Not ranked.

[gocubs2118]

Strange, we're closer to being ranked in the AP poll than the coaches poll.

[HFCS]

I really thought we would get ranked this week after we beat KSU. But looking at who is ranked and who is ahead of us, I would highly doubt that we will be ranked. We hopefully move into the 20s. Coaches had us at 31, AP at 35. Our record is the same or just below the bottom teams that are ranked. Since our SOS is weak, expect no real moves after beating two teams below us in the conference.

Just the facts. I think this motivates the players a lot. I don't want them to read good things.

Our SOS is not weak by any measure. Getting annoyed at people repeating something that some ISU fans irrationally started at the beginning of the year.

Some teams ranked just in front of us in this AP poll:

Sagarin SOS:
ISU: 47th out of 345
New Mexico: 135th
Gonzaga: 113th
Notre Dame: 43rd
Louisville: 59th
Harvard: 247th
Virginia: 134th
Marquette: 40th
Mississippi State: 93rd
Creighton: 81st

RPI SOS:
ISU: 55th out of 345
New Mexico: 97th
Gonzaga: 64th
Notre Dame: 59th
Louisville: 44th
Harvard: 228th
Virginia: 125th
Marquette: 16th
Mississippi State: 66th
Creighton: 94th

The Big Ten teams around ISU all have comperable or better SOS. Pretty much every other school within 15 spots below or above us including ACC and Big East teams has a comparable to much worse SOS.

Playing in the Big 12, 2 MVC, 2 Big Ten and one Big East opponent is enough to guarantee our SOS ends up in the top 50 out of 345 teams. I have no idea why few of our fans realized this from day one and still don't realize it. We're going to finish with an SOS around 20-30 out of 345 teams because we still have 3 dates with top ranked teams.

[herbicide]

I dont get the 'id rather fly under the radar' posts. No matter if we're ranked or not, we've played almost every big 12 team already. We may be below the radar of some nationally, but within the conference there is nobody that doesnt know what we've done to this point, and almost all have experienced it (just not baylor).

Because being ranked puts a bigger target on them, and can play negatively on their psychology (preparation/effort).

[ItsCyence]

Calm down people. If we win twice this week we'll get another shot at the Top 25.

[chuckd4735]

They shouldn't, but they do.

Thats GREAT. Now they still have something to work for. Job's not done.

[everyyard]

I dont get the 'id rather fly under the radar' posts. No matter if we're ranked or not, we've played almost every big 12 team already. We may be below the radar of some nationally, but within the conference there is nobody that doesnt know what we've done to this point, and almost all have experienced it (just not baylor).

don't kid yourself. There are A LOT of stupid fans out there and some of them will only care to show up and cheer if the team coming in is ranked. I don't think we'll sneak by a team looking by us, but we could definitely not get a hostile crowd's best shot by being unranked which on the road would be worth it.

[alarson]

Our SOS is not weak by any measure. Getting annoyed at people repeating something that some ISU fans irrationally started at the beginning of the year.

Some teams ranked just in front of us in this AP poll:

Sagarin SOS:
ISU: 47th out of 345
New Mexico: 135th
Gonzaga: 113th
Notre Dame: 43rd
Louisville: 59th
Harvard: 247th
Virginia: 134th
Marquette: 40th
Mississippi State: 93rd
Creighton: 81st

RPI SOS:
ISU: 55th out of 345
New Mexico: 97th
Gonzaga: 64th
Notre Dame: 59th
Louisville: 44th
Harvard: 228th
Virginia: 125th
Marquette: 16th
Mississippi State: 66th
Creighton: 94th

The Big Ten teams around ISU all have comperable or better schedules. Pretty much every other school within 15 spots below or above us has a comparable to much worse SOS.

Playing in the Big 12, 2 MVC, 2 Big Ten and one Big East opponent is enough to guarantee our SOS ends up in the top 50 out of 345 teams. I have no idea why few of our fans realized this from day one and still don't realize it. We're going to finish with an SOS around 20-30 out of 340 teams because we still have 3 dates with top ranked teams.

A lot of it comes from the myth that our SOS is weak because our noncon wasnt terribly strong. Most schools have a lot of buy a win games, but it also doesnt account for the fact that we've replaced 2 noncon games with big 12 games. Nobody would be saying anything about our noncon if instead of playing those 2 big 12 games, we'd played 2 more BCS conference teams.

[VeloClone]

Calm down people. If we win twice this week we'll get another shot at the Top 25.

(Theoretical) wins over OSU and eaTme wouldn't do much for the Cyclones. They would still need teams ahead to stumble.

Don't get your hopes up on rankings. Just win for the sake of staying in the title race.

[DMICyclone]

What a load of ******* ****.

[Cydkar]

Congratulations?

I should have added that....

THIS MEANS NOTHING!!!!!!!!!

[swarthmoreCY]

There are 37 freaking at-large bids in the NCAA tourney. Assuming at least ten of the top 25 teams take an automatic bid, that means there are roughly 20 spots open for teams not in the top 25.

Is his point: "if we are not thought highly enough to be ranked we will not make the tournament"?

clone21, are you saying given the getting an invite to the tournament is based on a subjective list, the fact rankings are a subjective list is insufficient in contending being ranked does not have value? If so, I agree.

[Cydkar]

Calm down people. If we win twice this week we'll get another shot at the Top 25.

Agree.

[cyclonedave25]

I dont get the 'id rather fly under the radar' posts. No matter if we're ranked or not, we've played almost every big 12 team already. We may be below the radar of some nationally, but within the conference there is nobody that doesnt know what we've done to this point, and almost all have experienced it (just not baylor).

Flying under the radar is not only meant for the players, but also fans. If a ranked team is visiting, you can bet there will be a lot more students and fair weather fans showing up for a chance to see an "upset".

And when players have a chance to beat a ranked team, they will give just a little extra effort in order to do so.

[everyyard]

Rankings <<<< Current title race WE ARE PART OF. That is my only concern right now.

[awd4cy]

I should have added that....

THIS MEANS NOTHING!!!!!!!!!

No kidding, who cares? We could win again on Tuesday and Saturday and I would still be fine with not being ranked.