PULLMAN, Wash. — Until this week, you could have been 16 years old and never seen Washington State men's basketball ranked inside the AP top 25.
The Cougs cracked the latest AP rankings for the first time since 2008, earning the title as the No. 21 team in the country.
While WSU's ultimate goals have nothing to do with rankings, it's certainly nice to be making some history.
"It's amazing. I feel like we finally got, you know, like, our respect that we deserve in this year," senior forward Andrej Jakimovski said. "It means a lot to this program, to this coaching staff and especially to me, you know, being a fourth-year guy."
"There's no doubt it's an accomplishment," WSU head coach Kyle Smith said. "To be able to be ranked, is really like we're the new faces. And, you know, we, as a staff, we thought we had good personnel. But, to actually be able to do it is really, it's hard. To be able to kind of put ourselves in that rare air, it's awesome.
The Cougs are quickly turning the page as a chance to take sole possession of first place in the Pac-12 Conference is on the line this week. Washington State is looking for a series sweep of No. 4 Arizona on the road.
"You know, I'm definitely happy. I'm over it now. That was yesterday. It's a new day, new game. Thursday, we have a big one playing for first place," Junior forward Jaylen Wells said. "Next game, one game at a time. The next game is the biggest game."
"This is one of the premier programs you're playing in a meaningful game. So, it'll be tough," Smith said.
"21st just means we're 20 places away from first," Wells said in reference to WSU's No. 21 ranking. "So, that's what we're going we're going for, first place."
If the Cougs are able to beat Arizona on the road this Thursday it would mark the first time WSU has been in first place of the Pac-12 Conference since February 14th, 2007. A spot WSU held for one day.
Washington State at Arizona tips-off at 8 PM on Thursday in Tucson, Arizona.
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