NCAA Basketball: 25 most successful programs of the 21st century

DURHAM, NC - MARCH 03: (L-R) Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils talks to head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels before their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 3, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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SYRACUSE, NY – MARCH 27: Head coach Huggins (R) of the West Virginia Mountaineers gets set to address the crowd as his playes celebrate with the East Regional trophy. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

21. West Virginia Mountaineers

After missing the Big Dance in each of the first four seasons of the century, West Virginia really turned on the heat. Under the tutelage of John Beilein (five seasons) and Bob Huggins (11 and counting), the Mountaineers first emerged as one of the top programs in the Big East and then started to tear up the Big 12 in recent years. Although it has been difficult to secure conference titles due to the top teams in those respective conferences, West Virginia has held its own.

The program has reached the NCAA Tournament in 11 of the last 14 years and has consistently found a way to win once there. In total, the Mountaineers have reached the Sweet 16 in seven out of their 11 tries and they also added a Final Four to their name in 2010. Quite simply, you can seemingly always expect a quality season out of the program, which has finished in the top-20 of the final AP poll in each of the past four seasons.

Kevin Jones and Da’Sean Butler were both named AP All-Americans while with the team and the recently graduated Jevon Carter was easily one of the best perimeter defenders of the century. “Press Virginia”, as Coach Huggins’ defense was dubbed for a few years, garnered a lot of attention and rightfully so considering the success he has had.

21st Century Highlights:

.634 winning percentage
2 AP All-America selections
11 NCAAT appearances (18-11)
7 Sweet 16’s
1 Final Four

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