Poll Watch, 2012-13 Edition

[Rlh04d]

You'd rather play well than play poorly. You'd rather be ranked than not ranked. Generally palying well and being ranked go hand in hand and playing poorly and not being ranked go hand in hand.

To say you don't want to be ranked is to say you want the team to play poorly. That is not a great formula for getting into the NCAA Tournament.

Were we not playing well when we were 14-1 when we broke into the polls for the second time?

You can absolutely play well and not be ranked. We were doing it the entire season until we beat Creighton. WSU regularly plays well without getting the credit they deserve nationally.

Meanwhile, I'll believe this team can handle the pressure of being ranked when they, you know, actually do it. As it stands right now, 3-4 as a ranked team and 16-0 unranked is a pretty decisive stat. It's entirely possible it's just a small sample size issue, and maybe we'll be ranked next week and go undefeated the rest of the season ... I'd love for both to happen. But if the choice is between playing well OR being ranked, I'd rather play well without national respect than play poorly with it.

You're drawing a strict correlation between rankings and on-court performance that entirely ignores human bias, despite the fact that human bias has generally been what keeps WSU out of the polls. Saying I don't want them ranked is a matter of respect, not play quality, and we do not NEED respect.

[Rlh04d]

Fear of being ranked? With that attitude, this program ain't gonna go nowhere.

I have a fear of this team playing poorly. If there is legitimately a connection between being ranked and playing poorly, then that has nothing to do with fans.

[1972Shocker]

I have a fear of this team playing poorly. If there is legitimately a connection between being ranked and playing poorly, then that has nothing to do with fans.

Well. this team has shown if can play poorly (as do most teams). They also show they can play well. I'm hoping they play well.

[another shocker]

The Shockers are currently 3-4 when playing as a ranked team this season, with only one of those wins over a team with a winning record.

16-0 when unranked.

Do we really even want this team to be ranked? I don't know if "playing with expectations" is a valid excuse, or if the ranking makes our opponents play that much harder ... but when Bradley is the crown jewel of our play as a ranked team, I'm scared seeing a number next to us at the moment.

don't say that.

shox ranked #22 in coaches poll.. and at siu tonight.

[Rlh04d]

don't say that.

shox ranked #22 in coaches poll.. and at siu tonight.

I'm not worried about SIU. We've beaten up on the bad teams we've played while ranked.

[another shocker]

I'm not worried about SIU. We've beaten up on the bad teams we've played while ranked.

oh, man..

have you seen wichita state in their last two games? they shouldn't take anybody for granted.

[MadaboutWu]

It might be tougher to win as a ranked team as you might get a better shot and you might be distracted or think you are going to coast. I don't think it is pure superstition to worry about being ranked. However, you need that experience to learn how to handle it better. The spotlight gets pretty intense if you win a game in the NCAA and explodes if you survive the first weekend. The more experience you have handling the glow of success the better imo.

[SubGod22]

Stop fearing being ranked and national recognition. Unless of course, you don't want WSU to take the next step

[SB Shock]

I have a fear of this team playing poorly. If there is legitimately a connection between being ranked and playing poorly, then that has nothing to do with fans.

I don't think there us any correlation with playing badly versus being ranked. The 90s teams proved that they didn't need to be ranked to play bad.

Now I would agree though u probably get the best from your opponent because they want to knock off a "ranked" team. So far mvc teams are 0-2 the next game after beating wsu

[Rlh04d]

Stop fearing being ranked and national recognition. Unless of course, you don't want WSU to take the next step

I'm fairly sure the fear of fans of anything does not cause our team to play good or bad.

If they play poorly whenever they're ranked, that will keep WSU from taking the next step. Whether I "fear" being ranked or national recognition will do nothing to WSU either way. Message board posts or fan fears aren't affecting play on the court, which is what would actually be responsible for us "taking the next step."

It's not a fear issue. It's a "can WSU play well while ranked" issue. Maybe we can, but we haven't shown it yet.

[SubGod22]

I'm fairly sure the fear of fans of anything does not cause our team to play good or bad.

If they play poorly whenever they're ranked, that will keep WSU from taking the next step. Whether I "fear" being ranked or national recognition will do nothing to WSU either way.

It's not a fear issue. It's a "can WSU play well while ranked" issue. Maybe we can, but we haven't shown it yet.

The point is, too many fans bring this up way too much. They say they want to move forward and be on the national scene and then talk about how they'd rather we're not ranked. This program will only take that next step when we are in the rankings consistently. And quite frankly, the ranking has nothing to do with our play of late. I'm just sick and tired of hearing fans talk like they prefer we're "under the radar" and stay out of the rankings.

Quite frankly, that disgusts me.

[Rlh04d]

The point is, too many fans bring this up way too much. They say they want to move forward and be on the national scene and then talk about how they'd rather we're not ranked. This program will only take that next step when we are in the rankings consistently. And quite frankly, the ranking has nothing to do with our play of late. I'm just sick and tired of hearing fans talk like they prefer we're "under the radar" and stay out of the rankings.

Quite frankly, that disgusts me.

I don't give a damn if we're under the radar are not. Being "under the radar" or unranked are NOT what I'm advocating.

Playing WELL is what I want.

If we can't play well WHILE we are ranked, for whatever reason, then why the hell would we WANT to be ranked?

I'm not saying that the two things are definitely related. But if the stats implying that we play poorly while ranked ARE correct, and we're going to CONTINUE to play like crap every single time we play a game as a ranked team, then being ranked does NOTHING for us but make us lose.

Do you understand my point yet? I don't want us to be under the radar. I enjoy WSU getting recognition. I love WSU being ranked. But if THIS team cannot win with the spotlight on, the option of "being under the radar and winning" is better than the alternative of "being on the radar and losing." And I am NOT saying that this team cannot win with the spotlight on ... I'm saying that I haven't seen it yet. And that until I see it, I'm not going to be confident with the spotlight on, as a fan, whose opinion has absolutely no impact on the on court play.

Winning > Ranking > Spotlight

Quite frankly, people responding to me as if I'm the spokesperson for every single person that has ever said a slightly similar statement and refusing to respond to me as an individual with the opinions as he has expressed them and not as sharing the opinions of anyone who has made a slightly similar statement disgusts me.

How big should the difference be in our winning percentage before I'm allowed to wonder if there is a correlation without you be disgusted with me, dad? I'm not afraid of being ranked, I'm afraid of this team's ability to respond to being ranked. I have documented evidence to justify that fear. If this team was playing well while ranked, or playing similar to how they would while unranked, then I would not be afraid of it in the slightest bit. Being ranked and getting attention is a positive unless it negatively impacts our play on the court. In that case, it becomes a negative.

I'm not being superstitious. Pointing out that we have a 4-4 record and one win over a team with a winning record in 5 weeks as a ranked team (I think I missed one win before) vs 16-0 in 9 weeks as an unranked team is pointing out facts. There is a significant discrepency between those stats.

[another shocker]

I'm not worried about SIU. We've beaten up on the bad teams we've played while ranked.

hmm..

in order to win the missouri valley you must have a certain mindset- every team, every game, is to be taken seriously.

[Rlh04d]

hmm..

in order to win the missouri valley you must have a certain mindset- every team, every game, is to be taken seriously.

No doubt. My mindset has to be firmly on taking every team and every game seriously if we're going to win the Valley.

Also, I need to cock my lucky hat to the side and not wash my lucky Shocker sweatshirt. I cross my fingers on every FT, as well.

These are the things that are required for us to win the Valley. It has nothing to do with the players >=)

The guys on the TEAM have to have a certain mindset. My mindset doesn't impact how our team plays. Because I'm not ON the team. If I were mentally controlling our players from Hawaii, you would have a valid concern.

[another shocker]

No doubt. My mindset has to be firmly on taking every team and every game seriously if we're going to win the Valley.

Also, I need to cock my lucky hat to the side and not wash my lucky Shocker sweatshirt. I cross my fingers on every FT, as well.

These are the things that are required for us to win the Valley. It has nothing to do with the players >=)

The guys on the TEAM have to have a certain mindset. My mindset doesn't impact how our team plays. Because I'm not ON the team. If I were mentally controlling our players from Hawaii, you would have a valid concern.

i see you can bullschitt, but you're not worried about siu.