.
A big reason for that is Kentucky’s dominance. From 1939 through the early 1950s, the NCAA Tournament only invited 8 teams, and only one team from each geographical region was invited. From 1953-1974, the tournament consisted of 22-25 teams but it was limited to just one team per conference.
Kentucky was such a strong program in this era, they went to the Tournament nearly every season so the rest of the SEC was essentially shut out.
Leagues that had more parity saw many different programs make the Tournament over the years… and remember, since it started with fewer teams, many of these schools started out with a “Sweet 16” appearance before playing their first tournament game.
Compare the number of NCAA Appearances of the SEC vs. the old Southwest Conference (1939-1974):
SEC
21- Kentucky
2- Vanderbilt, LSU
1- Tennessee, Miss St, Georgia Tech
Southwest
7- Texas
6- SMU
5- TCU
4- Arkansas, Rice
3- Baylor, Texas A&M, Texas Tech
Not until the NCAA expanded to 32 teams in 1975 was it possible for a second team from one conference to make the Tournament.
Again, if a conference lacked a dominant program and had more parity across the league, it enables all teams to rack up a lot of Sweet 16’s, Elite 8’s, and often even Final Four’s by only winning one tournament game.
Posted on 4/7/25 at 2:37 pm to TriStateAreaFootball
quote:
You counted your success as more valuable, and it still only managed to get Auburn to 54th on your list.
The Arkansas fans have entered the discussion… by far the most butthurt group on tRant.
At no point has any Auburn fan ever claimed to have more historical success than Arkansas. If it makes you feel better to pretend so, by all means go ahead.
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