Ranking the 10 best basketball schools that don’t play football
By John Scimeca
2. Marquette
Marquette has made three Final Fours in school history and plays in the respected Big East Conference. Just this past season, head coach Shaka Smart’s squad reached the AP No. 6 ranking and was awarded with a No. 2 seed.
Though it was a disappointing end to the 2022-23 season, the Golden Eagles are a big-time basketball program. They’re much bigger than just future NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade’s Final Four run in 2003 — the school reached eight consecutive NCAA Tournaments from 2006 to 2013, a stretch that included two Sweet 16s and one Elite 8.
The Milwaukee-based university last fielded a football team in 1960, closing down the program for financial reasons.
1. Gonzaga
The Zags have become mainstays in the NCAA Tournament in the past two decades under head coach Mark Few. The school has produced a slew of high NBA Draft selections that have their names at the pro level. Including the 2023 edition of March Madness, the Bulldogs now have eight consecutive Sweet 16 appearances — one year shy of tying a record owned by both North Carolina and Duke.
Gonzaga has also reached two national title games in recent years. Though the Bulldogs haven’t won that elusive national championship yet, that’s the last single accomplishment missing for Mark Few’s program.
Next. Spring College Football Playoff and Bowl Projections. dark
Gonzaga fielded a football team until 1942. After a hiatus due to World War II, the university decided to not bring back the program.