March Madness: Ranking title contenders with historic KenPom data

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

As conference tournaments heat up, a look at how this season's top college basketball teams stack up to the historic KenPom data of past NCAA champions and Final Four squads. The analysis reveals which contenders meet the offensive and defensive thresholds to be considered true title threats, and which teams may struggle to make deep tournament runs despite their high-powered offenses.

Why it matters

KenPom's advanced analytics have become an essential tool for evaluating college basketball teams, and understanding how this year's contenders measure up to the statistical profiles of recent champions can provide valuable insights into their chances of cutting down the nets in April.

The details

The data shows that to qualify as a national championship contender, teams must meet certain thresholds in both offensive and defensive efficiency, with the average champion posting a KenPom Offensive Rating of 124.1 or higher and a Defensive Rating of 91.3 or lower. Several of this season's top teams, including Michigan, Arizona, Duke, and Florida, currently meet those marks on both ends. However, a number of other highly-ranked squads, such as Illinois, Purdue, and Alabama, excel offensively but fall short defensively, potentially putting their title hopes in jeopardy.

• The 2026 NCAA Tournament conference tournaments are currently underway.

What’s next

As the NCAA Tournament approaches, teams will have one last chance to shore up their defensive deficiencies and prove they have what it takes to win a national title.