Agreed - the answer has to be UCLA, despite any semi-recent success they have had. When you look at the history of success UCLA had to where they are now, it is pretty astonishing.

They once had the greatest dynasty college basketball has ever seen. Now they can only hire Mick Cronin as their coach, and they lost to Liberty this past season.

The top young coaches in America - Chris Beard, Tony Bennett, Jay Wright, etc. want absolutely nothing to do with that dumpster fire.

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Freedom just around the corner for you. But with the truth so far off, what good will it do?

Just outside the scope: University of San Francisco.

National champs in 55 & 56 (with Bill Russell at center)
Final 4 in 57
Final 8 in 64, 65, 73, 74
Final 16 in 63, 72, 78, 79
Only 3 bids since 79.

UCLA is an interesting case. On one hand, if we are comparing present position to all-time heights, the gap is a chasm like we’ve never seen. But that’s because of a level of success that will never be replicated. It would be like comparing the Celtics to its heyday; comparing a team to something that is impossible to replicate in the current sports landscape. That feels like we’re almost punishing them for having once done the almost impossible.

But the fact that the UCLA job is clearly an undesirable one for virtually any top coach anywhere, well, that speaks volumes.

And UCLA has had a few great seasons in recent years. They always feel like the exception and not the rule though. But for everyone else that’s the case as well. There are very few true perennial powers anymore.

I think I agree. When you can't get anyone to coach you, there is a problem. The good thing for them is that they will come back at some point. They have all the resources in the world and are on a location that will draw coaches and players.

Depaul, however, will probably never be a power again.

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I'm beginning to think that we are much more fucked than I thought.

I think that's part of the problem, they don't. Or if they do, they don't want to spend the money because the buyouts for some of their targets were an issue.

I thought St Johns hiring Mullin was a good choice and he seemed to be on a path to bringing them back to prominence. Then disappointing that he quit.

I recall Temple being decent back in those days with Chaney. But they seem to have fallen off the radar in current days.

Can I bump this thread after a year of Juwan Howard trying to fill John Beilein's shoes?

UCLA in the 60/70s was the best college basketball program in history, and will likely remain as such for the end of time (based on players leaving early now).

its like saying who had the biggest decline over the last couple years in the womens programs. Its UCONN. They went from winning like 10 championships in a 15 year span to not winning (or playing in the champ) 3 years in a row.

When you set the bar so high, you have the biggest area of decline.

If we are talking about 80s. I would prob go gTown. But most of that could be attributed to Ewing being a stud.

That's a good one - hadn't thought of that.

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Freedom just around the corner for you. But with the truth so far off, what good will it do?

 
As a follower of college ball back then, you know that pic you posted isn't Ewing, right?

I mostly agree w/ you & DieselP, except a little bit about the coaching draw... UCLA is a big name in hoops, but it's still not like they have a blank check to pay at the absolute top of the market. Pac-12 TV revenue lags behind the other major conferences, and it's still a state school so although the coaching $$ isn't coming directly from the taxpayers, they still have a little harder time publicly justifying it to the larger community (yes, I realize UNC & UK are public and pay their coaches more, but they are also easily a much bigger deal in their markets than a college program is in LA). So then you take something less than top of the market compensation and then compare the cost of living in LA (plus CA taxes) against the cost of living in a smaller college town like Lexington, Lawrence, Bloomington, etc, and it's a far less attractive package.

Yes. And i presume you know who that is.

Ah ok.... yes... 1985.

I agree that it is UCLA. They weren't just the best college basketball program, they were perhaps the bell weather for all college sports.

Others that haven't been mentioned:

Without their recent success I would have put University of Houston second on the list (defeated UCLA in the game of the century). Though they never won a national title so perhaps not?

UTEP - formerly Texas Western - made the tournament 14 times in 30 years, (63-92) won the tournament once (first all black starting lineup ) and had a few other sweet 16 appearances. The last 26 seasons they have 3 first round losses only and a turnaround doesn't seem imminent.