There are 22 Division I college basketball teams located in New York state, but a few have more iconic histories compared to the rest.
10. Niagara Purple Eagles
- All-time record: 922-824
- Regular Season Conference Championships: 10
- NCAA Tournament appearances: 3 (2-4)
- Final Fours: 0
- National Championships: 0
- All-Americans: 0
I settled with Niagara at number 10 considering they have reached double-digits in regular season championships. When comparing mid-majors, you have to look at how they do against their own competition, and the Pride are prideful against their own kind.
The Purple Eagles also have a pair of NCAA Tournament wins and one famous alum, Calvin Murphy.
Their success has also been (a little) more recent. For example, Columbia has 13 All-Americans, but a dozen came between 1905-1931.
9. Buffalo Bulls
- All-time record: 687-668
- Regular Season Conference Championships: 5
- NCAA Tournament appearances: 4 (2-4)
- Final Fours: 0
- National Championships: 0
- All-Americans: 0
The Bulls are a bit of a newer program, comparatively, and overall haven’t been the strongest team. Still, from 2014-15 to 2019-20, the Bulls reached 20 wins all but once and made the NCAA Tournament four times.
Of course, having Bobby Hurley followed by Nate Oats as coaches could be worse, but the 32-4 record in 2018-19 is one of the best from a mid-major team in recent memory. Last season was the opposite, with a 4-27 record, but we’ll let that slide.
8. Siena Saints
- All-time record: 1,013-841
- Regular Season Conference Championships: 11
- NCAA Tournament appearances: 6 (4-6)
- Final Fours: 0
- National Championships: 0
- All-Americans: 0
Siena is hoping Gerry McNamara can lead them to the promised land – the Saints haven’t played in March Madness since 2010.
Of course, that was the golden era of Siena basketball. Fran McCaffery brought them to the Big Dance three times in five years, making it out of the first round twice.
The Saints were also previously coached by Rob Lanier and Louis Orr and for the most part, have been a solid mid-major program. If you want to argue with that, I’ll point you to their 11 regular-season chips. Not bad for a small college in the Albany area.
7. Fordham Rams
- All-time record: 1,583-1,464
- Regular Season Conference Championships: 4
- NCAA Tournament appearances: 4 (2-4)
- Final Fours: 0
- National Championships: 0
- All-Americans: 1
Siena has had a better track record, but I’m giving the Rams a slight pass for playing in the Atlantic 10. They haven’t been great, winning fewer than 10 total games 13 times since 1996, but you’ve got to credit the program for sticking in one of the top basketball conferences in the country.
Still, Fordham has a history that dates back quite a bit. When Digger Phelps was the coach in 1971, they made the Elite 8 and went 26-3. Who knows what it will take to make Fordham great again, but they once were a solid basketball program.
6. Canisius Golden Griffins
- All-time record: 1,361-1,352
- Regular Season Conference Championships: 8
- NCAA Tournament appearances: 4 (6-4)
- Final Fours: 0
- National Championships: 0
- All-Americans: 1
For me, Canisius just barely beats out Fordham for the fact that they have a 6-4 all-time record in the NCAA Tournament. It was a close call for me, but an all-time winning record in March is something to brag about, especially as a small program.
Lately, the Golden Griffins have also been more competitive, reaching the 20-win plateau three times since 2013. It’s not much to work with, but it’s honest work.
5. Colgate Raiders
- All-time record: 1,394-1,444
- Regular Season Conference Championships: 9
- NCAA Tournament appearances: 7 (0-7)
- Final Fours: 0
- National Championships: 0
- All-Americans: 4
Colgate is an interesting case because the Raiders just got good about a decade ago, but in this current span, have been absolutely taking care of the Patriot League. Say what you want – you play against your competition, and the Raiders have not only controlled the regular season but have won the conference tournament five of the last six years (the 2020 COVID year being the exception).
Matt Langel is still searching for his first win in the NCAA Tournament, but it doesn’t seem like Colgate is going to stop crushing competition in their league any time soon.
4. Iona Gaels
- All-time record: 1,115-853
- Regular Season Conference Championships: 13
- NCAA Tournament appearances: 16 (1-16)
- Final Fours: 0
- National Championships: 0
- All-Americans: 0
Iona has been a footstool for many college basketball coaches to make the next leap. Jim Valvano, Pat Kennedy, Tim Welsh, and of course, Rick Pitino, have all stood on the sidelines for the Gaels.
Unfortunately, that’s only resulted in one March Madness win in 16 trips, but the Gaels play in a mid-major conference, so they’re usually up against the beasts. Still, 13 regular season conference championships isn’t easy.
3. St. Bonaventure Bonnies
- All-time record: 1,454-1,096
- Regular Season Conference Championships: 8
- NCAA Tournament appearances: 8 (7-10)
- Final Fours: 1
- National Championships: 0
- All-Americans: 2
The top three college basketball programs in NY State aren’t up for debate, and it’s pretty clear St. Bonaventure falls in third. Hall of Famer Bob Lanier helped lead the Bonnies to the 1970 Final Four, and although that’s the only time they’ve made it that far, the program is far from a one-hit wonder. Since 1978, they’ve made the NCAA Tournament five times and have had six 20-wins seasons since 2011-12.
While the Bonnies aren’t a Power Six powerhouse, they’re usually competitive in the always-challenging Atlantic 10 Conference and have had a few NBA players, with Andrew Nicholson being the latest notable player to make it to the Association.
2. St. John’s Red Storm
- All-time record: 1,988-1,099
- Regular Season Conference Championships: 14
- NCAA Tournament appearances: 30 (27-32)
- Final Fours: 2
- National Championships: 0
- All-Americans: 10
One of the Big East’s founding members, St. John’s has a long history, even though the past two decades have seen minimal success.
Of course, you don’t have to look further than Chris Mullin, who led the Red Storm to the 1985 Final Four. They haven’t been back since, but they’ve had other notable talent and a Final Four back in 1950 to boast about.
It’ll be interesting to see if the Johnnies can ever be dominant again, especially under Rick Pitino.
1. Syracuse Orange
- All-time record: 2,094-976
- Regular Season Conference Championships: 10
- NCAA Tournament appearances: 41 (70-41)
- Final Fours: 6
- National Championships: 1
- All-Americans: 15
Syracuse is one of the most dominant programs in college basketball history, and with minimal competition in New York State, it’s a no-brainer the Orange are number one.
When you think of Syracuse basketball, you think of college basketball greats. Jim Boeheim. Carmelo Anthony. Derrick Coleman. The list can go on and on (which is evident by their 15 All-Americans).
It’s surprising Syracuse has only won a single National Championship, but they’ve played in three and been to six Final Fours. SU might not be a Blue Blood, but they’re nothing short of a powerhouse.