Best College Basketball Programs – Ranking for 2023

Though team rosters change, coaches come and go, there is no denying that some college basketball teams have stood the test of time! What do the best college basketball programs have in common? We look at the best teams in history and how they made it to the top.

We all know fans who will support their team to the ends of the earth, whether or not they rank highly. Such dedication is commendable, but subjective. If we look at data, what are the winningest college basketball programs? Even more importantly, what sets them apart? We will investigate the top teams, according to existing data, and history’s best teams, too. Read on to learn key facts about these teams, their management styles and other traditions that have allowed them to reach the top. Is your favorite team on the list? Let’s find out!

• Winningest College Basketball Programs
• Top Basketball Programs of All Time
• Traditions of the Best College Basketball Programs

Winningest College Basketball Programs

Though rankings exist, like some compiled by CBS Sports, not all are comprehensive. The truth is, the best college basketball programs of all time may depend on which data you are looking at. From NCAA Tournament wins to titles held or the number of great players that have gone on to NBA careers, there are many ways to look at college basketball stats. If you’re already betting at the top online sportsbooks, reading the stats might help you make more informed decisions. Check out our list of the winningest college basketball programs below.

1. Kentucky Wildcats

According to CBS Sports writer Matt Norlander, Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball should be considered the number one team based on their historical wins and current team. Based on his own scoring system and research conducted in 2020, which takes a variety of factors into account, like NCAA Tournament championships, Final Four appearances and overall wins, Kentucky came out far ahead of the pack.

Based on Norlander’s analysis, the reason for Kentucky’s success has been the number of SEC championships it has won and John Calipari’s success is recruiting an incredible roster of talent. Many of Kentucky’s players have gone on to NBA careers. That includes Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo, the Lakers’ Anthony Davis and the Knicks’ Julius Randle. Kentucky has managed to have one of the most consistently top-ranking teams in college basketball history.

Kentucky has claimed the most NCAA Tournament wins of any college team, the most overall wins of any team and the most top-60 NBA picks. Norlander’s analysis of this team among others is fascinating in that it shows how real evidence may differ greatly from the perceptions that are commonly held by fans about the top college basketball programs.

2. North Carolina Tar Heels

North Carolina has made a name for itself both in men’s and women’s sports, thanks to its Tar Heels basketball teams. Its men’s team ranks in the top three best college basketball programs of all time based on its number of NCAA Tournament wins (or top placements), overall wins and Final Four rankings. Much of this success can be attributed to coaches Dean Smith and Roy Williams, who delivered six tournament titles in their combined years leading the program. That being said, their history is long – they won their first prominent title in 1957. Not to mention, Michael Jordan is one of their many prominent alumni.

3. Duke Blue Devils

Not far from UNC in Chapel Hill, we have our third-ranking team in men’s college basketball history: Duke. Duke, which is found in Durham, North Carolina, is one of history’s most famous teams for good reason. Most fans will say that reason starts with a K: Coach Mike Krzyzewski. Krzyzewski came to Duke in 1980 and it was not an instant success. However, over his career there, the team flourished and he led them to over 1,000 wins. The program had arguably seen much success before Krzyzewski, too, but his reign is still considered legendary and Duke remains one of the most beloved teams in the nation.

Top Basketball Programs of All Time

We’re looked at the data and analyzed how programs stack up now, but what about teams from college basketball history? Which constellations of teams and coaches have created the most epic wins in the game? You may be surprised…

1. UCLA Bruins

From the years 1963 to 1975, UCLA Bruins dominated college basketball with a 93.8% win percentage. The best from the west coast took home 10 national championships in this time and were able to stay undefeated for four seasons – quite a record! Compared to Duke’s tremendous reign under Krzyzewski, the Bruins surpassed even his best years during this time.

So why did the Bruins experience such an incredible winning streak? It started with iconic player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s first year in the game, during the 1966-67 season. However, coach John Wooden is the real common thread during this period. Wooden was nicknamed the “Wizard of Westwood” for his seemingly miraculous record at UCLA. The team won seven national championships in a row, something that has not yet been bested in the history of the sport.

2. Duke Blue Devils

Coach K makes the list again, thanks to his inarguably mythological leadership of Duke’s men’s basketball team for decades. In fact, Krzyzewski only retired in 2022, and the various constellations of the team he has led since the 80s’ are considered some of the greatest of all time. Duke is one of the all time winningest college basketball programs ever, but especially in this period. Interestingly, Coach K had the chance to lead NBA teams at least five times during his tenure at Duke but turned them all down to remain with the team up until his recent retirement.

What is the future for Duke now? The team continues to uphold its legacy under new Coach Jon Scheyer, a former Duke player himself. Krzyzewski remains available to Scheyer from time to time and keeps an office at Duke, though his time now is mostly spent on charity work as well as with his family.

3. Kentucky Wildcats

It may not be surprising that the Wildcats also make the list for a second time. However, as strong as the team has consistently been in recent history, we wanted to highlight its successes early on in its existence. Under Coach Adolph Rupp, the Kentucky Wildcats garnered great success and appreciation in the ‘40s and ‘50s. During a span of about 16 years, the Wildcats won four national titles and went undefeated in conference games for a total of seven years.

Five of their top players during this time, also known as the Fabulous Five, were also vital to the US Olympic’s 1948 team, which brought in the gold. Though not all of the same ranking systems were in place during this time, it’s hard to argue that the Wildcats’ consistently stellar rosters made for one of the best college basketball programs of all time.

Traditions of the Best College Basketball Programs

Strategy, technique, hard work and diligent study all have added up to making these teams some of the best in the nation. Did you know that many college teams also have their own slightly less serious traditions in place? Here are some of our favorite time-honored traditions of college basketball teams in the US.

• Midnight Madness is a tradition that started with Coach Lefty Driesell when he headed the Maryland Terrapins, but it has been embraced by many teams. Teams use the start of the season in mid October to debut new players or otherwise drum up excitement from fans with a variety of activities and surprises.
• The tradition of cutting down the nets after a victory started in college basketball with Coach Everett Case in the 1920s.
• Philadelphia’s Big Five of college basketball teams have held their own city-wide tournament every year since 1954!
• Taking their name from their home game stadium, Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Cameron Crazies are Duke’s iconic student supporters who filled a dedicated section of the crowd. They are known for their outrageous outfits and antics and for keeping the opposition on their toes.
• Krzyzewskiville is another tradition of Duke. It is a student-made, tent “village” that crops up days, weeks or even months before big games. Students camp out in anticipation and to show their support.
• One of the strangest but most wholesome college basketball traditions is St. Joseph’s Hawk, a mascot that appears at every game (even traveling with the team), whose main job is to continue flapping its “wings” continuously, from start to end of the game including halftime. It is a tiring job and the student who does it receives a full scholarship to the university for their efforts.