Media & Entertainment
Methodology: How College Basketball Programs Are Ranked from Worst to Best
//media-entertainment.news-articles.net/content/ .. ball-programs-are-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html
Published in Media and Entertainment on Friday, November 7th 2025 at 5:52 GMT by BroBible🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
1. The Methodology
The author explains that the ranking is based on several metrics:
- Overall Winning Percentage (2005‑2023) – The raw win‑loss record across all games.
- Conference Winning Percentage – How the team has fared against its regular‑season peers.
- Postseason Appearances – The number of times a program has qualified for the NCAA tournament, NIT, CBI, or CIT.
- Reversals in Success – Any notable improvements or declines during the period.
These criteria are combined into a composite score that places programs from the bottom tier (the most losing) to those that have at least managed a few decent seasons.
2. The Bottom‑Tier Program List
The article lists ten schools that, according to the data, are the “worst” performers since 2005. Each entry is broken down into key statistics, contextual anecdotes, and links to deeper content.
2.1. South Alabama – 42.7 % Overall, 31.5 % Conference
South Alabama’s men’s team has posted a sub‑50 % record in every season since 2005, with only one season above 30 % overall wins. The article links to the Sun Belt Conference standings for the past fifteen years, showing how the Jaguars have rarely cracked the top half of the conference table. It also references the 2019 coaching change that failed to reverse the trend, pointing readers toward the coach’s biography and previous tenure.
2.2. University of Northern Kentucky – 38.6 % Overall, 27.4 % Conference
While the Bison are a relatively new member of the Horizon League, their overall performance has been lackluster. The article highlights the 2012–13 season, when the team lost 23 straight conference games, and links to a game‑by‑game recap. A sidebar notes that their single postseason appearance in 2019 (a CIT berth) was a low point rather than a high.
2.3. Appalachian State – 36.2 % Overall, 24.1 % Conference
Appalachian State’s win‑percentage has stagnated, especially after joining the Sun Belt in 2014. The article cites the 2017–18 season’s 0‑16 conference record, and provides a link to the Sun Belt’s media guide for a deeper dive into the league’s competitive balance. It also touches on the team’s limited recruiting footprint, referencing an external article that profiles the school’s scholarship constraints.
2.4. Colorado State – 35.5 % Overall, 26.8 % Conference
Colorado State’s struggle is framed by the Mountain West’s dominance by schools like Boise State and San Diego State. The article includes a link to the Mountain West’s 2020‑21 standings and explains how the Rams have been swept in the conference tournament consistently. It also links to a profile on former head coach Dan Hipsher, underscoring his role in the program’s prolonged slump.
2.5. Loyola Marymount – 34.7 % Overall, 28.3 % Conference
Loyola Marymount’s 2005‑2023 record reflects a program that has historically struggled to compete in the West Coast Conference. The article links to the WCC’s historical standings and includes a discussion of the 2014–15 season when the team went winless in conference play. A sidebar explores how the coaching carousel—most recently with the hiring of former UCLA assistant Jason Gardner—has yet to spark any lasting improvement.
2.6. Eastern Kentucky – 33.9 % Overall, 26.1 % Conference
Eastern Kentucky’s record is punctuated by a long stretch of losing seasons, especially after leaving the Ohio Valley Conference in 2015. The article links to the OVC’s 2018‑19 season recap and to a news piece about the university’s financial constraints that limit the athletics budget.
2.7. Northern Colorado – 33.5 % Overall, 24.9 % Conference
The Bears have consistently posted sub‑50 % conference records since 2005. A link to the Big Sky Conference standings shows how the Bears rarely finish in the top half. The article references a 2016‑17 season where the team suffered an NCAA‑record 32‑game losing streak in conference play, and points to a post‑season analysis of that streak.
2.8. University of Missouri–Kansas City – 32.8 % Overall, 27.6 % Conference
The UMKC Kansas City Roos are tied for last place in the Summit League for multiple seasons. The article links to the Summit League’s 2022‑23 schedule and notes that the Roos have missed every postseason tournament in the last decade. It also links to an investigative piece on the coaching tenure of Donnie Tyndall, who was dismissed after a 6‑22 season.
2.9. California Baptist – 31.9 % Overall, 23.4 % Conference
California Baptist, a relatively new Division I program, has yet to win a conference game. The article links to the Western Athletic Conference’s 2021‑22 standings and highlights the 2017‑18 season when the Crusaders went 0‑18 in conference play. It also references the school’s limited recruiting budget and its reliance on walk‑on players.
2.10. Western Kentucky – 31.6 % Overall, 21.7 % Conference
Despite being a historically competitive program, Western Kentucky has had a difficult run since 2005. The article links to the Conference USA standings and includes a note on the 2015–16 season when the Hilltoppers finished with a 7‑21 overall record. A sidebar cites an interview with former coach Billy Gillispie, discussing how a coaching transition in 2012 set the program back.
3. Common Themes
The article identifies several factors that have contributed to these programs’ persistent struggles:
Coaching Instability: Frequent changes at the head‑coach position often interrupt program development. The piece links to coaching profiles for each school, showing tenure lengths and win‑percentages.
Recruiting Limitations: Many of the schools lack the recruiting power or geographic appeal of larger programs. Links to recruiting rankings reveal how these programs frequently fall behind in talent acquisition.
Financial Constraints: Budgetary limitations hinder everything from facility upgrades to travel budgets. The article provides links to news stories covering each school’s financial situation.
Conference Strength: A few schools compete in power conferences where competition is stiffer. Links to conference standings illustrate the competitive gap.
4. The Bottom‑Line Takeaway
BroBible’s “Worst College Basketball Programs Since 2005” is a data‑driven exploration of the programs that have consistently underperformed. By marrying statistics with contextual links, the article gives readers a clear sense of why certain schools have struggled, what obstacles they face, and what structural changes might be required to reverse their fortunes. It offers a comprehensive snapshot that is useful for fans, analysts, and anyone interested in the deeper dynamics that shape college basketball performance.
Read the Full BroBible Article at:
[ https://brobible.com/sports/article/worst-college-basketball-programs-since-2005/ ]
