The NCAA Staples... Are they profitable?

By Bob Aggarwal

Since the NCAA tournament expanded to the 64 team format back in 1985, many clubs have come and gone making their mark from year to year. For example Villanova and their unforgettable run back in 1985 and Providence’s Final Four run in 1987. Of course, straight up wins mean almost zilch to anyone around here as we are only concerned with grabbing cash. This being said, since 1985, only a few teams have been staples in this tournament. You hear about the Zonas, the Dukes and the Wildcats. I guess the big question is, do these teams make us money? Let’s take a closer look; you might be surprised at what I found.

You May Want to Hold Your Cash...

The Arizona Wildcats have the longest tournament appearance streak of any club competing in 20 consecutive dances. I dug up their past 6 years ATS numbers and like it or not, the Cats are not a cash machine. Lute Olson’s bunch has been a non-profitable 6-11-1 ATS over that span. They exited early in ’98-’99 as a 4 seed losing to Oklahoma in the first round and failing to grab the cash as 8 point favorites. The club has been a 4 seed or higher the past 6 years, but success has certainly not followed them to the ticket window. The Cats are an 8 seed this year, their highest since 1987 when they were a 10 seed losing in the first round to UTEP.

Bob Huggins has resurrected a once dead Cincinnati Bearcat program leading them to an impressive 13 consecutive appearances in the Big Dance. Unfortunately for Huggins, his regular season success has not followed him to the ticket window in the past few years. They have produced just 4 wins ATS their past 12 tournament games. Huggins’ bunch has appeared in the Sweet 16 just once in the past 5 years. They may be a team worth fading, as Huggins has not shown a bit of tournament prowess once he gets his club here.

The Cardinals of Stanford are making their 10 consecutive Big Dance appearance. The Cards are fresh off a regular season PAC-10 championship and a tournament championship as well. They have grabbed cash in 7 of their last 10 ballgames and are 19-9-1 ATS this season overall. That being said, their success in the regular season has not carried over to the tourney as the Cardinal have been struggling the past few years in the tournament. They are just 7-11 ATS in their last 18 tournament games. Josh Childress and Mike Lottich will have to step it up for the Cards to get out of a region that includes a very solid UCONN club.

Sometimes Good, Sometimes not…

Kentucky is back again, their 13th consecutive appearance. The Wildcats have not been the cash monster I expected them to be. They do have 11 wins ATS over the past 6 tournaments but they also have 6 ATS losses as well. This year’s club boasts a well deserved #1 seed and stands at 16-10-1 ATS on the season. We should also add they have been on a moneymaking spree winning their last 9 of 10 ATS.

The Tournament would not be complete without the Duke Blue Devils. Coach K has now taken the Devils to 9 straight tournaments. His cash grabbing mark is just 10-14-1 over the past 6 years, yet he has played in the most games of all the tourney mainstays over the course of our 6 year study. An easier draw than any of the other 1 seeds, Coach K may find himself in another Final Four.

The Only Consistent Moneymakers thus Far…

Maryland enters this year’s dance red hot, beating three ranked teams in the ACC tournament on their way to an ACC tournament championship. Gary Williams has taken this bunch to a national title in 2002 and 11 consecutive tournament appearances. On the way, the Terps have grabbed some loot. Thirteen ATS wins in their last 23 appearances, including a solid 4-2 ATS showing their national title year. They enter this contest as winners of 5 of their last 7 ATS as well.

The Kansas Jayhawks have seen a few different coaches come through its storied program. Larry Brown and Roy Williams set a solid basketball tradition that current coach Bill Self has been stuck with upholding. He has done one part, taking the Jayhawks to another NCAA appearance, the programs 15th in a row. Hopefully for you Jayhawk backers Self can produce the same results as his predecessors at the ticket window, as this club has gone 13-5 ATS its last 18 tournament games.

Surprised by the numbers? I cannot emphasize enough the fact that big names do not mean big cash. The tournament plays no favorites and before you put in your games for the upcoming weekend, make sure you are putting money on the best play, not the best name.