College basketball has never been more fluid. The NIL era and transfer portal have fueled the rise of “new bloods” ready to challenge the sport’s historic “blue bloods.” Over the past 25 years, we have seen how hard it is to sustain dominance through seismic shifts in recruiting, rules, and structure. And yet, certain programs have not only survived but thrived, carving out their place among the sport’s modern giants.
Here are the top 10 college basketball programs since 2000:
UCONN
The Huskies are the best program in the last quarter century. Do not let the recent success tell the entire story, as titles in 2004, 2011 and 2014 complete the balanced and impressive team resume. Their five championships since 2000 are the most in the sport. Connecticut has produced 18 first-round draft picks in the last 25 years. Some people question if they make the cut as an all-time blue blood, but there is no question about their dominance of late.
DUKE
Coach K is arguably the greatest coach of all time, and luckily for the Blue Devils, he was at the helm for nearly this entire window. Duke won three national titles in 2001, 2010 and 2015 and appeared in six Final Fours, but the regular season dominance is what elevates them to the second spot. They have only missed one NCAA Tournament since 2000.
North Carolina
The Tar Heels follow a similar path as their arch rival, hoisting three championships in 2005, 2009 and 2017 and reaching seven Final Fours while also seeing Hall of Fame head coach Roy Williams retire. UNC falls slightly behind Duke because of recent inconsistencies and missing March Madness four times, but they still have one National Player of the Year, six ACC Players of the Year and more than thirty draft selections.
Kansas
One of the most impressive feats lies within the Jayhawk program, winning 14 consecutive Big 12 regular-season championships. Kansas has won two national titles since the turn of the century, in 2008 and 2022, but they are at or near the top in nearly every other category. Fourteen Sweet Sixteens, three NPOYs and 10 conference POYs are just a few examples. They have been the yearly standard since 2000.
Kentucky
Under John Calipari, the Wildcats won the 2012 national title, made four Final Fours, and reached the title game again in 2014. Their 2015 team, which went 38–1, was one of the most dominant regular-season teams of the modern era. Kentucky has produced more than 30 first-round picks since 2010 alone. The lack of recent tournament success knocks them down a peg, but the overall star power and dominance are undeniable.
Villanova
Jay Wright’s excellence helped the Wildcats win two national titles in 2016 and 2018. Nova was the class of the Big East for much of the quarter century, capturing eight regular-season crowns and four Final Fours in that stretch.
Michigan State
The Spartans have only one championship in 2000, but no team has made more Final Fours in this span. Success in March is the standard at Michigan State, and Tom Izzo has certainly solidified that expectation, even with just a single title. They have also seemingly controlled the Big Ten, even through some rougher years on the hardwood, for the last 25 years.
Florida
Billy Donovan’s Gators pulled off the rare repeat in 2006 and 2007, which Florida will look to recreate in 2026 after hoisting the title in 2025 as well. Five Final Fours and six SEC regular season championships solidify UF as a true “new blood.”
Gonzaga
Mark Few’s Bulldogs may lack a title, but they have been one of the winningest programs of the century. Gonzaga reached two national title games in 2017 and 2021, spent multiple seasons ranked No. 1 and churned out star professional players. It has been consistent dominance for the Zags and they are close to bringing home a trophy to Spokane.
UCLA
The Bruins had a stretch of dominance in the mid-2000s, making three straight Final Fours from 2006 to 2008 and producing stars like Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, and Darren Collison. They returned to the national stage under Mick Cronin with a 2021 Final Four and several strong Pac-12 finishes, but despite the prestige and NBA talent, no championships since 1995.
These 10 programs have defined the last quarter century of college basketball. Some have done it with multiple championships, others with remarkable consistency, and a few by climbing from outsider status to national relevance. The landscape is still shifting, and the next 25 years could bring a whole new mix of powers, but for now, this is the sport’s modern royalty.
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