Top 10 CBB Teams Ever

CBB begins in November, and its smoking hot! The Division 1 men's basketball season reels in the crowds by the truckload. Each new season brings with it sensational plays and unforgettable championships. We are about to take you courtside to reveal our top 10 CBB teams of all time. When you’re ready to bet on basketball, it’s important to have some insights into the top teams and their star performers. It's no mean feat sifting through the most legendary superstars of all time, but our experts have toiled long and hard to identify the top 10, and here they are!

 #10 – 1954/1955 San Francisco (28-1)

K.C. Jones and Bill Russell spearheaded a fantastic San Francisco outfit during the 1954/1955 season. Coach Phil Woolpert did a sterling job guiding his team to a 28-1 record, with 12-0, and a ranking of first in the CBA. Russell at 6'9" and Jones at 6'1" were simply spectacular. Incidentally, this was the first West Coast team to win the National Championship in well over a decade. The last team to do so was Stanford over Dartmouth back in 1942.

#9 – 1967/1968 UCLA Bruins (29-1)

The UCLA Bruins have been a formidable force in CBB for eons. Back in 1967/1968 this college basketball team headed by coach John Wooden performed spectacularly. Their record of 29-1 speaks volumes. They were 14-0, and first in the AAWU. The stars of this incredible college basketball team included the legendary Kareem Abdul Jabbar (Lew Alcindor) at a height of 7'2", and Lucius Allen at a height of 6'2". Jabbar averaged 26.2 points per game and Allen 15.1 points per game. They beat North Carolina for the title, and typically beat their opponents by at least 21 points. By the way, Jabbar’s ‘sky hook’ crippled his opponents and that's one of many reasons he became a legendary basketball player.

#8 – 1956/1957 University of North Carolina Tar Heels (32-0)

UNC’s first National Championship was recorded in 1957. Under the expert guidance of coach Frank Maguire, the UNC Tar Heels racked up an impressive record of 32-0, with 14-0 and a ranking of first in the ACC. What was incredible about this team's performance – besides being undefeated for the season – was that they averaged 79.4 points per game and conceded just 65.8 points per game. Some other star players in the 1956/57 UNC team included Lenny Rosenbluth with 28.0 points, Pete Brennan with 14.7 points, and Tommy Kearns with 12.8 points.

#7 – 1989/1990 UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (35-5)

Any team that beats Duke Blue Devils in a National Championship game by a margin of 30 points is worthy of special mention. This is precisely what the 1989/1990 University of Nevada Las Vegas Runnin’ Rebels did. Under coach Jerry Tarkanian, this team’s record was 35-5, with 16-2, and first in the Big West. What makes their performances even more exhilarating are the fact that several big-name NBA players ultimately emerged from UNLV Runnin’ Rebels, including Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon, and Greg Anthony.

#6 - 1990/1991 Duke Blue Devils (32-7)

It's worth pointing out that the Duke Blue Devils were destroyed by UNLV Runnin Rebels a season before they won the National Championship. More importantly, the Blue Devils went on to win two consecutive National Championships. Talk about a change in fortunes! The 1990/1991 team had an impressive record of 32-7, with 11-3, and a ranking of first in the ACC. Under coach Mike Krzyzewski, they pulled things together and became a power force in the CBB arena. The listing of star performers among the Duke Blue Devils is off the charts, with the likes of Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley, Grant Hill, Brian Davies, and Antonio Lang.  At the National Championships, they beat Kansas by a margin of 13 points, earning their position as a legendary CBB team.

#5 – 1975/1976 Indiana Hoosiers (32-0)

The 1975/1976 Indiana Hoosiers team was remarkable! Coach Bob Knight led his team to a 32-0 record, with 18-0, and a first in the Big Ten ranking. Among the star performers in this team were big names like Scott May with 23.5 points, Kent Benson with 17.3 points, Tom Abernethy with 10.0 points, Quinn Buckner with 8.9 points, and Bob Wilkerson with 7.8 points. With such a stellar record, it comes as no surprise that they won the National Championship. They steamrolled their way through the tournament, ultimately beating Michigan 86-68 in the title game. Talk about greatness!

 #4 – 1971/1972 UCLA Bruins (30-0)

The 1971/1972 UCLA Bruins were a remarkable outfit. The record speaks for itself – 30-0. There were 14-0, and first in the Pac-8. Coached by John Wooden, this CBB team was truly unforgettable. Among their star players were the likes of Bill Walton with 21.1 points, Henry Bibby with 15.7 points, Jamaal Wilkes with 13.5 points, Greg Lee with 8.7 points, and Swen Nater with 6.7 points. Recall that this team has already featured in our top CBB teams, but this season was equally impressive and is worthy of special mention.

#3 – 1995/1996 Kentucky Wildcats (34-2)

The Kentucky Wildcats are one of those legendary college basketball teams. And in 1995/1996, they proved that with an imperious 34-2 record, with 16-0, and first in the SEC East. Coached by Rick Pitino, the Wildcats were blazing a trail on the court. They averaged 91.4 points for each game they played, and ultimately ranked second across the US in terms of scoring abilities. They won the National Championship against Syracuse, by a 9-point margin, defeating them 76-67. The list of Kentucky Wildcat superstars is amazing, and includes the likes of Tony Delk (17.8 points), Antoine Walker (15.2 points), Walter McCarty (11.3 points), Derek Anderson (9.4 points), Ron Mercer (8.0 points), Mark Pope (7.6 points), Jeff Sheppard (5.5 points), Wayne Turner (4.5 points), and Nazr Mohammed (2.3 points)!

#2 – 1973/1974 North Carolina State Wolfpack (30-1)

Back in 1973/1974, NC State Wolfpack performed like none other. Their record of 30-1 was certainly impressive, and they were 12-0, and first in the ACC. Under the tutelage of coach Norm Sloan, they dominated their opponents in a big way. Among the many powerful players in the pack were David Thompson with 26.0 points, Tom Burleson with 18.1 points, and Monte Towe with 12.8 points. They played with flair and they played with passion, and they were winners!

#1 – 1982/1983 Houston Cougars (31-3)

The Houston Cougars were an impressive outfit under coach Guy Lewis. The record of 31-3 speaks volumes, and they performed really well in their division with 16-0, and first in SWC. Among the many superstars in their midst were the likes of Michael Young (17.3 points), Clyde Drexler (15.9 points), Hakeem Olajuwon (13.9 points), and Larry Micheaux (13.8 points). What's notable about this team is that they never ever won an NCAA championship. They made multiple successive Final Fours, and this was the closest they ever came to a title shot!

Ready to score more? Check out the latest NCAA Basketball Lines at 888sport and make your shots count!

*Image Provided Courtesy of Kathy Willens and AP