10 Best College Basketball Teams of All Time
- 1971-72 UCLA Bruins
- 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers
- 1967-68 UCLA Bruins
- 1991-92 Duke Blue Devils
- 1995-96 Kentucky Wildcats
- 1956-57 North Carolina Tar Heels
- 1981-82 North Carolina Tar Heels
- 1989-90 UNLV Runnin' Rebels
- 2001-02 Duke Blue Devils
- 2014-15 Kentucky Wildcats
These teams were chosen based on their overall success, their dominance during their time, and the impact they had on the sport. They all had great players, coaches, and fans, and they all left a lasting legacy on college basketball.
1. 1971-72 UCLA Bruins
The 1971–72 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 1971–72 NCAA men's basketball season. The team was coached by John Wooden in his 24th season. They won their 7th consecutive NCAA championship and 8th in 9 years. The team finished with a perfect 30–0 record, which was the longest winning streak in NCAA history at the time.
The team was led by Bill Walton, who was named the Naismith College Player of the Year and the consensus National College Player of the Year. Walton averaged 20.3 points, 15.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. He was joined by Jamaal Wilkes, who averaged 15.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, and Swen Nater, who averaged 13.4 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.
The Bruins were ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll for the entire season. They won the Pac-8 Conference championship with a perfect 14–0 record. In the NCAA Tournament, they defeated Weber State, Long Beach State, Louisville, and Florida State to win the national championship.
The 1971–72 UCLA Bruins are considered one of the greatest college basketball teams of all time. They were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a team in 2013.
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1971-72 UCLA Bruins |
2. 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers
The 1975–76 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team represented Indiana University Bloomington during the 1975–76 NCAA men's basketball season. The team was coached by Bob Knight in his 10th season. They won their third NCAA championship, and first in 10 years. The team finished with a perfect 32–0 record, which is the last undefeated season in NCAA Division I men's basketball history.
The team was led by Scott May, who was named the Naismith College Player of the Year and the consensus National College Player of the Year. May averaged 20.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. He was joined by Quinn Buckner, who averaged 15.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game, and Kent Benson, who averaged 15.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
The Hoosiers were ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll for the entire season. They won the Big Ten Conference championship with a perfect 14–0 record. In the NCAA Tournament, they defeated St. John's, Alabama, Marquette, UCLA, and Michigan to win the national championship.
The 1975–76 Indiana Hoosiers are considered one of the greatest college basketball teams of all time. They were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a team in 2013.
3. 1967-68 UCLA Bruins
The 1967–68 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 1967–68 NCAA men's basketball season. The team was coached by John Wooden in his 21st season. They won their second consecutive NCAA championship, and fifth in six years. The team finished with a record of 29–1, which was the most wins in a season in NCAA history at the time.
The team was led by Lew Alcindor, who was named the Naismith College Player of the Year and the consensus National College Player of the Year. Alcindor averaged 29.5 points and 15.5 rebounds per game. He was joined by Lucius Allen, who averaged 15.3 points and 4.2 assists per game, and Kenny Heitz, who averaged 12.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
The Bruins were ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll for the entire season. They won the Pac-8 Conference championship with a perfect 14–0 record. In the NCAA Tournament, they defeated Wyoming, New Mexico State, Santa Clara, Houston, and North Carolina to win the national championship.
The 1967–68 UCLA Bruins are considered one of the greatest college basketball teams of all time. They were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a team in 2013.
The team's only loss came on January 20, 1968, to Houston at the Astrodome, 71-69. The game was known as the Game of the Century.
4. 1991-92 Duke Blue Devils
The 1991–92 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team represented Duke University during the 1991–92 NCAA men's basketball season. The team was coached by Mike Krzyzewski in his 11th season. They won their second consecutive NCAA championship, and fifth in school history. The team finished with a record of 34–2, which was the most wins in a season in Duke history at the time.
The team was led by Christian Laettner, who was named the Naismith College Player of the Year and the consensus National College Player of the Year. Laettner averaged 21.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. He was joined by Grant Hill, who averaged 15.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, and Bobby Hurley, who averaged 11.6 points and 6.2 assists per game.
The Blue Devils were ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll for the entire season. They won the ACC regular season championship with a record of 14–2. In the ACC Tournament, they defeated Maryland, North Carolina, and Georgia Tech to win the tournament championship. In the NCAA Tournament, they defeated Richmond, Old Dominion, Seton Hall, Kentucky, Indiana, and Michigan to win the national championship.
The 1991–92 Duke Blue Devils are considered one of the greatest college basketball teams of all time. They were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a team in 2018.
5. 1995-96 Kentucky Wildcats
The 1995–96 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team represented the University of Kentucky during the 1995–96 NCAA men's basketball season. The team was coached by Rick Pitino in his fourth season. They won their first NCAA championship since 1978, and seventh overall. The team finished with a record of 34–2, which was the most wins in a season in Kentucky history at the time.
The team was led by Tony Delk, who was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player. Delk averaged 18.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He was joined by Derek Anderson, who averaged 14.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, and Antoine Walker, who averaged 12.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
The Wildcats were ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll for the entire season. They won the SEC regular season championship with a record of 16–0. In the SEC Tournament, they defeated Alabama, Vanderbilt, and Tennessee to win the tournament championship. In the NCAA Tournament, they defeated Hampton, Old Dominion, Utah, Wake Forest, Massachusetts, and Syracuse to win the national championship.
The 1995–96 Kentucky Wildcats are considered one of the greatest college basketball teams of all time. They were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a team in 2022.
6. 1956-57 North Carolina Tar Heels
The 1956–57 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill during the 1956–57 NCAA men's basketball season. The team was coached by Frank McGuire in his fifth season. They won their first NCAA championship, and first in school history. The team finished with a record of 32–0, which was the second undefeated season in NCAA Division I men's basketball history.
The team was led by Lennie Rosenbluth, who was named the Naismith College Player of the Year and the consensus National College Player of the Year. Rosenbluth averaged 28.0 points per game. He was joined by Tommy Kearns, who averaged 15.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, and Pete Brennan, who averaged 12.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
The Tar Heels were ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll for the entire season. They won the ACC regular season championship with a record of 14–0. In the ACC Tournament, they defeated Duke and Wake Forest to win the tournament championship. In the NCAA Tournament, they defeated Yale, Canisius, Syracuse, Michigan State, and Kansas to win the national championship.
The 1956–57 North Carolina Tar Heels are considered one of the greatest college basketball teams of all time. They were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a team in 2013.
7. 1981-82 North Carolina Tar Heels
The 1981–82 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill during the 1981–82 NCAA men's basketball season. The team was coached by Dean Smith in his 21st season. They won their third NCAA championship, and first in 10 years. The team finished with a record of 32–2, which was the most wins in a season in school history at the time.
The team was led by James Worthy, who was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player. Worthy averaged 15.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. He was joined by Sam Perkins, who averaged 13.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, and Michael Jordan, who averaged 13.4 points per game.
The Tar Heels were ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll for the entire season. They won the ACC regular season championship with a record of 14–0. In the ACC Tournament, they defeated Virginia and NC State to win the tournament championship. In the NCAA Tournament, they defeated James Madison, Alabama, Villanova, Houston, and Georgetown to win the national championship.
The 1981–82 North Carolina Tar Heels are considered one of the greatest college basketball teams of all time. They were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a team in 2013.
8. 1989-90 UNLV Runnin' Rebels
The 1989–90 UNLV Runnin' Rebels men's basketball team represented the University of Nevada, Las Vegas during the 1989–90 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by head coach Jerry Tarkanian, the team won the NCAA championship, defeating Duke in the final. The team finished the season with a record of 35–5.
The Runnin' Rebels were led by Larry Johnson, who was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Johnson averaged 20.6 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. He was joined by Stacey Augmon, who averaged 17.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, and Anderson Hunt, who averaged 15.5 points per game.
The Runnin' Rebels were ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll for the entire season. They won the Big West Conference regular-season championship with a record of 16–2. In the Big West Tournament, they defeated Cal State Fullerton, Pacific, and Long Beach State to win the tournament championship. As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 seed in the West region.
The Runnin' Rebels won their first six tournament games by an average of 31.5 points. In the national championship game, they defeated Duke, 103–73. The Runnin' Rebels' 30-point margin of victory was the largest in an NCAA championship game since 1976.
9. 2001-02 Duke Blue Devils
The 2001–02 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team represented Duke University during the 2001–02 NCAA men's basketball season. The head coach was Mike Krzyzewski. The team played its home games in the Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, and was a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The Blue Devils finished the season with a record of 31–4 (13–3 ACC). They were ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll for the first 15 weeks of the season but lost their final two regular season games to North Carolina and Maryland. As a result, they were seeded No. 2 in the East region of the NCAA Tournament.
The Blue Devils won their first two tournament games against Winthrop and Notre Dame. However, they lost to Indiana in the regional semifinal.
Jason Williams was named the ACC Player of the Year. Carlos Boozer and Mike Dunleavy were also named to the All-ACC First Team.
10. 2014-15 Kentucky Wildcats
The 2014–15 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team represented the University of Kentucky in the 2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by sixth-year head coach John Calipari. The team finished the season with a record of 38–1, which was the most wins in a season in school history. They were ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll for the entire season. They won the SEC regular season championship with a record of 18–0. In the SEC Tournament, they defeated Alabama, Vanderbilt, and Tennessee to win the tournament championship. In the NCAA Tournament, they defeated Hampton, Old Dominion, Utah, Wichita State, Louisville, and Wisconsin to advance to the Final Four. However, they lost to Wisconsin in the national championship game.
The team was led by Karl-Anthony Towns, who was named the consensus National College Player of the Year. Towns averaged 16.9 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. He was joined by Willie Cauley-Stein, who averaged 10.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, and Devin Booker, who averaged 14.3 points per game.
The Wildcats were one of the most hyped teams in college basketball history. They were ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP Poll and never fell out of the top spot. They won their first 38 games of the season, which was the longest winning streak in college basketball history at the time. They were the only undefeated team in the country entering the NCAA Tournament.
The Wildcats were the favorites to win the national championship. However, they lost to Wisconsin in the national championship game. The loss was a disappointment for the Wildcats, but they still had a historic season. They won the SEC regular season and tournament championships, and they were one of the most dominant teams in college basketball history.
This is just a small sample of the many great college basketball teams that have ever existed. There are many other teams that could be considered among the best of all time.
