If someone would have told public relation officials at the NCAA prior to the 2003-04 college basketball season that St. John’s would have to issue a statement in February denying rumors that the university would be suspending the school’s basketball program, the department at the NCAA might go into cardiac arrest.

So far this season, the St. John’s basketball program has seen the departure of coach Mike Jarvis, the dismissal of six players who were expelled from the university and the dismissal of senior guard Willie Shaw, who was arrested for possession of marijuana.

All of these issues surrounding the St. John’s basketball program came just seven months after Baylor basketball player Patrick Dennehy’s body was found in a gravel pit after he was allegedly killed by one of his teammates.

Fortunately for the NCAA, St. John’s off-the-court scandals and past scandals from St. Bonaventure and former Georgia coach Jim Harrick have been overshadowed by Stanford and Saint Joseph’s, both of which remain undefeated in the second week of February. This has given the public relations branch at the NCAA a sigh of relief.

As a fan, you could not ask for more unique programs than Saint Joseph’s and Stanford and two more squeaky-clean coaches than Phil Martelli of Saint Joe’s and Mike Montgomery of Stanford.

Last season – just when it seemed college basketball had created an environment that skews priorities and breeds scandal – two programs have emerged that prove the current system of college basketball – however flawed it may be – still works.

Despite being ranked in the top 5 in February (Stanford is ranked No. 2 and Saint Joseph’s No. 3 in the Associated Press poll), chances are, neither Stanford nor Saint Joe’s will be able to finish the season undefeated. Both have brought respect back to NCAA basketball, which should not devalue the impact of what these two programs are accomplishing – even if only from a public relations standpoint.

Neither coach has ever been the target of an NCAA or an internal investigation. Their players improve steadily through their careers, most notably St. Joseph’s senior Jameer Nelson, who was told at 5-foot-11-inches he was too short to play major college basketball when he was in high school. Now he is considered the best pure point guard in the nation and a sure-fire NBA lottery pick.

Both coaches realize success is based on more than wins and losses. Both programs boast tremendous graduation rates and rarely have disciplinary problems.

Stanford and Saint Joseph’s represent big-time college basketball at its best instead of its worst and both do so with hard-working and dedicated student-athletes.

All five starters from Stanford average between 10 and 13 points per game. Ten others average 11 minutes or more per game, while Saint Joseph’s relies on relentless pressure to create lay-ups and open three-pointers.

Despite what transpires for these two teams on the court toward the end of the season, it is safe to say that these basketball programs have successfully turned high school boys into mature young men – something other programs like St. John’s have failed to do.

Tom Symonds is a senior in journalism and history and prides himself on winning as many NCAA Tournament pools as possible. He can be reached for comment at [email protected].