These are optimistic times for the Rutgers men's basketball team. The team is 4-0 for the first time since 2000. It won a game away from the Rutgers Athletic Center, something that hasn't happened since 2014.

Steve Pikiell is the first coach in the program's history to ever post a perfect record after his first four games, which is incredible given that he is the 19th coach in the team's 109 years of intercollegiate play. And, given the schedule, getting to 6-0 before a road trip to Miami is certainly well within the realm of possibility.

These are all exciting developments. But actually getting a vote in the Associated Press Top 25 ranking?

Who saw THAT coming?

It has happened. Scott Wolf, who covers Southern Cal for the Los Angeles Daily News, had the Scarlet Knights ranked 25th in his just-released poll. They are one spot behind Wichita State and just 24 small steps from usurping No. 1 Villanova for the top ranking in his poll.

(Oddly, his poll also has the team's record listed at 2-1. Maybe he'd have ranked it higher with the real record!)

We have reached out to Wolf to hear his reasoning for the vote but haven't heard back immediately. In fairness, he probably didn't realize that this would qualify as breaking news in New Jersey.

UPDATE: Here is Wolf's reply:

"It is very early in the season, but I thought they deserved a look because of their record and the fact that their RPI is no worse than UCLA, which everyone seems to have in its rankings."

And to be clear, getting votes in the AP poll isn't a measure of a team's success, nor does it mean Pikiell and his players will be hoisting a tournament banner later in the season. Lots of teams get votes during the course of a season and never crack the ranking.

But is a sign that somebody out there, and somebody on the West Coast no less, has noticed that the Scarlet Knights have gotten off to a nice start this season. For a program that's suffered through some tough times, every chance to smile should be savored.

Steve Politi may be reached at spoliti@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevePoliti. Find NJ.com on Facebook.