So, Here’s Why the Utah State Men’s Basketball Team Isn’t Ranked In The Top 25
In response to the article written in Wednesday’s sports section of the Utah Statesman, and in hopes of shedding some light on the subject to the “millions” of Utah State students and fans, I would like to suggest a few reasons why the Utah State men’s basketball team isn’t in the Top 25, and why we shouldn’t worry about it too much. According to what appears to be local sentiment, it would seem that the only criteria for being ranked in the top 25 is a) “having the best start ever in school history”; b) having a long winning streak, and c) having a great record. While those things help, truth of the matter is, who you play is an important factor. Strength of schedule plays a major role in ranking teams. Unranked Florida State, for example has beaten three top 25 teams in conference play. Utah State has defeated zero ranked teams, and has its struggles against some of them. Is FSU better than USU? Who’s to say? But for the Aggies, the best way to prove that they are a great team is to keep winning, so they can get invited to the tournament and prove themselves there. I love the Aggies as much as the next person. I also believe that to say we are more deserving of a ranking than other teams who consistently play tougher opponents, is naive. One of my favorite things about being a USU fan is that, unlike a BYU fan, we are realistic with our expectations, embrace the underdog role, and don’t cry out for “respect”. We can earn that respect by winning. Why not enjoy the season for what it has been so far and not make complaints about what we think the team deserves? In my opinion, the constant articles on ESPN.com, their high expectations for the team, being considered one of the top two mid-major teams, being considered for a high seed in the tournament, and being expected to breeze through the conference schedule all show that we are respected – the ranking will come with the wins.
Ben BarnesStudent Number: 529617057Phone: 435-881-1293bab@cc.usu.edu