Modern Era Historical Numbers (1984/85 thru 2020/21)

[SweetBabyJesus]

I was curious to see where all the schools ranked in the modern era (37years (64+ team tournament ('85 tourney), 3pt shot ('86 season))). I compiled the records/accomplishments for the P5, plus a few other teams of note to include in this (95 teams in all). I did NOT remove any numbers from vacated seasons.

Overall Most Wins:
1. Kansas - Big12 - 1053
2. Duke - ACC - 1039
3. North Carolina - ACC - 973
4. Kentucky - SEC - 969
5. Arizona - Pac12 - 921
6. Syracuse - ACC - 905
7. Gonzaga - WCC - 900
8. Louisville - ACC - 851
9. Michigan State - Big10 - 850
10. Memphis - AAC - 846
11. UConn - Big East - 831
12. Xavier - Big East - 830
13. UCLA - Pac12 - 821
14. Oklahoma - Big12 - 819
15. Villanova - Big East - 818
16. Cincinnati - AAC - 814
17. UNLV - Mtn West - 810
18. Florida - SEC - 805
19. Michigan - Big10 - 799
20. Illinois - Big10 - 790

Overall Fewest Wins:
1. Northwestern - Big10 - 441
2. Rutgers - Big10 - 505
3. Wash St - Pac12 - 513
4. Oregon St - Pac12 - 525
5. DePaul - Big East - 539
6. Penn St. - Big10 - 566
7. SMU - AAC - 569
8. Colorado - Pac12 - 579
9. Boston Coll - ACC - 581
10. Texas A&M - SEC - 588
11. TCU - Big12 - 590
12. Arizona St - Pac12 - 594
13. Santa Clara - WCC - 595
14. South Carolina - SEC - 598
15. Virginia Tech - ACC - 600
16. USC - Pac12 - 601
17. Nebraska - Big10 - 609
18. George Mason - A10 - 613
19. Washington - Pac12 - 614
20. Miami - ACC - 616

Overall Fewest Losses:
1. Kansas - Big12 - 253
2. Duke - ACC - 260
3. Gonzaga - WCC - 295
4. Kentucky - SEC - 306
5. Arizona - Pac12 - 313
6. North Carolina - ACC - 332
7. Syracuse - ACC - 352
8. Xavier - Big East - 357
9. Michigan State - Big10 - 378
10. Memphis - AAC - 383
11. Cincinnati - AAC - 384
12. UNLV - Mtn West - 389
13. UCLA - Pac12 - 390
14. Louisville - ACC - 391
15. UConn - Big East - 392
16. Oklahoma - Big12 - 395
17. Utah St - Mtn West - 413
17. Purdue - Big10 - 413
17. Villanova - Big East - 413
20. BYU - WCC - 414

Overall Most Losses:
1. Northwestern - Big10 - 661
2. Rutgers - Big10 - 620
3. Washington St - Pac12 - 605
4. Oregon St - Pac12 - 595
5. DePaul - Big East - 589
6. Penn St - Big10 - 570
7. Boston College - ACC - 568
8. TCU - Big12 - 563
9. Colorado - Pac12 - 562
10. Nebraska - Big10 - 554
11. South Carolina - SEC - 544
11. USC - Pac12 - 544
13. Texas A&M - SEC - 542
14. Arizona St - Pac12 - 541
15. Virginia Tech - ACC - 533
15. Washington - Pac12 - 533
17. Texas Tech - Big12 - 530
18. Santa Clara - WCC - 529
18. Auburn - SEC - 529
20. Georgia - SEC - 526
20. Minnesota - Big10 - 526

Highest Overall Winning %
1. Kansas - Big12 - 80.6%
2. Duke - ACC - 80.0%
3. Kentucky - SEC - 76.0%
4. Gonzaga - WCC - 75.3%
5. Arizona - Pac12 - 74.6%
5. North Carolina - ACC - 74.6%
7. Syracuse - ACC - 72.0%
8. Xavier - Big East - 69.9%
9. Michigan State - Big10 - 69.2%
10. Memphis - AAC - 68.8%
11. Louisville - ACC - 68.5%
12. UConn - Big East - 67.9%
12. Cincinnati - AAC - 67.9%
14. UCLA - Pac12 - 67.8%
15. UNLV - Mtn West - 67.6%
16. Oklahoma - Big12 - 67.5%
17. Villanova - Big East - 66.5%
18. Purdue - Big10 - 65.5%
18. Florida - SEC - 65.5%
20. BYU - WCC - 65.2%

Overall Most Conference Wins
1. Arizona - Pac12 - 487
2. Kansas - Big12 - 466
3. Kentucky - SEC - 462
4. UCLA - Pac12 - 444
5. Duke - ACC - 432
6. Davidson - A10 - 430
7. Gonzaga - WCC - 424
8. Temple - AAC - 422
9. Michigan State - Big10 - 418
10. Utah State - Mtn West - 408
11. Syracuse - ACC - 406
12. North Carolina - ACC - 405
13. UNLV - Mtn West - 399
14. Purdue - Big10 - 398
15. Xavier - Big East - 393
16. BYU - WCC - 389
17. Villanova - Big East - 382
18. Memphis - AAC - 380
19. VCU - A10 - 378
19. Stanford - Pac12 - 378

Overall Least Conference Wins
1. DePaul - BigEast - 139
2. Northwestern - Big10 - 155
3. Rutgers - Big10 - 216
4. Wash St. - Pac12 - 220
5. Nebraska - Big10 - 228
5. Penn St - Big10 - 228
7. Colorado - Pac12 - 229
8. Miami - ACC - 233
8. TCU - Big12 - 233
8. Boston College - ACC - 233
11. South Carolina - SEC - 237
12. Virginia Tech - ACC - 241
13. Notre Dame - ACC - 242
14. Wake Forest - ACC - 243
15. Clemson - ACC - 249
15. Oregon St - Pac12 - 249
17. Baylor - Big12 - 252
17. Texas A&M - SEC - 252
19. Auburn - SEC - 257
20. Kansas State - Big12 - 259

Overall Least Conference Losses
1. Gonzaga - WCC - 121
2. Kansas - Big12 - 122
3. Kentucky - SEC - 161
4. Duke - ACC - 166
5. Xavier - Big East - 170
6. Davidson - A10 - 174
7. Memphis - AAC - 177
8. Arizona - Pac12 - 181
9. North Carolina - ACC - 191
10. Temple - AAC - 194
11. Louisville - ACC - 199
12. BYU - WCC - 202
13. Cincinnati - AAC - 204
14. Notre Dame - ACC - 212
15. UNLV - Mtn West - 215
16. VCU - A10 - 216
17. Marquette - Big East - 218
18. Saint Mary's - WCC - 222
19. UCLA - Pac12 - 223
20. Butler - Big East - 224

Overall Most Conference Losses
1. Northwestern - Big10 - 496
2. Washington St. - Pac12 - 447
3. Rutgers - Big10 - 430
4. Oregon St. - Pac12 - 419
5. Penn St. - Big10 - 405
6. Boston College - ACC - 390
7. Minnesota - Big10 - 386
8. Arizona St. - Pac12 - 382
9. USC - Pac12 - 372
10. Auburn - SEC - 367
11. Nebraska - Big10 - 365
12. Colorado - Pac12 - 361
13. Washington - Pac12 - 358
14. TCU - Big12 - 357
15. Ole Miss - SEC - 356
16. Wake Forest - ACC - 355
17. Seton Hall - Big East - 352
18. Providence - Big East - 350
19. South Carolina - SEC - 349
20. Clemson - ACC - 347

Highest Conference Winning %
1. Kansas - Big12 - 79.3%
2. Gonzaga - WCC - 77.8%
3. Kentucky - SEC - 74.2%
4. Arizona - Pac12 - 72.9%
5. Duke - ACC - 72.2%
6. Davidson - A10 - 71.2%
7. Xavier - Big East - 69.8%
8. Temple - AAC - 68.5%
9. Memphis - AAC - 68.2%
10. North Carolina - ACC - 68.0%
11. UCLA - Pac12 - 66.6%
12. BYU - WCC - 65.8%
13. Louisville - ACC - 65.4%
14. UNLV - Mtn West - 65.0%
15. Cincinnati - AAC - 64.2%
16. Michigan St. - Big10 - 64.1%
17. Utah St. - Mtn West - 63.8%
17. Syracuse - ACC - 63.8%
19. VCU - A10 - 63.6%
20. Texas - Big12 - 62.2%

 

[SweetBabyJesus]

Most Conference Season Championships:
1. Kansas Big12 - 25
2. Gonzaga WCC - 24
3. Xavier BigEast - 17
4. Arizona Pac12 - 16
5. North Carolina ACC - 15
6. Davidson A10 - 14
7. Kentucky SEC - 13
7. Utah Pac12 - 13
9. Duke ACC - 12
10. Michigan St. Big10 - 11
10. Utah St. Mtn. West - 11
10. Nevada Mtn. West - 11
13. Memphis AAC - 10
13. BYU WCC - 10
13. Louisville ACC - 10
13. Butler Big East - 10
13. UConn Big East - 10
18. Temple AAC - 9
18. UCLA Pac12 - 9
18. UNLV Mtn West - 9
18. Syracuse ACC - 9
18. Villanova Big East - 9
18. Ohio St. Big10 - 9

Most Conference Tournament Championships:
1. Gonzaga - WCC - 19
2. Kentucky - SEC - 17
3. Duke - ACC - 15
4. Kansas - Big12 - 13
4. Louisville - ACC - 13
6. Utah St. - Mtn. West - 10
6. UNLV - Mtn. West - 10
6. Creighton - Big East - 10
9. Xavier - Big East - 9
9. Davidson - A10 - 9
9. Memphis - AAC - 9
9. Temple - AAC - 9
13. North Carolina - ACC - 8
13. UConn - Big East - 8
13. Cincinnati - AAC - 8
16. Arizona - Pac12 - 7
16. Butler - Big East - 7
16. VCU - A10 - 7
16. San Diego St. - Mtn West - 7
20. Michigan St. - Big10 - 6
20. Oklahoma - Big12 - 6
20. Missouri - SEC - 6
20. Iowa St. - Big12 - 6

 

[SweetBabyJesus]

Most NCAA Appearances:
1. Kansas - Big12 - 35
2. Duke - ACC - 34
3. North Carolina - ACC - 33
4. Arizona - Pac12 - 32
5. Michigan St. - Big10 - 30
6. Kentucky - SEC - 29
6. Syracuse - ACC - 29
8. Oklahoma - Big12 - 27
8. UCLA - Pac12 - 27
8. Purdue - Big10 - 27
11. Louisville - ACC - 26
11. Xavier - Big East - 26
13. Texas - Big12 - 25
13. Indiana - Big10 - 25
15. Temple - AAC - 24
15. Villanova - Big East - 24
17. Gonzaga - WCC - 23
17. Cincinnati - AAC - 23
17. Florida - SEC - 23
17. Illinois - Big10 - 23
17. Wisconsin - Big10 - 23

Most NCAA Sweet 16's:
1. Duke - ACC - 25
2. North Carolina - ACC - 23
3. Kansas - Big12 - 22
4. Kentucky - SEC - 21
5. Arizona - Pac12 - 17
6. Michigan St. - Big10 - 16
6. Syracuse - ACC - 16
8. UCLA - Pac12 - 15
9. Louisville - ACC - 14
9. UConn - Big East - 14
11. Gonzaga - WCC - 11
11. Florida - SEC - 11
11. Michigan - Big10 - 11
14. Oklahoma - Big12 - 10
14. Purdue - Big10 - 10
14. Indiana - Big10 - 10
14. Wisconsin - Big10 - 10
18. Villanova - Big East - 9
18. Maryland - ACC - 9
20. Xavier - Big East - 8
20. Georgetown - Big East - 8
20. Ohio St. - Big10 - 8
20. West Virginia - Big12 - 8

Most NCAA Elite 8's:
1. North Carolina - ACC - 17
1. Kentucky - SEC - 17
3. Duke - ACC - 16
4. Kansas - Big12 - 15
5. Arizona - Pac12 - 10
5. Michigan St. - Big10 - 10
5. UConn - Big East - 10
8. Florida - SEC - 9
9. Louisville - ACC - 8
9. Michigan - Big 10 - 8
11. Syracuse - ACC - 7
11. UCLA - Pac12 - 7
13. Oklahoma - Big12 - 6
13. Villanova - Big East - 6
15. Gonzaga - WCC - 5
15. Georgetown - Big East - 5
15. Ohio St. - Big 10 - 5
15. Arkansas - SEC - 5
15. Memphis - AAC - 5
15. Temple - AAC - 5

Most NCAA Final 4's:
1. Duke - ACC - 12
2. North Carolina - ACC - 11
3. Kansas - Big 12 - 9
4. Kentucky - SEC - 8
4. Michigan St. - Big10 - 8
6. UConn - Big East - 5
6. Florida - SEC - 5
6. Michigan - Big10 - 5
6. Syracuse - ACC - 5
6. UCLA - Pac12 - 5
11. Arizona - Pac12 - 4
11. Louisville - ACC - 4
11. Villanova - Big East - 4
14. Oklahoma - Big12 - 3
14. Ohio St. - Big10 - 3
14. Arkansas - SEC - 3
14. Indiana - Big10 - 3
14. Wisconsin - Big10 - 3
14. UNLV - Mtn West - 3

Most NCAA Final's:
1. Duke - ACC - 9
2. North Carolina - ACC - 5
2. Kansas - Big 12 - 5
2. Kentucky - SEC - 5
2. Michigan - Big10 - 5
6. UConn - Big East - 4
7. Florida - SEC - 3
7. Syracuse - ACC - 3
7. Villanova - Big East - 3
10. Michigan St. - Big 10 - 2
10. UCLA - Pac12 - 2
10. Arizona - Pac12 - 2
10. Louisville - ACC - 2
10. Arkansas - SEC - 2
10. Indiana - Big 10 - 2
10. Gonzaga - WCC - 2
10. Butler - Big East - 2

Most NCAA Titles:
1. Duke - ACC - 5
2. North Carolina - ACC - 4
2. UConn - Big East - 4
4. Kentucky - SEC - 3
4. Villanova - Big East - 3
6. Kansas - Big12 - 2
6. Florida - SEC - 2
6. Louisville - ACC - 2
9. Michigan - Big 10 - 1
9. Syracuse - ACC - 1
9. Michigan St. - Big 10 - 1
9. UCLA - Pac12 - 1
9. Arizona - Pac12 - 1
9. Arkansas - SEC - 1
9. Indiana - Big10 - 1
9. UNLV - Mtn. West - 1
9. Maryland - ACC - 1
9. Virginia - ACC - 1
9. Baylor - Big 12 - 1

 

[SweetBabyJesus]

Most NBA Draft Picks:
1. Kentucky - SEC - 66
2. Duke - ACC - 64
3. North Carolina - ACC - 51
4. UCLA - Pac12 - 48
5. Arizona - Pac12 - 47
6. Kansas - Big12 - 45
7. Michigan - Big10 - 35
7. Syracuse - ACC - 35
7. Texas - Big12 - 35
10. Michigan St. - Big10 - 34
11. UConn - Big East - 33
12. Maryland - ACC - 30
13. Georgia Tech - ACC - 29
13. LSU - SEC - 29
13. Florida State - ACC - 29
16. Louisville - ACC - 27
17. Villanova - Big East - 25
17. Memphis - AAC - 25
19. Florida - SEC - 24
19. Indiana - Big10 - 24
19. Washington - Pac12 - 24

Most Consensus All Americans:
1. Duke - ACC - 23
2. Kansas - Big 12 - 19
3. North Carolina - ACC - 15
4. Kentucky - SEC - 14
5. Arizona - Pac12 - 11
6. Syracuse - ACC - 10
6. Michigan St. - Big 10 - 10
6. Gonzaga - WCC - 10
9. Michigan - Big 10 - 8
9. UConn - Big East - 8
9. Indiana - Big 10 - 8
9. Ohio St. - Big 10 - 8
13. Villanova - Big East - 7
13. Oklahoma - Big 12 - 7
13. Illinois - Big 10 - 7
16. Texas - Big 12 - 6
16. Maryland - Big 10 - 6
16. Georgetown - Big East - 6
16. Wake Forest - ACC - 6
20. UCLA - Pac12 - 5
20. Memphis - AAC - 5
20. Notre Dame - ACC - 5
20. Wisconisn - ACC - 5
20. Utah - Pac12 - 5

 

[Blue63Madison]

Wow, man, awesome work. Thank you so much for posting this stuff.

 

[RingoLucky]

Awesome list.
Now just imagine if the NCAA had the nuts to vacate at least one full season Kansas cheated in, or maybe even two.

That completely kills there standing in most of these categories.

 

[mebeblue2]

nice list with one exception
most consider the modern era from 1987 when the 3 point shot came into play since it has been the single greatest thing that has changed CBB

 

[BlueBomb]

Damn, dude, that’s crazy good info. Thank you!

One thought: The beginning of the modern era basically coincides with Kentucky’s NCAA sanctions. We had three “down” seasons, which impacts our numbers a bit.

 

[AGEE11]

This is amazing. Great job, thanks for all the work on this

 

[Sawnee Cat]

Thanks OP, this is eye opening and very informative.

 

[MdWIldcat55]

It amuses me that these "Modern Era" posts that pop up from time to time always manage to start IMMEDIATELY AFTER a period in which Kentucky was extremely strong and RIGHT BEFORE the point where the Cats dealt with their only sanctions of the past half century.

In this case, the "Modern Era" starts in 1985. Between 1975 and 1984 Kentucky won a Championship, played in another Final Game, went to another Final Four, won an NIT when that tournament included very strong teams and went to a couple other Elite Eights.

As for when "Modern" basketball began: Trust me, they didn't knock the bottoms out of the peach basket and install the dribble in 1985. In the decade before that year you had the entire college careers of players like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Dominique Wilkins, Hakeem Ojajuwon, Patrick Ewing, and on and on. Their style of play dominated basketball for decades, and it was a modern way of playing the game. Ask yourself: Which Tournament championship displayed more innovative, "modern" basketball: 1979 with Magic and Bird or 1989, Michigan-Seton Hall with Rumeal Robinson scoring the crucial points.

I get that the OP is using tournament expansion (and then the next year the 3-point shot) as the start of the modern era. But tournament expansion had been gradual through the years. One could argue the expansion in 1975 that allowed multiple teams that did not win their conferences to be invited was a more consequential expansion. In 1983, for example, NC State won the tournament despite being a worse seed than ACC teams like North Carolina and Virginia. Both the ACC and SEC had 4-5 teams in that tournament as did the Big Ten and it included every strong team in the country. The expansion to 64 really was a TV conceit and mostly brought in the small conference teams that usually (not always) get blown out the first weekend.

Bottom line, Kentucky has been the Top college basketball program in modern history -- the period when the NCAA Tournament began in 1939. It is the only program that has consistently been at or near the top throughout that entire history. FInd a slice where some other team was slightly better if you like, but it doesn't change the overall history of the sport.

 

[Blueaz]

Most NCAAT wins?

 

[SweetBabyJesus]

It amuses me that these "Modern Era" posts that pop up from time to time always manage to start IMMEDIATELY AFTER a period in which Kentucky was extremely strong and RIGHT BEFORE the point where the Cats dealt with their only sanctions of the past half century.

In this case, the "Modern Era" starts in 1985. Between 1975 and 1984 Kentucky won a Championship, played in another Final Game, went to another Final Four, won an NIT when that tournament included very strong teams and went to a couple other Elite Eights.

As for when "Modern" basketball began: Trust me, they didn't knock the bottoms out of the peach basket and install the dribble in 1985. In the decade before that year you had the entire college careers of players like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Dominique Wilkins, Hakeem Ojajuwon, Patrick Ewing, and on and on. Their style of play dominated basketball for decades, and it was a modern way of playing the game. Ask yourself: Which Tournament championship displayed more innovative, "modern" basketball: 1979 with Magic and Bird or 1989, Michigan-Seton Hall with Rumeal Robinson scoring the crucial points.

I get that the OP is using tournament expansion (and then the next year the 3-point shot) as the start of the modern era. But tournament expansion had been gradual through the years. One could argue the expansion in 1975 that allowed multiple teams that did not win their conferences to be invited was a more consequential expansion. In 1983, for example, NC State won the tournament despite being a worse seed than ACC teams like North Carolina and Virginia. Both the ACC and SEC had 4-5 teams in that tournament as did the Big Ten and it included every strong team in the country. The expansion to 64 really was a TV conceit and mostly brought in the small conference teams that usually (not always) get blown out the first weekend.

Bottom line, Kentucky has been the Top college basketball program in modern history -- the period when the NCAA Tournament began in 1939. It is the only program that has consistently been at or near the top throughout that entire history. FInd a slice where some other team was slightly better if you like, but it doesn't change the overall history of the sport.

It's true, always subjective. This timeframe also coincided with me as a kid starting to play basketball in 3rd grade, and following/remembering college basketball.

 

[*CatinIL*]

One thing that jumps out is how bad Northwestern was or is.

 

[Padsfs07]

Most Conference Season Championships:
1. Kansas Big12 - 25
2. Gonzaga WCC - 24
3. Xavier BigEast - 17
4. Arizona Pac12 - 16
5. North Carolina ACC - 15
6. Davidson A10 - 14
7. Kentucky SEC - 13

This surprises me. I thought we were mopping comparatively - IE behind KU and Gonzaga. 13 in 37 years isn't as dominate as I've felt we've been even with our down periods. I don't know how you determined the 20 years or so that there was an east and west champion either.

 

[Padsfs07]

17-4 in sweet sixteens is pretty amazing.

 

[SweetBabyJesus]

17-4 in sweet sixteens is pretty amazing.

That is extremely impressive. Much better record than Duke,UNC,KU have. Though the success rate for those teams is much better in the Elite 8 (Duke 12-4, UNC 11-6, KU 9-6) whereas UK is 8-9. The NCAA tourney is such a crap shoot....you gotta love it.

 

[kybassfan]

When someone starts quoting data with the preface “the modern era”, I know valid data is going out the window.

 

[JPScott]

When someone starts quoting data with the preface “the modern era”, I know valid data is going out the window.

Reminds me of the UNC media guide which would selectively restrict years to whatever made them look best. And it was never consistent from one time period to another. Essentially it was a propaganda sheet which was absolutely worthless in terms of using the data because they were always hiding something in their choices.

Giving all-time records has its own pitfalls, but at least those are consistent and aren’t actively trying to hide data which may affect the narrative.

 

[zannmann]

Cherry picking if you ask me. Modern era did not start in the late 80s.