BEST OF THE SMALLEST - #2
I upped it to a top 15. Enjoy.
1. Brown University ( 19-1, RPI 17, SOS 82) (Ivy League)
Previously #1
Big Wins - 49-47 over Providence, 59-49 over Sacred Heart, 73-72 over Dartmouth.
No surprise here, as Slicknick's Brown Bears are tearing through the Ivy league, demoralizing the rest of the league.
#2 Colorado St. (19-2, RPI 15, SOS 71) (Mountain West)
Previously #4
Big Wins 53-48 over Brown, 85-66 at Monmouth, 79-62 over UNLV
Still very 3-point reliant, but this team can be very scary. They’re playing great ball right now, as evidenced by their shellacking of a solid UNLV team.
#3 Evansville (15-5, RPI 46, SOS 72) (Missouri Valley)
Previously NR
Big Wins – 63-31 over Bama, 86-68 over Wisconsin, 88-68 over Butler, 74-55 over Drake
Completely my error for having these guys off my radar. I let their low record get in the way of their big non-conf wins, and now they just reeled off 6 straight victories, including a dominating revenge victory over in-conference rival Drake. Evansville has a great center in Brian Porter, and a 3-guard lineup featuring 3 seniors that can all hit the 3-pointer with excellent efficiency. Because of this dangerous inside-out game, Evansville is definitely a team to watch going forward.
4. Eastern Michigan (18-4, RPI 21, SOS 34) (Mid-American Conference)
Previously NR
Big Wins – 92-79 and 91-80 over Ball St.
2 big wins over Ball St. and an important conference victory over Ohio vaulted EMU into the top 10. Thanks to a stud 2-guard in Jerry Henderson and a bunch of role players that play within their limits, Eastern Michigan looks like they will be making a serious NT run. Very close losses to South Carolina St. and St. Bonaventure hurt their rankings to start off, but they look like they’re making progress and improving as a team.
5 St. Bonaventure (19-3, RPI 44, SOS 106) (Atlantic 10)
Previously #5
Big Wins - 71-70 over Arizona, 70-64 over Texas Tech, 64-62 over Fordham.
Good win against Temple this week, but that one-point loss to a game Charlotte squad could hurt them in the long run
#6 South Carolina St. (20-2, RPI 31, SOS 115) (MEAC)
Previously #3
Big Wins - 95-94 over Eastern Michigan, 58-55 over in-state rival South Carolina.
I dropped them specifically because of their recent loss to in-conference Norfolk St. They should be dominating the MEAC, but they only split against Norfolk, their toughest in-conference competition. Neverthelss, this is still the best squad in the MEAC and one of the best truly small schools in the country.
#7 Mississippi Valley St. (22-0, RPI 58, SOS 264) (Big South)
Previously #6
Big Wins - none
Other than beating High Point by only 12, they beat everyone else down in conference with ferocity. Unfortunately for them, their conference stinks, and they’ve still played no real competition.
#8 Dartmouth (18-4, RPI 48, SOS 90) (Ivy League)
Previously #7
Big Wins - 74-67 vs. Florida St, 60-48 over Penn.
A heartbreaking OT loss to Penn leaves them with 2 in-conference losses, both in overtime. They redeemed themselves by winning at home vs. Penn as well as at Bucknell, both solid conference opponents.
#9 UL- Monroe (21-0, RPI 67, SOS 297) (Southland)
Previously - NR
Big Wins – Nope.
Kind of like the mirror image of Mississippi Valley St., in that they have a cupcake schedule, and instead of relying on a 100PPG offense, they’re shutting teams down by only allowing 49 PPG. Obviously a UL-Monroe vs. Miss Valley St. would be phenomenal to watch – hopefully the coaches set it up next season. Unfortunately, we probably won’t see that happen this season. They have 10 upperclassmen, so this team could be very dangerous once they play some decent competition.
#10 Drake (16-6, RPI 66, SOS 77) (Missouri Valley)
Previously - #9
Big Win - 69-56 over Arizona, 82-66 over Ball St.
It’s a shame that this super-talented mid-major might be looking at a PIT bid after completely dropping the ball against Evansville in an embarrassing defeat. They played solid in the rest of their conference games against easy competition.
#11 James Madison (16-5, RPI 68, SOS 133) (Colonial Athletic)
Previously #8
Big Wins - 82-72 over Wake Forest, 75-72 over Old Dominion
If you’re going to be considered for an at-large bid should things go wrong, you have to be able to sweep solid but unspectacular teams like Old Dominion
#12 University of San Diego (14-7, RPI 35, SOS 66) (West Coast)
Previously #10
Big Wins - 81-57 over Miami (FL), 77-76 over Georgia Tech
All respect for the hellish non conf. schedule is noted, but a loss last night to Grambling St.??? Really??? That could have hurt their NT chances.
#13 UNLV (17-4, RPI 33, SOS 103) (Mountain West)
Previously NR
Big Wins – 71-66 over Old Dominion, 84-74 at BYU, 79-75 over Colorado St.
The Running Rebels are a bit bipolar (including an inexplicable loss to Texas Southern), and that kept them out of the rankings – but they have some good wins to their credit.
#14 BYU (16-6, RPI 72, SOS 112) (Mountain West)
Previously #2
Big Wins - 65-60 over Fresno, 81-71 over Georgetown, 83-66 over Boston College, 73-60 over Oklahoma.
4 losses in 6 games will drop you from the rankings pretty quick. No more NT for you, robo-mormons. They still have some great non-conference victories.
#15 Ball St. (16-5 RPI 40 SOS 79) Mid-American Conference)
Previously NR
Big Wins – 73-68 over Temple, 73-67 over Norfolk St.
I know they’re a good squad – but you can’t let Eastern Michigan dominate you like that and expect to be a legit contender.
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Next up: Sacred Heart, Mercer, Old Dominion, Monmouth, Norfolk St.