The Connecticut Huskies just won their program’s sixth national title since 1999. For a long time, there was a debate about whether they were a true blueblood, but there is no arguing it anymore.
How does UConn rank amongst the other blueblood across the country? Who even are the other bluebloods?
I am choosing to leave Indiana off this ranking as they have only made one run beyond the Sweet 16 since 1993. They’ve only made the second weekend four times since the turn of the century. They do not belong on this list at this moment.
I have created a point system to help rank these programs:
Win = one point
Regular season conference champ = two points
Conference tournament champ = three points
Final Four = four points
National title = five points
1- Kentucky Wildcats – 2,719 points
The most storied program in the history of college basketball is the University of Kentucky.
Starting with Adolph Rupp in the late 40’s, Kentucky has had five different coaches win eight national championships throughout the years. Rupp, Joe B. Hall, Rick Pitino, Tubby Smith, and John Calipari have all reached the mountain top at Kentucky.
Five of the last seven coaches at Kentucky have won titles and now Mark Pope will have the opportunity to lead the Cats to the promised land starting in 2024.
2- Kansas Jayhawks – 2,668 points
The Jayhawks are right on Kentucky’s heels for second place in these rankings.
Currently, Bill Self has built an absolute machine in Lawrence. They are the favorites to win the Big 12 every season and they’re usually contenders to make the Final Four. He has won two of Kansas’ four titles.
Historically, they have had some of the greatest coaches of all-time in Self, Roy Williams, Larry Brown, Phog Allen and Doc Naismith. Depending on who you ask, Kansas may be the winningest program in the history of college basketball and all these legendary coaches are why.
3- North Carolina Tar Heels – 2,644 points
Roy Williams. Dean Smith. Michael Jordan. James Worthy. Tyler Hansborough. Vince Carter. Some of the biggest names in college basketball history have rolled through Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
UNC leads the nation with 21 Final Fours, and they are tied for third with six national titles. They are the epitome of iconic.
4- Duke Blue Devils – 2,520 points
The first thing that comes to mind when you think of Duke basketball is coach Mike Krzyzewski. Coach K spent 42 years in Durham, North Carolina and led the Blue Devils to 13 Final Fours and 5 national titles.
Like Carolina, some of the biggest icons in the game have come through Duke. Christian Laettner, Zion Williamson, J.J. Redick, Grayson Allen.
They have become the team you love to hate and they’ve done it while winning at the highest level.
5- UCLA Bruins – 2,215 points
UCLA has a storied history. What John Wooden was able to do from the early 60s to the mid 70s is never going to happen again in modern college athletics. 10 national championships in 12 years is almost inconceivable.
Since then, it has been a bit of a struggle. They won the national title in 1995 led by Jim Harrick and Ed O’Bannon. However, they have not won it since, and despite finishing as runner-up in 2006, it has largely been a struggle.
I considered leaving them off the list like I did Indiana, but history must matter. What John Wooden and those teams accomplished is extraordinary and it helped build a brand that is still revered to this day.
6- UConn Huskies – 1,984 points
If this list was only considering the last 25 years, UConn would be number one and it wouldn’t be even close. The thorough dominance that they’ve had over the sport has been honestly astonishing, but history and longevity has to matter and that is why they are sixth.
Seven Final Four appearances and six national titles since the tourn of the century is incredible. It’s even more incredible when you consider three different coaches have won titles.
Now, Dan Hurley has the program looking like an absolute tank as they are the first team since 2007 to win back-to-back championships. They show no signs of slowing down. Time is the only reason they are ranked where they are.