I think it is also important to point out bad seasons as well. Most are only pointing out the highs, but neglecting any of the lows.

I said Duke. Considering their unparalleled greatness in the late 80s and early 90s, I can't even see how it would be close. UK had a great run from 93-98, but I quite frankly don't think they belong on this list. Four final fours in the sample size is just not enough. Both Duke and North Carolina have nearly as many titles as UK has final four appearances in that span, and Duke has more title game appearances thank UK has final fours in this time.

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

 

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

 

Thanks!

 

Looks like Michigan State might have the edge in the tournament (twice as many FF's, 3 more EE appearances), with Syracuse averaging about 3 more wins in the regular season. Tough call to make.

Walter's one step ahead of us all, and doing much better looking research than myself. :lol:

At the end of the day, I think the top programs from the last 25 years are the following:

 

1. Duke

 

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

20+ Win Seasons- 23

 

2. Kansas

 

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

20+ Win Seasons: 24

 

3. North Carolina

 

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

20+ Win Seasons: 21

 

4 Kentucky

 

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

20+ Win Seasons- 20

 

5A. Syracuse

 

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

 

5B. UConn

 

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

 

6. Michigan State

 

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

Edited March 30, 201016 yr by Walter

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

 

After this info there might be an argument to 6th behind Duke, NC, Kansas, Mich. St. and UConn.

Duke & Carolina.

 

Most people don't realize that UK & Florida, as far as the Final Four goes, have the exact same resume during this time-span (4 FF's, 2 titles, 1 runner-up). Overall, UK is by far the greater program, but just speaking from a Final Four perspective, the Cats & Gators are deadlocked.

When it comes to consistancy, the following teams have been the best programs the last 25 years (based on number of 20 win seasons):

 

Syracuse - 24 seasons with 20 or more wins

Kansas- 24 seasons with 20 or more wins

Duke- 23 seasons with 20 or more wins

^ How many times have all of these teams missed the tournament?

Duke & Carolina.

.

 

You can't leave Kansas out of that conversation. In the last 25 years, they've won 20 or more games 24 times.

 

Duke on the other hand has 23 seasons with 20 or more wins and Carolina 21 seasons with 20 or more wins.

^ How many times have all of these teams missed the tournament?

 

Look at NCAA Appearances in my post above.

 

How many times they've missed the tournament the last 25 years:

 

Duke- 1

Kansas- 1

Syracuse- 1

North Carolina- 2

Kentucky- 5

Michigan St- 6

UConn- 9

Look at NCAA Appearances in my post above.

 

How many times they've missed the tournament the last 25 years:

 

Duke- 1

Kansas- 1

Syracuse- 1

North Carolina- 2

Kentucky- 5

UConn- 6

Michigan St- 9

I was not smart enough to figure that one out :lol: I think you have UConn and Michigan State backwards though if I am looking at it correctly.

 

Thanks.

I was not smart enough to figure that one out :lol:

 

Thanks.

 

No problem...happens to the best of us at times.

 

With Syracuse have 24 years with 20 or more wins and the same amount of tournament appearances as UK (20), do the Orange have an argument as being the better overall program between the 2 over the past 25 years?

Walter I must say you do good work with finding stats. :thumb:

No problem...happens to the best of us at times.

 

With Syracuse have 24 years with 20 or more wins and the same amount of tournament appearances as UK (20), do the Orange have an argument as being the better overall program between the 2 over the past 25 years?

One thing that hurts the Cuse are some bad losses in the NCAA tournament. UAB was probably UK's worst loss.