Ranking EVERY Single Division 1 Basketball Programs' Seasons
With the conclusion of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament over one week ago, it’s time to get the final rankings. But this isn’t a regular Top 25 end-of-season ranking, today I will be ranking EVERY single team in Division 1. Let’s get into the rankings.
The Worst 5 Teams
347. Chicago State
Chicago State cut their season short (via Bleacher Report)
Conference: Western Athletic (WAC)
This might be controversial, but it had to be done. Chicago State remains the only team without a team in Division 1, and as they should they become the worst team in college basketball. With a 0-9 season making it seem pointless, the university canceled the rest of the season. Chicago State could have got a couple of wins in conference play, but with an 0-9 record they rank last in Division 1.
Record: 0-0 Conference Record: 0-9 BPI: 346 NET: 346 SOS: 83 SOR: 341
346. Mississippi Valley State Delta
Mississippi Valley State didn’t have a good year (via Whole Hog Sports)
Conference: South-Western Athletic (SWAC)
Mississippi Valley State Delta is usually ranked at the bottom by most people, but I’ll cut them some slack. The SWAC is known to be a weak conference, but that is due to poor funding as they are all HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges & Universities). The SWAC is still a very competitive conference, but Mississippi Valley State Delta isn’t one of them. They finish as the second-worst team in the nation.
Record: 2-13 Conference Record: 2-22 BPI: 347 NET: 347 SOS: 159 SOR: 337
345. Denver
Conference: Summit League
Yikes, Denver. Denver definitely isn’t a great team, and it showed this year. Denver only managed ONE win in their conference the whole year. They rank at the bottom of BPI, NET, SOR, and SOS. Even with a great run with Oral Roberts, it is known that the Summit League isn’t a great basketball conference. Congrats Denver, way to represent.
Record: 1-13 Conference Record: 2-19 BPI: 337 NET: 340 SOS: 321 SOR: 341
344. Charleston Southern
Conference: Big South
As a Campbell Fighting Camels fan, I know how bad Charleston Southern is. They managed to win two games in conference, one win was a 69-68 over High Point, and the other was an OT win over Presbyterian. Well then, who was the non-conference win? It was against Carver College, a college with 60 students enrolled. Carver College is in the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) and is more likely to be an exhibition game instead of a regular-season opponent. Shame on you Charleston Southern, actually try to win some games.
Record: 3-18 Conference Record: 2-15 BPI: 329 NET: 335 SOS: 277 SOR: 337
343. South Carolina State
Conference: Mid-Eastern Athletic (MEAC)
Another member of the HBCUs, South Carolina State hasn’t succeeded due to lack of funding. They round out the last of the bottom five with a record that includes one win, a truly disappointing season. It could have been worse, but they rank at 343.
Record: 1-17 Conference Record: 1-7 BPI: 345 NET: 345 SOS: 244 SOR: 337
Rest of Bottom 25 (342-323)
342. Alabama State
Conference: South-Western Athletic (SWAC)
Record: 4-14 Conference Record: 4-14 BPI: 341 NET: 343 SOS: 347 SOR: 341
341. Idaho
Conference: Big Sky
Record: 1-21 Conference Record: 1-17 BPI: 343 NET: 344 SOS: 196 SOR: 335
340. A&M Corpus Christi
Conference: Southland
Record: 2-13 Conference Record: 5-19 BPI: 334 NET: 337 SOS: 235 SOR: 341
339. Delaware State
Conference: Mid-Eastern Athletic (MEAC)
Record: 3-16 Conference Record: 1-11 BPI: 344 NET: 341 SOS: 303 SOR: 341
338. Tennessee State
Conference: Ohio Valley (OVC)
Record: 4-19 Conference Record: 3-17 BPI: 313 NET: 326 SOS: 289 SOR: 341
337. Kennesaw State
Conference: Atlantic Sun
Record: 5-19 Conference Record: 2-13 BPI: 323 NET: 334 SOS: 207 SOR: 337
336. Arkansas Pine Bluff
Conference: South-Western Athletic (SWAC)
Record: 4-21 Conference Record: 2-13 BPI: 342 NET: 342 SOS: 148 SOR: 344
335. UT Martin
Conference: Ohio Valley (OVC)
Record: 8-16 Conference Record: 6-14 BPI: 338 NET: 338 SOS: 240 SOR: 307
334. Maine
Conference: America East
Record: 2-7 Conference Record: 2-6 BPI: 311 NET: 305 SOS: 172 SOR: 210
333. Robert Morris
Conference: Horizon League
Record: 4-15 Conference Record: 3-12 BPI: 303 NET: 313 SOS: 227 SOR: 325
332. Central Connecticut
Conference: North-East (NEC)
Record: 5-16 Conference Record: 5-13 BPI: 326 NET: 310 SOS: 292 SOR: 327
331. Northern Illinois
Conference: Mid American (MAC)
Record: 3-16 Conference Record: 2-12 BPI: 335 NET: 339 SOS: 142 SOR: 321
330. Lehigh
Conference: Patriot League
Record: 4-11 Conference Record: 4-10 BPI: 318 NET: 296 SOS: 326 SOR: 287
329. Portland
Conference: Western Coast (WCC)
Record: 6-15 Conference Record: 0-11 BPI: 336 NET: 321 SOS: 116 SOR: 267
328. Air Force
Conference: Mountain West (MW)
Record: 5-20 Conference Record: 3-17 BPI: 340 NET: 324 SOS: 118 SOR: 317
327. Incarnate Word
Conference: Southland
Record: 8-14 Conference Record: 5-9 BPI: 333 NET: 331 SOS: 305 SOR: 326
326. Houston Baptist
Conference: Southland
Record: 6-19 Conference Record: 4-11 BPI: 327 NET: 332 SOS: 190 SOR: 331
325. Howard
Conference: Mid-Eastern Athletic (MEAC)
Record: 1-4 Conference Record: 0-0 BPI: 331 NET: 312 SOS: 280 SOR: 242
324. South Carolina Upstate
Conference: Big South
Record: 5-18 Conference Record: 5-11 BPI: 330 NET: 311 SOS: 229 SOR: 335
323. Rider
Conference: Metro Atlantic Athletic (MAAC)
Record: 6-17 Conference Record: 5-13 BPI: 287 NET: 280 SOS: 236 SOR: 315
Teams 322-301
322. Alcorn State (SWAC)
321. Cal Poly (Big West)
320. Dixie State (WAC)
319. McNeese (Southland)
318. UNC Wilmington (CAA)
317. San Jose State (Mountain West)
316. Southeastern Louisiana (Southland)
315. Alabama A&M (SWAC)
314. Tennessee Tech (OVC)
313. North Carolina Central (MEAC)
312. Omaha (Summit League)
311. Central Arkansas (Southland)
310. Fordham (Atlantic 10)
309. Eastern Michigan (MAC)
308. Northern Arizona (Big Sky)
307. SIUE (OVC)
306. Presbyterian (Big South)
305. Western Illinois (Summit League)
304. Northwestern State (Southland)
303. New Mexico (Mountain West)
302. Central Michigan (MAC)
301. Lamar (Southland)
300-251
300. Middle Tennessee State (C-USA)
299. Hampton (Big South)
298. Eastern Illinois (OVC)
297. Western Michigan (MAC)
296. Binghamton (America East)
295. North Florida (Atlantic Sun)
294. FIU (C-USA)
293. William & Mary (CAA)
292. North Dakota (Summit League)
291. Coppin State (MEAC)
290. Grambling (SWAC)
289. New Orleans (Southland)
288. Jacksonville (Atlantic Sun)
287. Louisiana Monroe (Sun Belt)
286. Illinois Chicago (Horizon League)
285. Towson (CAA)
284. Holy Cross (Patriot League)
283. Green Bay (Horizon League)
282. Florida Gulf Coast (Atlantic Sun)
281. Purdue Fort Wayne (Summit League)
280. Texas Rio Grande Valley (WAC)
279. UC San Diego (Big West)
278. Florida A&M (MEAC)
277. Southern (SWAC)
276. Manhattan (MAAC)
275. High Point (Big South)
274. IUPUI (Horizon League)
273. Troy (Sun Belt)
272. Southeast Missouri State (OVC)
271. Cal State Northridge (Big West)
270. North Carolina A&T (MEAC)
MEAC South Regular Season Champions
269. Fairfield (MAAC)
268. Long Beach State (Big West)
267. Idaho State (Big Sky)
266. Southern Mississippi (C-USA)
265. Samford (Southern)
264. Portland State (Big Sky)
263. North Alabama (Atlantic Sun)
262. NJIT (American East)
261. Stetson (Atlantic Sun)
CBI Tournament, Round of 4 Exit
260. Saint Francis (PA) (NEC)
259. Sacramento State (Big Sky)
258. George Washington (A10)
257. Northern Colorado (Big Sky)
256. Sacred Heart (NEC)
255. Georgia Southern (Sun Belt)
254. Tarleton State (WAC)
253. Longwood (Big South)
CBI Tournament, Round of 8 Exit
252. Oakland (Horizon League)
251. Fairleigh Dickinson (NEC)
Teams 250-201
250. Evansville (MVC)
249. Illinois State (MVC)
248. Youngstown State (Horizon League)
247. Quinnipiac (MAAC)
246. Kansas City (Summit League)
245. San Diego (WCC)
244. Seattle (WAC)
243. California Baptist (WAC)
242. Arkansas State (Sun Belt)
241. St. Francis (BKN) (NEC)
240. Cal State Fullerton (Big West)
239. UT Arlington (Sun Belt)
238. Austin Peay (OVC)
237. Milwaukee (Horizon League)
236. Western Carolina (Southern)
235. Charlotte (C-USA)
234. Lipscomb (Atlantic Sun)
233. New Hampshire (America East)
232. Iowa State (Big 12)
231. Valparaiso (MVC)
230. Merrimack (NEC)
229. Delaware (CAA)
228. Utah Valley (WAC)
227. Saint Joseph’s (A10)
226. American (Patriot League)
225. Long Island (NEC)
224. Radford (Big South)
223. Southern Illinois (MVC)
222. Stony Brook (America East)
221. Little Rock (Sun Belt)
220. Niagara (MAAC)
219. Montana State (Big Sky)
218. College of Charleston (CAA)
217. LIU (NEC)
216. Montana (Big Sky)
215. Albany (America East)
214. Bucknell (Patriot League)
213. Jackson State (SWAC)
212. UNC Asheville (Big South)
211. Wyoming (Mountain West)
210. UC Davis (Big West)
209. Northern Kentucky (Horizon League)
208. Radford (Big South)
207. Marist (MAAC)
206. Boston University (Patriot League)
205. La Salle (A10)
204. Rice (C-USA)
203. UMass Lowell (America East)
202. The Citadel (Southern)
201. Canisius (MAAC)
Teams 200-150
200. South Florida (AAC)
199. App State (Sun Belt)
Sun Belt Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, First Four Exit
198. South Alabama (Sun Belt)
197. Washington (PAC-12)
196. Murray State (OVC)
195. Northern Iowa (MVC)
194. Gardner-Webb (Big South)
193. Morgan State (MEAC)
192. Hawaii (Mountain West)
191. Wagner (NEC)
NEC Regular Season Champions
190. Texas Southern (SWAC)
SWAC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
189. Campbell (Big South)
188. Prairie View (SWAC)
SWAC Regular Season Champions
187. Norfolk State (MEAC)
MEAC North Regular Season Champions, MEAC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
186. Fresno State (Mountain West)
185. Mount St. Mary’s (NEC)
NEC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, First Four Exit
184. Miami (OH) (MAC)
183. Elon (CAA)
182. Loyola (MD) (Patriot League)
181. Saint Peter’s (MAAC)
180. Kansas State (Big 12)
179. Monmouth (MAAC)
178. Boston College (ACC)
177. Cleveland State (Horizon League)
Horizon League Regular Season Champions, Horizon League Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
176. VMI (Southern)
175. Texas State (Sun Belt)
Sun Belt West Regular Season Champions
174. Army (Patriot League)
CBI Tournament, Round of 8 Exit
173. South Dakota (Summit League)
172. East Carolina (AAC)
171. Ball State (MAC)
170. Tulane (AAC)
169. UTEP (C-USA)
168. Lafayette (Patriot League)
Patriot League Central Regular Season Champions
167. Nicholls (Southland)
Southland Regular Season Champions
166. Louisiana (Sun Belt)
165. Wake Forest (ACC)
164. Florida Atlantic (C-USA)
163. Bellarmine (Atlantic Sun)
CBI Tournament, Round of 4 Exit
162. UNLV (Mountain West)
161. Bradley (MVC)
160. New Mexico State (WAC)
159. Temple (AAC)
158. Hartford (America East)
America East Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
157. Hofstra (CAA)
156. Northeastern (CAA)
155. UTSA (C-USA)
154. Detroit Mercy (Horizon League)
153. North Dakota State (Summit League)
152. Sam Houston State (Southland)
151. DePaul (Big East)
Teams 150-101
150. California (PAC-12)
149. Jacksonville State (OVC)
148. Pacific (WCC)
147. Indiana State (MVC)
146. Bryant (NEC)
CBI Tournament, Round of 8 Exit
145. CSU Bakersfield (Big West)
144. Santa Clara (WCC)
143. Bowling Green (MAC)
CBI Tournament, Round of 8 Exit
142. Chattanooga (Southern)
141. Old Dominion (C-USA)
140. George Mason (A10)
139. James Madison (CAA)
CAA Regular Season Champions
138. Drexel (CAA)
CAA Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
137. Coastal Carolina (Sun Belt)
CBI Tournament, Finals Exit
136. Texas A&M (SEC)
135. Miami (FL) (ACC)
134. Navy (Patriot League)
Patriot League South Regular Season Champions
133. Eastern Kentucky (OVC)
132. Siena (MAAC)
MAAC Regular Season Champions
131. Stephen F. Austin (Southland)
130. South Carolina (SEC)
129. Tulsa (AAC)
128. UMBC (America East)
America East Regular Season Champions
127. Duquesne (A10)
126. East Tennessee State (Southern)
125. Nebraska (B1G)
124. Butler (Big East)
123. Iona (MAAC)
MAAC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
124. Arizona State (PAC-12)
123. Oral Roberts (Summit League)
Summit League Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Sweet 16 Exit
122. Morehead State (OVC)
OVC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
121. Mercer (Southern)
120. UMass (A10)
119. TCU (Big 12)
118. Cincinnati (AAC)
117. Pepperdine (WCC)
CBI Tournament, CBI Tournament Champions
116. Georgia State (Sun Belt)
Sun Belt East Regular Season Champions
115. Southern Utah (Big Sky)
Big Sky Regular Season Champions
114. Kent State (MAC)
113. Akron (MAC)
112. Missouri State (MVC)
111. Weber State (Big Sky)
110. UCF (AAC)
109. Eastern Washington (Big Sky)
Big Sky Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
108. San Francisco (WCC)
107. South Dakota State (Summit League)
Summit League Regular Season Champions
106. Vermont (America East)
105. Wofford (Southern)
104. UC Riverside (Big West)
103. Washington State (PAC-12)
102. Vanderbilt (SEC)
101. Rhode Island (A10)
Teams 100-51
100. Grand Canyon
Conference: Western Athletic (WAC)
Record: 17-7 Conference Record: 9-3 BPI: 77 NET: 108 SOS: 225 SOR: 122
WAC Regular Season Champions, WAC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
99. Nevada
Conference: Mountain West (MW)
Record: 16-10 Conference Record: 10-7 BPI: 109 NET: 101 SOS: 108 SOR: 98
98. Loyola Marymount
Conference: Western Coast (WCC)
Record: 13-9 Conference Record: 7-5 BPI: 100 NET: 95 SOS: 103 SOR: 92
97. Georgia
Conference: South-Eastern (SEC)
Record: 14-12 Conference Record: 7-11 BPI: 104 NET: 100 SOS: 68 SOR: 77
96. UC Irvine
Conference: Big West
Record: 18-9 Conference Record: 10-4 BPI: 99 NET: 102 SOS: 146 SOR: 109
95. Furman
Conference: Southern
Record: 16-9 Conference Record: 10-5 BPI: 96 NET: 80 SOS: 181 SOR: 134
94. Pittsburgh
Conference: Atlantic Coast (ACC)
Record: 10-12 Conference Record: 6-10 BPI: 88 NET: 105 SOS: 69 SOR: 104
93. Marquette
Conference: Big East
Record: 13-14 Conference Record: 8-11 BPI: 79 NET: 93 SOS: 33 SOR: 74
92. Notre Dame
Conference: Atlantic Coast (ACC)
Record: 11-15 Conference Record: 7-11 BPI: 81 NET: 98 SOS: 25 SOR: 87
91. Northwestern
Conference: Big Ten (B1G)
Record: 9-15 Conference Record: 6-13 BPI: 78 NET: 96 SOS: 3 SOR: 85
90. Utah
Record: 12-13 Conference Record: 8-11 BPI: 72 NET: 64 SOS: 59 SOR: 86
89. Buffalo
Conference: Mid-American (MAC)
Record: 16-9 Conference Record: 12-5 BPI: 93 NET: 86 SOS: 179 SOR: 128
NIT Tournament, Round of 16 Exit
88. Saint Mary’s
Conference: Western Coast (WCC)
Record: 14-10 Conference Record: 4-6 BPI: 91 NET: 60 SOS: 77 SOR: 75
NIT Tournament, Round of 16 Exit
87. Marshall
Conference: C-USA
Record: 15-7 Conference Record: 9-5 BPI: 84 NET: 89 SOS: 149 SOR: 95
86. Dayton
Conference: Atlantic 10 (A10)
Record: 14-10 Conference Record: 9-7 BPI: 87 NET: 90 SOS: 87 SOR: 82
NIT Tournament, Round of 16 Exit
81. UAB
Conference: C-USA
Record: 22-7 Conference Record: 13-5 BPI: 82 NET: 83 SOS: 233 SOR: 102
84. Stanford
Conference: PAC-12
Record: 14-13 Conference Record: 10-10 BPI: 80 NET: 56 SOS: 49 SOR: 70
83. Providence
Conference: Big East
Record: 13-13 Conference Record: 9-10 BPI: 68 NET: 87 SOS: 38 SOR: 69
82. Ohio
Conference: Mid-American (MAC)
Record: 17-8 Conference Record: 9-5 BPI: 94 NET: 88 SOS: 119 SOR: 83
MAC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Round of 32 Exit
81. Western Kentucky
Conference: C-USA
Record: 21-8 Conference Record: 11-3 BPI: 92 NET: 82 SOS: 112 SOR: 53
C-USA East Regular Season Champions, NIT Tournament, Round of 8 Exit
80. Auburn
Conference: South-Eastern (SEC)
Record: 13-14 Conference Record: 7-11 BPI: 67 NET: 66 SOS: 37 SOR: 76
79. Wright State
Conference: Horizon League
Record: 18-6 Conference Record: 16-4 BPI: 65 NET: 75 SOS: 333 SOR: 137
78. UNC Greensboro
Conference: Southern
Record: 21-9 Conference Record: 13-5 BPI: 89 NET: 91 SOS: 191 SOR: 101
Southern Regular Season Champions, Southern Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
77. Belmont
Conference: Ohio Valley (OVC)
Record: 26-4 Conference Record: 18-2 BPI: 90 NET: 92 SOS: 330 SOR: 81
OVC Regular Season Champions
76. Toledo
Conference: Mid-American (MAC)
Record: 21-9 Conference Record: 15-4 BPI: 74 NET: 79 SOS: 157 SOR: 97
MAC Regular Season Champions, NIT Tournament, Round of 16 Exit
75. Xavier
Conference: Big East
Record: 13-8 Conference Record: 6-7 BPI: 58 NET: 62 SOS: 80 SOR: 58
74. Kentucky
Conference: SEC
Record: 9-16 Conference Record: 8-9 BPI: 54 NET: 61 SOS: 10 SOR: 89
73. Davidson
Conference: Atlantic 10 (A10)
Record: 13-9 Conference Record: 7-4 BPI: 53 NET: 77 SOS: 102 SOR: 90
NIT Tournament, Round of 16 Exit
72. St. John’s
Conference: Big East
Record: 16-11 Conference Record: 10-9 BPI: 64 NET: 69 SOS: 70 SOR: 55
71. Seton Hall
Conference: Big East
Record: 14-13 Conference Record: 10-9 BPI: 50 NET: 57 SOS: 35 SOR: 57
70. Indiana
Conference: Big Ten (B1G)
Record: 12-15 Conference Record: 7-12 BPI: 49 NET: 67 SOS: 6 SOR: 60
69. Abilene Christian
Conference: Southland
Record: 24-5 Conference Record: 13-2 BPI: 86 NET: 74 SOS: 222 SOR: 65
68. Minnesota
Conference: Big Ten (B1G)
Record: 14-15 Conference Record: 6-14 BPI: 75 NET: 81 SOS: 12 SOR: 54
67. SMU
Conference: American Athletic (AAC)
Record: 11-6 Conference Record: 7-4 BPI: 51 NET: 59 SOS: 86 SOR: 59
NIT Tournament, Round of 16 Exit
66. Richmond
Conference: Atlantic 10 (A10)
Record: 14-9 Conference Record: 6-5 BPI: 56 NET: 68 SOS: 90 SOR: 79
NIT Tournament, Round of 8 Exit
65. Georgetown
Conference: Big East
Record: 13-13 Conference Record: 7-9 BPI: 71 NET: 72 SOS: 17 SOR: 52
Big East Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
64. North Texas
Conference: C-USA
Record: 18-10 Conference Record: 9-5 BPI: 69 NET: 55 SOS: 101 SOR: 81
C-USA Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Round of 32 Exit
63. North Carolina State
Conference: Atlantic Coast (ACC)
Record: 14-11 Conference Record: 9-8 BPI: 47 NET: 73 SOS: 66 SOR: 64
NIT Tournament, Round of 8 Exit
62. Penn State
Conference: Big Ten (B1G)
Record: 11-14 Conference Record: 7-12 BPI: 45 NET: 44 SOS: 1 SOR: 51
61. Arizona
Conference: PAC-12
Record: 17-9 Conference Record: 11-9 BPI: 40 NET: 32 SOS: 75 SOR: 47
60. Louisiana Tech
Conference: C-USA
Record: 24-8 Conference Record: 12-4 BPI: 73 NET: 71 SOS: 130 SOR: 62
C-USA West Regular Season Champions, NIT Tournament, NIT 3rd Place
59. Mississippi State
Conference: South-Eastern (SEC)
Record: 18-15 Conference Record: 8-10 BPI: 62 NET: 78 SOS: 64 SOR: 68
NIT Tournament, NIT 2nd Place
58. Colgate
Conference: Patriot League
Record: 14-2 Conference Record: 11-1 BPI: 52 NET: 30 SOS: 279 SOR: 63
Patriot League North Regular Season Champions, Patriot League Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
57. Liberty
Conference: Atlantic Sun
Record: 23-6 Conference Record: 11-2 BPI: 76 NET: 85 SOS: 253 SOR: 94
Atlantic Sun Regular Season Champions, Atlantic Sun Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
56. UC Santa Barbara
Conference: Big West
Record: 22-5 Conference Record: 13-3 BPI: 60 NET: 48 SOS: 186 SOR: 56
Big West Regular Season Champions, Big West Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
55. Winthrop
Conference: Big South
Record: 23-2 Conference Record: 17-1 BPI: 85 NET: 65 SOS: 307 SOR: 49
Big South Regular Season Champions, Big South Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
54. Duke
Conference: Atlantic Coast (ACC)
Record: 13-11 Conference Record: 9-9 BPI: 31 NET: 49 SOS: 62 SOR: 67
53. Louisville
Conference: Atlantic Coast (ACC)
Record: 13-7 Conference Record: 8-5 BPI: 61 NET: 58 SOS: 42 SOR: 36
52. Ole Miss
Conference: South-Eastern (SEC)
Record: 16-12 Conference Record: 10-8 BPI: 46 NET: 54 SOS: 74 SOR: 73
NIT Tournament, Round of 16 Exit
51. Saint Louis
Conference: Atlantic 10 (A10)
Record: 14-7 Conference Record: 6-4 BPI: 44 NET: 52 SOS: 105 SOR: 71
NIT Tournament, Round of 16 Exit
Teams 50-26
50. Boise State
Conference: Mountain West (MW)
Finishing 4th in the Mountain West conference, Boise State should be very proud of their team. They were on the wrong side of the bubble for the NCAA Tournament, but they got their postseason in the NIT. They won their first game versus a tough SMU team but lost to eventual NIT champions Memphis. The measures show them as one of the best teams in the nation, and they crack the top 50.
Record: 19-9 Conference Record: 14-6 BPI: 57 NET: 53 SOS: 104 SOR: 66
NIT Tournament, Round of 8 Exit
49. Michigan State
Conference: Big Ten (B1G)
Most would consider this a disappointing season due to the successful history of Michigan State. They had a rough season after being one of the most favored for the National Championship, but they squeezed into the field for the NCAA Tournament. Sadly, they didn’t make the real tournament, they were knocked out by a UCLA team that made it to the Final Four in the First Four. Having a winning record and making the tournament is an achievement in itself, but it wasn’t enough to empress the Michigan State faithful.
Record: 15-13 Conference Record: 9-11 BPI: 70 NET: 76 SOS: 8 SOR: 41
NCAA Tournament, First Four Exit
48. Wichita State
Conference: American Athletic (AAC)
Wichita State has been an underrated team this season, winning the American regular-season title over a Final Four team in Houston. They made the NCAA Tournament as an 11 seed but never made it past the First Four. I feel they were underseeded there, and they probably could have been a 10 seed. Nevertheless, I see this as a great season for the Shockers.
Record: 16-6 Conference Record: 11-2 BPI: 98 NET: 70 SOS: 98 SOR: 48
AAC Regular Season Champions, NCAA Tournament, First Four Exit
47. Colorado State
Conference: Mountain West (MW)
Another team in the powerful Mountain West conference, Colorado State had an amazing season. Despite being on the wrong side of the NCAA Tournament bubble, they proved themselves in the NIT with a 3rd place finish. The metrics might put them lower than I believe they are, but what a season from the Rams.
Record: 20-8 Conference Record: 14-4 BPI: 83 NET: 51 SOS: 113 SOR: 61
NIT, NIT 4th Place
46. Georgia Tech
Conference: Atlantic Coast (ACC)
Is this biased? Maybe. I feel like Georgia Tech had a lucky break this season. They had Virginia get out because of COVID issues and then had a game where Florida State didn’t play great basketball. I feel like there were a bunch of teams that were better than Georgia Tech this season. The 4th place finish in the ACC might make people think that Georgia Tech deserved their spot at a nine-seed, but they had some lucky wins.
Record: 17-9 Conference Record: 11-6 BPI: 38 NET: 41 SOS: 50 SOR: 34
ACC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
45. Memphis
Conference: American Athletic (AAC)
“Wow!” many people will say. This Memphis team didn’t even make the tournament, and I put them at a 12 seed? I firmly believe in the placing of Memphis as they won the NIT. They were a tough team in the American, and they almost beat Houston if not for a buzzer-beater. They have beaten some quality opponents throughout this last season, and they rank at 45.
Record: 20-8 Conference Record: 11-4 BPI: 50 NET: 35 SOS: 100 SOR: 50
NIT Tournament, NIT Champion
44. Drake
Conference: Missouri Valley (MVC)
Talk about underdogs, Drake was one of the most popular ones this year. They started the year out great, but they fell down the stretch. Loyola-Chicago stole the Missouri Valley spotlight, but yet Drake plowed on. They became just as popular as the rapper with the same name, and the metrics don’t favor them as much as I do. They made the NCAA Tournament as an 11-seed in the First Four and beat Wichita State. Their run ended in the next round with a loss to USC.
Record: 26-5 Conference Record: 15-3 BPI: 66 NET: 43 SOS: 160 SOR: 45
NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
43. Utah State
Conference: Mountain West (MW)
Utah State had a very good season in a very good conference. Another one of the Mountain West teams in the 40s, Utah State had good success. They almost pulled the upset over Texas Tech but came up short. They were always a tough team, always around the 2-4 range in the Mountain West. They lost to San Diego State in the tournament finals, but overall they had one of the best Group of 5 seasons.
Record: 20-9 Conference Record: 15-4 BPI: 55 NET: 47 SOS: 111 SOR: 72
NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
42. VCU
Conference: Atlantic 10
This season for VCU had its ups and downs. They had a very successful season and looked like an upset bid against seven-seed Oregon. However, a COVID outbreak ended their season. VCU was the only team to have to forfeit a game in the NCAA Tournament. They were looked at to be a second coming of the 2011 VCU team that made the Final Four, and it was sad to see them work that hard but not get the prize of playing in the NCAA Tournament.
Record: 19-7 Conference Record: 10-4 BPI: 59 NET: 42 SOS: 84 SOR: 37
NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
41. Maryland
Conference: Big Ten (B1G)
Playing in a tough conference, Maryland showed itself with an 8th place finish in the Big Ten. They had some nice quality wins but finished with a losing record. They went 8-3 out of conference boosting their record to 17-14. They continued their season with a very nice win over UConn, but their season ended against a very good Alabama team.
Record: 17-14 Conference Record: 9-11 BPI: 39 NET: 38 SOS: 14 SOR: 44
NCAA Tournament, Round of 32 Exit
40. Syracuse
Conference: Atlantic Coast (ACC)
Syracuse capped off a questionable season with a nice Sweet 16 run in the NCAA Tournament. After finishing 8th in the ACC they finished with Florida State as the last two ACC teams to get eliminated from the NCAA Tournament. The combo of Buddy Boeheim and Jim Boeheim was unstoppable in March, and they finished 40th in the nation.
Record: 18-10 Conference Record: 9-7 BPI: 34 NET: 37 SOS: 41 SOR: 32
NCAA Tournament, Sweet 16 Exit
39. UConn
Conference: Big East
What a year for the Huskies and James Bouknight. They fought through the Big East fight at the top and earned their 10 seed. The postseason ended there for the Huskies though, with Maryland running through them. They were a very popular Round of 32 upset pick, but they couldn’t get through Maryland.
Record: 15-8 Conference Record: 11-6 BPI: 21 NET: 33 SOS: 53 SOR: 38
NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
38. Clemson
Conference: Atlantic Coast
I feel like Clemson was overrated when they were announced as a seven-seed for the NCAA Tournament. It was shown when Rutgers beat Clemson where Clemson’s postseason ended. Clemson did show themselves in a tough ACC, finishing 5th. The metrics also favored Clemson as a seven-seed, but they simply didn’t play like a seven-seed.
Record: 16-8 Conference Record: 10-6 BPI: 43 NET: 45 SOS: 34 SOR: 26
NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
37. Rutgers
Conference: Big Ten (B1G)
Riding up right in front of their first-round matchup Clemson, Rutgers ranks at 37. Once again you can see a team that the metrics favor. They played in the Big Ten, which is a tough task. They went .500 in Big Ten play, putting them 7th in the conference. After their win against Clemson, they continued onto Houston. They took Houston down to the wire, but couldn’t finish the job. Yet another team with a great season.
Record: 16-12 Conference Record: 10-10 BPI: 41 NET: 40 SOS: 2 SOR: 27
NCAA Tournament, Round of 32 Exit
36. Missouri
Conference: South-Eastern (SEC)
Missouri had a very up-and-down year. Halfway through the year, the NCAA put them down as a four-seed, but they ended the season as a nine-seed. Missouri had a really good team with some really good wins, but they just couldn’t pull the win over Oklahoma out. Playing in an SEC conference that was very strong this past year, they finished at .500 with their NCAA Tournament bid.
Record: 16-10 Conference Record: 8-8 BPI: 48 NET: 46 SOS: 18 SOR: 30
NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
35. North Carolina
Conference: Atlantic Coast (ACC)
As a UNC fan, I am very glad to be able to put them at 35. They had some rough spots in their journey, but in the end they made it to the big dance. It hurts to see the season go down as Roy’s last run, but I’m happy about how UNC turned their season around. It looked great for a while but went downhill. They eventually fixed their mistakes and started looking better and better every game. They beat Duke twice! I would have liked to see Roy get another championship and 1,000 wins, but he had a nice last run.
Record: 18-11 Conference Record: 10-6 BPI: 26 NET: 39 SOS: 21 SOR: 28
NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
34. St. Bonaventure
Conference: Atlantic 10 (A10)
I’ve said this a lot in this article, but I truly mean it here. St. Bonaventure played in a very tough Atlantic 10 conference which had Saint Louis and VCU. They came out on top in both the regular season and tournament, earning their nine-seed in the NCAA Tournament. Their run stopped after a loss to LSU in the first round.
Record: 16-5 Conference Record: 11-4 BPI: 29 NET: 31 SOS: 89 SOR: 35
A10 Regular Season Champions, A10 Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
33. Virginia Tech
Conference: Atlantic Coast (ACC)
Virginia Tech has some bad luck to end off a very good season. They were ranked #25 in the nation at the end of the regular season, but lost to UNC in the ACC Tournament Quarterfinals. Heading into the NCAA Tournament as a 10-seed with high upset potential, Virginia Tech took Florida to overtime. Castleton helped the Gators pull out an OT win. Virginia Tech has an amazing season nevertheless.
Record: 15-7 Conference Record: 9-4 BPI: 51 SOS: 76 SOR: 46
NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
32. Oklahoma
Conference: Big 12
Another good team from the Big 12, Oklahoma had a tough time finishing out the season. They were ranked for a good bit but ended up losing a couple games and falling out. They still showed that they were a great team as they were nose to nose with Gonzaga for the first half. Oklahoma wasn’t expected to have the season that they had, but it happened. The future looks bright for Oklahoma as they have brought in former Loyola Chicago coach Porter Moser.
Record: 16-11 Conference: 9-8 BPI: 33 NET: 36 SOS: 36 SOR: 42
NCAA Tournament, Round of 32 Exit
31. LSU
Conference: South-Eastern (SEC)
LSU had a nice season in a tough conference. With a very talented lineup, the Tigers ran through SEC opponents, finishing third behind ranked teams Alabama and Arkansas. They earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament as an 8 seed and ran through St. Bonaventure in the first round. Their efforts in the Round of 32 weren’t enough though as Michigan beat them for a trip to the Sweet 16. The metrics favor LSU more than I do but LSU just wasn’t a Top 25 this season.
Record: 19-10 Conference Record: 11-6 BPI: 20 NET: 25 SOS: 22 SOR: 21
NCAA Tournament, Round of 32 Exit
30. Tennessee
Conference: South-Eastern (SEC)
As I said with LSU above, Tennessee also had a very good season. Sometimes they looked invincible, sometimes they looked very beatable. They had some good players but they couldn’t just continue playing a consistent season of basketball. They did make the NCAA Tournament as a five-seed, but they got eliminated by the Oregon State Beavers who went on a run.
Record: 18-9 Conference Record: 10-7 BPI: 14 NET: 19 SOS: 57 SOR: 33
NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
29. Florida
Conference: South-Eastern (SEC)
Florida wasn’t looking like a top team before Keytonae Johnson collapsed on the floor during a game. After Johnson was hospitalized, Florida was determined to win for him. And they did. They went 15-10 and made the NCAA Tournament as a seven-seed. They beat Virginia Tech in the first round only to get beat by an underdog in Oral Roberts. They had a great season and it is great to see a team win for a teammate.
Record: 15-10 Conference Record: 9-7 BPI: 36 NET: 34 SOS: 27 SOR: 40
NCAA Tournament, Round of 32 Exit
28. Wisconsin
Conference: Big Ten (B1G)
Wisconsin had a great season, and their record is not something to underestimate them with. They started their season out very strong, but once they got into conference play their record went closer to 500. They made the NCAA Tournament as a nine-seed, which was way too low. They beat my North Carolina Tar Heels in the first round in a blowout which turned out to be Roy Williams’ last game at UNC. Their season ended in the next round against Baylor.
Record: 18-13 Conference Record: 10-10 BPI: 16 NET: 23 SOS: 4 SOR: 24
NCAA Tournament, Round of 32 Exit
27. BYU
Conference: Western Coast (WCC)
BYU was definitely a surprise this past season, being a second place to Gonzaga in the WCC. Matt Haarms, the long-armed graduate transfer from Purdue, took BYU to the top and it definitely was a fun ride for them. They earned a six-seed in the NCAA Tournament after taking Gonzaga to the wire in the WCC Tournament championship game. Their season ended after UCLA upset them in the Round of 64, and their miracle season ended.
Record: 20-7 Conference Record: 10-3 BPI: 32 NET: 16 SOS: 78 SOR: 25
NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
26. Oregon State
Conference: PAC-12
Oregon State was one of the best underdogs of the postseason. Starting out winning the PAC-12 Tournament, they continued on to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. They didn’t play any cupcakes, going through Oregon, USC, Tennessee, Oklahoma State, and Loyola Chicago is no small task. Their zone defense and coach Wayne Tinkle might have been some of the most recognizable things from the tournament. Oregon State should go down as one of the best underdogs in NCAA Tournament history.
Record: 20-13 Conference Record: 10-10 BPI: 63 NET: 50 SOS: 46 SOR: 43
PAC-12 Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Elite Eight Exit
Teams 25-11
25. Colorado
Conference: PAC-12
Colorado was a latecomer, but they stayed in the Top 25 for a while. Even while not winning their conference, Colorado was a top team in the nation. They earned a five-seed because of their performance. With their five-seed, they got a matchup against a hot team in Georgetown. They beat Georgetown very soundly and continued onto Florida State. Florida State was too tough a task for the Buffaloe, ending their season right there.
Record: 23-9 Conference Record: 14-6 BPI: 18 NET: 9 SOS: 63 SOR: 19
NCAA Tournament, Round of 32 Exit
24. Oregon
Conference: PAC-12
With a streak of PAC-12 teams going, Oregon is one of the best. They won the PAC-12 regular-season title despite not being one of the two PAC-12 teams ranked. Oregon State knocked them out of the PAC-12 tournament but Oregon earned a seven-seed in the NCAA Tournament. They got a streak of luck with VCU forfeiting due to COVID issues, giving them a matchup with Iowa. They beat Iowa very soundly to have a Sweet 16 PAC-12 matchup. They lost the game to USC, ending their season.
Record: 21-7 Conference Record: 14-4 BPI: 30 NET: 24 SOS: 61 SOR: 15
PAC-12 Regular Season Champions, NCAA Tournament, Sweet 16 Exit
23. UCLA
Conference: PAC-12
Oregon State’s run was unexpected, but UCLA’s was crazier. Coming in as a bubble team from a weak conference, UCLA was in the First Four. They beat Michigan State in the First Four to move onto the real tournament. Johnny Juzang started gaining popularity, and they upset BYU. They played another underdog in Abilene Christian and beat them also. They then beat Alabama in an OT game and upset Michigan in a low-scoring game. Their best moment came in the Final Four when they faced Gonzaga and took them to OT. Truly a great tournament for the Bruins.
Record: 22-10 Conference Record: 13-6 BPI: 28 NET: 15 SOS: 28 SOR: 14
NCAA Tournament, Final Four Exit
22. Purdue
Conference: Big Ten (B1G)
Purdue had a great season. They started their crazy run with a win over a Michigan State team that was ranked at that time. They continued to get wins over top teams and made it into the top 25. Purdue earned a four-seed in the NCAA Tournament, a huge overseed. And just as expected of an overseed, Purdue got upset by North Texas to end their season.
Record: 18-10 Conference Record: 13-6 BPI: 27 NET: 29 SOS: 13 SOR: 20
NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
21. Virginia
Conference: Atlantic Coast (ACC)
Virginia had a tough season trying to defend their title. They lost to San Francisco in one of the first games, even as a Top 10 team. They won the regular-season title in the ACC and could have won the ACC Tournament title if not for a COVID problem. The COVID problem hurt them in the postseason, as Virginia lost their first-round matchup with Ohio.
Record: 18-7 Conference Record: 13-4 BPI: 12 NET: 20 SOS: 60 SOR: 22
ACC Regular Season Champions, NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
20. San Diego State
Conference: Mountain West (MW)
Probably one of the best Group of 5 teams in the country this year, San Diego State was at the top of the Mountain West this year. They stayed around the Top 25 after establishing themselves as a top team in the country. Even with a huge loss in Malachi Flynn, they found a way to win games. They finished yet another year on top of the Mountain West Conference. Syracuse might have eliminated them in the first round, but it doesn’t make their season any less amazing.
Record: 23-5 Conference Record: 14-3 BPI: 23 NET: 26 SOS: 115 SOR: 29
MW Regular Season Champions, MW Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
19. Texas Tech
Conference: Big 12
Texas Tech fans felt a good bit of pain even with a good season. They stuck to the middle of the Big 12 conference standings but still proved to be a tough team. They made the NCAA Tournament as a six-seed, although they were one of the tougher six-seeds. They beat Utah State in a close game and moved onto Arkansas. This game hurt for Red Raiders fans. Texas Tech missed TWO wide-open layups that could have won the game for them. Instead, they were eliminated from the tournament and given a season-ending loss.
Record: 18-11 Conference Record: 9-8 BPI: 8 NET: 12 SOS: 45 SOR: 39
NCAA Tournament, Round of 32 Exit
18. Creighton
Conference: Big East
Creighton was a fun team to watch this past season. They were a Top 10 team at times, and a Top 25 at other times. They battled with Villanova for the Big East regular-season title but came up short. They still had a good portfolio and landed a five-seed. They played two tough double-digit seeds in UC Santa Barbara and Ohio, and they came out with nailbiter wins. Their run and season ended with a loss to Gonzaga in the Sweet 16.
Record: 22-9 Conference Record: 14-6 BPI: 17 NET: 27 SOS: 55 SOR: 17
NCAA Tournament, Sweet 16 Exit
17. Villanova
Conference: Big East
Villanova leads the Big East charge, ranking in at 17 this season. They had an injury to Collin Gillespie that really hurt them at the end of the season, but they had a great season. They earned a five-seed in the NCAA Tournament and fought off an upset bid in Winthrop. They then beat North Texas to get to the Sweet 16. Their season ended there after Baylor beat then to move onto the Elite Eight. It definitely was an impressive season.
Record: 18-7 Conference Record: 11-4 BPI: 7 NET: 11 SOS: 47 SOR: 18
Big East Regular Season Champions, NCAA Tournament, Sweet 16 Exit
16. Loyola-Chicago
Conference: Missouri Valley (MVC)
If you want to talk about some of the teams that you could cheer for the most, then Loyola Chicago tops the list. Coming off a Final Four appearance in 2018, Loyola Chicago looked even more poised for a run. Their chaplain in Sister Jean is still there, and star forward Cameron Krutwig is also still at Loyola Chicago. They went through Georgia Tech and stunned Illinois, but couldn’t beat Oregon State. They had an underrated season mostly because they played in a small conference but they showed the world how good they are.
Record: 26-5 Conference Record: 16-2 BPI: 15 NET: 10 SOS: 128 SOR: 31
MVC Regular Season Champions, MVC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Sweet 16 Exit
15. Florida State
Conference: Atlantic Coast (ACC)
Leonard Hamilton and Florida State have coined the term “new blood”, and Florida State has lived up to it in the past year. They pretty much owned the ACC in the past year, with Virginia’s extra game giving Virginia the regular-season title. Florida State got the four-seed with a tough draw. They had to go through UNC Greensboro and Colorado to get to the Sweet 16, but couldn’t get through Michigan for an Elite Eight berth.
Record: 18-7 Conference Record: 11-4 BPI: 19 NET: 21 SOS: 39 SOR: 16
NCAA Tournament, Sweet 16 Exit
14. West Virginia
Conference: Big 12
Bob Huggins always has a good basketball team, and it showed this year. They had an up-and-down year as most Big 12 teams, but it all worked out for them. They earned a three-seed in the NCAA Tournament, matching up with Morehead State. They beat Morehead State to move onto Syracuse. They couldn’t beat Syracuse though, losing there to end the season. The metrics have West Virginia lower than I do, but a three-seed is a very good achievement.
Record: 19-10 Conference Record: 11-6 BPI: 24 NET: 22 SOS: 26 SOR: 23
NCAA Tournament, Round of 32 Exit
13. Kansas
Conference: Big 12
Kansas succeeded in some parts of their season but struggled in others. They had a couple of good wins but also had some bad losses. They went out of the top 25 a couple of times and yet were in the top ten for a good while. They had a COVID pause that messed up the end of their season, forfeiting the Big 12 Tournament semifinal game. They had a close game with Eastern Washington and then USC blew them out to end Kansas’s season.
Record: 21-9 Conference Record: 12-6 BPI: 25 NET: 17 SOS: 31 SOR: 12
NCAA Tournament, Round of 32 Exit
12. USC
Conference: PAC-12
Just like Kansas before, USC had a very confusing season. They were a good team at the start of the season but weren’t in the Top 25. They then made the Top 25 but dropped out soon after. Then they would again make the Top 25. They didn’t even win their regular season or tournament as the top team from the PAC-12, but that didn’t stop them. They went through Drake, Kansas, and Oregon to get to play Gonzaga in the Elite Eight. The Mobley’s couldn’t pull out the win though, and their run ended there.
Record: 25-8 Conference Record: 15-5 BPI: 10 NET: 6 SOS: 48 SOR: 9
NCAA Tournament, Elite Eight Exit
11. Oklahoma State
Conference: Big 12
Oklahoma State was one of the most popular teams in the country because of Cade Cunningham. They were very hot at the end of the season and were a Final Four pick for some. They defeated Baylor in the Big 12 Tournament but lost to Texas in the finals. They also compiled wins over Texas, West Virginia, Kansas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma in conference play. Their hot streak ended to another hot team in Oregon State in the Round of 32.
Record: 21-9 Conference Record: 11-7 BPI: 37 NET: 28 SOS: 20 SOR: 11
NCAA Tournament, Round of 32 Exit
10-3
10. Texas
Conference: Big 12
Texas had a great season but it hurt at the end for them. They won the Big 12 tournament after Kansas had COVID problems in the semifinals. The tournament win earned them a three-seed, and they matched up with Abilene Christian. Abilene Christian ended up winning the game on late-game heroics, and Texas’s season ended there. They had a nice season, but they couldn’t win their first-round game to show how good they were.
Record: 19-8 Conference Record: 11-6 BPI: 22 NET: 18 SOS: 23 SOR: 13
Big 12 Tournament Champion, NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
9. Ohio State
Conference: Big Ten (B1G)
It must hurt to be an Ohio State fan and see your season highlighted by the loss to Abilene Christian. They made the Big Ten Tournament finals after beating Michigan, but couldn’t beat Illinois for the title. They made the tournament as a two-seed, and then it happened. Oral Roberts upset Ohio State in their first-round matchup. Their whole season of amazing work, to be marked by an upset.
Record: 21-10 Conference Record: 12-8 BPI: 11 NET: 13 SOS: 9 SOR: 10
NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 Exit
8. Iowa
Conference: Big Ten (B1G)
With star player Luka Garza, Iowa had a terrific season. Playing in the Big Ten, they didn’t win any championships. They did finish third in the Big Ten and earned a two-seed for the NCAA Tournament. They stayed around the Top Ten for the whole season, and their seed was their reward. They ran through Grand Canyon in the first round but Oregon beat them and Iowa was robbed of a Sweet 16 appearance.
Record: 22-9 Conference Record: 14-6 BPI: 6 NET: 7 SOS: 16 SOR: 7
NCAA Tournament, Round of 32 Exit
7. Arkansas
Conference: South-Eastern (SEC)
Just like LSU, Tennessee, and Florida before them, Arkansas succeeded in the SEC. With draft prospect Moses Moody leading them, they had a very good season. They have turned their team around with Eric Musselmann, and it showed this year. They beat Colgate pretty easily in the first round, and barely beat Texas Tech in the second round. Oral Roberts couldn’t drain a buzzer-beater so Arkansas won their Sweet 16 one, and they lost to Baylor in the Elite Eight.
Record: 25-7 Conference Record: 13-4 BPI: 13 NET: 14 SOS: 56 SOR: 6
NCAA Tournament, Elite Eight Exit
6. Alabama
Conference: South-Eastern (SEC)
Alabama was a great team this season, going above and beyond preseason expectations. Even with the loss of Kira Lewis Jr, they found ways to win. They found even more ways to win this season than the last. With their sweep of the SEC championships, they earned a two-seed. They played well during the tournament, but actually only played double-digit seeds (#15 Iona, #10 Maryland, #11 UCLA). UCLA stopped Nate Oats and Alabama’s amazing season in an OT Sweet 16 game.
Record: 25-8 Conference Record: 16-2 BPI: 9 NET: 8 SOS: 30 SOR: 5
SEC Regular Season Champions, SEC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, Sweet 16 Exit
5. Illinois
Illinois had a great season in the Big Ten (via USA Today)
Conference: Big Ten (B1G)
Out of all the controversial takes, this might be the most controversial. Illinois might have been the third most picked team for the National Championship, yet the one with the least success. They had two stars in Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn. They swept the Big Ten championships and went into the tournament confident. They beat Drexel confidently but lost to Loyola Chicago in the Round of 32. It was sad not to get that Oklahoma State v Illinois game, but Oregon State took care of them also.
Record: 24-7 Conference Record: 16-4 BPI: 4 NET: 4 SOS: 5 SOR: 3
B1G Regular Season Champions, B1G Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, #1 Seed, Round of 32 Exit
4. Michigan
Conference: Big Ten (B1G)
Michigan had a crazy season. They were a top-two team at one point, then a team expected to leave the NCAA Tournament in the Round of 32. They had a good team but they fell apart close to the end of the season. The injury to Isaiah Livers was supposed to hurt the team, but they pushed through the NCAA Tournament. Again and again, they won where they were supposed to lose. They were supposed to beat UCLA, but with irony, they lost in a low-scoring game.
Record: 23-5 Conference Record: 14-3 BPI: 5 NET: 3 SOS: 15 SOR: 4
NCAA Tournament, #1 Seed, Elite Eight Exit
3. Houston
Conference: American Athletic (AAC)
This might come as a shocker to most, but I have Houston at #3. This could have gone to Illinois or Michigan, but Houston had the most success. Some might argue that they didn’t play anyone (#15 Cleveland State, #10 Rutgers, #11 Syracuse, #12 Oregon State, #1 Baylor) but the teams they played had a reason to be there. Houston had a couple of hiccups in the American but most teams did. They lost in blowout fashion in the Final Four to Baylor, not a great way to end their season.
Record: 28-4 Conference Record: 14-3 BPI: 3 NET: 5 SOS: 99 SOR: 8
AAC Regular Season Champions, AAC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, #1 Seed, Final Four Exit
The Top Two
2. Gonzaga
Jalen Suggs and Gonzaga teammates celebrate after a buzzer-beater that sent them to the National Championship. (via Busting Brackets)
Conference: West Coast (WCC)
After being favored for the National Championship, Gonzaga loses in the National Championship. They were easily the most talented team in the nation with Joel Ayayi, Drew Timme, Corey Kispert, and Jalen Suggs. Talking about Jalen Suggs, he was the hero of Gonzaga’s semifinal game against UCLA where he drilled a half-court buzzer-beater. Gonzaga went into the National Championship game undefeated, looking to become the first team since 1975 to do so. They came up short against the team that is in the top spot, Baylor.
Record: 31-1 Conference Record: 15-0 BPI: 1 NET: 1 SOS: 72 SOR: 2
1. Baylor
Baylor won the 2021 National Championship with only two losses (via NCAA.com)
Conference: Big 12
This is hard to argue with. Baylor won the National Championship after being one of the favorites going into the tournament. This spot could have gone to Gonzaga easily if they had won. The star-studded squad of Baylor led them to a well-deserved championship, their first in team history. They didn’t really have any rough spots, except for a COVID pause which left Baylor rusty as they lost to Kansas, and they lost to a hot Oklahoma State team in the Big 12 tournament. Davion Mitchell and Jared Butler just ran through all their opponents. What a well-deserved #1 spot.
Record: 28-2 Conference Record: 13-1 BPI: 2 NET: 2 SOS: 43 SOR: 1
Congrats! You have reached the end of this article. It sure took a while to write (for you it took a while to read), but it’s all done now. Have a great rest of your day and rep your school!