NCAA Basketball: Teams who should be considered "blue bloods" in 2019

NCAA Basketball: Programs who should be considered “blue bloods” in 2019

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MARCH 28: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats looks on during a practice session ahead of the 2019 NCAA Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at Sprint Center on March 28, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) /

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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 31: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrate by cutting down the net after defeating the Duke Blue Devils in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. The Michigan State Spartans defeated the Duke Blue Devils with a score of 68 to 67. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Michigan State

The Resume: 10 Final Four Appearances, 2 National Championships, 27th in all time wins (1,721)

The Spartans are easily the most consistent (if unspectacular) program on this list outside of the four definite blue bloods listed at the top. Michigan State has not missed an NCAA Tournament since 1997, Coach Tom Izzo’s second season in East Lansing.

Since 1997, the Spartans have won at least 18 games every year and have never posted a losing record in league play. Izzo has been to eight final fours, one of which led to a championship (1999-00) and he also made his way to the title game in 2008-09. The Spartans have won 25 games or more 13 times during his tenure and have nine conference championship pelts on their wall. Izzo surpassed his predecessor, Jud Heathcote, for the All-Time wins record at Michigan State back in 2009.

Heathcote, who was Izzo’s mentor, is credited with putting Michigan State on the map, winning the National Championship in 1978. One of the more notable accomplishments of Heathcote’s career aside from on court success is his coaching tree. Tom Izzo, Tom Crean, Blaine Taylor, Brian Gregory, Kelvin Sampson and Don Monson are all former Heathcote assistants who had quality careers as college basketball coaches. Scott Skiles also comes from Heathcote’s coaching tree, but has never coached in the NCAA. Skiles has coached four NBA franchises however, the Magic, Bulls, Suns and Bucks.

Michigan State is another program that’s missing a rich history prior to its recent leadership. While Heathcote and Izzo have made the Spartans one of the best programs of the last 45 years, there was not much success prior to their arrival. Pete Newell coached the Spartans for four seasons in the early fifties, but did not have the success that would make him a legend at Cal.

Of the teams up for consideration on this list I think Michigan State may be the most deserving of the bunch. Ultimately, you would want more titles from your blue bloods, but since the 2000 NCAA Tournament, Michigan State has as many titles as Kansas. Certainly nobody is disputing the Jayhawk’s inclusion as one of the Blue Bloods.