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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NEW ORLEANS – APRIL 5: Ford #11 of the University of Texas at Austin Longhorns dribbles. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

19. Texas Longhorns

Texas basketball has easily been one of the most consistent programs in the entire nation during this century. For almost the entirety of the time period, the Longhorns have been a lock to reach the NCAA Tournament. Looking back, the fact that Texas has made 16 Big Dance appearances in the past 18 years is extremely impressive.

Even though the program has not been remarkably successful when it comes to making deep runs in the NCAA Tournament, they did make the Final Four in 2003. Over the course of his 17 years with the program, Rick Barnes emerged as one of the best head coaches in the Big 12. Even though it has been a bit difficult to secure conference titles due to the presence of Kansas in the league, the Longhorns did a nice job to snag a couple.

The sustained success that Texas has experienced to this point in the century has been a result of some excellent players donning the burnt orange. Specifically, the program housed six AP All-Americans over the years: Jordan Hamilton, Damion James, D.J. Augustin, Kevin Durant, P.J. Tucker, and T.J. Ford.

21st Century Highlights:

.663 winning percentage
6 AP All-America selections
16 NCAAT appearances (18-16)
5 Sweet 16’s
1 Final Fours

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