Local Programs Land In Top 20 Of Initial 2022-23 NCAA NET Rankings

Dec 5, 2022, 5:25 PM | Updated: 5:29 pm

A general view as the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils warm up before their game at the Jon M Huntsman Center on February 26, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

BY KYLE IRELAND

Cougar Sports Saturday Co-Host

SALT LAKE CITY – Men’s and women’s basketball programs from the Beehive State landed in the top 20 of the initial NET rankings for the 2022-23 season.

This season’s first NET rankings were revealed on Monday, December 5.

What are NET Rankings?

The NET ranking is an algorithm that compiles a team’s value based on game results through the opponents they face, where the games are played, and who ultimately wins the game.

NET rankings break up games into four different “quadrants.” Teams are looking to compile as many quadrant 1 games as possible on their resume and pull off some wins when going up against those great teams. Losing games to teams in quadrant 3 or quadrant 4 could potentially impact a team’s chances at an NCAA Tournament birth in March.

Utah Women’s Basketball

NET Ranking: 6

Overall Record: 7-0

The women’s team received a No. 6 ranking in the initial NET.

Only South Carolina, Stanford, UConn, Indiana, and LSU were listed higher than Utah.

Top open the season, Utah has won seven straight games with victories of Utah Valley, No. 16 Oklahoma, and Ole Miss.

🏀NCAA NET Rankings🏀
Through Games Dec. 04, 2022
1. South Carolina
2. Stanford
3. UConn
4. Indiana
5. LSU
6. Utah
7. NC State
8. Virginia Tech
9. Notre Dame
10. Creighton
FULL RANKINGS: https://t.co/Ok3623lNie pic.twitter.com/L0T7hYCh99

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) December 5, 2022

In addition to the NET rankings, the Utes were ranked No. 15 in the latest AP Top 25 poll.

4 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐀 𝐑𝐎𝐖🙌#GoUtes | #Grit https://t.co/8bdD0SxOyq pic.twitter.com/qH2gLuXrCU

— Utah Women’s Basketball (@UTAHWBB) December 5, 2022

Utah women’s basketball’s next game is on the road against the BYU Cougars on Saturday, December 10 at 5 p.m. (MDT).

Utah Men’s Basketball

NET Ranking: 19

Overall Record: 7-2

Quadrant 1 record: 1-2

Quadrant 2 record: 1-0

Quadrant 3 record: 2-0

Quadrant 4 record: 3-0

The Runnin’ Utes found themselves at No. 19 in the first NET rankings in men’s college basketball.

The Utes are off to a strong start this season with wins over Georgia Tech, No. 4 Arizona, and Washington State.

Runnin’ Utes check in at #️⃣1️⃣9️⃣‼️ https://t.co/KgNAoiFedO

— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) December 5, 2022

Also on Monday, Utah guard Rollie Worster was honored as the Pac-12 Conference’s Player of the Week.

This season, Worster is averaging 10.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per contest.

Rollie Worster 𝗣𝗮𝗰-𝟭𝟮 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 appreciation post‼️#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/hHFP4YCeh7

— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) December 5, 2022

The Runnin’ Utes’ next game is at home against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks on Thursday, December 8 at 8 p.m. (MDT). The game will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network.

Utah State Men’s Basketball

NET Ranking: 15

Overall Record: 7-0

Quadrant 1 record: 0-0

Quadrant 2 record: 1-0

Quadrant 3 record: 5-0

Quadrant 4 record: 1-0

The Aggies came at No. 15 in the first NET rankings. USU is undefeated at 7-0 to open the season.

Utah State’s victories include wins over Utah Valley, Santa Clara, San Diego, Utah Tech, and San Francisco.

Checking in at No. 1️⃣5️⃣ in the first NET Rankings of the season!

🤘🤘🤘#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/fDMyaLttLs

— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) December 5, 2022

USU’s next game is on the road against the Loyola Marymound Lions on Saturday, December 10 at 10:30 p.m. (MDT).