OPINION

By Mike DeCourcy

updated 9:32 p.m. ET May 22, 2007

Mike DeCourcy

The problem with the column I am about to write is simple. An opinion piece is published to generate reaction, and the point of view I'm going to present is all but guaranteed to produce apathy.

Because that's what this one is about.

There are programs that are great. There are programs that are dreadful. And there are programs that just seem to exist in a perpetual state of irrelevance. It's like TV. We know why House is on the air. And we know why The Black Donnellys is gone. But According To Jim just keeps going, for no discernable reason and with no apparent direction.

These are college basketball's least relevant programs — unlikely to become hits anytime soon, desperate to avoid cancellation.

1. St. John's
Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2002. Record since: 64-82. It has been somewhat unfortunate for Norm Roberts to take over the Red Storm when the talent in New York City has been ebbing, but it's not as though the players who have been around were eager to stay at home.

Roberts' teams have battled, but they just haven't had the ability to consistently compete with the best teams on the schedule. SJU was 2-7 against opponents who made the NCAA Tournament last season.

It may be hard to imagine the program that gave us Chris Mullin, Mark Jackson and Ron Artest being inconsequential, but look at the good news. At least the Knicks make St. John's look good by comparison.

2. Auburn
Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2003. Record since: 57-62. Auburn coach Jeff Lebo had one of the most balanced Division I teams, with five players averaging double-figure scoring. The Tigers continue to suffer from being undersized, however, with only one rotation player as tall as 6-8.

Auburn ranked eighth in the SEC in rebounding margin and 10th in field goal defense. Part of that was a lack of blocked shots, but the Tigers also were last in defending against threes, so they're not even covering what should be areas of strength.

The Tigers are extremely young. Everyone who really matters should return, and Lebo added two big men in his next recruiting class: 6-11 Boubacar Sylla and 6-8 Tyrell Lynch.

3. Nebraska
Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 1998. Record since: 137-137. It's almost unnecessary to go beyond that number — a flat .500 for nine seasons. That kind of mediocrity is hard to fake.

None of this really is on Doc Sadler. He's been with the Huskers for less than a year, so he cannot be held responsible for the fact they do not matter. He's trying to change that, and he certainly has the kind of energy to at least take a good swing.

4. Oregon State

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Flying on the hardwood, racing on the rink, getting physical on the gridiron, and much more. more photos

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 1990. Record since: 219-300. The Beavers are building hopes for their rescue around transfer center C.J. Giles, who showed a good deal of promise as a Kansas freshman but has yet to show he can handle responsibility.

It is not a good time to be attempting to climb in the Pac-10 Conference, with such programs as Washington State and Southern California already escaping into the first division and Arizona State starting to build a formidable operation.

5. Penn State
Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2001. Record since: 56-118. The Nittany Lions lean more toward incompetence than irrelevance, but this is a program that produced two NBA big men since 1995 (John Amaechi, Calvin Booth) and was in the Sweet 16 as recently as 2001. There also was that .500 season two years ago, which had many of us believing the Nittany Lions were on the verge of a breakthrough.

It is not uncommon for programs to false start on their way to respectability. A team will produce a decent season with a core of young players, and when expectations rise that team flops. Then, when this group is dismissed and ignored, it recovers with an unexpected flourish of success.

Is that what happened here? There's no way to tell until the 2007-08 season progresses. Perhaps we'll notice how it turns out for the Lions. Perhaps not.

MORE FROM COLLEGE BASKETBALL

College basketball Section Front

UCLA will make noise eventually   Vote: Who will be player of the year? Beyond the Arc: ’Nova facing issues with frosh Seton Hall basketball player charged with DWI Beyond the Arc: Celebrating college hoops’ last Rebels 5 Razorbacks suspended for opener Beyond the Arc: Carolina will be scary good by March Men’s Top 25 preview, analysis, stats, more Davis: Kansas tops 2009-10 hoops storylines Elite scorers, sleeper teams, top conferences, more College basketball Section Front   Add College basketball headlines to your news reader: