Top 10 College Basketball Teams of All Time

Take a trip down memory lane and relive the glory days of college basketball. We're talking about the teams that defined an era, coached by legends like Bob Knight, John Wooden, Rick Pitino, John Thompson, Dean Smith, Jerry Tarkanian, and Coach K himself, Mike Krzyzewski. Lew Alcindor dominating the paint, Michael Jordan soaring through the air, Patrick Ewing swatting shots into the third row, and Larry Johnson ruling the court. These squads weren't just good; they were downright iconic. Each team capped off their seasons with the ultimate prize: a national title. These squads weren't just stacked with talent; they were fortified with experience. Unlike today's landscape, where freshman phenoms bolt for the NBA at the first scent of success, these teams marinated in college hoops culture, honing their skills and forging bonds that could withstand the fiercest competition. With current NIL deals and a looming salary cap, it's hard to imagine teams will ever replicate the dynasties of old. Join us as we countdown the top 10 college basketball teams of all time.

 

1971-1972 UCLA Bruins (30-0)

Head Coach: John Wooden
G - Henry Bibby, G - Greg Lee, F - Jamaal "Silk" Wilkes, F - Larry Farmer, C - Bill Walton
Bench: C - Swen Nater, G - Tommy Curtis, G - Larry Hollyfield

Bill Walton, Jamaal Wilkes, Swen Nater and Henry Bibby helped lead UCLA to an undefeated season in 1972. They won by an average margin of 32 points per game. The season was also part of UCLA's NCAA record 88-game winning streak. The UCLA streak contributed to a personal streak that lasted almost 5 years for head coach John Wooden. This teams basketball IQ was simply off the charts. Prior to joining the varsity team, Greg Lee (17.9 ppg), Jamaal Wilkes (20.0 ppg), and Bill Walton (18.1, 68.6 per cent) were members of the 20–0 Frosh team. The Bruins greatness can be summed up from Bill Walton's disappointed about his team's 81-76 victory over Florida State in the championship game. "I'm really embarrassed, I can't believe how bad I played. I'd have to say it was one of my worst games. We should have beat these guys with ease. I guess I should be happy that we won, but, in all honesty, I'm not.”

The team opened the season as the No. 1 team in both the AP and UPI polls. They faced an intense national schedule with multiple big time games scheduled outside their conference including Ohio State, Notre Dame and Texas. The team defeated opponents by an average of over 30 points a game. The most points that any team ever scored against them was 83 points, and they still won that game by 17. At the end of the season Bill Walton took home the Naismith College Player of the Year. Both Walton and Henry Bibby were named to the 1972 All-American First Team.

Margin of Victory: 30.3 ppg

Notable Wins: Florida State, USC, Louisville, Long Bench State, Ohio State, Notre dame, Texas

1995-1996 Kentucky Wildcats (34-2)

1966-1967 UCLA Bruins (30-0)

Head Coach: John Wooden
G - Mike Warren, G - Lucius Allen, G - Kenny Heitz, F - Lynn Shackleford, C - Lew Alcindor
Bench: G - Bill Week, F - Jim Nieslsen, G - Gene Sutherland

This was John Wooden's first truly dominate team. The Bruins went undefeated going wire to wire as the number one team in America. The team was led by starters Lew Alcindor, Lucius Allen, Lynn Shackleford, Mike Warren and Kenny Heitz. Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) had his best individual year averaging 29 points per game (still a school record) to go along with 15 rebounds per game. At the end of the year he was named a First Team All-American and College Player of the Year. In the tournament they left no doubt, crushing teams by 15 or more points in each game. Alcindor also took home tournament MOP honors.

1975-1976 Indiana Hoosiers (32-0)

1991-1992 Duke Blue Devils (34-2)

1955-1956 San Francisco Dons (29-0)

1983-1984 Georgetown Hoyas (35-3)

They lost by a combined total of 8 points in there 3 losses. They were able to avenge 2 of those losses, beating each time after they initially lost. In the NCAA tournament they steam rolled competition, except for a narrow first round escape against SMU. They beat Kentucky by holding them to 40 points in the Final 4 matchup. The Championship game was a Georgetown domination as they beat Houston’s Phi Slama Jama 84-75. The Hoyas could have made it 2 straight championships, however a underdog Villanova team upset them in the 1985 final. They remain the only Georgetown men's basketball team to win a national championship.

Margin of Victory: 16.4 ppg
Notable Wins: Houston, Syracuse, Villanova, St. Johns, Kentucky, UNLV

1981-1982 North Carolina Tarheels (32-2)

Although a young team, Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Sam Perkins and Dean Smith formed the necessary parts to form a Championship team in the 82 season. On the season a freshman guard named Michael Jordan averaged 13 points and 4 rebounds per game. The title was the first for Legendary coach Dean Smith. Worthy was a dominant force averaging 15 points and 6 rebounds, before being chosen as the number one pick in the 1982 NBA draft. Future Seattle Sonic Sam Perkins started at center, the New York native averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds per night. Some think that this team was the best to ever come out of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

They played a series of nail bitters in the NCAA tournament. Including a narrow 2 point win in the opening round against James Madison. In their first Final 4 matchup they faced Houston’s Phi Slama Jama, they were able to escape with a 68-63 victory. In the NCAA tournament final they beat a heavily favored Georgetown team, as Michael Jordan hit the game winning shot in the final seconds (giving glimpses into Jordan's future). James Worthy was named the tournament Most Outstanding player after leading North Carolina with 28 points and 4 rebounds in the final.

1989-1990 UNLV Running Rebels (35-5)

Not your typical blue blood school that is typically thought of as the best college basketball programs. Head coach Jerry Tarkanian deserves all the credit in the world for his ability to put together a dominant roster. Featuring All-Americans Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon and Greg Anthony the high scoring, fast pace Rebels won the title in 1990. Smashing most of their adversaries, the Runnin Rebels routed future dynasty Duke by 30 points to capture the National Championship. The team had great scoring balance as guard Anderson Hunt was named the final four most valuable player. Along with Georgetown of the early 80's and Michigan's Fab Five no team has has had a bigger effect on street fashion than these Runnin Rebels. The 1991 season would see UNLV go undefeated until they lost to Duke in the 1991 Championship game.

The team was filled with length and skill. Versatile forwards Larry Johnson and Stacey Augmon set the tone for the Running Rebels. Johnson averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds for the season. While the Plasticman averaged 14 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. UNLV had the largest accumulated victory margin (112 points), over the entire tournament by a championship team that played 6 games. To date it is the fifth-largest. The Rebels 571 points over six games set the record for most points scored by a single team in any one year of the tournament. UNLV's 30-point margin of victory over Duke in the championship game is also a tournament record. Johnson, Augmon and Anthony would all go on to be first round picks in the NBA draft. This team had Las Vegas more excited about College Sports than any other time in history.

2006-2007 Florida Gators (35-5)