The Real Prestige Rankings: Part III

• <!--[if !supportLists]-->One Final Four Appearance, Two Elite Eight Appearances, 12 Missed Tournaments
• ESPN Rank: T-35

Despite not having won a tournament game since 2000, St. John’s success between 1985 and the beginning of the 21st Century is enough to put the Red Storm among college basketball’s most elite programs. 

St. John’s made the Final Four as a No. 1 seed in 1985 and had Elite Eight appearances in 1991 and 1999.  While they have only moved past the second round of the tournament three times in the time frame, St. John’s has won two-thirds of its first round games.

There is no end in sight to the St. John’s drop-off in tournament success.  The Big East is arguably the strongest conference every season since the most recent realignments, and St. John’s has struggled to qualify for the conference tournament the last few years.

39) North Carolina State Wolfpack – Total Points: 35

• <!--[if !supportLists]-->Two Elite Eight Appearances, Two Sweet 16 Appearances, 13 Missed Tournaments
• ESPN Rank: 52

NC State overcame a 10-year drought from 1992 to 2001 easily by making the NCAA tournament in all but three of the other seasons and only losing three first round games. 

As a basketball program, NC State is usually remembered for their improbable NCAA Championship in 1983 as a No. 6 seed.  Unfortunately, this was before the 1985 cut-off, so they get no credit for that championship.

The Wolfpack’s two Elite Eight appearances also came in the mid 1980s, but they have been a tough out in the NCAA tournament in several recent years as well.  They made the Sweet 16 in 2005 as a No. 10 seed after upsetting No. 2-seeded Connecticut.

T-37) Boston College Eagles – Total Points: 364

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