SXU women three?

In the latest NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Poll, the Saint Xavier University Cougars are ranked third overall, matching the highest ranking they have ever attained in school history.

At first, this seems like a positive for diehard SXU fans like myself. But in all reality, they should be number one. Not only should they be the top ranked team in the nation, it should be unanimous.

Ranked number one for the 27th consecutive week is the Union Bulldogs, who play in the mecca of NAIA Women's Basketball - Jackson, TN. This is the same team that SXU beat this year, in Jackson, by three points. SXU is currently perfect in regular season play (10-0), while Union boasts a 10-1 record, with the lone loss coming to Saint Xavier.

So how does a 1-loss team that lost a head-to-head matchup with an undefeated team at home get ranked ahead of them? The NAIA is not even trying to cover up their bias this time. They favor the teams that have been there before. Union has three national titles and is the winningest team of the decade. But why should that matter in a weekly award? SXU clearly has been the most impressive team in the country to this point.

It's not like the Cougars had an easy schedule either. In addition to beating Union, Coach Hallberg's bunch has beaten Lambuth and McKendree, both of whom are ranked in the Top 25. The Cougars also played tough in exhibition losses to NCAA Division I Loyola-Chicago and UIC.

SXU and Point Loma Nazarene are the only two unbeaten teams in the top ten and the Cougars have had the tougher schedule.

What will it take for the NAIA to recognize that SXU is going to be a force this year? This could very weel be the best team in program history. They return four starters and have added a talented transfer.

Being ranked third at this point really does not matter. It's all about Tennessee in March. The Cougars will cruise through the CCAC, but this year they are looking to prove themselves as an elite team at the national level.