Sustained Excellence

North Carolina & Kentucky Are Unparalleled

(Kansas City, MO) – FIVE historic college basketball programs that surpass all the rest. Two of them are here in Kansas City for the Midwest Regional. North Carolina & Kentucky are unparalleled in the history of this great game. As a midmajor apologist, it pains me to say this, but we’re watching historic greatness at Sprint Center.

Duke, Kansas, North Carolina, Kentucky and fading UCLA define college basketball greatness. UCLA’s dominance of the 1960s and 1970s skews the conversation. The Bruins haven’t been relevant in years. The other four programs have earned such sustained excellence that we forget how truly transcendent they are.

UCLA won ten championships between 1964 and 1975 and have 11 overall and that can’t be minimized, but before and after that run, the Bruins are just another program. The true ‘Blue Bloods’ are Duke, Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina.

The two playing here in Kansas City might be the best-of-the-best. UNC and Kentucky are the top two teams in Final Fours, tournament appearances, tournament games and tournament wins. Duke and Kansas are close behind, but they are behind. With Kansas eliminated from this year’s tournament, the other three have the opportunity to add to their collective and individual legacies.

North Carolina faces Auburn and Kentucky meets Houston.

When these two tip in their Sweet Sixteen games and while Duke is doing the same thing in Washington D.C. there will be unparalleled historic greatness on display across the CBS family of networks. UCLA and Kentucky are tied with 12 championship game appearances, so obviously the Wildcats could take over the top spot. UNC and Duke have each reached the title game 11 times and have the opportunity to reach that historic 12 number.

The Current Coaches

Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski’s 96 tournament wins are tops all time, but North Carolina’s Roy Williams is second with 79 and Kentucky’s John Calipari has moved into a tie with Kansas’ Bill Self and past UCLA’s John Wooden for seventh on that all-time with 48 March Madness victories.

Duke, North Carolina, UCLA and Kentucky have all won over 100 tournament games and own winning percentages greater than .710.

Calipari says there is a pressure with being Kentucky.

“It keeps you on your toes based on the fact that there’s an expectation you win every singe game by 20,” said Calipari. “If you’re not winning every single game by 20, something is wrong.”

Kentucky is 30-7 in NCAA Tournament games under ‘Coach Cal’ and have been in eight Sweet Sixteens in his ten years in Lexington. Krzyzewski leads all Division 1 coaches with 1,131 total victories. UNC’s Dean Smith (879), Kentucky’s Adolph Rupp (876) and Williams (871) are all in the top seven on the all-time list. Calipari is the fourth-fastest coach to 700 wins. Rupp, Jerry Tarkanian and Williams did it faster.

Krzyzewski and Wooden are tied with 12 Final Four appearances. William’s mentor Smith is third with 11 and Williams is fourth with nine. Unparalleled excellence.

Historic Friday Night

When these two play a double-header at Sprint Center, we will be watching history. If they would reach the Elite Eight and play one another on Sunday, it would be unparalleled.