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Frankly, we're running out of ways to say it: The South Dakota State women's basketball team is good. Really good. And with 10 freshmen and sophomores on the roster and NCAA Division I tournament eligibility two years away, there's no reason to believe the program won't get even better, but there's at least a chance that it won't - if only because the current team is that good.
On Monday, ESPN.com published a projected NCAA tournament bracket and according to the Wobus Sports Ranking Comparison - calculated by combining 16 independent systems - SDSU is ranked No. 29. The ranking puts the Jacks ahead of 15 teams that are in line to earn at-large bids in the field of 64. This doesn't include the number of statistically inferior clubs that will gain automatic berths by winning crummy conference tournaments. (On a related note, projected Mid-Continent Conference champion Oakland is No. 132 with a 14-10 record.)
On Wednesday, USA Today claimed that SDSU - in just its third Division I season - could be the best team that won't get an NCAA bid.
Only four teams in this week's AP Top 25 have won more games by 40-plus points than SDSU (four) and just three have posted a wider margin of victory than the Jacks did in a 96-30 victory against New Jersey Tech. Certainly, the Highlanders may have established a new low in Division I basketball, but, overall, SDSU is ranked 67th in strength of schedule. It has had a tougher road than five teams in the top 25, including No. 2 North Carolina, which won its first four games this season by a combined 217 points.
The Tar Heels' tear is the only one by a top 25 team this season that surpasses SDSU's ongoing blowout binge.
Want more numbers? Too bad. Each week, the NCAA puts out a list of the top 50 teams in 15 statistical categories. If transitioning teams were eligible for such accolades, SDSU would rank in 11 of the 15. (Apparently, the Jacks aren't up to snuff in blocks, steals, turnovers or fouls.)
The goal when this transition started, Johnston said recently, was to become a top-60, top-75 program. These Jacks are clearly better than that, perhaps raising the expectations and pressures that will be placed on future teams.
SDSU and its fans should savor this initial climb.
On Monday, ESPN.com published a projected NCAA tournament bracket and according to the Wobus Sports Ranking Comparison - calculated by combining 16 independent systems - SDSU is ranked No. 29. The ranking puts the Jacks ahead of 15 teams that are in line to earn at-large bids in the field of 64. This doesn't include the number of statistically inferior clubs that will gain automatic berths by winning crummy conference tournaments. (On a related note, projected Mid-Continent Conference champion Oakland is No. 132 with a 14-10 record.)
On Wednesday, USA Today claimed that SDSU - in just its third Division I season - could be the best team that won't get an NCAA bid.
Only four teams in this week's AP Top 25 have won more games by 40-plus points than SDSU (four) and just three have posted a wider margin of victory than the Jacks did in a 96-30 victory against New Jersey Tech. Certainly, the Highlanders may have established a new low in Division I basketball, but, overall, SDSU is ranked 67th in strength of schedule. It has had a tougher road than five teams in the top 25, including No. 2 North Carolina, which won its first four games this season by a combined 217 points.
The Tar Heels' tear is the only one by a top 25 team this season that surpasses SDSU's ongoing blowout binge.
Want more numbers? Too bad. Each week, the NCAA puts out a list of the top 50 teams in 15 statistical categories. If transitioning teams were eligible for such accolades, SDSU would rank in 11 of the 15. (Apparently, the Jacks aren't up to snuff in blocks, steals, turnovers or fouls.)
The goal when this transition started, Johnston said recently, was to become a top-60, top-75 program. These Jacks are clearly better than that, perhaps raising the expectations and pressures that will be placed on future teams.
SDSU and its fans should savor this initial climb.
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