Kentucky back on top of NCAA All-Time Wins List after Kansas ruling

When word of Kansas’ IARP ruling first broke this afternoon, it seemed the Jayhawks merely got slapped on the wrist for their part in the college hoops bribery scandal.

Not so fast! Although the program, head coach Bill Self, and assistant coach Kurtis Townsend escaped major penalties, Kansas is being forced to vacate all wins in which Silvio De Sousa played during the 2017-18 season, a total of 15, including its wins from the Big 12 and 2018 NCAA Tournaments. That means the Jayhawks will no longer be able to recognize their Final Four appearance or their Big 12 Championship.

Most importantly, for Kentucky fans, it means that Kansas’ all-time wins total is reduced by 15, which puts Kentucky BACK on top of the NCAA All-Time Wins list. The Cats now have a five-win lead over the Jayhawks.

NCAA All-Time Wins

1. Kentucky – 2,375
2. Kansas – 2,370
3. North Carolina – 2,343
4. Duke – 2,273
5. Syracuse – 2,074
6. UCLA – 1,989
7. Temple – 1,978
8. St. John’s – 1,968
9. Notre Dame 1,948

Back on top and it feels so good.

[Ed. Note: An earlier version of this post listed Kentucky’s win total as 2,377, which the NCAA cited on its website. A UK spokesman has since said that the total is 2,375. The discrepancy is likely due to two vacated wins in the 1988 season.]

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Kansas avoids major penalties in IARP ruling

Bragging rights aside, Kansas did get off easy. The five Level I allegations against them were downgraded to two Level II violations and two Level III violations for the school, one Level II violation and one Level II violation for Townsend, and one Level III violation for Self.

The Jayhawks self-imposed a four-game suspension for Self and Townsend to start the 2022-23 season and other recruiting sanctions, including a reduction in official visits and scholarships. Both Self and Townsend avoided a show-cause penalty. The IARP did give Kansas a three-year probation in which the coaching and compliance staff will have to attend an NCAA Regional Rules Seminar.

From here, the case is closed, and for Kentucky fans, all is right in the world again.

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