Ready for March Madness? So are we! The NCAA men’s basketball tournament brings school spirit into high gear across the country. High-profile sports wins can even increase colleges’ application numbers in the following years due to interest from high schoolers seeking an energetic, sports-focused campus culture. Here are five schools with highly-ranked basketball teams to watch and consider for your student’s college list.
Duke University
- Current ranking: 1st
- Current record: 25 – 2
- Last year’s NCAA Tournament Results: Final Four
- National Championships: 1991, 1992, 2001, 2010, and 2015
- Mascot: the Blue Devil
Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is home to 6400 undergraduate Blue Devils. Duke boasts a 97% student retention rate, consistently high rankings, and strong programs from engineering to public policy. Duke combines top-tier academics and highly successful athletics, with 27 varsity teams and 17 NCAA championships in basketball, golf, lacrosse, soccer, and tennis.
University of Connecticut
- Current ranking: 6th
- Current record: 25 – 3
- Last year’s NCAA Tournament Results: Second Round
- National Championships: 1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, 2023, and 2024
- Mascot: Jonathan the Husky
The University of Connecticut’s 21,000 undergraduates have access to 125+ majors and a 4000-acre campus in Storrs, Connecticut. UConn’s students stay busy year-round with traditions ranging from mud volleyball to a winter ice cream festival, and top men’s and women’s basketball teams give the Huskies plenty to cheer for.
Purdue University
- Current ranking: 8th
- Current record: 22 – 5
- Last year’s NCAA Tournament Results: Sweet Sixteen
- National Championships: none; made it to championship game in 2024
- Mascot: the Boilermaker Special / Purdue Pete
Purdue is a top public university with excellent programs across multiple STEM fields. With two campuses in West Lafayette and Indianapolis, a highly ranked honors college, and 400+ research labs, Purdue offers strong students many opportunities for professional and personal connections. On the basketball court, the Boilermakers’ 26 Big Ten conference titles earn bragging rights and student-section enthusiasm.
Gonzaga University
- Current ranking: 9th
- Current record: 27 – 2
- Last year’s NCAA Tournament Results: Second Round
- National Championships: none; made it to championship game in 2021
- Mascot: Spike the Bulldog
Gonzaga, located in Spokane, Washington, is a medium-sized Jesuit school with a focus on service and an outsized NCAA tournament presence. The undergraduate instruction is highly ranked, with a 12:1 student to faculty ratio and 93% retention rate. The Bulldogs have made every NCAA men’s basketball tournament for more than two decades, inspiring Kennel Club loyalty.
University of Arizona
- Current ranking: 2nd
- Current record: 25 – 2
- Last year’s NCAA Tournament Results: Sweet Sixteen
- National Championship: 1997
- Mascot: Wilbur and Wilma Wildcat
The University of Arizona is home to 150+ undergraduate degrees and 500+ student organizations, offering large-school spirit and energy to its 45,000 undergraduates. The Tucson, Arizona campus boasts 300 days of sunshine per year. Wildcats fans often have something to cheer for, with 18 D1 teams and 22 NCAA national championships in basketball.
