I think its obviously Duke, but if they went to 11 final fours and only won 3 titles, does that constitute choking? Even though it doesn't change their place on this last 25 years list.

Only in '99 would I say the Blue Devils "choked" in the Final Four. I guess you could argue in '04, but '99 is one of the better teams to never win a title. I think that is offset though by winning it all in '91, a year in which they should not have won the title.

I think I'd keep UNC at #2...Kansas may be on top of them in more categories, but UNC trumps them with the two most important, Final Fours and National Championships.

 

Also, the conference championship numbers have to be qualified by the fact that UNC and Duke compete against each other. If either of those teams traded places with UK or Kansas over the last 25 years, they'd have won more conference championships.

Wins

Duke - 712

Kansas - 707

UNC - 656

UK - 645

 

Win Pct.

Duke - .807

Kansas - .806

UK - .761

UNC - .754

 

National Titles

Duke - 3

UNC - 3

UK - 2

Kansas - 2

 

Final Fours

Duke - 11

UNC - 9

Kansas - 7

UK - 4

 

Elite 8 appearances

Duke - 12

UNC - 12

UK - 11

Kansas - 10

 

Tourney Record

Duke - .787

UNC - .779

Kansas - .744

UK - .736

 

Conference Regular season titles

Kansas - 16

Duke - 12

UK - 9

UNC - 9

 

Conference Tourney titles

Duke - 12

UK - 12

Kansas - 9

UNC - 7

 

20 win seasons

Kansas - 24

Duke - 23

UNC - 21

UK - 21

 

NCAA Tournament Appearances

Duke - 24

Kansas - 24

UNC - 22

UK - 21

 

Duke. Based on these stats above.

By the numbers, the following teams are the top teams over the last 25 years:

 

Duke's Resume Last 25 years:

 

Record: 715-170

National Championships: 3 (91, 92, 01)

National Championship Appearances: 7 (86, 90, 91, 92, 94, 99, 01)

Final Four Appearances: 11 (86, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 94, 99, 01, 04, 10)

Elite 8 Appearances: 13

Sweet 16 Appearances: 20

NCAA Tournament Appearances: 24

30+ Win Seaons- 11

25+ Win Seasons-19

 

Kansas Resume Last 25 Years

 

Record: 707-170

National Championships: 2 (88, 08)

National Championship Appearances: 4 (88, 91, 03, 08)

Final Four Appearances: 7 (86, 88, 91, 93, 02, 03, 08)

Elite 8 Appearances: 10

Sweet 16 Appearances: 14

NCAA Tournament Appearances: 24

30+ Win Seasons: 9

25+ Win Seasons: 20

 

North Carolina Resume Last 25 Years:

 

Record: 646-210

National Championships: 3 (93, 05, 09)

National Championship Appearances: 3 (93, 05, 09)

Final Four Appearances: 9 (91, 93, 95, 97, 98, 00, 05, 08, 09)

Elite 8 Appearances: 13

Sweet 16 Appearances: 17

NCAA Tournament Appearances: 23

30+ Win Seasons: 7

25+ Win Seasons: 14

 

Kentucky's Resume Last 25 Years:

 

Record: 663-215

National Championships: 2 (96, 98)

National Championship Appearances: 3 (96, 97, 98)

Final Four Appearances: 4 (93, 96, 97, 98)

Elite 8 Appearances: 11

Sweet 16 Appearances: 14

NCAA Tournament Appearances: 21

30+ Win Seasons- 7

25+ Win seasons- 13

Only in '99 would I say the Blue Devils "choked" in the Final Four. I guess you could argue in '04, but '99 is one of the better teams to never win a title. I think that is offset though by winning it all in '91, a year in which they should not have won the title.

 

I don't think the '91 Duke team was outgunned against UNLV. I think those two teams were more evenly matched than given credit for. The only difference is that UNLV's team was established and got all the hype, while Duke's team was just arriving. JMO

 

But, looking back, who would you pick?

 

Hurley or Anthony

T. Hill or Hunt

G. Hill or Augmon

LJ for sure

Laettner for sure

I think its obviously Duke, but if they went to 11 final fours and only won 3 titles, does that constitute choking? Even though it doesn't change their place on this last 25 years list.

 

While I hate Duke, ... I don't think it consitutes choking. Like I have heard many coaches say, ..."it takes a little luck" along with the rest to get a title and "on any given night" a team can play their A game and beat you in a one and done situation.

 

Man, ... why do I keep defending Duke? I have to get off this thread!

Duke and it's not even close really.

Could Syracuse be the 5th best program over the past 25 years?

 

Most consistent definetly could fit the bill:

 

Syracuse Orange Record Last 25 Years:

 

Record: 625-222

National Championships: 1 (03)

National Championship Appearances: 3 (87, 96, 03)

Final Fours: 3 (87, 96, 03)

Elite 8 Appearances: 4

Sweet 16 Appearances: 11

NCAA Tournament Appearances: 20

30+ Win Seasons: 4

25+ Win Seaons: 14

20+ Win Seasons: 24

Could Syracuse be the 5th best program over the past 25 years?

 

Most consistent definetly could fit the bill:

 

Syracuse Orange Record Last 25 Years:

 

Record: 625-222

National Championships: 1 (03)

National Championship Appearances: 3 (87, 96, 03)

Final Fours: 3 (87, 96, 03)

Elite 8 Appearances: 4

Sweet 16 Appearances: 11

NCAA Tournament Appearances: 20

30+ Win Seasons: 4

25+ Win Seaons: 14

20+ Win Seasons: 24

 

They have an awfully good argument for it.

Could Syracuse be the 5th best program over the past 25 years?

 

Most consistent definetly could fit the bill:

 

Syracuse Orange Record Last 25 Years:

 

Record: 625-222

National Championships: 1 (03)

National Championship Appearances: 3 (87, 96, 03)

Final Fours: 3 (87, 96, 03)

Elite 8 Appearances: 4

Sweet 16 Appearances: 11

NCAA Tournament Appearances: 20

30+ Win Seasons: 4

25+ Win Seaons: 14

20+ Win Seasons: 24

 

Since you're looking up numbers...how does Michigan State stack up against the Orange?

Connecticut and Syracuse are probably battling it out for that 5th spot...

 

I'd give the nod to Connecticut because they have just as many final fours and one more title.. A couple more 30 win seasons as well, I think.

Since you're looking up numbers...how does Michigan State stack up against the Orange?

I wouldn't be surprised if Michigan State is above UK in all honesty.

I don't think the '91 Duke team was outgunned against UNLV. I think those two teams were more evenly matched than given credit for. The only difference is that UNLV's team was established and got all the hype, while Duke's team was just arriving. JMO

 

But, looking back, who would you pick?

 

Hurley or Anthony

T. Hill or Hunt

G. Hill or Augmon

LJ for sure

Laettner for sure

In their college primes, sure I MAY take the Duke guys. But not in 1991, and it is not even close.

Michigan State has 552 wins in the qualifying period...

 

6 Final Fours, 1 title... 7 Elite 8 appearances. Also 2 30 win seasons.

They have an awfully good argument for it.

 

I think the top 5 would be Duke, Kansas, North Carolina, Kentucky, Syracuse and then followed closely by the following two programs:

 

 

UConn Resume Last 25 Years:

 

Record: 601-226

National Championships: 2 (99, 04)

National Championship Appearances: 2 (99, 04)

Final Four Appearances: 3 (99, 04, 09)

Elite 8 Appearances: 8 (90, 95, 98, 99, 02, 04, 06, 09)

Sweet 16 Appearances: 12

NCAA Tournament Appearances: 16

30+ Win Seasons: 7

25+ Win Seasons: 12

20+ Win Seasons: 19

 

Michigan State Resume Last 25 Years

 

Record: 552-259

National Championships: 1 (00)

National Championship Appearances: 2 (00, 09)

Final Four Appearances: 6 (99, 00, 01, 05, 09, 10)

Elite 8 Appearances: 7 (99, 00, 01, 03, 05, 09, 10)

Sweet 16 Appearances: 11

NCAA Tournament Appearances: 19

30+ Win Seasons: 3

25+ Win Seasons: 8

20+ Win Seasons: 16