What is a Blue Blood in NCAA?
NCAA Blue Blood is a term used to describe a select group of successful college basketball programs in the United States. These teams have a long and successful history of success in the NCAA tournament and have been perennial contenders for championships. The term was originally coined by sportswriter Dick Vitale to describe the most successful college basketball programs in the country.
The term has since been extended to include college football teams as well, and is often used to describe teams with a long history of success and championship appearances. The term is sometimes used to describe teams that are traditionally strong, but not necessarily the most successful in the current season.
Which Teams are Considered Blue Bloods?
There are several teams in the NCAA that are considered blue bloods, including:
- Kentucky Wildcats
- Duke Blue Devils
- North Carolina Tar Heels
- UCLA Bruins
- Kansas Jayhawks
- Indiana Hoosiers
- Louisville Cardinals
- Syracuse Orange
- Michigan State Spartans
- Arizona Wildcats
These teams have a long history of success and have been perennial contenders for championships. They have consistently been ranked in the top 25 of the Associated Press Poll and the NCAA Tournament for many years.
Kentucky Wildcats
The Kentucky Wildcats are one of the most successful college basketball programs in the NCAA. The Wildcats have won eight NCAA championships, second only to UCLA in NCAA history. The Wildcats have also appeared in fourteen Final Fours and twenty-one Sweet Sixteens. The Wildcats are also one of the most successful teams in the Southeastern Conference, having won fifteen conference championships.
Notable Players
The Wildcats have had a number of notable players over the years, including:
- Adolph Rupp
- Rick Pitino
- John Calipari
- Anthony Davis
- John Wall
- Karl-Anthony Towns
- DeMarcus Cousins
- Jamal Murray
Duke Blue Devils
The Duke Blue Devils are one of the most successful college basketball programs in the NCAA. The Blue Devils have won five NCAA championships, tied for third-most all-time. The Blue Devils have also appeared in sixteen Final Fours and thirty-one Sweet Sixteens. The Blue Devils are also one of the most successful teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference, having won twenty-one conference championships.
Notable Players
The Blue Devils have had a number of notable players over the years, including:
- Christian Laettner
- Grant Hill
- J.J. Redick
- Shane Battier
- Jabari Parker
- Jahlil Okafor
- Brandon Ingram
- Zion Williamson
North Carolina Tar Heels
The North Carolina Tar Heels are one of the most successful college basketball programs in the NCAA. The Tar Heels have won six NCAA championships, tied for second-most all-time. The Tar Heels have also appeared in twenty Final Fours and thirty-four Sweet Sixteens. The Tar Heels are also one of the most successful teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference, having won twenty-one conference championships.
Notable Players
The Tar Heels have had a number of notable players over the years, including:
- Michael Jordan
- James Worthy
- Vince Carter
- Antawn Jamison
- Tyler Hansbrough
- Tyler Zeller
- Harrison Barnes
- Justin Jackson
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are one of the most successful college basketball programs in the NCAA. The Bruins have won eleven NCAA championships, the most all-time. The Bruins have also appeared in eighteen Final Fours and thirty-five Sweet Sixteens. The Bruins are also one of the most successful teams in the Pacific 12 Conference, having won twenty-seven conference championships.
Notable Players
The Bruins have had a number of notable players over the years, including:
- Bill Walton
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Ed O’Bannon
- Toby Bailey
- Baron Davis
- Arron Afflalo
- Kevin Love
- Russell Westbrook
Kansas Jayhawks
The Kansas Jayhawks are one of the most successful college basketball programs in the NCAA. The Jayhawks have won three NCAA championships, tied for fourth-most all-time. The Jayhawks have also appeared in fourteen Final Fours and twenty-seven Sweet Sixteens. The Jayhawks are also one of the most successful teams in the Big 12 Conference, having won fourteen conference championships.
Notable Players
The Jayhawks have had a number of notable players over the years, including:
- Danny Manning
- Paul Pierce
- Nick Collison
- Hilton Armstrong
- Mario Chalmers
- Marcus Morris
- Andrew Wiggins
- Frank Mason III
Indiana Hoosiers
The Indiana Hoosiers are one of the most successful college basketball programs in the NCAA. The Hoosiers have won five NCAA championships, tied for third-most all-time. The Hoosiers have also appeared in fourteen Final Fours and thirty-one Sweet Sixteens. The Hoosiers are also one of the most successful teams in the Big Ten Conference, having won twenty conference championships.
Notable Players
The Hoosiers have had a number of notable players over the years, including:
- Steve Alford
- Isiah Thomas
- Clyde Drexler
- Calbert Cheaney
- Jared Jeffries
- Eric Gordon
- Victor Oladipo
- Yogi Ferrell
Louisville Cardinals
The Louisville Cardinals are one of the most successful college basketball programs in the NCAA. The Cardinals have won two NCAA championships, tied for sixth-most all-time. The Cardinals have also appeared in thirteen Final Fours and twenty-five Sweet Sixteens. The Cardinals are also one of the most successful teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference, having won eighteen conference championships.
Notable Players
The Cardinals have had a number of notable players over the years, including:
- Darrell Griffith
- Pervis Ellison
- DeJuan Wheat
- Francisco Garcia
- Terrence Williams
- Russ Smith
- Damion Lee
- Donovan Mitchell
Syracuse Orange
The Syracuse Orange are one of the most successful college basketball programs in the NCAA. The Orange have won one NCAA championship, tied for seventh-most all-time. The Orange have also appeared in twelve Final Fours and twenty-four Sweet Sixteens. The Orange are also one of the most successful teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference, having won seventeen conference championships.
Notable Players
The Orange have had a number of notable players over the years, including:
- Derrick Coleman
- John Wallace
- Carmelo Anthony
- Jonny Flynn
- Kris Joseph
- Michael Carter-Williams
- Tyler Ennis
- Malachi Richardson
Michigan State Spartans
The Michigan State Spartans are one of the most successful college basketball programs in the NCAA. The Spartans have won two NCAA championships, tied for sixth-most all-time. The Spartans have also appeared in thirteen Final Fours and twenty-seven Sweet Sixteens. The Spartans are also one of the most successful teams in the Big Ten Conference, having won twenty-three conference championships.
Notable Players
The Spartans have had a number of notable players over the years, including:
- Mateen Cleaves
- Jason Richardson
- Paul Davis
- Draymond Green
- Denzel Valentine
- Miles Bridges
- Cassius Winston
- Joshua Langford
Arizona Wildcats
The Arizona Wildcats are one of the most successful college basketball programs in the NCAA. The Wildcats have won one NCAA championship, tied for seventh-most all-time. The Wildcats have also appeared in twelve Final Fours and twenty-five Sweet Sixteens. The Wildcats are also one of the most successful teams in the Pac-12 Conference, having won sixteen conference championships.
Notable Players
The Wildcats have had a number of notable players over the years, including:
- Sean Elliott
- Damon Stoudamire
- Mike Bibby
- Jason Terry
- Andre Iguodala
- Derrick Williams
- Kaleb Tarczewski
- Allonzo Trier
These teams have a long history of success and have been perennial contenders for championships. They have consistently been ranked in the top 25 of the Associated Press Poll and the NCAA Tournament for many years. They are true blue bloods in the NCAA, and they will continue to be contenders for years to come.