But granted, a victory over Oklahoma State would have looked good, especially alongside Colorado State's win over UCLA in Hawaii and New Mexico's upset of Arizona on the road. It's hard to think anyone is going to go undefeated in the 14-game MWC season. Even Utah, the prohibitive favorite, isn't likely to repeat its unscathed run of last season through the Western Athletic Conference. The arrival of Kelly gives the Rebels another offensive weapon. But his arrival doesn't guarantee anything.
Basketball is no different than any other game.
The key to success is staying one step ahead of your opponent and making sure that you're dictating the terms on how the game is played. That is the challenge Bayno and his staff face. If they can get the upper hand, they'll win enough games to be in the NCAA Tournament picture. Bayno has a psychologically fragile team on his hands. There's no need to belabor it.