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College basketball expert says only Duke and UConn are operating at a blue-blood level
TL;DR
College basketball expert Jon Rothstein claims only Duke and UConn are functioning at a blue-blood level. He emphasizes that this status is evident when analyzing the rosters of other traditional powerhouses.
Key points
- Jon Rothstein claims only Duke and UConn are blue-blood programs.
- The status of blue-bloods is being questioned in college basketball.
- Rothstein emphasizes roster analysis of other programs.
Mentioned in this story
Jon Rothstein
Duke Blue DevilsUConn
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 12: Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope and Duke Blue Devils head coach John Scheyer shake hands prior to the State Farm Champions Classic college basketball game between the Duke Blue Devils and the Kentucky Wildcats on November 12, 2024, in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The traditional college basketball power structure is being tested more than ever, and many are questioning whether college basketball’s blue-bloods still exist.
Well, college basketball insider Jon Rothstein recently said only two programs are truly operating at a blue-blood level. Those two programs? Duke and Connecticut.
“There are two programs in college basketball that are still operating as traditional blue bloods,” Rothstein said. “It’s UConn and Duke. It’s Duke and UConn. And that is reiterated when you really dissect the rosters of the other blue-blood programs in college basketball.
So, I want to take a close look right now at three of them: Kansas, Kentucky, and North Carolina. As of today, in the Rothstein 45, which I update every single day based on if there’s any roster changes in college basketball, Kentucky’s ranked 40th, Kansas is ranked 30th, and North Carolina is ranked 26th. Of those three rosters right now, Carolina has the best roster.”
There is definitely no question that those two programs are living up to the blue-blood hype. UConn under Dan Hurley has played in 3 of the last 4 national championship games and won 2 of those. Duke, while falling short of a national championship, has reached at least the Elite 8 in the last 3 seasons with one trip to the Final Four. The Blue Devils also have just 16 losses in the last 3 seasons.
There’s no doubt Kentucky, North Carolina, and Kansas have slipped in this new era of college basketball. While historically great, there are valid questions about how these three programs are adjusting and will continue to adjust in today’s world of college basketball.
Q&A
Which college basketball programs are considered blue-bloods by Jon Rothstein?
Jon Rothstein identifies Duke and UConn as the only college basketball programs currently operating at a blue-blood level.
What does it mean for a college basketball program to be a blue-blood?
A blue-blood program in college basketball refers to a team with a long history of success, tradition, and consistent performance at a high level.
How are other traditional college basketball powerhouses performing compared to Duke and UConn?
Rothstein suggests that when examining the rosters of other traditional blue-blood programs, they do not match the level of Duke and UConn.
