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Ranking the top 10 all time best college basketball teams
Lenah Ann
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:23 PM
Basketball is one of the most famous sports worldwide and has amassed huge fan bases and fortune. The United States of America has seen some of the best college basketball teams of all time governed by collegiate athletic bodies.
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These collegiate athletic bodies are responsible for deciding the number and level of scholarships awarded to different basketball players. Additionally, they have greatly invested in NCAA basketball since its inception.
The top 10 best college basketball teams of all time
Most NBA players are selected from these college basketball teams at a young age to further their careers. According to stats in 2023, these are the best college basketball teams and seasons of all time:
10. Villanova Wildcats
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Villanova Wildcats are among the best college teams in the college basketball arena and have won two national championships, in 2016 and 2018, with Jay Wright. Even though their recognition increased after winning two times in three years, they were always a top-notch team with good coaching and culture even before that. In the 60s, John Kraff made the Wildcats winners, and later Massimino made sure they stayed at the top and won the 1985 National Championship.
Team | Villanova Wildcats |
University | Villanova University |
Nickname | Wildcats |
Conference | Big East |
NCAA | Division I, FCS |
Athletic director | Mark Jackson |
Location | Villanova, Pennsylvania |
Varsity teams | 24 |
Arena | William B Finneran Pavilion |
Skits colours | Navy blue and white |
9. Louisville Cardinals
The Cardinals are a top-notch team that has made ten Final Four appearances and has won three National Championships. They joined the Big East in 2005, and that's when their recognition began.
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Louisville Cardinals had only two coaches from 1971 to 2017, Denny Crum and Rick Pinito, and thus they maintained a consistency that saw the team take home trophies.
Team | Louisville Cardinals |
Nickname | Cardinals |
University | University of Louisville |
Conference | ACC |
NCAA | Division I, FBS |
Athletic director | Josh Heird |
Location | Louisville, Kentucky |
Varsity teams | 21 |
Arena | KFC Yum! Center |
Skits colours | Red and black |
8. Michigan State Spartans
The Spartans are among the best college basketball teams in history. They won the 1979 National Championship and have been an icon for the NCAA.
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In the 90s, Jud Heathcote made an impressive turnover to propel the Spartans to their glory and, in so doing, set the pace for Tom Izzo, who made them one of the greatest squads ever.
Team | Michigan State Spartans |
Nickname | Spartans |
University | Michigan State University |
Conference | Big Ten |
NCAA | Division I, FBS |
Athletic director | Alan Haller |
Location | East Lansing, Michigan |
Varsity teams | 23 |
Arena | Breslin Student Events Center |
Skits colours | Green and white |
7. Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana is one of the greatest college basketball teams of all time. Being coached by Bobby Knight, they won three national championships and almost a dozen Big Ten championships. On the other hand, Branch McCracken, in 1930, led the Hoosiers to their first ever two championships.
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Although they have struggled in the past decades, Indiana has always been in the rankings of the top 10 college basketball teams.
Team | Indiana Hoosiers |
Nickname | Hoosiers |
University | Indiana University Bloomington |
Conference | Big Ten |
NCAA | Division I |
Athletic director | Scott Dolson |
Head coach | Mike Woodson |
Location | Bloomington, Indiana |
Arena | Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall |
Skits colours | Crimson and cream |
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6. Syracuse Orange
In 2003, the Orange won the National Championship, which was only the start. The team has the longest active streak for consecutive winning seasons under Jim Boeheim, their head coach, for over 40 years.
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Nevertheless, the Orange's have always reached the Final Four in the last fifty years, and they are almost at the top all-time list regarding NCAA appearances and tournament victories.
Team | Syracuse Orange |
Nickname | Orange |
University | Syracuse University |
Conference | ACC |
NCAA | Division I, FBS |
Athletic director | John Wildhack |
Location | Syracuse, New York |
Varsity teams | 20 |
Arena | JMA Wireless Dome |
Skits colours | Orange |
5. Kansas Jayhawks
The Jayhawks, one of the best college basketball teams in the NCAA, have won straight regular-season conference titles. They achieved what most squads only dream of by making a record of 30 straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
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The college basketball team has been dominating the NCAA since the 20s under coach Phog Allen and currently under Bill Self. The teams have been around for a century.
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Team | Kansas Jayhawks |
Nickname | Jayhawks |
University | The University of Kansas |
Conference | Big 12 |
NCAA | Division I, FBS |
Athletic director | Travis Goff |
Location | Lawrence, Kansas |
Varsity teams | 16 |
Arena | Allen Fieldhouse |
Skits colours | Crimson and blue |
4. Duke Blue Devils
Duke has been a powerhouse in the ACC producing formidable players with great skills that ended up playing for top NBA squads. They are among the best college basketball teams of all time. Their success is not only owed to Mike Krzyzewski but also to Bill Foster, who helped in the rise to the Final Four in 1978.
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Mike took over the team in 1980 and won numerous titles, including the final Fours and five National championships.
Team | Duke Blue Devils |
Nickname | Blue Devils |
University | The Duke University |
Conference | Atlantic Coast Conference |
NCAA | Division I, FBS |
Athletic director | Nina King |
Location | Durham, North Carolina |
Varsity teams | 27 |
Arena | Cameron Indoor Stadium |
Skits colours | Duke blue and white |
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3. North Carolina Tar Heels
The Tar Heels have been on the polls for more weeks than any other college basketball squad and have made 20 Final Four appearances. Additionally, they have won six National Championships.
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North Carolina's Tar Heels started their winning spree in the 20s in the Southern Conference Championship and won titles every other decade. They have two of the best college basketball coaches of all time, Dean Smith and Roy Williams and are one of the best college teams in history.
Team | North Carolina Tar Heels |
Nickname | Tar Heels |
University | The University of North Carolina |
Conference | ACC |
NCAA | Division I, FBS |
Athletic director | Bubba Cunningham |
Location | Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
Varsity teams | 27 |
Arena | Dean E Smith Student Activities Center |
Skits colours | Carolina blue and white |
2. Kentucky Wildcats
Although the Wildcats have fewer Final Four appearances, they always come out strong on every record contested. They have always taken the lead in the NCAA Tournament, Sweet 16 and Elite Eight appearances and won eight National Championships.
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Since 1921 after winning the first conference championship, they have had five coaches who contributed to the eight National championships titles.
Team | Kentucky Wildcats |
Nickname | Wildcats |
University | University of Kentucky |
NCAA | Division I, FBS |
Athletic director | Mitch Barnhart |
Location | Lexington, Kentucky |
Varsity teams | 19 |
Basketball arena | Rupp Arena |
Conference | SEC |
Skits colours | Blue and white |
1. UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins is the greatest college basketball team of all time. They had one of the best coaches in the game's history, John Wooden, who led them to win the NCAA title in 1971-1972 and ranked fifth in scoring.
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He also propelled the Bruins to win seven consecutive national titles and ten championships in twelve years. No squad has ever come close to what they have achieved, and probably none could ever have a legacy like that. Additionally, the Bruins have dominated since the 1920s and have continued to do so till now.
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Team | UCLA Bruins |
Nickname | Bruins |
Conference | Pac-12, Big Ten |
NCAA | Division I, FBS |
Athletic director | Martin Jarmond |
Location | Los Angeles, California |
Varsity teams | 25 |
Basketball arena | Pauley Pavilion |
University | University of California, Los Angeles |
Skits colours | Blue and gold |
Thanks to their coaches and cultures, the best college basketball teams of all time have dominated over the years. As always, the players come and go, but coaching stability and a strong culture are needed to develop the best squads and players that make the NCAA. Most NBA players started as youngsters in college basketball before continuing their careers in the major league.
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