rootable

SI On Campus is up with the magazine's list of most ("programs defined by high graduation rates; colorful, offbeat personalities; a commitment to excellence; and even Bob Knight") and least ("schools whose past bad acts make them the obvious top picks in any fantasy draft of Programs You'd Most Love to See Get Schooled by a 16 Seed in the First Round of the NCAAs") rootable college basketball teams.

The "most" list is made up of Vermont, Wake Forest, Xavier, Temple, Coppin State, Saint Joseph's, Air Force, Connecticut, Illinois and Texas Tech. Key omissions are therefore Gonzaga, "America's mid-major," IUPUI, pronounced "ooey-pooey," and Drexel, because, much like James Bond, "Bruiserball" will die another day. Add Clemson to the list as well, because while the Tigers are technically a part of the ACC, they're a lock a for mediocrity. No sane fan expects to find them in the NCAA Tournament and so all (and especially ACC detractors) can unite behind the Tigers' efforts to defeat the ACC elite.

The "least" list includes Cincinnati, Memphis, UNLV, Missouri, St. John's, Maryland, Arizona, USC, Florida, and, best of all, "Jim Harrick's Next School." The compilation suggests SI writers root against an old man (Lute Olson) and would knock an old lady when she's down (St. John's). But the biggest mistake they made suggests the "On Campus" staff resides in Krzyzewskiville. To leave the Duke Blue Devils, the country's most hated squad, off the list demonstrates not only disrespect for the magazine's own criteria, but also a disregard for "Evil Empire" history. (In 2004 the Red Sox ended the Curse of the Bambino, in large part by defeating the Yankees in the ALCS. Now consider that, as the head coach at Kansas and now UNC, Roy Williams has never won a national championship).