Top 10 College Hoops Programs in the Last Decade
College Basketball March 30th. 2009, 1:00pm
After some debate in the comments section yesterday following Michigan State’s upset of Louisville, we took a peek at what college basketball teams have dominated the last decade (the 10 seasons spanning 2000-2009). Even though Florida’s the only team to capture two titles in that span, the Gators aren’t the best program in the last 10 years. We’ve got them 5th. No. 1? Michigan State. In the last decade, the Spartans have 10 tournament trips (only eight for Florida, Connecticut and UNC), six runs to the Sweet 16 (only Kansas and Duke at seven have more), been to four Final Fours, and own a title (2000). The rest of the Top 10 after the jump.
[Edit: Had UConn 3, UNC 4 ... swapped 'em.]
1. Michigan State – 10-10 tourney trips, 6 Sweet 16s, 4 Final Fours, 1 title
2. Kansas – 10-10 tourney trips, 7 Sweet 16s, 3 Final Fours, 1 title
3. North Carolina – 8-10 tourney trips, 5 Sweet 16s, 4 Final Fours, 1 title
4. Connecticut – 8-10 tourney trips, 5 Sweet 16s, 2 Final Fours, 1 title,
5. Florida – 8-10 tourney trips, 4 Sweet 16s, 3 Final Fours, 2 titles
6. Duke – 10-10 tourney trips, 7 Sweet 16s, 2 Final Fours, 1 title
7. UCLA – 8-10 tourney trips, 6 Sweet 16s, 3 Final Fours, 0 titles
8. Arizona – 10-10 tourney trips, 5 Sweet 16s, 1 Final Four, 0 titles
9. Texas - 10-10 tourney trips, 5 Sweet 16s, 1 Final Four, 0 titles
10. Maryland – 7-10 tourney trips, 3 Sweet 16s, 2 Final Fours, 1 title
Surely some people will have understandable grief with the inclusion of Maryland – missed the tournament three times in the last six years – getting the last spot over Gonzaga (hasn’t missed the tournament in the last 10 years), Pittsburgh (five sweet 16 visits) and Syracuse (only team with a title not in the Top 10). But the problem with Syracuse is that the last decade is incredibly Carmelo Anthony-heavy. He’s the only reason the Orange have a title and Final Four trip in the last 10 years.
Honorable mention (alphabetical order): Georgetown, Gonzaga, Illinois, Louisville, Memphis, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse. [Edit: A reader notes an omission: Wisconsin.]
Pittsburgh 8-10 tourney trips, 5 Sweet 16s, 0 Final Fours, 0 titles
Illinois 9-10 tourney trips, 4 Sweet 16s, 1 Final Four, 0 titles
Ohio State 6-10 tourney trips, 1 Sweet 16, 1 Final Four, 0 titles
Louisville 7-10 tourney trips, 3 Sweet 16s, 1 Final Four, 0 titles
Oklahoma 8-10 tourney trips, 3 Sweet 16s, 1 Final Four, 0 titles
Kentucky 9-10 tourney trips, 4 Sweet 16s, 0 Final Fours, 0 titles
Memphis 6-10 tourney trips, 4 Sweet 16s, 1 Final Four, 0 titles
Syracuse 7-10 tourney trips, 4 Sweet 16s, 1 Final Four, 1 title
Gonzaga 10-10 tourney trips, 4 Sweet 16s, 0 Final Fours, 0 titles
78 Responses to “Top 10 College Hoops Programs in the Last Decade”
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March 30th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Greatest.Post.Ever.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
This doesn’t make up for nor excuse hating on the Big Ten all year.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
**1 NIT Championship
March 30th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Hehe. Cowherd just stole this idea for his current segment.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
I would like to think that the winner of this year’s crown can be annointed as the best in the last 10 years since the resumes for UNC, UConn, and Sparty are so close.
I love Ohio State, but what on Earth are they doing on this list? No comparison from the others listed. None. Zero.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Sparty blew TBL for this post.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
honorable mention?
WE GOT A HONORABLE MENTION!
FUCK YEAH!
ITS BETTER THAN NOTHING!
/completely serious.
you are correct.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Uconn has 2 titles if you count 1999.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I think this is one of those lists that should have been shut down after the first 5 or 6 teams were listed.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
add another final four to msu’s resume if you do that, bo.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Id want to be a Florida fan out of all of these. 2 titles.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
we have a florida fan that writes for our site. he will fight on most things, but even right now he says that msu has had a better overall decade.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
i think a list talking about the greatest team for a specific decade should be compiled after that said decade is complete..just me though
March 30th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
So, will this list get TBL an interview on Anderson Cooper?
March 30th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Going by this criteria, shouldn’t UNC be ahead of UConn?
March 30th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
This doesn’t make up for nor excuse hating on the Big Ten all year.
Again, hating on the Big Ten is more so directed at the other worthless basketball programs in the conference. I doubt the majority of people wouldn’t give the Spartans their due respect.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
I don’t know if this got posted anywhere, but the AP All America team came out.
Griffin, Hansbrough, Harden, Blair, Curry
March 30th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Yeah how is UConn ahead of UNC?
I’d have Florida ahead of UConn as well. That just seems obvious to me.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
And Duke should be ahead of UConn.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Shouldn’t Duke be ahead of UConn?
March 30th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
To me Florida should be at least 3rd or even second on this list. Isn’t the goal to win the title? They have 2. They made the final four one less time than MSU. I’m sure almost every fan would trade not making the tourney twice for a title. Thats my one major beef with this list.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Yeah how is UConn ahead of UNC?
ESPN bias.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
2 titles > 1 title
Do it!
March 30th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Again, hating on the Big Ten is more so directed at the other worthless basketball programs in the conference. I doubt the majority of people wouldn’t give the Spartans their due respect.
I don’t think so. The last month has been one Big Ten crack after another. Even before yesterday’s game. It’s top-to-bottom bashing, whether it’s about the Big Ten getting 8 teams into the Tourney or about Michigan State being able to run with the other power teams in power conferences.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Oh, hi, Arizona, WHAT THE HELL IS A TEAM WITH ONE FINAL FOUR DOING HERE?
March 30th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
if that was the case illinois should be at least in the top 10.
but i will take a honorable mention.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
i think a list talking about the greatest team for a specific decade should be compiled after that said decade is complete..just me though
2 games away.
Going by this criteria, shouldn’t UNC be ahead of UConn?
considering UNC went F4, F4, Elite 8 the last three years, i’ll change this.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Shouldn’t Duke be ahead of UConn?
anti-Duke bias.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
TBL this list is a joke like most of your list. You really went the extra mile this time.
/Outraged’d!1!!!!!!!!!11uno1111!!!!!one!!!!!!!!!
March 30th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
tampa…put the haterade down and quit doing figure hates in your car(a new one)
March 30th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
what would be the point of having a list no one could argue with? that wouldn’t spur debate which is really why we’re all here.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
which is really why we’re all here
I come for the roundup pics
March 30th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
2 games away.
Or three, but what are facts?
considering UNC went F4, F4, Elite 8 the last three years, i’ll change this.
Ever hear of a recency bias?
March 30th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
i come here for the latest always interesting gossip girl/lost talk.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
True…but 2 very important games. If UNC or UConn win, they clearly move ahead of Michigan State, IMO. And no Spartan fan will disagree.
In my opinion, # of NBA players produced should also be a factor in this discussion.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Ruck – Duke’s fade over the last 4 years pushed it down the list.
Duke last 5 years – no F4s.
Conn last 5 years – E8, F4.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
I still contend that nothing trumps National Championships. Final Fours, and Elite 8’s, and Sweet 16’s are all well and good if the teams have the same number of NC’s, but when you have a team that won back to back NC’s, that trumps everything else. Simple as that. You play to win the game.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
In my opinion, # of NBA players produced should also be a factor in this discussion
Uconn?
March 30th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Like many others here, I am confused as to why UConn is ahead of Florida and Duke. You are giving more weight to recent success? That doesn’t really make any sense.
Oregon State in the CBI Finals!!!!!
/embarrassed
March 30th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Uconn winning without one-and-done players. Duke, well, not so much.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
He sure did. I guess his flunkies really do read you TBL. I say his flunkies, because everyone knows that reading blogs is beneath him.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Again, hating on the Big Ten is more so directed at the other worthless basketball programs in the conference.
I went to Purdue, one of the “worthless” programs, that produced John Wooden, has won 21 Big 10 championships, has has gone to the NCAA 6 times in the last 11 years. I will listen to alumni from schools on the list above me give me shit for being better. It is deserved.
If you went to East Bumfuck CC or something like that and love to rail about how Big 10 teams “suck”, try graduating from a “worthless” Big 10 school before condemning them.
/Big 10 pride
March 30th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
MSU was also pretty lucky to make the tourney one if not two of those years. And the year they won it, they beat #8 Wisconsin and #5 Florida in what was the worst Final Four ever.
The last two years that FLorida missed the tourney, they had a good case to make it in.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
@jpq1999 – Dropping the Hammer. I agree with you jpq, it pisses me off to no end when people start bashing on your school, their conference, etc and when you ask them where they went the answer is either no where or some school with a high school athletic budget.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
what if they sucked horribly?…brian cook,luther head, james augustine,
there might be a few others but most of then sucked with the exception of deron williams
March 30th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Last two times UConn and Duke met in the tourney, UConn won. They should be ahead of Duke.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
I’m an FSU fan and I don’t see how you don’t have florida 1st on the list. The goal is to win the title and as of right now they are the only program with 2 this decade. If UNC, UCONN, or MSU (in that order) wins this years move them ahead of florida.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Top 10 lists are about as useful as a pecker on a pope.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
@JPQ
You forgot to mention 0 national titles in that Purdue rundown. Being an Indiana grad I had to throw that in.
My favorite Purdue slogan “Keeping ugly girls out of IU since 1862″
March 30th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
pretty safe to say that if MSU, Conn or UNC wins the title this year, they’ll be the ‘team of the decade.’
espn did this two years ago
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2862455
and duke was on top.
also Irish, you’ll note that NBA players are mentioned.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
What happened to the disappearing Ty Duffy post?
March 30th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
There have been many people with this sentiment (many who argued against Big Ben…and I digress), the problem with that is that FL had an absolutely great 2-3 year run with a great group of players. Outside of that group of special players they’ve been comparably average. I think “team of the decade” is about consistent success over a long period with lots of different players, not a 2-3 year highly successful stretch.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
You forgot to mention 0 national titles in that Purdue rundown. Being an Indiana grad I had to throw that in.
@General: As a fellow “worthless” Big 10 program, I’m sure it doesn’t matter that Purdue has won more Big 10 Championships than IU and that the head to head record is 107-84 in favor of Purdue.
My favorite Purdue slogan “Keeping ugly girls out of IU since 1862″
General: Let’s face it. Neither school is gonna win against many others. Besides, ugly girls try harder, so Purdue has that goin’ for it…which is nice
March 30th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
here at oppenheimer funds our goal is long term.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
It’s supposed to be over the last decade correct? A F4 in 2001 should be the same as a F4 in 2009 for the purpose of this list. I’m a Duke hater, but their resume for this decade trumps UConn. Plus UConn has two no shows, just ask Ernie Kent* if it’s more important to get there, or to do well when you get there.
*2 elite 8s in the last 5 years at freaking Oregon, and he’s going to be fired becuase of a crappy year this year.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
The decade started in 2001. Which means there is still this year and next year to determine this. If you want to say best team of the last 10 years, fine. But team of the decade has to wait another year.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
decade started in 2000. just like the 90s started in 90.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Point taken but its not like that’s their only successful couple of seasons…they played in the final one season as well. Tough not to struggle when you lose an entire team.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
A decade is merely a period of 10 consecutive years.
The years of 1995-2004 can be considered a decade, if you so wished.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
JeffJax, I dont care either way, I’d rather have the titles but I can see both sides points.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Link?
March 30th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
touche jpq.
I actually think bloomington can hold its own with regard to eye candy, I still remember the first time I went down there was right after I had been to Madison and my dad’s quote was “where are all the fat chicks.” That might be more of a statement about Wisconsin though. Personally IU holds it own do to its low admission standards.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
So UCONN gets screwed on this list for winning in 99? Numbers mess everything up.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
What’s coming up next on Mike and Mike?
March 30th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
with one of the best defenses ever. lets not forget that cleaves missed a handful of games that year with a stress fracture. then was taken down by teddy dupay in the championship game.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
I had been to Madison and my dad’s quote was “where are all the fat chicks.€
general: Madison girls are dairy fed and Purdue girls are corn fed. Big difference-lol
March 30th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
aren’t all games during the Dupay era (including him or not) come with an asterisk?
March 30th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
team of the 90s: Duke, UNC or Kentucky
Duke and UK had 2 titles each; unc 1
but UNC was in FIVE final 4s
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/mayhem/history/finalfourseeds
team of the 00s: MSU, Conn or UNC, probably whichever wins the title this year
team of the 80s
a bit more wide open, but louisville (2 titles) is probably it, followed by a host of teams, with gtown is in the mix (3 F4s)
March 30th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
MSU won the National Title in 2000 but that does not knock them down?
If you want to use benchmarks to base rankings on stay consistent. If you are more heavily weighting recent events Florida would be number 1.
Also, why leave out conference work?
MSU has 1 big10 tourney titles and 3 reg season championships.
Duke 7 acc tourney titles and 4 regular season
UNC 2 and 5
Kansas 3 and 7
Florida 3 and 3
Uconn 2 and 4
UCLA 2 and 3
March 30th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Duke was in four final four’s in the 90’s, but since three of them (including its two titles) were early in the decade, they should not count as much.
March 30th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
If you rank regular season success as equal to tournament success (or a little below) then Pitt, Gonzaga, and Louisville are all ahead of Maryland
March 30th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
good questions, SM.
can’t put too much stock in the league titles/league tourneys. Big east is stacked. ACC has been very good. Kansas has won 7 league tourneys for a reason.
as for recent events … UF hasn’t been in the tourney in two years. i think the top 6 are essentially splitting hairs. you could argue that duke should be 3 and unc 6 and Florida 1. and the best part is … it’s all subjective. no right answer.
March 30th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Duke does have the most overall wins this decade, you know, if that factors in at all.
March 30th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
they have been to 2 final fours in the last 4 years.
March 30th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
5 years?
March 30th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
As Nick said, 5 years.
So has Florida. They also have two national championships in last 4 years.
And UNC 3 times in 5 years with a NC.
UCLA 3 in 4
Duke 3 POY in last 10
TX 2
UNC 1
zero from rest of the top 10.
March 30th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Ohio St should not be honorable mention. One good year, the rest were mediocre at best. If you go back to 99, then yeah thats another Final 4. Wouldve valued Elite 8s more than Sweet 16s. UCLA, Duke, UNC almost always get to play at home the 1st 2 rounds, so making the sweet 16 really means nothing.
March 30th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
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