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NCAA Basketball: Ranking the top 25 programs of all time

By Brian Rauf

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 06: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils grabs a rebound against the kentucky Wildcats during the State Farm Champions Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 6, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 06: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils grabs a rebound against the kentucky Wildcats during the State Farm Champions Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 6, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 19: The Cardinal Bird, mascot for Louisville Cardinals performs before the game against the Michigan Wolverines in the first half during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 19, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 19: The Cardinal Bird, mascot for Louisville Cardinals performs before the game against the Michigan Wolverines in the first half during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 19, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Best NCAA Basketball programs of all-time: 8. Louisville basketball

Louisville can sometimes live in the shadow of in-state rival Kentucky and most recently has been living in the shadow of NCAA investigations and penalties, yet it’s impossible to question their place among the best programs in college basketball history.

The Cardinals have played in 10 Final Fours, making them one of seven programs to reach double digits. They have also won three national championships, though the NCAA has vacated their most recent one in 2013.

Those aren’t the only numbers that indicate how consistently great Louisville has been throughout program history. They have made 43 appearances in the Big Dance, which ties them for 5th all time with Duke. And, in 28 of those seasons, they made at least the Sweet 16. Louisville has racked up 76 tournament wins in all, ranking 6th in NCAA history.

Despite this success, the Cardinals have had trouble finding a conference to call home. They have played in seven conferences – KIAC, Missouri Valley, Metro, C-USA, Big East, American, ACC – throughout their history and have been great in all of them. The Cardinals have won 23 conference regular season titles and 19 conference tournament titles in program history, though two regular season and three tournament titles have been vacated.

Louisville also looks like they’re set up for long-term success now, as long as the NCAA doesn’t hammer them again as a result of the FBI investigation into college basketball. Head coach Chris Mack is entering his second season and has quickly put the program back on track after the stripper scandal, as the Cardinals are expected to be ranked in the preseason top 10.

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