[Real Badman]

After being in Carolina for vacation, I ventured into a champs sports store, looking around I noticed some merchandise from Kansas and North Carolina. They were hanging dynasty banners ($60 apiece), funny thing was, they looked inaccurate to me. Giving North Carolina 6 titles and Kansas 5, while they have only won 5 and 3 NCAA Titles respectively. Looking at research the NCAA basketball tournament started in 1939, those Championships (1924 UNC and 1922-23 Kansas) were awarded from the Helms Athletic Foundation, the leading sports organization at the time. The NCAA Tournament officially awards the National Title* at the end of the Final Four to the winner of the tournament, while Helms Foundation awards a National Championship* at the end of a season. If Carolina and Kansas actually legitimately count their pre-tournament championships, should Kentucky? Kentucky was awarded with the 1933 Helms national championship, and again in 1954 (this is a little less legit due to the NCAA tournament being played.) If by that idea, Kentucky has already captured 8 National Championships (7 Titles and 1 Championship). What do you think on the issue?

[Stardust]

Wasn't there a time also when the NIT was the bigger of the two titles as well?

[NothingTrivial]

^This. At one point the NIT was the premier tourney.

[Axel Foley]

Sounds good to me. If you count the NIT when it was the premier tourney, then I think you add another 3 or 4 titles.

[toussaints]

Wasn't there a time also when the NIT was the bigger of the two titles as well?

Absolutely, there were teams that would turn down the NCAA Tournament invite to play in the NIT because they felt their program got more media exposure in New York City.

[PaintsvilleTigerfan]

Uk has a few of the NITs as well dont we?

[RunItUpTheGut]

UK could have so many more banners if we put all of the useless stuff up.
What about the year, maybe 1950? when we were clearly the best team in the country and undefeated but Rupp refused to play in the tournament due to the fact the NCAA had suspended a player and he didnt like it or something....

Some one correct my story if im wrong...

[vundy33]

We're Kentucky, we don't need to count those other championships...I'm good with just going with the NCAA National Title.