[frankie21]

Here are some numbers I found:

UCLA has been to a Final Four every decade since the 1960s (however, the 1980 Final Four was vacated by the NCAA). They have 18 Final Four appearances all together, but without John Wooden, they only have 6. You take John Wooden out of UCLA, you only have 6 Final Fours and 1 National Championship. John Wooden was UCLA. Even after Adolph Rupp, Kentucky continued to win, and win, and win.

North Carolina has appeared in a Final Four in every decade since the 1940s, like Kentucky. They have appeared in 17 overall. But, just like UCLA, North Carolina has one coach that has defined their program...Dean Smith. Take Smith out of North Carolina, and what do you have? 6 Final Fours, and 2 National Champions (out of a total of 4). Roy Williams is certainly doing a heck of a job, but up to this point, without Dean Smith, North Carolina doesn't come close to UK. Again...Kentucky has continued to win consistently.

Indiana has appeared in 8 Final Fours and won 5 National Championships. Bob Knight? He accounted for 5 Final Fours and 3 National Championships. Indiana, without Knight, played in only 3 Final Fours and won 2 National Titles. Kentucky? They've kept winning.

Kansas may be an exception. Kansas has 13 Final Four appearances and 3 National Championships. Phog Allen is the coach credited with Kansas' arrival on the national scene. He led Kansas to 3 Final Fours and 1 National Championship. What does that mean? Kansas has played in 10 Final Fours and won 2 National Titles since his retirement in 1956. They have kept winning, but went 14 years between Final Four appearances (1957-71). Kentucky's longest stretch is currently 11 (previous long was 9 (1966-75, 1984-93).

Now...Kentucky, like most major basketball programs, is associated with one coach in particular, and that is of course Adolph Rupp. Like I mentioned before, UK has been to a Final Four every decade since the 1940s. Kentucky has appeared in 13 Final Fours. Rupp led them to 6, which means even after the Baron left, UK has managed to advance to 7 more. Rupp also led UK to 4 National Championships. Since then, they've won 3. They have continued to win even after their "identity" left back in 1972. The only real argument I can think of would be Kansas. But even they don't have the wins, NCAA tournament appearances, tournament wins, national championships, and overall wins that Kentucky has.

Dean Smith and John Wooden were excellent coaches, and UCLA and North Carolina are top notch programs, without question. But they are "above average" without Smith and Wooden's numbers. Kentucky has kept on winning with coaches other than Rupp on the sideline.

Ok well take Rupp away and they only have three. Even if you take away the coaches that are the face of the program UK still isn't number 1. Take away Rupp and Wooden's titles and UCLA has twice as many so. And wins are nice and all but they mean nothing without the trophies to back them up.

But very nice research.