What makes an elite program?

[Hoopaloop]

To me an elite program is one that is a regular in the top 25 and goes into the season with a legitimate (top 10 type team) shot at the Final Four half the time or more for the past 10 years.

Elite to me means cream of the crop.  I would say only 4 or 5 teams fit that bill currently.  Duke, UNC, Kentucky, Kansas and probably Michigan State.  There are some historical elites that could get back there like UCLA, Indiana, Arizona.  UCONN is a weird one, I would say elite but in a way they are not.  Marquette was elite in the 1970's.  I don't think we've been elite since.  We have been very good, but elite should mean something extra special year in and year out. 

[Blue Horseshoe]

Elite programs:
-Sign Blue Chip recruits
-Make regular trips to the final 4
-Win championships
-Send players to the NBA

"Elite" is a broad term, but the above criteria over a long enough period of time seems to add up to me.