Never Never Land: PC Wins First Big East Title After 42 Seasons of Futility

"No, you never get any fun out of the things you haven't done." - Ogden Nash

To freedom loving red-white-and-blue-blooded Americans, Never Never Land is prospect of possible detainment in re-education camps promoted by press pestilence Katie Couric and Eugene Robinson. But nobody other than smug DC swamp cancel-culture creatures said it was going to be easy. The preceding quote definitely rang true for Providence until the Friars left Never Never Land behind this season by posting its first-ever Big East Conference regular-season championship after 42 years of futility since formation of the league. PC left list, but following is a list of college basketball's noteworthy virgin territory:

85: Seasons for The Citadel failing to win Southern Conference championship (regular season or postseason tournament) since the Bulldogs joined league in 1936-37.
83: Seasons for Big Ten Conference member Northwestern plus Ivy League members Harvard and Yale failing to participate in NCAA Tournament quarterfinals.
68: Years for Clemson failing to win ACC Tournament title since formation of league in 1953-54.
52: Mountain West Conference entrants without any of them reaching an NCAA playoff regional final. . . . Years for Northwestern as only power-league member failing to lose undergraduate as high draft selection by the NBA or ABA since 1971.
44: Seasons for Duquesne failing to win Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season championship since its formation (Dukes out of league in 1992-93).
43: Seasons for no Big East Conference member to go unbeaten in league competition since its formation. . . . Seasons for Arizona State failing to win Pac-12 Conference championship (regular season or postseason tournament) since the Sun Devils joined league in 1978-79 (league tourney commenced in 1987). . . . Seasons for Cliff Ellis as Division I coach without reaching an NCAA Tournament regional final.
42: Seasons for Bowling Green failing to win Mid-American Conference Tournament championship since inception of event in 1980. . . . Seasons for Florida A&M failing to win MEAC regular-season championship since joining the league in 1979-80. . . . Seasons for Grambling failing to appear in NCAA Tournament since SWAC moved up to Division I status in 1979-80.
41: Seasons for MEAC and SWAC members never reaching Sweet 16 since number of automatic qualifiers was increased to at least 26 in 1981. . . . Seasons for no Northeast Conference member to go unbeaten in league competition since its formation.
40: Seasons without an undefeated team in Summit League competition since formation of conference when it was known as Mid-Continent. . . . Seasons for Saint Francis (N.Y.) failing to win Northeast Conference Tournament championship since formation of conference in 1981-82.
39: Seasons for William & Mary failing to win CAA Tournament championship since the Tribe joined conference in 1982-83. . . . Seasons for Maryland-Eastern Shore failing to win MEAC championship (regular season or postseason tournament) since the Hawks rejoined league at Division I level in 1982-83.
36: NCAA Tournament appearances for Notre Dame without the Fighting Irish reaching national championship contest. . . . Seasons for Hartford failing to win America East Conference championship (regular season or postseason tournament) since the Hawks joined league in 1985-86.
35: NCAA Tournament appearances for Texas without the Longhorns winning a national championship. . . . Seasons for Stetson failing to win TAAC/Atlantic Sun Conference championship (regular season or postseason tournament) since the Hatters joined league in 1986-87.
33: NCAA Tournament appearances for Oklahoma and Temple without the schools winning a national championship. . . . Seasons for Leonard Hamilton as Division I coach without reaching an NCAA Tournament Final Four.
32: NCAA Tournament appearances for Purdue without winning a national championship.
31: NCAA Tournament appearances for Illinois and Kansas State without winning a national championship. . . . Seasons for Army failing to win Patriot League championship (regular season or postseason tournament) since formation of conference in 1990-91.
30: NCAA Tournament appearances for Brigham Young without the Cougars reaching a Final Four. . . . NCAA Tournament appearances for St. John's and West Virginia without the schools winning national title.
29: Seasons for Penn State failing to win Big Ten Conference championship (regular season or postseason tournament) since the Nittany Lions joined league in 1992-93. . . . Seasons for Jeff Jones as Division I coach without reaching an NCAA Tournament Final Four.
28: NCAA Tournament appearances for Missouri and Xavier without the schools reaching a Final Four.
27: Seasons for Herb Sendek as Division I coach without reaching an NCAA Tournament regional final.
26: Seasons for Fordham and La Salle failing to win Atlantic 10 Conference championship (regular season or postseason tournament) since both schools joined league in 1995-96. . . . Seasons for Steve Alford as Division I coach without reaching an NCAA Tournament regional final. . . . Seasons for Fran O'Hanlon as Division I coach without posting an NCAA Tournament victory.
25: NCAA Tournament appearances for Princeton without the Tigers reaching a national final. . . . Seasons for Eastern Illinois failing to win Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championship since the Panthers joined league in 1996-97. . . . Seasons for Cal Poly failing to win Big West Conference regular-season championship since the Mustangs joined league in 1996-97. . . . Seasons for Cal State Sacramento failing to finish among top two in Big Sky Conference standings or reach postseason tournament title game since joining league in 1996-97. . . . Seasons for Tommy Amaker as Division I coach without reaching an NCAA Tournament regional final. . . . Seasons for Fran McCaffery as Division I coach without reaching an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
24: Seasons for Northwestern failing to reach Big Ten Conference Tournament championship contest since inception of event in 1997-98. . . . Seasons for Marist and Rider failing to win Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament championship since they joined the league in 1997-98. Marist never has reached MAAC tourney final. . . . Seasons for Dan Monson as Division I coach without reaching an NCAA Tournament Final Four.
23: NCAA Tournament appearances for Tennessee without the Volunteers reaching a Final Four. . . . Seasons for Lorenzo Romar and Mark Turgeon as Division I coaches without reaching an NCAA Tournament regional final. . . . Seasons for Ron Hunter as Division I coach without reaching an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. . . . Seasons for Greg Kampe and Bob Marlin as Division I coaches without posting an NCAA Tournament victory.
22: NCAA Tournament appearances for Alabama and Creighton without either school reaching a Final Four. . . . Coaches for The Citadel (including Norm Sloan and Les Robinson) failing to reach NCAA playoffs with Bulldogs since inaugural event in 1939. . . . Seasons for Gonzaga coach Mark Few without finishing lower than top two in West Coast Conference standings. . . . Seasons for Colorado State failing to win Mountain West Conference regular-season championship and Air Force failing to reach MWC Tournament title game since formation of league in 1999-00. . . . Seasons for Rod Barnes and Kermit Davis as Division I coaches without reaching an NCAA Tournament regional final. . . . Seasons for Mike McConathy as Division I coach without reaching an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
21: Coaches for Army-West Point (including Bob Knight and Mike Krzyzewski) failing to reach NCAA playoffs with Cadets since inaugural event in 1939. . . . Seasons for Travis Ford as Division I coach without reaching an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
20: Seasons for Steve Donahue as Division I coach without reaching an NCAA Tournament regional final. . . . Seasons for Mark Schmidt as Division I coach without reaching an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. . . . Seasons for Johnny Jones as Division I coach without posting an NCAA Tournament victory. . . . Seasons for Keith Richard as Division I coach without earning an NCAA Tournament berth.
19: Coaches for William & Mary (including Bruce Parkhill and Charlie Woollum) failing to reach NCAA playoffs with Tribe since inaugural event in 1939. . . . NCAA Tournament appearances for Boston College without the Eagles reaching a regional final. . . . Seasons for Mike Anderson as Division I coach without reaching an NCAA Tournament Final Four. . . . Seasons for Brad Brownell as Division I coach without reaching an NCAA Tournament regional final. . . . Seasons for Ritchie McKay and Rick Stansbury as Division I coaches without reaching an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. . . . Seasons for Tod Kowalczyk as Division I coach without appearing in NCAA Tournament.
18: Seasons for Jamie Dixon as Division I coach without reaching an NCAA Tournament Final Four.
17: NCAA playoff appearances for Miami (Ohio) without school reaching a regional final. . . . NCAA playoff appearances for Murray State without the Racers reaching a Sweet 16. . . . Seasons for former Big East Conference members Boston College, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Virginia Tech failing to win ACC championship (regular season or postseason tournament) since VT joined league in 2004-05. . . . Seasons for Matt Painter as Division I coach without reaching an NCAA Tournament Final Four. . . . Seasons for Brian Gregory and Frank Haith as Division I coaches without reaching an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. . . . Seasons for George "Tic" Price as Division I coach without posting an NCAA Tournament victory.
16: NCAA playoff appearances for Arizona State and Weber State without reaching a regional final. . . . Seasons for Mark Fox as Division I coach without reaching an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
15: Seasons for coach Ed Cooley without reaching an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
14: NCAA Tournament appearances for Texas A&M without the Aggies reaching a regional final. . . . NCAA Tournament appearances for Mike Brey without reaching a Final Four (most among active coaches). . . . Seasons for Buzz Williams as Division I coach without reaching an NCAA Tournament Final Four. . . . Seasons for Kevin Willard as Division I coach without reaching an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. . . . Seasons for Tim Jankovich as Division I coach without posting an NCAA Tournament victory.
13: NCAA Tournament appearances for Clemson without the Tigers reaching a Final Four. . . . Seasons for Cuonzo Martin as Division I coach without reaching an NCAA Tournament regional final.
12: Coaches for St. Francis NY (including Lou Rossini and Bob Valvano) failing to reach NCAA playoffs with Terriers since inaugural event in 1939.
11: NCAA Tournament appearances for coach Sean Miller without reaching a Final Four.
9: Seasons for Missouri failing to win SEC regular-season title or reach league tournament semifinals since joining conference in 2012-13.
8: NCAA Tournament defeats for Eastern Kentucky without a victory (most by any school winless in playoffs).
7: NCAA playoff appearances for Nebraska and Boise State without either school posting a victory.

BOTTOM OF THE BARREL

A striking number of universities haven't even received a participation trophy. Following is an alphabetical list of 17 NCAA playoff wannabees failing to appear in the national tournament despite being classified at DI level more than 25 years (first season classified as major college in parentheses): Army (1948), Bethune-Cookman (1981), Cal State Northridge (1992), Cal State Sacramento (1992), Chicago State (1985), The Citadel (1948), Grambling State (1978), Maine (1962), Maryland-Eastern Shore (1982), New Hampshire (1962), Saint Francis NY (1948), Stetson (1972), Tennessee-Martin (1993), Texas-Rio Grande Valley (1969), UMKC (1990), Western Illinois (1982), William & Mary (1948) and Youngstown State (1982).