Ten best programs in the country right now?

[ctchamps]

I want the NCAA to take away that one NC from UNC where the athletes never went to classes. That would even up the score for the reduction UConn gets from the APR fiasco.

I want UConn to win 2 out of the next four NC's to end this debate once and for all. I really want them to win the next four but I'm a realist.

 

[Tk79]

These are all interesting approaches. There is obviously no "correct" way to rank programs. Too many variables (championships, wins, conference titles, consistency vs greatness, etc) and timeframes are arbitrary - so there are infinite methodologies for doing this. I've tracked lots of these things in an analysis that I've posted here before.

Attached is one version that counts only NCAA tourney performance, with a 50% weighting for titles, 25% weighting on number of Final 4 appearances, 15% on Sweet 16s, and 10% on number of tourney wins. Over the past 20 years, UConn ranks #2 behind Kentucky. Any timeframe between 11-17 years we rank #1. 18-22 years we rank #2. 23-30 years and we rank either #3 or #4.

 

[Tk79]

Here's another version that is more inclusive in terms of criteria. It includes conference titles (tourney and season) and total number of wins. Not surprisingly we don't rank quite as high under this methodology, but still #3 over past 20 years.

 

[intlzncster]

I think that Louisville definitely belongs on that list, probably moreso than Duke, UNC, or Kansas right now.

Kansas has been really good recently though. A Final in 2012 losing to a team with a once in a generation player (Davis). Were favored to win it in 2011. Yes, they 'flamed out' in the elite 8, but they just ran into a very hot VCU team. If they had Joel Embiid at full strength last year, they would have made a good run in the NCAAs.

They just haven't gotten the breaks you need to get to win it all. (UCONN avoiding Louisville last year; Amida's and one).

 

[CallMeBruce]

Kansas has been really good recently though. A Final in 2012 losing to a team with a once in a generation player (Davis). Were favored to win it in 2011. Yes, they 'flamed out' in the elite 8, but they just ran into a very hot VCU team. If they had Joel Embiid at full strength last year, they would have made a good run in the NCAAs.

They just haven't gotten the breaks you need to get to win it all. (UCONN avoiding Louisville last year; Amida's and one).

I'm not saying that Kansas has been lousy, but I think that, in the last few years, Louisville has been better.

 

[intlzncster]

Here's another version that is more inclusive in terms of criteria. It includes conference titles (tourney and season) and total number of wins. Not surprisingly we don't rank quite as high under this methodology, but still #3 over past 20 years.

I'd caveat that one with: the gauntlet of the regular season and tournament significantly skew the results for Big East teams.

 

[intlzncster]

I'm not saying that Kansas has been lousy, but I think that, in the last few years, Louisville has been better.

They do have the and Championship to prove it.

 

[BlueMAB]

I think that Louisville definitely belongs on that list, probably moreso than Duke, UNC, or Kansas right now.

After reading the title of the thread, I agree. "Right now" they belong on there. All time, they are probably #6-8.