The Closing 4 looms within the 2025 NCAA Event, and it is potential for just a few of the highest packages in school basketball historical past to maneuver up the standings for the all-time Closing 4 appearances record this weekend.
Duke, Kentucky and Michigan State are amongst just a few of the packages which are high 10 all-time in Closing 4 appearances that may make it again to the ultimate two rounds of the match once more this spring. Arkansas and Houston additionally loom as potentialities to hitch the highest 10 if every could make it by way of the Elite Eight this weekend.
As historical past is on the road within the subsequent few weeks, let’s check out which packages have probably the most Closing 4 appearances of all-time, excluding vacated appearances.
Prime 10 colleges with most Closing 4 appearances
The Huskies‘ sudden emergence as a university basketball energy positioned them within the high 10 of this record following the 2023-24 season. All seven of UConn’s Closing 4 appearances have come since its nationwide championship season in 1998-99. It is received the championship six occasions over its seven Closing 4 appearances, changing into the primary program to win back-to-back titles in almost 20 years in 2024. For those who exclude the 2019-20 season, when the COVID-19 pandemic led to the match being canceled, UConn arguably had the most effective 25-year run within the historical past of the game, holding a 28% Closing 4 charge and a 24% championship charge.Â
Whereas UConn has soared within the twenty first century, a variety of Indiana’s success got here earlier than 2000. Seven of the Hoosiers‘ eight Closing 4 appearances occurred previous to the flip of the century, changing into certainly one of school basketball’s first powers. It received two nationwide championships previous to 1970 earlier than reaching the Closing 4 5 occasions in Bob Knight’s 29-year tenure as head coach. Three of these Closing 4 journeys resulted in a nationwide championship, together with the 1976 match, the place Indiana capped off a 32-0 season. That is the final time a workforce went undefeated in a university basketball season. Knight led the Hoosiers to titles once more in 1981 (with Isiah Thomas) and 1987 (with Steve Alford). Indiana’s final Closing 4 run got here in 2002, making a shock journey to the nationwide championship sport as a No. 4 seed.
Louisville may truly be greater on this record, however two of its Closing 4 journeys had been vacated. Its 2012 Closing 4 look and 2013 title had been vacated after an NCAA investigation discovered that it gave improper advantages to gamers throughout these seasons. However earlier than these two journeys, Louisville made it to the Closing 4 eight occasions, profitable the title twice. Denny Crum coached each of these title-winning squads (1980, 1986) and was liable for six of the eight non-vacated Closing 4 appearances in program historical past. Louisville’s final non-vacated Closing 4 look got here in 2005, when it reached the nationwide semifinals as a No. 4 seed earlier than dropping to Illinois.
The overwhelming majority of Ohio State’s Closing 4 appearances got here previous to 1970, making it to the ultimate two rounds of the match six occasions between 1939-68. Fred Taylor was the pinnacle coach for 4 of these journeys, serving to this system win its solely nationwide championship in 1960. Ohio State did not make it to the Closing 4 once more till 1999, however that journey was later vacated. Thad Matta helped the Buckeyes regain nationwide prominence over his 13-year tenure in Columbus, reaching the Closing 4 twice (2007, 2012). It misplaced the nationwide championship sport to Florida in 2007, operating right into a Gators squad that received back-to-back titles.Â
The Spartans had the quantity of success many packages would dream of earlier than Tom Izzo turned their head coach in 1995, profitable a nationwide championship in 1979 and reaching the Closing 4 on one other event. However this system has often appeared within the Closing 4 since Izzo took over, making it to the nationwide semifinals eight occasions since 1999. And most of these Closing 4 journeys have been unfold out, with 26 of Izzo’s first 29 recruiting lessons of four-year gamers having skilled a visit to the Closing 4. Michigan State has received the title as soon as with Izzo, slicing down the nets in 2000.Â
Not many packages have been as constant for an extended time period as Kansas. The Jayhawks have reached the Closing 4 in every decade because the Seventies, with the Sixties being the one decade that they’ve missed the Closing 4 since 1940. Kansas has received 4 nationwide championships, doing so in 1952, 1988, 2008 and 2022. Whereas Roy Williams did not win a nationwide championship at Kansas, he coached the Jayhawks to 4 Closing Fours in his 15 seasons on the helm, making it in every of his ultimate two years. Invoice Self has helped Kansas attain the Closing 4 thrice, profitable the nationwide title twice. He may’ve had 4 Closing 4 appearances, however Kansas’ 2018 Closing 4 journey was later vacated.Â
One of many true indicators of a blue blood is its potential to maintain success over a number of head coaches. That is what Kentucky has accomplished for many years, with 5 of its final seven coaches serving to the Wildcats attain the Closing 4. That quantity excludes Mark Pope, who may enhance that mark to 6 of their final eight coaches as early as this spring. All 5 of these aforementioned coaches received a nationwide championship throughout their time in Lexington as effectively, with every making a number of Closing 4 journeys. For the reason that Nineties, Kentucky has additionally had two stretches the place it made the Closing 4 4 occasions in a six-year span.
Mike Krzyzewski turned Duke right into a blueblood, however this system had some success earlier than he took over the reins in Durham. Duke reached the Closing 4 on 4 events between 1963-78 earlier than Krzyzewski turned its head coach in 1980. Krzyzewski took this system to new heights, although. It made the Closing 4 in 5 straight tournaments (1988-92) and 6 occasions in seven years, profitable two nationwide championships within the early Nineties. Whereas the Blue Devils did not have a run like that once more beneath Krzyzewski, they made it to the Closing 4 as soon as each six tournaments between 1995-2022, which was Krzyzewski’s final 12 months as head coach. They received the nationwide championship thrice over that stretch.
Due to John Picket, UCLA was in a position to run it up within the all-time Closing 4 appearances record. They made it to the Closing 4 12 occasions in his ultimate 14 seasons as head coach, which included a stretch the place they received seven straight nationwide championships. In addition they received the title on three different events with Picket. UCLA hasn’t had as a lot within the 50 years since Picket left, nevertheless it has remained certainly one of school basketball’s high packages. It is reached the Closing 4 six extra occasions, profitable the title once more in 1995. It additionally reached the Closing 4 in 1980, however that look was later vacated.
Whereas UCLA has extra nationwide championships, North Carolina might need the best longevity of any program within the historical past of school basketball. It is made the Closing 4 a minimum of as soon as each decade because the Forties, making it to the Closing 4 twice in every decade because the Sixties (excluding the 2020s). Dean Smith was liable for half of UNC’s Closing 4 journeys as 5 of the Tar Heels‘ final six head coaches have coached them to the Closing 4. Hubert Davis is amongst them, doing so in his first 12 months as coach within the 2021-22 season. However he hasn’t received a nationwide championship, one thing Roy Williams did thrice as their head coach with Smith main them to 2 titles. Frank McGuire is the opposite coach to have led UNC to a nationwide championship.
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