In college basketball, the term “blue bloods” is used in reference to Division I basketball programs considered to be among the most elite, either contemporaneously or historically. There is no official definition of what constitutes a blue blood, but the term is generally applied to programs that have a long history of success, a strong fan base, and a national reputation.
These are the nine most commonly cited Blue Bloods in men’s college basketball. They are in alphabetical order:
Connecticut (UConn) Huskies
Duke Blue Devils
Indiana Hoosiers
Kansas Jayhawks
Kentucky Wildcats
North Carolina Tar Heels
Michigan State Spartans
UCLA Bruins
Villanova Wildcats
These programs have all won multiple national championships, and they have consistently been ranked among the top teams in the country.