CORVALLIS -- Scott Rueck already had his office television turned to the South Carolina-Mississippi State game Monday. Which means at halftime, he caught a glimpse of the first NCAA Tournament Selection Committee rankings, which pegged Oregon State as a No. 2 seed and No. 8 team overall.
Rueck appreciated that ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo mentioned his team's accomplishments so far after losing five seniors from last season's Final Four team. But the coach also knows rankings in late January ultimately have zero impact on where the Beavers wind up in March.
"Where we're at, there's so far to go," Rueck said.