University of Kentucky Wildcats Basketball IQ: The Ultimate Test of True Fandom;

"We are the gold standard -- not just for college basketball, but for all of college athletics." -- John Calipari
 
For most collegiate programs such a statement would be arrogant, ignorant or just plain wrong. But then Kentucky isn't "most collegiate programs" material.
 
This is the program built by Adolph Rupp. It's the beloved teams that built tradition through talent and hard work -- The Beardless Wonders, Rupp's Runts, The Fiddlin' Five -- and the legendary players who inspired us: Tony Delk, Kyle Macy, Cliff Hagan, Louie Dampier, Sean Woods, Ralph Beard, Deron Feldhaus, Alex Groza, Jack Givens, Cliff Barker, Johnny Cox, Jamal Mashburn, "Wah Wah" Jones, Kenny Walker, John Pelphrey, Cotton Nash, Dan Issel, Bob Burrow, Rick Robey, Bill Spivey ... and more.
 
It's a long list.
 
And it's why John Calipari declared U.K. to be "the gold standard." The five-time National Coach of the Year has a Hall of Fame resume that allows him to make such statements.
 
Plus, the man has a point. By any reasonable standard the University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball program is the most successful in NCAA history. First the names, and now the numbers: