College Basketball: Ranking the Nine “Blue Blood” programs

Kentucky

National Championships since 1960: 4
National Championships prior to 1960: 4
Final Four Appearances since 1960: 12
Final Four Appearances since 1960: 5
Regular Season Conference Championships since 1950: 40
Conference Tournament Championships since 1990: 16
Elite Eight Appearances: 38
Sweet Sixteen Appearances: 44
Every season with 30 or more wins since 1970: 12
Every season with 20 or more: 45
NCAA Tournament berths: 60

National Championships since 1960: 200 Points

National Championships prior to 1960: 160 Points

Final Four Appearances since 1960: 360 points

Final Four Appearances prior to 1960: 125 points

Regular Season Conference Championships since 1950: 800 points

Conference Tournament Championships since 1990: 240 points

Elite Eight Appearances: 380 points

Sweet Sixteen Appearances: 264 points

Every season with 30 or more wins since 1970: 60 points

Every season with 20 or more wins since 1970: 180 points

Every NCAA Tournament berth: 120 points

Total Points: 2,889

The Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball program has accumulated a record of over 2300 victories and has won eight NCAA championships, for the second-most all-time. They have also made 17 Final Four appearances and 53 SEC conference championships.

Kentucky has a long history of accomplished coaches and players who achieved numerous awards and feats. Adolph Rupp is arguably the most famous coach in Kentucky basketball history. He led the Wildcats to four NCAA championships and 28 conference championships. He is also a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Rick Pitino led the Wildcats to an NCAA championship. He also led the team to the Final Four in 1993. Tubby Smith also led Kentucky to a national championship as well as seven SEC conference regular season titles. Finally, John Calipari the current head coach of the Wildcats led the team to a national championship, six conference championships, and four final four appearances.

The Wildcats have numerous current and future hall of famers and Cazzie Russel was one of the most dominant players in college basketball during his time. He was a three-time All-American and led the Wildcats to the NCAA championship in 1966. Russell was also a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Dan Issel is Kentucky’s all-time leading scorer and e is also the school’s all-time leading rebounder. Issel was twice named an All-American.

John Wall was a dynamic point guard who led Kentucky to the national championship game in 2010. He was a consensus All-American and the SEC Player of the Year in 2010. Anthony Davis was one of the most dominant players in Kentucky basketball history. He was a consensus National Player of the Year in 2012 and led the Wildcats to the national championship. Davis was also a two-time All-American and the SEC Player of the Year in 2012 as well.

The Kentucky Wildcats program by the numbers is the most successful in college basketball history by many accounts. Besides having a long and rich history of success, they as a program have a very passionate and loyal fanbase that demands excellence year in and year out. They will without a doubt, continue to be one of the most popular and respected teams in the country.