Of the 335 NCAA Division-I women's basketball teams, only seven have fewer losses than the Ball State University women's basketball team.
With a 14-2 record, the team has caused some people around Muncie to believe Ball State should join Bowling Green State University in the top 25 rankings. To steal a line from Lee Corso..."NOT so fast"!
Yes, the Cardinals have a .875 winning percentage, and that is very impressive.
However, when a team is playing Podunk University every game, the winning percentage loses some of its luster.
So far the Cardinals have played a grand total of zero ranked teams, and only five teams in the top 100 of the Rating Percentage Index (RPI). Through Jan. 14 the Cardinals had a strength of schedule ranking of 179th and were rated 49th overall.
Both of the Cardinals' losses came to top 100 RPI teams. While some might see this as a positive - it isn't. When a team is playing a soft schedule, they must win the few games they have against quality teams. The highest-rated team the Cardinals have played was Indiana University. The 28th-rated Hoosiers beat Ball State by 11 points.
Of the seven teams with fewer losses, six are in the top seven for both the Associated Press and USA Today polls. The only team not in the top seven is the University of Montana. The 15-1 Grizzlies aren't ranked but received 22 votes in the AP poll and 24 votes in the USA Today poll. The Cardinals received zero votes in both polls. Montana is also 23rd in the RPI.
To be considered a top team in NCAA women's basketball, a team must play top-ranked programs. No. 1 Duke University has played six games against top 25 ranked teams and still has to play at No. 4 University of Tennessee. Tennessee has played seven ranked teams, not including the upcoming Duke game. Even the 12th-ranked Purdue University Boilermakers have played four games against ranked opponents.
Against Bowling Green, the Cardinals will have a chance to prove how good they really are. A win solidifies they can be a factor in the NCAA tournament. A close loss will show the Cardinals are much improved over recent years, but they still have a way to go. A blowout loss-and the good record is a mirage.
Even if the Cardinals finish the regular season 25-2, they will still not be taken seriously by the national media. The only way the Cardinals can prove they are a top team is to beat a top team.
That opportunity might not come until March Madness begins.
Write to Levin at ltblack@bsu.edu
Levin T. Black is a junior telecommunications major, and writes 'The Great White Hype' for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
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