Have you ever been on the outside looking in? Have you ever wanted to join a group but couldn’t convince the others that you were good enough? That’s exactly what has happened to the University of Dayton for over 30 years. The last time that the Flyers have been ranked in the Top 20 or 25 during the regular season was in 1969. On February 15, 1969 we traveled to Florida State to take on the Seminoles. At the time, we were rated as the #17 team in the country. This was the third of fourth consecutive road game and ended up being the turning point in the season. We were 17-4 at the time and on the way up the polls. FSU beat us in a hard-fought game 79-71. Four days later, UC beat us by 36. We still made it to the NCAA tournament, but the downhill slide had begun. Over the next 30 years we made it to the NCAA tournament just five times. As a comparison, between 1965 and 1970, we won the NIT once, made it to the NCAA finals once, the Sweet Sixteen twice and lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament the other two years.

We briefly saw the Top 20 in 1974 when we took UCLA to three overtimes before losing 111-100 in the NCAA tournament. That’s it. We have been the little brother wanting to play with his big brother’s friends ever since. Some may question, “Is there value in getting in the Top 25?” And if there is value, “Where can it be found?”

Let’s take a look at the simple and more noticeable things that happen to a Top 25 team. When scores are shown at the bottom of the screen on ESPN2 and CNN Headline News, the Top 25 are shown first and more often. On ESPN Sports Center and FOX Sports Net, they mention the score and offer a few written highlights. If you are lucky enough to have the game televised, there is a good chance that they will give you 30 seconds of coverage. In the morning paper, the final score, the summary, and the box score are highlighted. One has to ask, “Is this really a big deal?” To that I say, “Yes.” The more that our name gets seen, the more people will know that UD plays good basketball. They may know little or nothing about the team. Right now, I cannot name one player on Utah’s team. I do know, however, that they are probably pretty good. They have been in the Top 25 for some time, so they must be good. Fact of the matter is, this year they are in the Top 25 because of reputation only. They are 30 in RPI and 34 in Sagarin. Writers and coaches have seen them in the Top 25 for so long that they stay — even when they don’t belong. The same can be said for North Carolina this year.

Top 25 rankings get you considerably more exposure on TV, radio, national magazines, and newspapers. Just what does all of this exposure get you? It gets you one thing. Recruits, recruits, recruits. We all know that the object of our affection, the Dayton Flyers, is totally controlled on the whim of 18 year old male basketball players. Very few of these young men actually think that the education that they are about to receive is why they are going to college. It matters little to them what their major will be or if their potential degree will be a bachelor of arts, science, or basket weaving. Although not true for all, the top players are going to college for one thing and that is exposure. The degree that they are looking forward to is the one that they receive on NBA draft day. It is their dream to wear a $1,000 suit, a $15 baseball cap and be introduced by David Stern on national television. Once you become a fixture in the Top 25, it can be difficult to leave. With Top 25 stature, television comes calling. If you are willing to sell your soul to the TV gods, you can find yourself on TV anytime from 11 AM to midnight.

Our favorite school to the south was willing to make their season ticket holders come to the Shoemaker Center at midnight on a Friday just to be on TV one more time. We have discussed time and time again why it is that Xavier out-recruits us on an annual basis. Getting to the tournament year after year helps, but the real sell is TV. When was the last time we had more games on TV than X? I can’t remember either.

Do we deserve to be in the Top 25? For the first time this year, I can happily say, “Yes. ” I feared when Cain Doliboa was injured, our season would come crashing down around us. I felt we were a .500 ball club without the depth that Cain allowed us to have. At first, it appeared that I was right. We lost our next two road games against inferior talent and lost to a St. Louis team that we should have handled. Since that time, the players have learned their new roles. With the skill of a surgeon, Oliver Purnell has done a superb job of utilizing the depleted bench. Although I do not always agree with his moves, we continue to win and that, my dear friends, is what this is all about. Win and they will come. The votes, the invitations, and the players are ours if we continue to play as a team and play every game as if it were the last.