Kicking off my inaugural piece with Ball Durham, covering the Duke basketball program, it was only appropriate for me to do the yeoman’s work for college basketball fans across the country.
Since the game was modernized in the 1984-1985 season (NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams), many of fans have argued over which program is the alpha of the sport. Even more fans have quarreled over who owns the “one-and-done” era. Well…HERE. WE. GO.
Looking at the most consistent programs in the sport, otherwise deemed as the “blue-bloods”, from the 1984-1985 season (modern era) to the present, here is what I have uncovered…
- Duke: 1,005-243 (408-152 in the ACC); 5 titles, 12 Final Fours; 16 Elite Eights; 25 Sweet Sixteens
- North Carolina: 944-302 (390-171 in the ACC); 4 titles, 11 Final Fours; 17 Elite Eights; 23 Sweet Sixteens
- Kansas: 1,006-242 (437-115 in the Big 8 and Big 12); 2 titles, 9 Final Fours, 15 Elite Eights; 22 Sweet Sixteens
- Kentucky: 937-283 (439-149 in the SEC); 3 titles, 8 Final Fours, 17 Elite Eights, 22 Sweet Sixteens
What immediately jumps off the page is Kansas’ and Kentucky’s performance in conference play, especially with the Jayhawks.