10 Most Valuable CBB Teams

The top-ranked colleges in the US also feature some of the most valuable CBB teams – but not always! Think Cornell, Harvard, Yale, Columbia – they’re Ivy League but their CBB teams are hardly that valuable in terms of their ability to win their division, let alone the NCAA Championships.

Yet even with teams like Yale, you can never rule them out since they’ve made some progress over the years. Recall back in the day when Yale put the brakes on Baylor in the NCAA Tournament? Before that, Harvard beat Cincinnati. These outcomes – rare though they may be – are always worth factoring into the equation when evaluating teams.

For this write-up, I’m going to eliminate those outliers from the equation and focus on the most valuable CBB teams based on their actual performances, basketball funding, and perceived value in the CBB world.  Ready to step it up a gear? Let’s check out the NCAA men’s basketball odds here at 888sport NJ and get this show on the road!

Top 10 Most Valuable CBB Teams

* Syracuse Orange

Syracuse, N.Y. consistently performs well in CBB. In 2017/2018, the men’s CBB team finished 3rd in the money rankings across the country.  During that season they generated a whopping $31.8M; a school record. Back in 2013/2014, the school generated $29.8M after the Syracuse Orange finished #1 in the rankings with a fantastic 25-0 start to the season.

* Indiana Hoosiers

The Indiana Hoosiers are a top CBB team. They invest heavily in college basketball with the country’s most elite programs. In 2017 Indiana reported massive CBB men’s basketball revenues – more than any Big Ten college. Overall revenue, expenditure and spending on 2017 recruitment topped out over $24M.  Plus the Indiana Hoosiers generated some $11.5M in basketball profit (2017), and $40.84M in media rights, etc.

* Kansas Jayhawks

In 2019, it was reported that the Jayhawks didn’t do quite as well as they wanted in the NCAA Tournament but they still generated huge sums of money through their Big 12 post-season wins. Kansas took home $364,750. Each Big 12 school that makes it to the March Madness contest earns a stash of cash. Each successive round is valued at 1 unit, until the team reaches the Final Four berths. Kansas has made the Final Four several times since 1989 and the team is valued at around $28.2M.

* Duke Blue Devils

Duke University is estimated to be valued at $34,398,285 (figures released in 2018), with 3-year average men’s CBB revenues of $33M. The total expenses in 2016 amounted to $3,142,715 and the 2016 profit amounted to $31,255,570. The Duke Blue Devils are among the best in the country, and they are spearheaded by the legendary Mike Krzyzewski. The team is both revered and reviled in the college basketball community – they’re exceptional!

* Arizona Wildcats

The Arizona Wildcats dominate CBB in a big way. They’re one of the few truly exceptional college basketball teams west of Texas. They’ve struggled to make the Final Four of the NCAA, but the team is certainly good enough to warrant a top place on this roster. They’re worth an estimated $21.7M and that will only get bigger when they start making it into later stages of NCAA competitions. According to Forbes Magazine, they’re valued at $28.5M, with revenue of $28M and profit of $18M. They play in the Pac-12, and the head coach is Sean Miller. As the head basketball coach, he makes a salary of $2.3M, more than Kevin Sumlin the head football coach who earns $1.6M.

* Wisconsin Badgers

The Wisconsin Badgers recently enjoyed a spike in popularity after they beat the Indiana Hoosiers in a Big Ten title game. Even without that impressive performance, they’re an incredible outfit on the court. The Wisconsin Badgers are valued at $17.2M, with basketball profits in the region of $10M. The team’s 5-year change in value has spiked higher (+35%), with nominal gains in the 1-2 -year changes in value.

* Kentucky Wildcats

Teams like the Kentucky Wildcats are hell raisers on the court! The Kentucky Wildcats consistently perform at the highest levels and they’re contenders for most valuable CBB team. Every year this team – my personal favorite – rakes in some $49M. Not only that, they hardly ever miss the NCAA Tournament and they certainly love the Big Dance more than most. Game attendance at KW events is off the charts and their ticket revenues consistently reel in the mega bucks!

* Ohio State Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes have an estimated team value of $25.4M, with revenues of $21M and profit of $15M according to Forbes. They play in the Big Ten Conference, and then coach – Thad Matta – got an extra year in his contract when the team made it to the Elite Eight. In 2020, the coach is Ryan Day. His salary/bonuses for the current year are $6M.

* The Louisville Cardinals

The Louisville Cardinals have always been one of the great CBB teams. The Louisville basketball team actually brings in the bulk of this college’s revenues (72% average) with revenues in the region of $24M between 2014/2015 and 2016/2017. During that time, the Louisville Cardinals have reeled in profit of around $30M and revenues of $52M. Pretty impressive stuff!

* North Carolina Tar Heels

The North Carolina Tar Heels have always been a cut above the rest in my opinion. They’re valued at $27.7M on Forbes with revenues of $24M and profit of $17M. They compete in the ACC Conference and their head coach is Roy Williams. In 2018 their revenue was $21,408,475, with a 3-year rolling average of $21,174,115. Licensing fees amounted to $33M (2017/2018), and the team’s value is hovering around the $30M mark.

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*Tar Heels Courtesy of Gerry Broome and AP