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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 – MARCH 19: Dee Brown #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini drives against Kyle Shiloh #4 of the Nevada Wolf Pack in the second round game of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament March 19, 2005 at RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS – MARCH 19: Dee Brown #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini drives against Kyle Shiloh #4 of the Nevada Wolf Pack in the second round game of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament March 19, 2005 at RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Best NCAA Basketball programs of all-time: 18. Illinois basketball

Ignore your current thinking of Illinois given their lackluster recent history (the program hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2013 or won 20 games in a season since 2014). This program is one of the best of all time even with those struggles.

The Fighting Illini have yet to win an NCAA Tournament but have 30 tournament appearances, nine Elite Eight appearances, and five Final Fours on their resume (only 14 schools have more). They have also won 17 Big Ten regular-season titles, with the most recent coming in 2005 with a team led by Dee Brown and Deron Williams that lost in the national championship game. Illinois does claim two national titles (1915, 1943), but we don’t count ones that weren’t won in the NCAA Tournament.

Illinois has much more going for it than just tournament success, too. They’re 23rd in program all-time win percentage (.638) and are 19th in wins (1,788). That consistent success has allowed them to be ranked in the AP poll 479 times, which is the 11th most of any program – and more than Big Ten rivals Ohio State, Michigan State, and Michigan.

However, it is impossible to deny that the Illini are currently headed in the wrong direction.

They haven’t made the second weekend of the Big Dance since 2005 and haven’t finished higher than fourth in the Big Ten in a decade. They haven’t even finished above .500 in conference play since 2010.

Head coach Brad Underwood is entering his third season in charge of the program and many are expecting a somewhat significant turnaround this year. If that doesn’t happen, it may be even longer before Illinois becomes nationally relevant again.

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