NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament bids by school explained
This is a list of NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament bids by school, and is updated through 2024.[1] There are currently 68 bids possible each year (32 automatic qualifiers, 36 at-large). Schools not currently in Division I are in italics (e.g., CCNY) and some have appeared under prior names (e.g., UTEP went by Texas Western in 1966). Teams in bold participate in the 2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. Vacated appearances are excluded from the Bids table and noted below it.
Bids
The NCAA recognizes Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight since the beginning of the tournament, despite that there were no games to advance to the final eight teams before 1951 and not all teams had to play a game to advance to the final sixteen teams before 1975. Between 1939 and 1950, there were only 8 teams in the tournament, so all teams can claim an Elite Eight appearance. Between 1951 and 1952, there were sixteen teams in the tournament, so all could claim a Sweet Sixteen appearance. Between 1953 and 1974, participating teams fluctuated from 22 to 25 teams and some received byes to the Sweet Sixteen. Between 1975 and 1984, all teams were required to play at least one game before the Sweet Sixteen, and since 1985 all teams are required to play at least two games.
Active schools with no bids
The schools shown in the tables below have never made it to the NCAA tournament. Several schools are not yet eligible for the NCAA tournament since NCAA rules state programs transitioning from NCAA Division II must wait 4 years after joining Division I before they are eligible for championship tournaments.
Eligible
Below is a list of schools that have been eligible for at least one NCAA tournament but have never made it.
Ineligible
Below is a list of schools that are active but not yet eligible for the NCAA tournament.
Streaks
This is a list of the most consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament by programs.[59]
Consecutive appearances by team
| Rank | Team | Length of streak | Years | Head coach(es) |
|---|
| 1 | Kansas | 28 | 1990–2017 | Roy Williams (14), Bill Self (14) |
| 2 | North Carolina | 27 | 1975–2001 | Dean Smith (23), Bill Guthridge (3), Matt Doherty (1) |
| 3 | Michigan State | 26‡ | 1998–present | Tom Izzo |
| 4 | Gonzaga | 25‡ | 1999–present | Dan Monson (1), Mark Few (24) |
| 5 | Duke | 24‡ | 1996–2019 | Mike Krzyzewski |
| 6 | Wisconsin | 19 | 1999–2017 | Dick Bennett (2), Brad Soderberg (1), Bo Ryan (14), Greg Gard (2) |
| 7 | Indiana | 18 | 1986–2003 | Bob Knight (15), Mike Davis (3) |
| 8 | Kentucky | 17 | 1992–2008 | Rick Pitino (6), Tubby Smith (10), Billy Gillispie (1) |
| 9 | UCLA | 15 | 1967–1981 | John Wooden (9), Gene Bartow (2), Gary Cunningham (2), Larry Brown (2) |
| 10 (tie) | Arizona | 14 | 1985–1998 | Lute Olson |
| 10 (tie) | Cincinnati | 14 | 1992–2005 | Bob Huggins |
| 10 (tie) | Georgetown | 14 | 1979–1992 | John Thompson |
| 10 (tie) | Texas | 14 | 1999–2012 | Rick Barnes |
| 10 (tie) | UCLA | 14 | 1989–2002 | Jim Harrick (8), Steve Lavin (6) | |
- Kansas has appeared in 34 consecutive NCAA tournaments from 1990-2024, but its 2018 appearance, which ended in the Final Four, was vacated five years later due to use of a player, Silvio De Sousa, who was ruled ineligible retroactively.
Current consecutive appearances by team
Table up to date through the 2024 NCAA tournament. Only schools with five or more consecutive appearances are included. Conference affiliations reflect those in the next NCAA season in 2024–25.
Droughts
List of schools with the longest time between NCAA tournament appearances (minimum 20-year drought). Bold indicates an active current streak as of the 2024 tournament:
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: 2024 MEN'S FINAL FOUR RECORDS BOOK . March 9, 2024.
- Kansas vacated the results of its 2018 NCAA tournament appearances as well as its finals appearance in 2018.
- UCLA vacated the results of its 1980 and 1999 NCAA tournament appearances as well as its finals appearance in 1980.
- Villanova vacated the results of its 1971 NCAA tournament appearance along with its championship game appearance that year.
- Louisville forfeited 123 wins during 2011–2014, its NCAA tournament appearances, and its 2013 National Championship title.
- News: Its NCAA appeal denied, Louisville is stripped of 2013 national championship. Stubbs. Bogage. Roman. Jacob. February 20, 2018. The Washington Post.
- Web site: Syracuse basketball can't keep wins, but it can keep Big East, NCAA banners. Waters. Mike. 2016-10-19. syracuse.com. en-US. 2019-03-18.
- Web site: Syracuse University Public Infractions Decision . March 9, 2016.
- Marquette turned down an invitation to the NCAA tournament in 1970 that would make 36 appearances.
- UConn vacated the results of the 1996 NCAA tournament appearance and its Sweet Sixteen appearance that season.
- Arizona vacated the results of its 1999, 2008, 2017, and 2018 NCAA tournament appearances, of which it reached the Sweet 16 in 2017.
- Purdue vacated the results of the 1996 NCAA tournament which it reached the round of 32.
- Ohio State vacated the results of its 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002 NCAA tournament appearances, in which it reached the Final Four in 1999 and the round of 32 in 2000 and 2002.
- Maryland vacated the results of its 1988 NCAA tournament appearance in which it reached the round of 32.
- St. John's vacated the results of its 2002 NCAA tournament appearance.
- Missouri vacated the results of its 1994 NCAA tournament appearance in which it reached the Elite Eight.
- Michigan vacated the results of 113 games won while four players were not eligible, including the 1992 and 1993 Final Fours, and NCAA tournament appearances in 1992, 1993, 1996 and 1998.
- NC State vacated the results of the 1987 and 1988 NCAA tournament appearances.
- Alabama vacated the results of the 1987 tournament.
- New Mexico State vacated the results of the 1992, 1993 and 1994 NCAA tournaments which it reached the Sweet Sixteen (1992) and round of 32 (1993).
- Western Kentucky vacated the results of the 1971 tournament, in which it reached the Final Four.
- Florida vacated the results of the 1987 and 1988 NCAA tournaments.
- Memphis vacated tournament appearances for 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 2008 for NCAA violations. This included Final Fours in 1985 and 2008 and the 2008 Finals appearance.
- Saint Joseph's vacated the results of its 1961 NCAA tournament which it reached the Final Four.
- USC vacated the results of the 2008 tournament.
- Texas Tech vacated the results of the 1996 NCAA tournament.
- California vacated the results of its 1996 NCAA tournament appearance.
- DePaul vacated the results of NCAA tournament appearances in 1986, 1987, 1988, and 1989. It reached the Sweet Sixteen during the first two tournaments and the round of 32 for the last two tournaments.
- Iona vacated the results of the 1980 NCAA tournament, in which it reached the second round.
- Oregon State vacated the results of the 1980, 1981 and 1982 NCAA tournaments.
- Clemson vacated the results of the 1990 NCAA tournament.
- Georgia vacated the results of the 1985 and 2002 NCAA tournaments.
- Minnesota vacated the results of the 1972, 1994, 1995, and 1997 NCAA tournaments.
- UMass vacated the results of the 1996 NCAA tournament, in which it advanced to the Final Four.
- Long Beach State vacated the results of the 1971, 1972 and 1973 NCAA tournaments.
- Louisiana vacated the results of NCAA tournament appearances in 1972, 1973, 2004, and 2005.
- Austin Peay vacated the results of the 1973 tournament.
- Fresno State vacated the results of the 2000 tournament.
- Marshall vacated the results of the 1987 tournament.
- Loyola Marymount vacated the results of the 1980 tournament.
- Stephen F. Austin vacated the results of the 2015, 2016, and 2018 tournaments, of which it reached the Round of 32 in 2016.
- Army turned down an invitation to the NCAA tournament in 1968.
- Web site: The odd reason Army has never made the NCAA tournament . Chase, Chris . USA Today. July 22, 2022.
- Won the 2023 Northeast Conference men's basketball tournament final but was ineligible because it was still within its transition period from Division II to Division I athletics.
- Won the 2022 ASUN men's basketball tournament final but was ineligible because it was still within its transition period from Division II to Division I athletics.
- Web site: Bellarmine Rising FAQs . Bellarmine University. March 5, 2021.
- Le Moyne College Accepts Invitation to Join Northeast Conference . Northeast Conference . May 10, 2023 . May 14, 2023.
- Lindenwood University to Join the Ohio Valley Conference in 2022-23 . Ohio Valley Conference . February 23, 2022.
- Welcome To The Lake Show: Mercyhurst University Accepts Northeast Conference Membership Invite . Northeast Conference . April 4, 2024 . May 23, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240523011914/https://northeastconference.org/news/2024/4/3/GEN_Mercyhurst_Membership_Announcement_24.aspx . live .
- ASUN Conference Welcomes Queens University of Charlotte as Its Newest Member . ASUN Conference . May 10, 2022.
- News: Emily . Haugen . BREAKING: St. Thomas approved to begin transition to Division I athletics . TommieMedia . Minneapolis, Minnesota . July 15, 2020 . July 4, 2021.
- University of Southern Indiana to Join the Ohio Valley Conference in 2022-23 . Ohio Valley Conference . February 9, 2022.
- Web site: Stonehill Announces Transition to NCAA Division I for 2022-23 Academic Year. Stonehill Skyhawks. April 5, 2022. April 6, 2022.
- Web site: It's official: Tarleton moves to NCAA Division I . Stephenville Empire-Tribune . March 5, 2021 . November 12, 2019.
- Southland Conference Officially Welcomes Texas A&M-Commerce . Southland Conference . July 1, 2022 . July 4, 2022.
- Web site: Sklar . Debbie . UC San Diego Set to Start Coronavirus-Delayed Men's Basketball Season . Times of San Diego . March 5, 2021 . December 22, 2020.
- Web site: IT'S OFFICIAL - Dixie State Joins the WAC and Begins NCAA D-I Transition . Dixie State University . March 5, 2021 . July 1, 2020. Utah Tech began its transition under its former name Dixie State.
- Atlantic Sun Conference Welcomes the University of West Georgia as Its Newest Member . ASUN Conference . September 8, 2023 . May 23, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240523012309/https://asunsports.org/news/2023/9/1/atlantic-sun.aspx . live .
- Web site: 2015 Men's Final Four Records Book - Tournament Records. ncaa.org. 13 May 2015. 9.
- Web site: 2017-03-28 . Can Ducks echo The Tall Firs after 78 years? . 2017-03-28 . KOIN 6.
