How seriously should we take Cal Poly Men’s Basketball?

Where does the line fall between supporting your team unconditionally and having high expectations? By Owen Main

I’m under the impression that sunny San Luis Obispo isn’t the most ravenous sport town. It’s guilded with gorgeous pacific waters, rocky cliff dwellings, winding Irish hills and a vibrant downtown life. Our own Cal Poly Mustangs fall in order behind such necessary beauties, but not for all of us. For some, we crave a wild atmosphere in Mott Gym more so than an August day in Avila Beach.

With that passion, we build expectations, and why not? But where do we draw the line between unconditional fansmanship and expectation? Is there in fact a line? If so, why is the line drawn? Is there a shorter ceiling of expectation?

I’m aware that it isn’t the most realistic expectation to demand a National Championship or even a Big West Conference title each and every season from Coach Callero and his basketball team. I know we don’t sign the kind of athletes Kentucky, North Carolina or Duke does. We play in a small conference, are universally an academic school, lack national buzz and don’t have the amenities to draw a lot of big recruits. As a result, Callero is and should be, held accountable at a variable standard. So where then, is that standard?

That standard for me is simple. Win the Big West Tournament from time to time. Go to the NCAA Tournament as much as or more than other top Big West teams. Our greatest rivals are Long Beach State, UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine. These aren’t unbeatable programs. Use our coastal shores, beautiful women, elite yet affordable academic standing and interesting downtown life, to draw the kind of young men talented enough to out-duel the three teams above. Exhaust more heart. More hustle. Use hope. I don’t believe that is asking too much.

Therefore, the expectation is that local fans see their Mustangs in the Big Dance. From there, who knows? Maybe we begin rivaling the likes of George Mason, St. Mary’s, Utah State and VCU as an upset favorite.

I’m probably getting ahead of myself, but that then is the last piece in the evolution. Become an upset favorite.  Let me rephrase that: be respected, or more respected, on a national stage. That doesn’t mean when you get in you get anywhere other than the 1^st round. But make it interesting. Head into half time down a couple buckets, making the big dogs sweat a little. Playing the best teams in the country over the past few years is one way to make that possible. The win over UCLA last season was a huge step.

I want more.

Call me a dreamer or a real hard ass. I know some of you reading this think an expectation to make Cal Poly a consistent NCAA Tournament team is a little unfair and outlandish. This team has never even been to the NCAA tournament and I’m talking about a vision where they are consistently earning invitations to the Big Dance.

Others may be comfortable as a fourth- or fifth-place finisher in the Big West, but I don’t. I want to see San Luis Obispo exalted for more than its choice accolades from Oprah Winfrey. I’m a proud born and raised local. I love this town, this area. I love Mustang gold and green. Why not us?