College basketball is full of history and tradition. It's fairly common for each school to treasure their best records and achievements to extol the value of their programs. But coming to a decision on which one is the best, is no easy feat whatsoever.
Some people value championship wins more than anything, while others take into consideration the total number of victories over a certain period of time. Here we get a deep look into the college basketball world and the most famous school teams that made it straight to the top.
Illinois Fighting Illini, 1988-89
The 1988-89 team is considered by many as the most talented team the University of Illinois ever had. That line up was dubbed the 'Flying Illini', made out of excellent players like Batte, Gill, and Bardo. Naturally, they received a number of awards thanks to their splendid performance at the basketball court.
In the case of Bardo, he was awarded Big Defensive Player of the Year, while Anderson got Team Most Valuable Player and the rest got into the Fighting Illini All-Century team. Lastly, their coach was the talented Lou Henson, who would later be retired as the all-time winning leader at the university with 423 victories.
Michigan Wolverines, 1988-89
The 1988-89 team of the Michigan Wolverines was a smash hit and would be better remembered if their successors, the Fab Five, were not simply extraordinary. In addition, during that particular season, the team was able to set several national and conference records. Their school's all-time leading scorer Glen Rice set the current record of the Big Ten single-game three-point field goals percentage.
It happened in 1989, against Wisconsin. The Wolverines, which were coached by Bill Frieder and Steve Fisher, were almost unstoppable that year. Prominent players Glen Rice and Mark Hughes both served as team co-captains with Rice earning team MVP. He's has won both an NCAA championship and NBA championship, a feat not many people can brag about.
Cincinnati Bearcats, 1961-63
The Cincinnati Bearcats was able to turn things around for them surpassing their in-state rival Ohio State. They won two consecutive National Championships in 1961 and once again the very next year. In 1962, they were basically the epitome of a balanced and well-rounded team to beat.
They were lead by Paul Hogue, a leading scorer who was a 6-foot-9 center, that helped them maintain a stifling defense. Also, five other of the players of the team scored on average between 8.2 and 14.3 per game. More than decent numbers for any team.
Texas Western Miners, 1965–66
Almost every team on this list has incredible talent. But only a few have overcome unthinkable obstacles to become champions. This is the case of the 1965-1966 Western Miners when they entered the championship and became the first starting five with all-black players to win the NCAA title.
In the end, they came on top and beat Kentucky (an all-white team that was being coached by Rupp) 72-68 with amazing steals. Although they suffered many rejections because of their race after winning, their victory helped promote desegregation in athletics in the Southeastern Conference.
Illinois Fighting Illini, 2004-05
The 2004-2005 Illini played one of the most profitable seasons in recent years. Their starting record was an impressive 29-0 and then they won the Big Ten Conference regular-season title with a score of 15-1. Thus, becoming champions of the Big Ten Tournament.
Things were looking definitely up for the Illini, and they went far in the NCAA Tournament to the National Championship. However, they eventually lost to North Carolina with a tight 75-70, ending with an overall record of 37-2. Their coach Bruce Weber was named National Coach of The Year by nine different organizations.
UNLV Rebels, 1986-87
The Runnin' Rebels from the University of Las Vegas were led by Freddie Banks, Gerald Paddio, and Mark Wade and were coached by the late Jerry Tarkanian. The team got nervous in the regional final after being forced to overcome a stressing 18-point deficit against Iowa.
Surprisingly, out of their fantastic lineup, only two great players were drafted into the NBA Armon Gilamm and Freddie Banks. Their overall score in the 1986–87 PCAA men's basketball standings was of 32-7. Also that season the became the first UNLV team to end the regular season being the nation's top-ranked team.
Michigan State Spartans, 1999-2000
The Spartans represented Michigan State University. They were starting the season ranked number 3 in the country, but they suddenly found themselves without their team captain and starting point guard Mateen Cleaves. This was caused due to Cleaves sustaining a stress fracture on his right foot during the offseason training.
But he eventually returned, although in pain, to lead the Spartans to the championship. For this, Cleaves was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Also, they were winners in the Rankings by the Associated Press Poll and they ended the season with an overall performance of 32-7.
North Carolina Tar Heels, 2008-09
The 2008–09 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team played for the University of North Carolina. They won the 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, which was the fifth NCAA national title in school history. Their head coach was Roy Williams.
That season they were considered a trendy pick mostly due to three of their players. Those were Wayne Ellington, Ty Lawson, and Danny Green. In fact, they were so popular that the NC Tar Heels were the first unanimous preseason #1 ranking in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.
UCLA Bruins, 1966-68
That season UCLA's 47-game winning streak came to an end when they were beaten by the Houston Cougars. But the Bruins were able to avenge that loss in the NCAA Final Four, where they won against the Cougars 101–69. Thus, becoming the only team to win consecutive NCAA championships in two occasions.
They played under coach John 'The Wizard of Westwood' Wooden. Their star player 'Big Lew' was dominant in the title game, achieving 34 points and 16 boards in a win over North Carolina. Lew was recruited by assistant coach Jerry Norman. By the time he retired, Lew (better know as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) held many records, and to this day, remains the all-time leader in points scored and career wins.
UNLV Rebels, 1990-91
The Runnin' Rebels were the basketball team representing the University of Nevada. They were coached by Jerry Tarkanian and actually entered the 1990-91 season defending the title as National Champions. In fact, they entered the 1991 NCAA tournament still unbeaten. But ultimately, they lost against the champions from Duke.
Their fate unraveled when the ball was bounced unintentionally by player Anderson Hunt to the hands of a Duke player called Bobby Hurley in the final seconds. This ended a 45-game winning streak that went as far back as the last season. They also were the last team to end the regular season unbeaten until 2004.
UCLA Bruins, 1971-73
The 1971-72 Bruins from UCLA went undefeated at 30–0 and ended up claiming a seventh consecutive National Championship. In the NCAA Tournament, the Bruins dominated over Memphis State thanks to the junior center Bill Walton, who scored 44 points. They won 87–66.
Many think of this feat as the greatest offensive performance ever in college basketball. In the 1972–73 Pacific-8 Conference men's basketball standings, they finished claiming the number one spot with a win ratio of 100%, with 14 wins and 0 loses. Their head coach was John Wooden, who was nicknamed 'The Wizard of Westwood'.
San Francisco Dons, 1954-56
Representing the University of San Francisco, the Dons finished the season undefeated. Thus, they became the first NCAA tournament champion to ever record a perfect season. Also, they won two consecutive NCAA titles being led by relentless defense player Bill Russel who was noted for his way of shot-blocking.
Their coach, Phil Woolper, was one of the first to disregard the racial prejudices of the time and use three black starters. They were K.C Jones, Hal Perry, and Bill Russel. The latter averaged 20 points and was awarded the First Team All-America selection.
Duke Blue Devils, 1990-92
After getting humiliated by UNLV Runnin' Rebels in the previous title game, Duke returned to the spotlight winning back-to-back national championships. Led by players Christian Laettner and Grant Hill, they won their second national title in as many years to become the first repeating team since UCLA.
Such a feat would not be accomplished again in college basketball history until 16 years later with the Florida Gators. Their head coach was Mike Krzyzewski, and he helped the team end the season with a 25–2 record and as number 10 regular-season championship in school history.
Houston Cougars, 1982-83
The Houston Cougars did the University of Houston proud that season when they absolutely dominated the Southwest Conference schedule and were ranked #1 on the polls. Unfortunately, their 26-game winning streak was destroyed when they lost against the NC State Wolfpack at the National Championship.
Still, their performance was memorable, being led by future Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. Despite the defeat, Hakeem Olajuwon was named Most Outstanding Player and remains to this day the last player to be chosen MOP from the losing team.
UCLA Bruins, 1963-64
In the '63-'64 season, the Bruins won their first NCAA National Championship under John Wooden. It was thanks to assistant coach Jerry Norman who suggested they use the zone press, something the team had never used before. It was a success and caused them to win their first two national titles.
When playing for the national title, UCLA defeated Duke and Walt Hazzard was named Most Oustanding Player. In the semi-final, he scored 19 points which allowed them to defeat Kansas State. He finished the seasons as the all-time leading scorer with 1,401 points.
Indiana Hoosiers, 1975-76
After 44 years, the 1975-76 Hoosiers still hold the distinction of being unbeaten through the entire season, including conference sessions, and the NCAA championship. The team, which represented the Indiana University Bloomington won the school's third national title. That season, head coach Bob Knight won Big Ten Coach of the Year.
The team also included three All-Americans and also had the distinction of having all five regular starting players get their NBA pension. Indiana finished that season with a 32–0 record, and since then no men's NCAA Division I team has gone undefeated for a whole season.
North Carolina Tar Heels, 1956-57
The 1956-57 Tar Heels not only were the first ACC team to win a national title but also the second undefeated champion win a National Championship in basketball history. They were led by unstoppable scoring man Lennie Rosenbluth, and they were coached by Frank Joseph McGuire.
Lennie Rosenbluth, who averaged 28 points per game, led the team to finish the season with a flawless 32-0. This led to him winning the award of Helms Foundation Player of the Year and ACC Player of the Year, while McGuire won Coach of the Year.
Loyola Marymount Lions, 1989-90
The Lions represented Loyola Marymount University during the 1989–90 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They held a leading position in the nation by scoring an NCAA record of 122.4 points per game, helped by two of their most important players Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble.
In 1990, a tragedy occurred when Hank Gathers collapsed on the court and died while they were playing a WCC Tournament Semifinal against Portland. The team honored his legacy with a run to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. They defeated three different states before falling to the Runnin' Rebels, who were the champions that season.
North Carolina Tar Heels, 1981-82
The 1981-82 lineup from the Tar Heels had some superb physical defenders and incredible jump-shooters. They were led by star players Sam Perkins, James Worthy, and it's most famous member Michael Jordan. They were coached by Dean Smith, who won his first title when they took home the gold at the National Championship.
Also, James Worthy won the award for NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player, while freshman Michael Jordan became the ACC Rookie of the Year. The latter would become the most famous NBA player of the '80s and '90s.
Houston Cougars, 1967-68
The Cougars from the University of Houston managed to go undefeated during the 1967-68 regular season. Led by their head coach Guy Lewis, the team beat the UCLA Bruins (that were led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) in 1968, in what was later dubbed as the Game of the Century.
In addition, Houston ended the season with a perfect 28–0 record for the regular season and eventually achieved a 31–2 overall record. After that season, two prominent players of the team were drafted into the NBA. They were the hall of fame member Elvin Hayes and Don Chaney.
Michigan State Spartans, 1978-79
The 1979 NCAA Championship marked a moment in college basketball history. The Spartans from Michigan State University defeated Indiana State, led by Larry Bird. It was the most-watched college basketball game ever. With that, they won their first national championship with a score of 75-64.
Their edge was definitely sophomore Earvin 'Magic' Johnson, scoring of 16.1 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.4 rebounds. Unsurprisingly, Johnson was voted Most Oustanding Player of the Final Four. He was drafted into the NBA shortly after. That season, they were coached by Jud Heathcote.
Duke Blue Devils, 2000-01
The Blue Devils from Duke won their third national championship under the leadership of All-American players Jason 'Jay' Williams and Shane Battier. Their head coach was Mike Krzyzewski, who's still coaching the Blue Devils.
At the half of the NCAA, Duke managed to accomplished a comeback against the Terrapins. They won 95–84 and advanced to the championship game, which was the largest comeback in Final Four history. That season, Shane Battier was named the NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player and received an ALL-ACC honor alongside Jason Williams.
North Carolina State Wolfpack, 1973-74
The NC State Wolfpack made everyone cheer when they ended the ACC regular season undefeated and then took the gold home after winning the Tournament. They finished that season as the national champions. Coached by Norm Sloan, they had every component to win and they did.
Among the most notables players was David Thompson which was an incredible high jumping forward, and a massive 7-foot-4 center called Tom Burleson. The final at the ACC has been considered by many to be the greatest ACC game in history, where NC State defeated Maryland 103–100 in overtime to win the championship.
Oklahoma Sooners, 1987-88
Representing the University of Oklahoma, the Sooners set an overall record of 35-4 that season, and a conference record of 12-2, which earned them the Conference Title. Their head coach was Billy Tubbs and it was the third Big Eight Conference Regular Season Championship for Billy.
Their lineup was adorned by future NBA drafts such Mookie Blaylock, Stacey King, and Harvey Grant. Both the former and the latter earned an All-American recognition on that season. King also was voted the Most Valuable Player both at the Big Eight Tournament and the NCAA Tournament Southeast Regional.
Syracuse Orangemen, 1986-87
The Syracuse University was represented by the Orangemen under the tutelage of head coach Jim Boeheim. The team ended the season with an impressive 31-7 record and managed to make it all the way to the Championship game of the NCAA tournament.
They were matched against the Indiana Hoosiers in the Championship game and it was a very tight match indeed. Basically, it was a constant back and forward between the two teams. Eventually, the Orangemen had 1 point lead with only 28 seconds on the clock but one missed shot gave Indiana an opening to ultimately win the game.
Arizona Wildcats, 1996-97
The Wildcats gave the Univesity of Arizona its only NCAA championship victory in history. Their head coach, Lute Olson, didn't only lead them to victory, but also to become to this day the only team to take down three top-seeded teams.
The team systematically wiped out in one tournament Kansas, North Carolina State, and even the defending champion, Kentucky. In addition, they had 5 players drafted into the NBA. They were A. J. Bramlett, Miles Simon, Michael Dickerson, Jason Terry, and Mike Bibby, who was named NBA All-Rookie First Team in his first season.
South Carolina Gamec*cks, 1972-73
The Gamec*cks were the University of South Carolina's men basketball team. In the 1973 season, the team consisted of a diverse group of students, including two freshmen and one senior player. In addition, they had a coach who'd already entered the hall of fame.
Most likely, it was all of these different characteristics which made the team shine brighter than most others. They ended up posting a 22-7 record and the victories under their belt were many. For example, a triumph against Texas Tech 78-70 in the first round of the NCAA.
Kentucky Wildcats, 1947-49
The Wildcats represented the University of Kentucky. They made history in 1948-1949 playing under head coach Rudolph Rupp. Specifically for taking home the gold at the National Championship, which became the first title for the university.
The won the championship for 16 points, a comfortable victory against Baylor. Among its members, three were drafted into the NBA, namely Jon Hollan, Ken Rollins, and Jack Parkinson. Interestingly enough, the latter was a genius at baseball who achieved a no-hitter but refused to pursue professional baseball in order to play with the Wildcats.
Ohio State Buckeyes, 1959-61
The Buckeyes represented the Ohio State University. Their head coach was Fred Taylor. The team destroyed Louisville and Kentucky at the Mideast, getting to the Final Four with a good streak. They swept off Saint Joseph's with an impressive 95-69 but ultimately fell against Cincinnati by only 5 points.
The team was led by players Jerry Lucas and Larry Springfield. The former was awarded USBWA College Player of the Year and NCAA Most Outstanding Player. While the latter was awarded First-Team All-Big Ten and was drafted into the NBA, where he played for the Cincinnati Royals.
Kentucky Wildcats, 1995-96
There's a reason why this line up put together by head coach Rick Pitino was called 'The Untouchables'. The Kentucky Wildcats showed the results of their good workout schedule when they finished the season with a 32-2 record. In addition, they won the NCAA Championship when faced against the Syracuse Orangemen 76-67.
Nine players from this team were drafted eventually to play in the NBA. They were Mark Pope, Derek Anderson, Jeff Sheppard, Wayne Tuner, Tony Delk, Walter McCarty, Nazr Mohammed, Ron Mercer, and Antoine Walker. The latter would become a three-time All-Star for his shooting volume and ability.