I have no issue with arguing that we should be ranked higher than Cincinnati or Texas Tech or Kansas State. All three of them are ranked higher than us in the preseason Big 12 coaches poll. Two of them are ranked higher than us in the AP poll. But as to the top five teams (Kansas, Houston, Baylor, Arizona, Iowa State) there is no reasonable person that would rank us higher than any of them. We have a new coaching staff, new system, and good, but young and less proven, talent.
Even as to Cincy and Texas Tech, Cincinnati beat us at our place last year, and Texas Tech beat us twice, including a beat down in the conference tournament. Given last year's results and our new coaching and player situation, would you rate BYU higher than those two teams as an outside observer? I have no problem coming in where we are rated and proving our value the hard way. If BYU can come in and earn respect this year, it will certainly carry over into next year.