BYU basketball: Cougars climb to No. 12 in AP, 10th in coaches' poll

PROVO — Fans of BYU basketball are probably a bit more trustworthy right now of what the nation's college coaches think than the thoughts of the nation's basketball writers.

After wins last week over Wyoming and San Diego State, the latter coming on the road in a traditionally tough arena to win, most Cougar fans were hopeful BYU could crack the top 10 on Monday.

Well, they did — in one poll. In the other, they moved up two spots but still remain two spots out of the top 10. The new ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll has the Cougars ranked No. 10, up three spots from last week. They're No. 12 in the AP poll, where they were ranked No. 14 last week.

Even though one poll shows a bit more respect than the other, the Cougars (even though some fans might not be) are happy with where they sit in both polls, and they welcome the challenge it brings. "You want to be in this position," junior guard Jimmer Fredette said. "You want to be at the top where everyone's trying to get you."

While Tennessee, Pittsburgh, Duke, Kansas State and Texas (twice) all lost last week, the Cougars passed only Tennessee and Pittsburgh in the AP poll. However, they're ranked higher than Kansas State, Georgetown and Purdue in the coaches' poll — three teams ahead of them in the AP poll. New Mexico, BYU's opponent on Wednesday, is back in the AP poll at No. 23.

"We're a long way from where we want to be, and we're a long way from getting to the end," Cougars coach Dave Rose said. "But right now the guys should be proud of what they've accomplished, and then be prepared for what's next."

For coaches, there are certain numbers that have a way of stamping success on a team, like 20 wins and cracking the top 25. Getting to the top 10 is even a little sweeter and a bit more reinforcing than the other two.

"It's a really good team," Rose said of those who wonder how good the Cougars really are. "It's a really resilient team."

During Monday's Mountain West Conference media teleconference, fellow coaches praised BYU's ranking. All said it's deserved for a team with the most wins in the country and the first to reach the 20-win mark.

"Obviously their ranking is very well-deserved, and we'll be excited to play that game (on Saturday at the Marriott Center)," Utah coach Jim Boylen said. Jim Christian, coach of the TCU Horned Frogs, says the rankings of BYU and New Mexico, and UNLV earlier, give the entire MWC more respect.