College Basketball: Ranking the Nine “Blue Blood” programs
By Ryan Kay
UCLA
National Championships since 1960: 11
National Championships prior to 1960: 0
Final Four Appearances since 1960: 18 *1980 vacated
Final Four Appearances since 1960: 0
Regular Season Conference Championships since 1950: 31
Conference Tournament Championships since 1990: 3
Elite Eight Appearances: 22 *1980 vacated
Sweet Sixteen Appearances: 35 *1980 vacated
Every season with 30 or more wins since 1970: 8
Every season with 20 or more: 42
NCAA Tournament berths: 51
National Championships since 1960: 550 Points
National Championships prior to 1960: 0 Points
Final Four Appearances since 1960: 540 points
Final Four Appearances prior to 1960: 0 points
Regular Season Conference Championships since 1950: 620 points
Conference Tournament Championships since 1990: 45 points
Elite Eight Appearances: 220 points
Sweet Sixteen Appearances: 210 points
Every season with 30 or more wins since 1970: 40 points
Every season with 20 or more wins since 1970: 168 points
Every NCAA Tournament berth: 102 points
Total Points: 2,495
The UCLA Bruins have won a record 11 NCAA championships, including a remarkable run of seven consecutive national titles from 1967 to 1973. They have also made 18 Final Four appearances and 32 conference championships.
The Bruins’ most successful era was under legendary and hall-of-fame coach John Wooden. Wooden led the Bruins to an unbelievable 10 national titles in 12 seasons, including an outstanding achievement of four undefeated seasons. He is widely considered by many fans and sports writers to be the greatest college basketball coach of all time.
Some of the most famous players in UCLA history include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, Reggie Miller, and Jamaal Wilkes. These players helped to make UCLA a national powerhouse and to popularize the sport of college basketball, especially in the 1960s and 70s.
There is no doubt that the UCLA Bruins men’s basketball program is a true top-three traditional powerhouse in college basketball with its record number of national championships. They have a long and rich history of success going back to coach Wooden and under head coach Mick Cronin they look to continue to be one of the most popular and respected teams in the country.