USU cracks Top 25
For the first time since being ranked 16th in the country in March of 1971, the Utah State men’s basketball team broke into the Top 25 of the Associated Press writer’s poll Monday.
USU’s No. 24 ranking in the nation is the highest the Aggies have been ranked in the AP poll in 33 years and the highest in any major poll since the end of the 1977-78 season when the Ags finished the year ranked 17th by the United Press International.
“The Top 25 can be a distraction if you let it,” said Aggie Head Coach Stew Morrill. “But it can be a very positive thing if you look at it the right way, and I think our guys will do that.”
With an 84-46 defeat of Long Beach State Saturday night, USU improved its best start in school history to 17-1 overall and 9-0 in Big West Conference play. Despite their achievements, however, Aggie players shied away from talk of the national polls after Saturday’s game.
“We have no control over it … so we won’t worry about it,” said sophomore forward Nate Harris following the game.
Senior guard Mark Brown echoed Harris’ sentiment, saying that while talk of the national ranking among players exists, there’s not much of it.
“We know it’s there,” Brown said. “But we’re just trying to concentrate on our next opponent and that’s it.”
Last week’s Louisville (No. 4), Kentucky (No. 5), Cincinnati (No. 8), UNC (No. 12), Kansas (No. 15), Purdue (No. 21), Florida (No. 22), Providence (No. 23) and South Carolina (No. 24) all suffered upsets, so USU’s commanding victory over Long Beach came at an opportune time.
With only one win against the top 50 teams (BYU) and a strength of schedule ranked No. 176 that won’t boost their rankings, the Aggies must rely on winning as many games by as many points as possible if they hope to maintain their position in the polls.
“I told [the players] to enjoy it,” Morrill said. “Because as soon as we lose a game we’re out of there, but that’s the way it looks when you’re a Big West team.”
The Aggies, who were ranked 27th last week after receiving 51 votes, moved up three spots in the poll this week with 152 votes, taking the place of Purdue, the only team to drop out of the Top 25 this week. Utah State becomes the first BWC team to break the Top 25 since 1994 when New Mexico State was ranked 19th by the Associated Press.
“Any recognition of this sort of any mid-major is extremely positive,” Morrill said. “When you consider the length of time that it has been for our university, that adds even more luster into the recognition.”
Stanford University Head Coach Mike Montgomery called Morrill to congratulate him Monday morning.
“[Montgomery] just told me to enjoy it while it lasts,” Morrill said.
Junior forward Spencer Nelson said, “I always thought I would have a great opportunity to go to the NCAA Tournament when I decided to go to Utah State, but I never even thought about being ranked in the Top 25. Being ranked has never been a big focus of mine, but it is something to enjoy.”
The Ags now turn their focus to this week’s games against Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara. Cal Poly will be in the Spectrum Thursday at 7 p.m. and the Ags will take on Santa Barbara Saturday at 4 p.m.
“[The players] don’t need to feel any pressure over the ranking,” Morrill said. “They just need to go out and practice the way we’ve been practicing and figure out what we need to do against Cal Poly and Santa Barbara.”
-acf@cc.usu.edu