Many local sports fans aren't aware that Caltech has a basketball team. They do, but it's not very good. The Division III Beavers have lost 259 consecutive conference games. But Caltech doesn't have too much to be ashamed of. After all, their team features more high school valedictorians (eight) than players with high school varsity experience (six). And of course, many of their players go on to have wonderful careers in science and technology.

The futility of Caltech hoops is featured in the upcoming documentary "Quantum Hoops," which chronicles the 2005-06 Beavers. The film, narrated by David Duchovny, will open Friday in Pasadena.

Here's one interesting quote from the movie:

"I didn't go there as a basketball player," former player Roger Noll says in the film. "I went there as somebody who was captivated by the Sputnik era and wanted to become a physicist to catch up with the Russians."

Now, I went to Columbia, and our basketball team went 2-25 during my junior year. But we didn't have any players who would say anything remotely close to that.

For those who think that Caltech sports is all about pranks at the Rose Bowl, this movie may show something new.