It's not like they have been beating name teams.
No, it's because they have been getting national exposure/cred via ESPN and their announcers. But even moreso, they have players who pass the eye test. Bigs. A shooter like Barcello. Plus a deep roster which might elevate a guy on any given night.
The Cougars are getting respect and AP votes because they look real, but it took extended TV minutes to convince enough doubters.
Carry on. The next few weeks are gonna be a fun ride.