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

By Mychal Hunter

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)
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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HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT – MARCH 21: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats reacts in the second half against the Saint Mary’s Gaels during the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 21, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT – MARCH 21: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats reacts in the second half against the Saint Mary’s Gaels during the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 21, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Villanova

The Resume: 6 Final Four Appearances, 3 National Championships, 21st in All Time Wins (1775)

For the youngsters among us, Villanova is closer to UCLA as a program than it is Michigan State or Connecticut as far as history goes. The Wildcats obviously don’t have the titles on their resume, but historically this is a really good program dating back to the 1940s. Today’s most recognizable and followed program of the “Philly Big 5” is undoubtedly one of the premier programs in the country during the 2000’s.

Alex Severance took the reigns at Villanova in 1936 and experienced almost immediate success, winning 60 games and making a Final Four in his first three seasons. The program fell into mediocrity during the early to mid 40’s, but he was able to right the ship again from 1948-55, making a trio of tournament appearances and winning at least 18 games every season.

Jack Kraft bridged the gap from Severance to the legendary Rollie Massimino and due to the latter’s success, is often forgotten. Kraft won 242 games in Villanova, went to 6 tournaments in 12 seasons, a final four and won a conference title.

Massimino took over for Kraft in 1973 and struggled initially. In his first three seasons he compiled a record of 32-48, a record worse than any three of Kraft’s seasons combined. After making the tournament and advancing to the elite eight in the 1978 tournament, Rollie had another bad year in 1978-79 at 13-13. Then 1979-80, it all came together as the Wildcats made the tournament in 10 of the next 12 seasons. They won their first title in 1985 as a #8 seed, led by forward Ed Pinckney, in one of the most improbable runs in NCAA tournament history. Massimino would win 355 games at ‘Nova and total 816 for his career, going down as one of the most legendary coaches in history.

Steve Lappas took over for Massamino when Rollie went to UNLV in 1992. Lappas was fine yet unspectacular in his nine seasons at Villanova. It was an interesting hire to begin with as Lappas experienced very little success at his previous post with the Manhattan Jaspers. In fact, he posted only one winning record at Manhattan and immediately parlayed that into the Villanova gig.

Lappas took the Wildcats to the tournament four times during his tenure, never making it out of the first weekend. He did win the NIT in 1994 to cap off his second season however. Lappas’s inability to land high-profile recruits in a fertile Philadelphia landscape ultimately ended up being his downfall. He was let go in 2001.

Jay Wright left Hofstra to take over post in 2001 and has since created arguably the top basketball program of the past 15 seasons. While at Hofstra, he dominated the America East in his final three seasons with a conference record of 46-8. He made two consecutive NCAA tournaments with the Pride before bolting for ‘Nova. Wright and Villanova have missed only a single tournament since the 2005 campaign and have been ousted in the first round only once.

The Wildcats have really turned it on in recent years since Wright amended his recruiting philosophy. Villanova has won five of the last six regular season conference titles and collected a pair of national championships in the last four seasons.