(07-11-2017 11:03 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(07-11-2017 10:51 AM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(07-11-2017 10:15 AM)ken d Wrote:  We each will have our own definition of what qualifies as a "blue blood" or an "elite". For me, the lack of a clearcut way of identifying the best teams before 1951 (the year that the NCAAT went to 16 teams, and essentially supplanted the NIT as the premier post season tourney) makes that something of a cutoff.

I define a blue blood as a school with at least 10 Final Four appearances since that time, at least two of which came more than fifty years ago. By that standard, there are only five schools who qualify (# of FFs in parentheses):

North Carolina (18)
UCLA (18)
Duke (16)
Kentucky (14)
Kansas (13)

Combined, they represent 30% of all Final Four appearances since 1951.

Louisville (10) and Michigan State (9) come close, but with only one each before 1968. Some may want to add these two, but I'm comfortable defending my list.

If you look only at FF's since the tourney field was expanded to 48 in 1980 (removing the limits on how many teams from one conference could be invited), four of these schools also rank at the top. Only UCLA doesn't make that list, with only 5 appearances (tied for 7th with Syracuse and Florida). From 1962-1976, UCLA made it a staggering 13 times, missing only in 1963 and 1966 before a run of 10 straight. I believe the second longest streaks of FF appearances belong to Cincinnati, with 5 visits between 1959 and 1963 and Duke, which did it from '88-92.

I like your definition because it includes historical success.

Blue Blood - historical success which has built a name & recent success which makes the program relevant
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Consistent Contender - some previous success, some recent success (at least 1 championship)
Elite - a lot of recent success which makes the program relevant (at least 1 championship), some historical success
Old Guard - a lot of historical success which has built a name (at least 1 championship), some recent success
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New Blood - recent success without a championship, limited historical success
Ghost - historical success without a championship, limited recent success

3 examples of each:

Blue Blood: North Carolina, Kansas, Kentucky
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Consistent Contender: Villanova, Louisville, Michigan St
Elite: Connecticut, Florida, Arizona
Old Guard: Indiana, Georgetown, North Carolina St
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New Blood: Gonzaga, Wichita St, Butler
Ghost: Houston, Seton Hall, DePaul

I'd consider adding Cincinnati under "Old Guard". Plus, it's not like they've disappeared even now...