March Madness Arms Races continue into the Second Quarter of the 21st Century

    Some of us college basketball fans care about who has the most rings. Most of us quasi historians and aficionados of the sport and the history know who has the most.

    UCLA sits at 11. This year they may be good enough to get another one. They are balanced and may have enough umphh to make the push. Luck will be involved, as always, but twelve would be quite the achievement. There last was in 1995, and their reign of greatness ended in 1973, back when Bob Knight at Indiana arrived on the scene. Coach Wooden was from Indiana. Martinsville, some 20 some miles from Bloomington. Ahh, the spells and enchantments of the Wizard of Westwood...

    Kentucky is next with 8. They were looking top notch a month or so ago, at 10-1 with some impressive wins. But, with their new former player and stolen from my BYU Cougars coach Mark Pope, they have fallen on hard times and have been smoked a lot.

    Who is next? UNC? Yes, Chapel Hill. They won three in a row starting in 1993 with Hoosier big men. They tied then surpassed my Hoosiers. Curse them! At least their sixth national crown was not stealing a big man from the state of Indiana. They have 10 losses already this season (one more than IU!), and may not make the Big Dance this spring. Good riddance, Tar Heels. If you get in, then maybe we get in. Too many losses... The champ with the most ever was 11. UConn in 2011 and N.C. State, no, Villanova, in 1985. I loved that one.

    Speaking of UConn: tied at 6 with North Carolina now! Ugh. The most, five, in this century. They have won the last two in a row, and their team is only ish. They have a key injury to Trey McSorley, the freshman big guard who was committed to go to Bloomington and Mike Woodson for a long time, then reneged. Good luck in the pros, no love lost here. Huskies could win a third, in a row, first time since UCLA, but I think their chances are quite slim. No crazy good guards like 2011, in sha' allah.

    Then, we have Duke and Indiana. Ugh. Duke has been killer for most of the last 35 years, and the Hoosiers have not been. Sad. The protégé of of Knight outdoes the master. Both from Army tutelage or grooming. Like the Law of Two among the Dark Lords of the Sith. Coach K finally retired. Good riddance. Between UNC and Duke, the Tar Heel Tobacco State wins too much.

    Duke has a decent chance at 7 this year, if they stay healthy. May they break. I can hate me some Dukies... So much resentment, jealousy, outrage. I cannot get over the officiating in 1992. Putrid. Offensive foul on a jump shot on Calbert Cheaney. Ridiculous!

    Then there is my IU guys. 1987 was pretty amazing. I cannot believe that was the last one. 2002 was a great run, but the Terps were set, due, and loaded.

    Now we got Kansas. They are gaining ground, having won twice this century, and they are likely top 10 or 15 this season. The Jayhawks have always had the capability to tie and surpass the Hoosiers. Resentment, sure. Jealousy. Schadenfreude. 

    Next, with... Three, is the Villanova Wildcats. Two relatively recently, the last ten years. The 1985 team was a godsend, to thwart mighty Georgetown, the dominant team of its era. The last one was a little too much for me. They ate not good enough this year. Fine by me.

    There are a bunch of teams with two all time. My assessment of each in 2025, gearing up to the Big Dance March Madness (we need more nicknames for the tournament):

    Cincinnati, last won in 1962 (see Oscar Robertson, an Indiana state product). They are maybe good enough to make the tourney, but have to finish well in the rough and rugged new Big 12. I think not, personally.

    Florida. Back-to-back wunderkind winners in 2007 and 2008, they have a chance this year. They are balanced and good.

    Louisville. Preceded two of IU's championships in 1980 and 1986. Their crown vacated the year IU was picked to win it all, and choked. 2013. Alas. (Picture me weeping and forlorn.) Crean got the talent, but could not produce.

    Michigan. The Fab Five could not do it, but two others did... When? Of course, 1989, that was cool. And more recently, it was... Wait. I meant Michigan State. 1979 with Magic Johnson and 2000 with Mateen Cleaves. This year they may have the best chance in the Big Ten. Winning like crazy. The Wolverines are decent, too. Only one banner for them, though.

    N.C. State. The least offensive of the Tobacco State teams. 1983 was incredible. Not much hope for 2025.

    Oklahoma State. They are down, and mostly out.

    San Francisco. Not much chance for the Dons from what I know of the West Coast Conference, which has temporarily adopted Washington State and Oregon State. If San Fran won it all this year, this spring, in March, I thought I would do this: walk across the country naked. Yeah, I am that confident the ultimate winner will not be these guys.

    One-time winners? 

    Arizona. 2025? Pretty impressive. Beat up my Cougars at the end of the game last night in Provo. Caleb Love and others are formidable.

    Arkansas. They had a great 1994. They just beat up Kentucky, but the Cats are now down. Calipari has brought some of his boys to Fayetteville. Might make the Dance.

    Baylor. Recent winners. I think they are very good. Hurt and shallow bench now, but I think that they can put together quality wins.

    California. No chance this year. Sorry, Mad Dog Madsen.

    CCNY. They may not exist as a basketball squad anymore, unless they morphed into something else. St. Johns in New York is good...

    Georgetown. Better than normal, but not good enough to make the Dance.

    Holy Cross. Are they still the Crusaders in the Post 9/11 era? Prolly not. Like their chances for victories in the Madness this spring.

    La Salle. Their time has come and went. I mean gone. Not that great, unless I am missing something.

    Loyola (IL). Had a great run with the nun a few years ago. Not much hope now, but keep the faith. 

    Marquette. Their coach Al McGuire got caught for cheating? They have a very good team this season. Possibilities abound. I am not sure of one super star, though. It could happen.

    Maryland. I am impressed. Color me a fan, of sorts. IU blew the close game to them. Ouch.

    Ohio State. Won it with Bobby Knight and bigger legends back in the day. This year? Not quite enough, unless they channel some Jim Jackson potential. They do have athletic pieces.

    Oregon. 1939? 1941. Close to greatness like IU before the World War got going. Ducks are okay but sinking now in February.

    Stanford. They are decent now. They might make the Round of 68.

    Syracuse. Nope, not this year.

    Utah. Nope. Despite getting the calls for the OT win in Salt Lake against a better BYU, they will not make it.

    UNLV. No sir. They have too many losses; they need a towel chomper, or a Grand Ma Ma.

    UTEP. Not tracking much, maybe good enough to get in the tourney?

    Virginia. Not good enough in 2025. Even though they humbled a Pitt team this past week.

    Wisconsin. Early pre-WW II great. They are very good, dangerous, and could do big stuff in March.

    Wyoming. Not good enough in the Mountain West. Maybe next year.

    That, my friends, is my 2025 take of the ring arms race.

    Who do I want to win it all? Indiana, always. But they are struggling mightily. So I will take my BYU Cougars. Only have to get hot. It. Could. Happen.

    What if?