So, why isn’t Utah State’s men’s basketball team in the Top 25?
COLUMN: Off the blocks: Andrea Edmunds
While this may not really be a surprise, it has generated disappointment and frustration toward those few people who hold in their votes the happiness of thousands (possibly even millions) of USU students and other dedicated fans.
While the 31 Division I coaches casting their votes may be able to come up with several reasons why Utah State has not earned rankings in the Top 25, this is possibly the best team USU has ever had in its history. It is also probably one that deserves the Top 25 more than any other has in the past.
This season has been a good one for the Aggies in more ways than one. Not only has USU had the best start ever in school history, it has also tied the third-longest winning streak (12 games). That may not seem like much, but nationally their 12-game winning streak is tied for the sixth longest in the nation.
Many thought the Aggies would never see a team as good as the one that finished the season last year, but this team has given its fans a pleasant surprise, and more than a little anger toward those casting their votes.
Only 14 schools in the nation have better records than Utah State (as of Jan. 26), but the Aggies are still not getting the votes they need and seem to deserve. In this week’s polls, Utah State received 14 of the 31 votes in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll and were ranked only 29th. They fared better in the Associated Press poll, receiving 51 votes and were ranked 27th. Playing in the BWC doesn’t help the Aggies, but that shouldn’t be too much of a deterrent, and those here in Logan can’t seem to understand why their team isn’t ranked yet, as well as they have performed this season.
“For Utah State, with an RPI [Ratings Percentage Index] unlikely to improve in conference play, it simply comes down to winning as much as it can,” said Insider Bracketologist for ESPN Charlie Crème.
With that seeming to be the predominant idea with the voters for the AP and Coaches polls, that makes a win against UC Irvine Thursday even more important, but history shows that it will be a tough battle.
After wins against Pacific and Cal State Northridge at home, Utah State, under coach Stew Morrill, improved to 78-7 at home and 106-9 in the past eight years. Unfortunately, in the last two years, the Anteaters have given them, by just a few points, two of those nine home losses.
Although the teams are tied at 26 wins each against each other, UCI has left their mark at the Spectrum. Last season the Aggie men lost to the Anteaters both times they faced them in conference play. Fortunately, they forgot that as USU faced Irvine in the semifinals of the Big West Conference tournament. They overcame an early 15-point lead by the Anteaters to win the game 62-55 and go on to win the tournament for the second year in a row.
This season the Aggies are looking to win the Big West Conference for the fourth time in five years. They are on track to do just that.
However, winning the Big West won’t give USU any more sway with the big guys who are voting, at least it hasn’t in the past. They will have to prove themselves in their postseason play. It will be tough, though.
Last year, Utah State’s season ended when they played the team that ended up being the national runners up, Kansas, and fell 64-61.
Although it may be difficult for Loganites to see why USU hasn’t reached the Top 25 yet, all hope is not gone. With such an impressive start, the voters for the AP and the Coaches poll can’t ignore Utah State for very long.
Andrea Edmunds is a
sophomore majoring in English. Comments can be sent to
aedmunds@cc.usu.edu.