July 26, 2008

Bristol, Conn. - EPN.com began last week ranking the nation's top-50 college basketball programs, and had the Tulsa Golden Hurricane rated as the 39th top program in the country.

ESPN.com looked at regular season and post-season wins and losses, NBA draft picks, All-Americans and national titles to come up with a numerical point system to unbiasedly rank every college hoops program's success since the start of the 1984-85 season, the season when the NCAA tournament expanded to 64 teams.

Tulsa totaled 97 points, just one point behind No. 38 Wake Forest and No. 37 Missouri. During that time span, Tulsa has had 14 20-wins seasons, 11 NCAA Tournament berths; 1994 win over 5th-seeded UCLA; 2002 win over 5th-seeded Marquette; 2003 win over 4th-seeded Dayton; an Elite Eight appearance in 2000, as well as an NIT post-season title in 2001 and a CBI post-season championship in 2008.

After three straight losing seasons, the Golden Hurricane has had two consecutive 20-win seasons in the last two years.