The team currently competes in NCAA Division III as a member of the University Athletic Association.

NYU previously competed as an NCAA Division I program until 1971, when the team was disbanded due to a budget crisis.

An early member who starred for the team in 1910 and 1911 was Lazarus Joseph (1891–1966), later a NY State Senator and New York City Comptroller.

NYU returned to the Final Four in 1960, losing to Ohio State, whose roster featured Jerry Lucas and John Havlicek.

[3] The loss to Yale was the only setback during the 1934–1935 season, during which NYU finished 19–1 and was named the best team in the nation (retrospectively) by the Helms Athletic Foundation and the Premo-Porretta Power Poll.

[7] The Violets' most recent post-season accomplishment as a Division I college was finishing as the runner-up to BYU in the 1966 National Invitation Tournament.

In 1994 NYU advanced to the Final Four and finished as the national runner-up to Lebanon Valley College.