Mark, you said "an ELITE" originally.

Truth be ABSOLUTELY told about it UK is THE ELITE team in college basketball. Anyone that takes a look at the program from start to finish, year in and year out over the history of basketball will come to the same theory.

UCLA had 7 titles in a row but take that out and what do you got, NOTHING but 1 title in the 90's and with 11 total but 7 in a row, not consistent enough over the HISTORY.

From the beginning to today, UK has been the best College Basketball team in america. Titles spread out consistently thru the years, sent their entire starting 5 to represent the USA in the Olympics (I think it was 1948 when they did this), All Americans spread out thru the years, Dominated their conference year in and year out. More wins than any other school. 100 NCAA Tourney victories. Has more Conference Championships than all othe other schools combined in the SEC. Fans follow this team more than ANY other team in the country. Most highly publicized and most pressured Head Coaching Job in any sport college or pro.

Indiana and UNC and Duke all don't have the titles, wins, conference championships, final fours, All Americans, HISTORY to hold a candle to UK.

All of the above are the Elite of College Basketball but UK is THE ELITE, truth be told about it. Take off the Cardinal Blinders and put aside the Hate for the BIG BLUE and use some rationale non-biased thinking and there is no other solution to the question.