Take a look at our earlier lists as we break down the highest 100 rivalries in males’s school basketball:
50. Clemson vs. South Carolina
The basketball model of the Palmetto Collection could not pack the identical pop as its soccer counterpart, however there’s nonetheless lots there between these two applications. Clemson owns a slender 93-81 edge within the sequence, which was first performed in 1927.
When either side have been strong, the Capital Metropolis Traditional has churned out some absolute bangers. VCU leads the all-time sequence, 62-33, and has been particularly dominant lately, profitable 17 of the final 22 conferences relationship again to the 2015 Atlantic 10 match.
It feels odd, virtually flawed, to say {that a} sequence which started in 1999 and has featured solely 10 whole video games could possibly be a prime 50 rivalry within the sport, however right here we’re. Out of the ten video games that these two West Coast powerhouses have performed, three of them have been among the many most memorable NCAA Event video games of the previous twenty years. Gonzaga owns a 7-3 benefit within the sequence, which is able to proceed this season when the 2 groups sq. off on Dec. 13 in Seattle.
47. Nebraska vs. Creighton
An in-state rivalry that has heated up lately because of the rising nationwide relevance of each applications, Nebraska dominated for many years earlier than Creighton started returning the favor lately. The Bluejays have gained 11 of the final 14 conferences and now lead the all-time sequence by a rely of 30-28.
Simply how a lot one aspect cares in regards to the different is determined by who you discuss to, however there’s no query that there’s a rivalry between arguably the 2 greatest manufacturers within the sport. Although simply 24 video games have been performed between the 2, the memorable moments are too quite a few to listing right here, and so impactful that they don’t should be. Kentucky’s upset win over the Blue Devils final November allowed them to say a 13-11 benefit within the all-time sequence.
45. Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State
The twelfth most-played sequence within the historical past of school basketball, Ole Miss and Mississippi State first met on the hardwood in 1914 and have now performed a complete of 272 video games in opposition to each other. The Bulldogs gained the primary sport by an awesome rating of 84-18 and lead the all-time sequence, 152-120. Wild truth: Regardless of each applications being founding members of the SEC, they’ve solely squared off in opposition to each other within the league’s postseason match on two events.
44. Florida State vs. Florida
One of many streakiest rivalries within the sport, the “Sunshine Showdown” merely refuses to go back-and-forth on a year-to-year foundation. The reigning nationwide champion Gators have defeated their in-state foes in every of the final 4 years, a run which adopted a streak of seven consecutive wins by FSU … which started after a five-year Florida profitable streak. UF leads the general sequence, 47-28.
43. Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State
It will not be a convention showdown anymore, however Bedlam lives on. The Cowboys and Sooners have performed at the least as soon as in each season since 1927-28, and this yr’s assembly on Dec. 14 would be the 250th total in a sequence that spans 117 years.
42. Louisville vs. Memphis
At its peak within the Nineteen Seventies and ‘80s, few school basketball rivalries burned brighter than Louisville-Memphis State. There have been on-court brawls, wars of phrases between the 2 head coaches, and even a switchblade thrown onto the courtroom by a Tiger fan at one level. The primary installment of a brand new six-game sequence between the outdated Metro Convention and Convention USA rivals will probably be performed this season in Louisville.
41. Colorado vs. Colorado State
The Rocky Mountain Showdown was first performed in February of 1893, when Grover Cleveland was kicking off the second of his nonconsecutive phrases as American President. Whereas the video games lately have been aggressive and heated, Colorado has totally dominated the all-time sequence.
40. Oregon vs. Oregon State
Please don’t name it “The Civil Warfare” (name it The Civil Warfare), however Oregon and Oregon State personal the title of most-played sequence within the historical past of school basketball, with the in-state foes assembly on the hardwood a whopping 365 occasions. Oregon State leads the sequence, 192-173. These 192 wins are the third-most of any school hoops program in opposition to a single opponent.
39. Kansas vs. Iowa State
That is an unnatural rivalry that appears constructed on at the least a dose of respect and an acknowledgment that the opposite aspect has different extra established and hated foes. While you play in the identical convention and meet in high-profile conditions as many occasions as these two have lately, it’s unattainable for these annual conferences to not blossom into one thing meaning just a bit bit extra.
One more sufferer of convention realignment, UConn-Syracuse was one of many pre-eminent rivalries within the Massive East whereas the 2 have been members of the convention from 1979 to 2013. The pair have met 4 occasions because the Orange made the soar to the ACC in 2013-14, however not since 2018. Syracuse leads the all-time sequence, 56-39.
37. Virginia vs. Virginia Tech
The 2 headline colleges from the Outdated Dominion State, Virginia and Virginia “Don’t Name Us Vah” Tech first met in 1915 and have performed at the least as soon as in yearly since 1922. The Cavaliers lead the all-time sequence, 99-61.
The Battle for the Silver State is without doubt one of the extra underrated rivalries West of the Mississippi. UNLV dominated the early years of the sequence, however Nevada has gotten its justifiable share of licks in over the previous decade plus. The Runnin’ Rebels nonetheless lead the all-time sequence by a wholesome margin of 65-36.
35. Montana vs. Montana State
Roll your eyes if you need, the “Brawl of the Wild” is the fifth most-played sequence in all of school basketball and is absolute theater each yr. The 2 groups have met a whopping 310 occasions, with the highest-profile conflict lately coming within the 2024 Massive Sky match championship sport.
34. Montana vs. Montana State
Roll your eyes if you need, the “Brawl of the Wild” is the fifth most-played sequence in all of school basketball and is absolute theater each yr. The 2 groups have met a whopping 310 occasions, with the highest-profile conflict lately coming within the 2024 Massive Sky match championship sport.
33. Minnesota vs. Wisconsin
It doesn’t have the historical past or the unhealthy ass trophy that the soccer rivalry does, however Minnesota-Wisconsin remains to be one of many top-tier rivalries within the Massive Ten. The sequence has been remarkably aggressive for greater than a century, with Wisconsin proudly owning a slim 105-98 all-time benefit.
32. Windfall vs. Rhode Island
The largest rivalry within the smallest state, the Ocean State Rivalry sport between Windfall and Rhode Island has been performed a complete of 134 occasions since these two foes first squared off in 1935. Whereas Rhody gained the latest assembly, Windfall nonetheless leads the all-time sequence by a rely of 75-59.
31. Michigan vs. Ohio State
Maybe the largest instance of a “strong basketball rivalry that takes a backseat to a spectacular soccer rivalry,” Michigan and Ohio State have performed 192 whole contests since first assembly all the way in which again in 1909. The Buckeyes lead the all-time sequence, 108-84, however Michigan has gained 4 of the final 5.
30. Villanova vs. Saint Joseph’s
Performed since 1921, the “Holy Warfare” is taken into account the headline sport of the annual sequence of Massive 5 video games in Philadelphia. As soon as known as the “Military-Navy of basketball”by former St. Joe’s athletic director Don DiJulia, Villanova leads the all-time sequence, 54–27, and 42–26 as members of the Massive 5. The Hawks have gained back-to-back video games within the sequence, snapping an 11-game Villanova win streak.
29. Rutgers vs. Seton Corridor
The “Backyard State Hardwood Traditional” was first performed in 1916 and has been performed in yearly since 1996. Whereas there’s been discuss lately in regards to the rivalry shedding some luster because of the lack of gamers from New Jersey on the 2 rosters, the standard of the video games has positively not taken successful. 5 of the final seven video games have been determined by 7-points or fewer, with the latest assembly being determined on the buzzer.
28. Arizona vs. Arizona State
The quintessential “massive brother vs. little brother” in-state rivalry the place one aspect claims it “isn’t an actual rivalry” due to its historic one-sidedness. Arizona leads the all-time sequence by an awesome rely of 163-87, however there’s no query that excessive animosity exists on either side. Present U of L head coach Tommy Llyod is a near-perfect 8-1 in opposition to the Solar Devils, whereas ASU’s Bobby Hurley is simply 4-17 in opposition to the group his fan base desires to beat essentially the most.
This is without doubt one of the uncommon border rivalries between state colleges that’s extra fierce in basketball than it’s in soccer. The Pearl/Thomas incident, the Coleman/McCaffery incident and the 2023 Orange Krush ticket scandal have been all wild sufficient on their very own to function the spine of an excellent contentious rivalry. Illinois owns a 94-77 all-time benefit within the sequence, which is able to begin a brand new chapter this season as Ben McCollum takes over for the … controversial? … Fran McCaffery in Iowa Metropolis.
The third-oldest consecutively performed rivalry in all of NCAA basketball, Princeton and Penn will, remarkably, enter the 2025-26 season with their all-time sequence tied at 126 wins apiece. The Tigers and Quakers are additionally deadlocked on the subject of Ivy League championships, with each laying declare to 26. Since 1995, a head-to-head contest has been the ultimate common season sport for each of those two applications, which mixed to win each Ivy League championship however two from 1963 by way of 2007.
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