Best College Basketball Teams That Have Never Won A National Title
There are many top college basketball programs that always go far in the tournament but never reach the top. These teams are consistently successful but have never taken the national title home.
Here are the top five best college basketball teams that have never won a national title. Check out the histories of these great teams that have never won it all below.
Oklahoma Sooners
The University of Oklahoma is known for being a college football powerhouse. Their men’s basketball team has also been historically great, but the national title has always evaded them.
In the history of the men’s Sooner basketball team, they have made five Final Four appearances. Unfortunately, they are currently 0 for 5 in these appearances.
Maybe one day, the Sooners basketball team will join their football team and become national champions. If you partake in NFL football betting, the chances are high an Oklahoma Sooner was on that team.
Houston Cougars
One of the most notable best college basketball teams that have never won a national title is the Houston Cougars. U of H put together one of the most popular teams in the 1980s known as “Phi Slamma Jamma”
This team featured hall-of-famers like Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. They went to three consecutive Final Fours but lost by a close margin in all three to win the title.
In the current era, coach Kelvin Sampson has restored the program to prominence. They’ve made multiple runs in the tournament and are still hunting for the national title.
Purdue Boilermakers
The Purdue Boilermakers has been a factory for producing top NBA talent. They’re also unfortunately one of the best college basketball teams who have never won a national title.
Purdue has been consistently loaded with talent, but has never taken the national title home. These past four years were their best shot as they were led by 2x POTY Zach Edey.
In Edey’s last year at Purdue, the team came up short in the championship game against UConn.
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois is easily one of the best college basketball teams that have never won a national title. They have made over 30 NCAA tournament appearances, but have never won it all.
This includes their incredible 2005 team, which is considered one of the best to never win it all. The 2005 Illini team finished with a 37-2 record but faltered in the national title game. Maybe one day, we’ll see the Fighting Illini hoist the national title
Gonzaga Bulldogs
Of all of the best college basketball teams who have never won a national title, Gonzaga is the most notable. They are one of the most consistently successful college basketball programs in the history of the sport.
The Bulldogs are currently on a 26-year streak of making the NCAA tournament, which includes 26 conference titles. Under Mark Few, Gonzaga has become a juggernaut of a college basketball program.
But unfortunately for Gonzaga, they have failed to win the title every time they’ve made the tournament.
