Though the term blue blood has been used for decades, no one knows precisely what a college basketball blue blood is. Alabama Basketball is not one. Some delusional fans of other programs, particularly the Auburn Tigers claim new blue blood status. Such a claim for a program, like the Alabama Crimson Tide, that has never won an NCAA Tournament is laughable.
Alabama Basketball has a more noteworthy NCAA Tournament history than the Tigers, with 26 appearances to Auburn's 15. The Crimson Tide has a long way to go to catch the top 10 programs in NCAA Tournament seasons. No. 10 is Michigan State has 39. The Kentucky Wildcats are No. 1 moving to 63 this week. Others in the top 10 are Syracuse (39), Louisville (41), Villanova (40), Indiana (41), Duke (48), UCLA (52), Kansas (53), and North Carolina (55).
Five other SEC programs have more NCAA Tournament seasons than Alabama Basketball. The Texas Longhorns have 39, with many coming when Rick Barnes coached the Horns. Arkansas is at 36, Oklahoma at 34, Missouri at 30, and Tennessee at 27.
There is no consensus, but often the list of college basketball blue bloods includes seven programs. The distinction is mostly derived from NCAA Tournament Championships. UCLA has 11, Kentucky eight, U Conn and North Carolina have six, Duke and Indiana have five, and Kansas has four. Some lists include Villanova with three NCAA Tournament Championships.
If Florida wins the Big Dance this year the Gators would reach three. So would Michigan State if the Spartans won. Michigan State would have a better chance to be considered a blue blood with three championships because in attention the Spartans have made eight additional Final Fours.
Should blue blood lists be amended because of long-ago championships? Indiana has not won one since 1987. Ten of UCLA's 11 came in 1975 and earlier. Kentucky has just one championship since 1998. There is no consensus and never will be.
Alabama Basketball Being Elite
Making a single Final Four does not make a program elite, though a team can be elite during a season, or multiple seasons with consistent Elite Eight and Final Four appearances. Alabama is knocking on that door now, but may not be close to using an old Bum Phillips reference of kicking the door down.
There is nothing wrong with Alabama Crimson Tide fans believing that with Nate Oats, Alabama Basketball will one day become a college basketball blue blood.
Note: mcubed.net is the source used for NCAA Tournament appearances