OU's spot in the polls this coming week?

[Chaser728]

Because it's good for our program -- any program -- to be ranked throughout the season.

Why is this so hard to grasp?

Some, in their rush to present themselves as more evolved, wiser fans, consistently mock those the silly fools who care about the rankings, but the polls matter. They impact the national perception of our team, which, you can be certain, impacts our recruiting.

Hit the nail on the head here!

 

[hoopsaustin]

He had SMU at 18, Baylor at 20, ISU at 21 & us at 22. What the heck?

are you freakin kidding me? baylor at 20?? haha, does he watch the games? :facepalm

 

[Chaser728]

are you freakin kidding me? baylor at 20?? haha, does he watch the games? :facepalm

But they are really hot right now and super talented!

 

[hoopsaustin]

But they are really hot right now and super talented!

we'll cooll them off this week in the conference tourney

 

[DenverSooner]

SMU lost two games last week and 4 of their last 6.

Baylor is a full 3 games behind OU and got swept by OU. Plus they lost to OU during their "hot" streak. No way either of those teams deserves to be ranked ahead of OU.

 

[Kewllane]

Seth was one of our greatest supporters earlier in the year. He had us as high at #15 at one point when we were barely in the poll. He cooled off on us after our rough stretch, but that's common of voters. Not really anything to get upset about. We'll have our opportunity this week.

BTW, a lot of ballots I've seen have us around #18 or #19 so that's about where I expect us to end up this week.

 

[JBaker]

I can see why he has SMU ranked 18th though.
After all, they do have 4 top 100 wins this season.

Heck, you'd have to go back 6 whole games to find 4 top 100 wins from OU.

 

[campbest]

Because it's good for our program -- any program -- to be ranked throughout the season.

Why is this so hard to grasp?

Some, in their rush to present themselves as more evolved, wiser fans, consistently mock those the silly fools who care about the rankings, but the polls matter. They impact the national perception of our team, which, you can be certain, impacts our recruiting.

If you're a consistent top 10 team, then yes, it helps. But a fringe top 25 team (which is what OU has been all year and could even be debated for the first two months of the season they weren't) it does not matter. Doing well in conference and making NCAA tournament runs are the more important. For the elite players, putting them in the NBA is the MOST important.

 

[campbest]

I can see why he has SMU ranked 18th though.
After all, they do have 4 top 100 wins this season.

Heck, you'd have to go back 6 whole games to find 4 top 100 wins from OU.

SMU is a perfect example of why the polls are flawed and don't matter. No one outside an AP voter who spends 5 minutes filling out their ballot thinks they are a top 20 team.

 

[MercedeSooner]

SMU is a perfect example of why the polls are flawed and don't matter. No one outside an AP voter who spends 5 minutes filling out their ballot thinks they are a top 20 team.

Larry Brown = instant respect and benefit of the doubt.

 

[skyvue]

If you're a consistent top 10 team, then yes, it helps. But a fringe top 25 team (which is what OU has been all year and could even be debated for the first two months of the season they weren't) it does not matter. Doing well in conference and making NCAA tournament runs are the more important. For the elite players, putting them in the NBA is the MOST important.

But it's not either/or. I want my team (when they deserve it) to be ranked, even if it's at #20 or below, AND I want them to do well in conference and in the tourney.

Even being ranked in the lower part of the Top 25 helps a program garner more attention -- due to increased coverage on the national sports networks, if nothing else.

 

[Max Power]

But it's not either/or. I want my team (when they deserve it) to be ranked, even if it's at #20 or below, AND I want them to do well in conference and in the tourney.

Even being ranked in the lower part of the Top 25 helps a program garner more attention -- due to increased coverage on the national sports networks, if nothing else.

This, all top 25 teams scores are showed at the top of the front page of every major sports website. 25 Texas have a better shot t getting highlights on sportscaster. All that is more exposure for our program to recruits.

 

[AdaSooner]

If you're a consistent top 10 team, then yes, it helps. But a fringe top 25 team (which is what OU has been all year and could even be debated for the first two months of the season they weren't) it does not matter. Doing well in conference and making NCAA tournament runs are the more important. For the elite players, putting them in the NBA is the MOST important.

Of course it matters. Ask the players on this year's team who have worked their tails off to make OU relevant on the national stage if it matters? Ask the kids OU is recruiting and their families if they're more impressed with a school they're interested in that is ranked in the top 25, than one that fails to get enough votes to be ranked at all?

Newspaper and television reporters are far more interested in covering a program on the rise than one on the way down. It matters to OU fans, too. It gives all of us a sense of pride to see our favorite team in the national polls again. Sure, some of us put too much emphasis on how high OU is ranked. But the fact remains that just being there is important to more people than you may realize.