As March comes to an end, NCAA March Madness is in full swing. Here we look at the top ten most valuable NCAA College Basketball Teams.
- The Number 1 spot goes to the North Carolina Tar Heels. The 2009 NCAA Men’s Division 1 Basketball champions are valued at $29 million. This year alone they made a profit of $17.1 million. In order to make the big bucks you have to spend a little first. The University of North Carolina committed $13.5 million for their basketball program.
- The Number 2 spot is occupied by the Kentucky Wildcats, who last won the tournament in 1998. They are valued at $26.2 million and made a profit of $16.1 million last year.
- Louisville Cardinals are ranked 3rd, valued at $26.0 million and made a profit of $16.9 million, which is surprising for a team that last won the championship back in 1987.
- The 2008 NCAA Men’s Division 1 Champions, the Kansas Jayhawks are ranked 4th with a value of $24.0 million and a profit of $15.2 million.
- Illinois Fighting Illini made a surprising top 5 finish with a value of $20.8 million and a profit of $13.9 million. This team has never won the Championship. Last year they managed to expense only $4.8 million for their basketball program, yet saw a 9% profit increase.
- It is always nice to see a community standing behind their team. The Indiana Hoosiers are ranked 6th, valued at $20.5 million, with a profit of $14.2 million.
- Ohio State Buckeyes are ranked 7th, with a value of $18.3 million and a profit of $11.4 million, making them the highest ranked team in Ohio.
- Being only one of two teams to be able to average 20,000 fans per game, the Syracuse Orange place 8th, with a value of $17.0 million and a profit of $9 million.
- With a team value of $16.8 million and a profit of $8.7 million, UCLA Bruins placed 9th.
- The Arizona Wildcats are ranked 10th with a value of $16.6 million and last year’s profit of $8.5 million, which is amazing for a team that did not make the NCAA Tournament.
