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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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02 APR 2012: Head coach John Calipari and forward Anthony Davis (23) from the University of Kentucky celebrate following the Championship Game of the 2012 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship Final Four held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome hosted by Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. Kentucky defeated Kansas 67-59 to claim the championship title. Ryan McKee/ NCAA Photos via Getty Images.
02 APR 2012: Head coach John Calipari and forward Anthony Davis (23) from the University of Kentucky celebrate following the Championship Game of the 2012 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship Final Four held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome hosted by Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. Kentucky defeated Kansas 67-59 to claim the championship title. Ryan McKee/ NCAA Photos via Getty Images. /

Best NCAA Basketball programs of all-time: 1. Kentucky basketball

As good as all those previous 24 programs are, there is absolutely no questioning Kentucky as being the top college basketball program of all time.

The numbers back it up, too. Along with ranking 2nd in most national championships (eight) behind only UCLA and 3rd in most Final Fours (17), here are all the categories in which they sit atop the NCAA record book:

  • Most wins (2,293)
  • Best win percentage (.765)
  • Most weeks ranked
  • Most 20-win seasons (63)
  • Most 30-win seasons (16)
  • Most 35-win seasons (six)
  • Most NCAA Tournament appearances (58)
  • Most NCAA Tournament games played (184)
  • Most Sweet 16 appearances (44)
  • Most Elite Eight appearances (38)
  • Most national championship game appearances (12)

The Wildcats also had success in the postseason before the NCAA Tournament expanded, winning the NIT in 1946 and 1976. They are the only program with multiple NIT and NCAA Tournament titles.

Kentucky’s dominance has been particularly notable in the SEC. They have won 49 regular-season titles since joining the conference in 1933 – the next closest program is LSU with 11. The Wildcats have also won more SEC Tournaments than anyone else, winning 31 titles – the next closest program is Alabama with six.

Mount Rushmores for the top 25 programs of all-time. dark. Next

Given their consistent track record of success both in the regular season and in the NCAA Tournament spanning nearly a century, Kentucky can claim sole ownership of the title of best program in college basketball history.

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