ESPN Article

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/2645/saddle-up-byu-gets-a-test



"No. 10 BYU at New Mexico, 10 p.m. ET: BYU has had a hard time earning respect. This is probably fair. Last year's Cougars put together an impressive resumé and had the tempo-free chops to go along with it, and as soon as they got to the tournament (and as soon as yours truly picked them to finish in the Sweet 16), the Cougars lost by 13 to a so-so Texas A&M team, bowing out of the NCAAs after 40 minutes. So it's probably fair if this year's BYU Cougars -- a 20-1 team currently ranked fourth in Pomeroy's adjusted efficiency ratings -- are met with a degree of skepticism from the national media. For example, Monday Digger Phelps told his ESPN studio mates that BYU was too high in the polls at No. 10, which was met with understandable agreement. BYU hasn't played anybody. But in regards to their poll placement, the numbers seem to disagree; BYU might actually deserve to be higher.



The lesson here? They have to prove it. Tonight -- an away game versus a New Mexico team that launched itself into the top 25 early in the season, beating Texas Tech and Cal on the way there -- is a chance to do just that. It's also a chance to see Jimmer Fredette, BYU's point guard and leading scorer, match up with New Mexico guard Dairese Gary. It's as good a look as the Cougars going to get for a while. They ought to make the most of it."



I don't totally agree with everything, but mostly fair IMO. True enough that it would be nice to make a statement tonight.

"BYU hasn't played anybody." Except for the ten (soon to be 11 opponents) away from home. And we're not going to count any of the teams that are somewhat decent because that would disprove our opinion that BYU hasn't played anyone. The quote should read, "So other than the teams we don't want t count, BYU hasn't played anyone."



Ask Texas how hard it is to play on the road. Ask Kentucky how hard it is to play on the road against an unranked opponent. Ask Kansas State how hard it is to play a conference game on the road immediately after thinking you've just proven something by beating "somebody."



Bottom line: BYU HAS played teams. And they've played them away from home. If people and "experts" think that BYU hasn't played anyone it's because they're too lazy to actually go and look to see who BYU has actually played and where. If guys like Reece and Digger and Hubie would start to actually do some research on BYU and, I don't know, go back and watch some actual game film on the Cougars, they would quickly come around on their opinions of the Cougars.



Of course, when you don't think any good basketball can be played west of the Mississippi and don't really care about seeing if teams you are bagging on are as good or as bad as you think they are then it doesn't really matter.