Kansas, North Carolina closing in on Kentucky win records

Kentucky’s early NCAA Tournament exit is going to hit hard in the record books. Unless two other blue bloods hit a bump in the road in the Sweet 16, Kentucky will be passing off a few all-time win records to Kansas and North Carolina.

Saturday afternoon Kansas defeated Creighton 79-72 to advance to the Sweet 16. Kansas now has 2,353 all-time victories, moving into a tie with Kentucky for the most in college basketball.

When Bill Self took over the Jayhawks were third in all-time wins. A consistent winner in Lawrence, UK’s 9-win COVID-19 season and Billy Gillispie’s 18-13 debut left the door open for Self to storm back. Mark Story crunched the numbers during the Calipari era and found that Kansas has won 18 more games, an average of 1.4 more Kansas victories per season.

This is not the first time Kentucky has relinquished the all-time wins crown. The probation years under Eddie Sutton gave Dean Smith an opportunity to make North Carolina college basketball’s winningest program in 1990. Rick Pitino put the Wildcats back on top during the 1996 season.

Getting Back the All-Time Wins Record

First and foremost, it’s a good time to cheer for the Fri-Guys, the Providence Friars. A win by the four-seed over Kansas in Friday night’s Sweet 16 would maintain an all-time wins tie through the offseason. If Ed Cooley can’t get it done, the NCAA can.

Bill Self is staring down the barrel of five Level I violations. If the IARP has a spine, a bunch of the wins Self accrued to catch up to Kentucky will be vacated, giving the all-time wins title back to Kentucky.

North Carolina Catches Kentucky in the Tourney

The all-time wins title is similar to Kentucky’s old three-point streak. It holds a near and dear place in some fans’ heart, while others could not care less. One impressive record that does not discussed as often is now in jeopardy.

North Carolina’s shocking upset of top-seeded Baylor, the defending National Champs, improved the Tar Heels’ NCAA Tournament record to 128-48. If Hubert Davis’ team can pick up a win over UCLA, North Carolina will move into a tie with Kentucky for the most all-time NCAA Tournament wins. Kentucky is currently atop the leaderboard with a 129-52 NCAA Tournament record.

Kentucky may be out of the tournament, but the BBN still has a few dogs in the fight. This week we are all in on the Friars, Bruins and Red Raiders.