Rivalries are one of the most thrilling aspects of sports. Even when one team is dominant, the other always has the potential to pull off an upset, creating an electrifying atmosphere for fans. With March Madness just around the corner, here’s a list of the top five college basketball rivalries of all-time.
- Gonzaga and St. Mary’s
Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s is a well-known rivalry because of the fact that both programs are dominant in the West Coast Conference, winning the past 16 conference titles. This is the newest rivalry on this list, as the two teams first faced off in 1955. Since then, Gonzaga and St. Mary’s have played against each other 118 times, with Gonzaga having a dominant head-to-head lead of 82-37.
- Cincinnati and Xavier
The Cincinnati and Xavier rivalry is well known and notable because the two schools are located just two miles from each other. This rivalry has been around since 1927, but became solidified as one of the best in the 90’s, when Xavier beat No. 1 ranked Cincinnati twice in a row. As of right now, Cincinnati leads the rivalry 51-39, but of the last 10 games, Xavier has won seven of them.
- Kentucky and Louisville
Despite only facing off against each other 57 times, the Kentucky and Louisville rivalry is still elite because of the winning culture of both teams. Currently, Kentucky is the winningest program in college basketball and Louisville is 30th, with both teams having a combined 11 national championships. The teams continue to showcase their dominance, with both teams consistently being ranked in the Top 25 AP Poll. Kentucky has historically dominated this rivalry, winning 40 of the 57 matchups.
- Purdue and Indiana
This rivalry falls in our great state of Indiana, where Hoosier Hysteria runs deep. This rivalry is so big, not only for being in Indiana, but also the two teams dominance, as Indiana holds 5 national championships and Purdue leads the Big 10 in conference championships and conference wins. These two teams have also had many iconic moments, such as in 1985, when IU head coach Bobby Knight threw a chair onto the court. This rivalry is the oldest on the list, starting in 1901, having a head-to-head ratio of 128 to 93 in the favor of Purdue.
- Duke and UNC
Duke and UNC are number one on this list, and for good reason. This is one of the best known rivalries in America. Historically, both of the schools are extremely successful, combining for 11 national championships and 40 Final Four appearances. These elite programs have created an entertaining rivalry with electric games and two of the best atmospheres in college football: Dean Dome and Cameron Indoor. Duke students have been known to camp out prior to the matchup for up to eight weeks in order to be able to go to the game. The head-to-head for this matchup is 145-119, with UNC having the lead.
