Editor's note: Using a point system devised by the ESPN Stats & Information department, ESPN.com is counting down the 50 most successful programs of the past 50 years. A running list of the top 50 can be found here. For an explanation of the scoring system, read our intro.
15. Ohio State (320 points)
Positives: Four Final Fours; 13 consensus All-Americans, 15 regular-season conference titles (seven since 2000); nine top-10 picks
Negatives: Lost 18 points due to sanctions and vacated wins; zero conference titles from 1972-90; five straight losing seasons from 1994-98 (17-71 in Big Ten); the unfortunate bad luck of reaching the NCAA title game in the two years before this study begins.
Fun fact: Ohio State has the sixth-most points nationally since Thad Matta became head coach in 2004.
Rank by the decade
1962-69: 49 (18th)
1970-79: 17 (T-78th)
1980-89: 46 (T-51st)
1990-99: 58 (32nd)
2000-present: 150 (11th)
50 in 50 starting five (1962-present)
G – Mike Conley Jr. (2006-07)
G – Evan Turner (2007-10)
F – Dennis Hopson (1983-87)
F – Jim Jackson (1989-92)
C – Gary Bradds (1961-64)
Top options off the bench
Greg Oden (2006-07)
Jared Sullinger (2010-12)
Michael Redd (1997-2000)
50 in 50 coach: Fred Taylor (1959-76)
Best teams (1962-present)
1991-92 (26-6, NCAA Elite Eight)
2006-07 (35-4, NCAA runner-up)
2010-11 (34-3, NCAA Sweet 16)
--Harold Shelton and Brett Edgerton contributed to this post