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.

30. Western Kentucky (236 points)

Positives: Made 1971 Final Four; also made Sweet 16 four other times; 18 regular-season conference titles and 16 conference tournament titles; two first-team consensus All-Americans.

Negatives: Lost 15 points due to sanctions and vacated wins; advanced past Sweet 16 just once in school history; only four winning seasons from 1983-92.

Fun fact: Western Kentucky had two top-10 picks (Clem Haskins, Clarence Glover) in a five-year span from 1967-71.

Rank by the decade

1962-69: 29 (38th)

1970-79: 58 (T-24th)

1980-89: 40 (T-62nd)

1990-99: 27 (T-73rd)

2000-present: 82 (28th)

50 in 50 starting five (1962-present)

G – Brett McNeal (1985-89)

G – Courtney Lee (2004-08)

F – Clem Haskins (1964-67)

F – Kannard Johnson (1983-87)

C – Jim McDaniels (1968-71)

Top options off the bench

Tellis Frank (1983-87)

Johnny Britt (1972-76)

Chris Marcus (1999-2003)

50 in 50 coach: E.A. Diddle (1923-64)

Best teams (1962-present)

1970-71 (24-6, NCAA national semifinals)

1992-93 (26-6, NCAA Sweet 16)

1994-95 (27-4, NCAA second round)

--Harold Shelton and Brett Edgerton contributed to this post.