The greatest programs: No. 3, Kansas

Brent, Louisville, Kentucky — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:58:03 GMT

Good list so far, I would have switched a few around but no more than a couple of spots. You got a lot of slack last week over UCLA, but I agree. Just because you dominate a team in scoring during January doesn't make you the MVP for the season. Neither does dominating one catagory (although an important one) during on period of college basketball.

The greatest programs: No. 3, Kansas

Mark, Kansas — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:03:14 GMT

A couple of your stats are wrong. Kansas has won at least 25 games 19 times in the last 25 years, and at least 30 eight times. Also, Kansas (19 years) has the second best streak in not missing the NCAA tournament, behind only Arizona (24 years).

FYI, every coach (Allen, Harp, Owens, Brown, Williams, Self) that Kansas has had since the NCAA tournament began in 1939 has taken Kansas to the Final Four.

And, Kansas has more inductees in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame than any other Division I school.

The greatest programs: No. 3, Kansas

Mike Miller — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:17:20 GMT

Sorry, that should've read 15 years, not 25. The streak stat is correct, though. North Carolina holds the longest streak with 27 (from 1975-2001). Arizona has the longest current streak, 24 years.

The greatest programs: No. 3, Kansas

Mark, Kansas — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:48:55 GMT

Thanks for the clarifications. Kansas has won at least 25 games 11 times in the last 15 years.

The greatest programs: No. 3, Kansas

Patrick Washington — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:07:58 GMT

One of the things I think Kansas should be most proud of is having more Naismith hall of fame inductees than any other school. I think that speaks volumes.

The greatest programs: No. 3, Kansas

Pam - Kansas City — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:09:15 GMT

Mark - According to KU's official prospectus, Kansas has the second longest NCAA Tournament appearance streak at 19. Matt Doherty's 2001-2002 season went 8-20 and they did not go to the tournament so UNC can't have 27 straight appearances. KU has the second longest tournament streak behind Arizona!

The greatest programs: No. 3, Kansas

Morris, Raleigh, N.C. — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:21:03 GMT

"The Helms Foundation – a panel of experts that determined champions retroactively -- bestowed titles on Kansas’ 1922 and 1923 teams."

Please identify the men on the panel by name and the runnerups in the voting. Thanks in advance for this courtesy.

The greatest programs: No. 3, Kansas

Mike Miller — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:03:49 GMT

The NCAA tournament streak record refers to North Carolina's run from 1975-2001. The Heels' losing season in 2002 ended that streak at 27 years. Arizona hasn't missed the tournament since 1984 (24 years), which is the second longest streak and the best current mark.

You can find more information about the Helms Foundation here: http://www.la84foundation.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1951/BDCE25/BDCE25n.pdf

I don't have information on the runner-ups for those seasons.

The greatest programs: No. 3, Kansas

rod, Seattle , WA — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:02:40 GMT

Mike,
Nice list, I think it is pretty good.
One glaring ommission, Marquette. A few statistics to back me up, 41 post season appearances (9th all-time), 17th all time in NCAA appearances, 3 final 4's (1 runner-up, 1 title), 6 Elite 8's, 32 NCAA tournament games won 21st all time, 3 NIT tital games ( 1 title , 2 runners-up). Add them all up and no way Marquette does not place somewhere up there. I mean 9th in all time tournament appearances ( NIT and NCAA) and 17th in NCAA appearances alone has got to have them somewhere in the top 25.

The greatest programs: No. 3, Kansas

Dave McCormick, Kansas City, Missouri — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:26:13 GMT

Your top three teams all play in arenas named after former Kansas players: Rupp Arena at Kentucky, The Dean Smith Center at North Carolina, and Allen Fieldhouse at Kansas.

The greatest programs: No. 3, Kansas

Dawn Weathersby — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 01:16:34 GMT

And yet, three is less than five in every math book I have opened. How, HOW can you put Kansas ahead of Indiana? This is like picking David Cook as a more influential musician than Nat King Cole. Sure I like him now, but will anyone be listening in 50 years? And what about all of the coaches Knight influenced? No mention. You should have done your homework.

The greatest programs: No. 3, Kansas

Tom, Alabama — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:34:03 GMT

Hard not to consider Kansas in terms of tradition #1. North Carolina, and Kentucky are actually spinoffs of Kansas basketball history when you consider Dean Smith, and Adolph Rupp. The Father of Basketball, and the father of b-ball coaching not to mention the greatest basketball player ever. over 50 conference titles. Like the yankees, the celtics, and the packers. they are one of a kind.

The greatest programs: No. 3, Kansas

Tom, Alabama — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 04:01:05 GMT

Dawn, before Bobby knight, some history at Indiana. After Bobby Knight. NOTHING. NOTHING since Bobby Knight other than a fluke final four visit during Mike Davis, and you canned him for what? Take Bobby Knight out of Indiana basketball history, and you end up somewhere with San Francisco, or perhaps Temple. Sorry, but your football history falls much in line with your basketball lore. At least Lee Corso has some credibility in commentary.

The greatest programs: No. 3, Kansas

Red, Salt Lake City, UT — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:36:56 GMT

Fairly decent list. I'm glad to see that Duke was left out of the top 5 (many people get that wrong), though they should even be lower than they are.

Nice write up on Kansas. They have, by far, the greatest and most storied history of any school in the nation. UNC and Kentucky are mere offspring of Kansas' tradition. That fact is nicely summed up in Dave Mccormick's post.

Yes, UCLA has the most titles, but KU, UK, and North Carolina ARE college basketball. A decade of dominance can't compare with a century of greatness.

The greatest programs: No. 3, Kansas

Danny, Tulsa — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:47:34 GMT

I would have included the Rock Chalk chant as another indication of the unique tradition at Kansas. Hearing it's strains echo through a gym always gives me goose bumps, even (or maybe especially) when it gets chanted at an opponents gym (ie, against Oklahoma last Monday).