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Here's Kyle's systems ranking of the top mid-majors in the country thus far... these are based wholly on a number system, so it's early to makingsuch projections, but it gives a good look at who's done well so far anyways...
1. Drake 123.96, 3-1 (0-0)
Yeah, like I said. The Bulldogs are the number one team in the mid-major subsection of the index, and the second overall, because they lead by a bunch in theefficiency column. They hung tough with Saint Mary's on Nov. 10, before Saint Mary's did that Oregon thing, then completely demolishedWisconsin-Milwaukee 80-59 on 1.248 points per possession. The next time they don't beat somebody by a million points, even if that happens on Saturdayagainst North Carolina Central, they will, in the words of this morning's Wall Street Journal, "sink into correction."
2. Xavier 113.98, 4-1 (0-0)
The Muskies were 51st overall in this index a week ago, but TSoCB loved its performance against Indiana over the weekend, vaulting the X into the top rungs ofmid-majordom (and yes, the A-14 is in the club this year). And who wouldn't love it? An 80-65 win in Chicago, giving Xavier a per-game efficiency rating of113.943 (which is good). They also have the 25th best efficiency mark of the year so far, a 137.7701 against Southeast Missouri on Nov. 10, as per the RealMeat Report.
3. Butler 112.47, 6-0 (0-0)
Last year's mid-major darlings, this year's mid-major darlings. The Bulldogs are likely to top this list next week, mostly on the strength of theirAlaska sweep. Even a respectable showing against Ohio State at home this weekend will help here.
4. South Alabama 112.37, 4-2 (0-0)
Another team helped out here by efficient performances. The Jaguars destroyed San Diego and Chattanooga at the Anaheim Classic, and have lost their pair ofgames by a combined eight points and a combined efficiency margin of 8.5. This index likes that kind of stuff, but not enough to keep this team around thishigh. They are at the Vanderbilt Fightin' Trocchis on Thursday.
5. Niagara 112.07, 2-1 (0-0)
Niagara is here because it killed Central Michigan, and NU's loss to Duquesne was the dent that sent it from an unpublished No. 1 last week to nickelposition. Central Michigan is sort of the oddball in this whole index so far -- they're 0-4, but their strength of schedule is so high that it'shoisting up anything that's come into contact with them. As the Chips continue to get pounded, teams like Niagara will suffer along with them. With twoteams coming up (Bonaventure and Liberty) in the low 200's, that'll drag the Purple Eagles down too.
6. South Dakota State 111.85, 2-2 (0-0)
Summmmit Leeeeague! We have a bonus/penalty system that knocks you for home losses, and losing to Montana on Nov. 17 dented the Jacks' number. But theindex loves its 61-55 win over Northern Iowa, a very efficient performance that included a -6 turnover differential and -10 on fouls. Also here for playing No.8 UWM. We'll get to them in a bit.
7. Texas-Arlington 111.15, 5-0 (0-0)
This is a very good and undervalued team right now, but this is a little too high, obviously. Four straight wins over Cal Riverside, Texas Southern, UALR andNorth Texas, all with sizeable efficiency margins, propel the Mavericks into the top 10. Last night's 99-66 win over infamous Schreiner isn't included.No games against non-D1 opponents are.
8. Wisconsin-Milwaukee 109.20, 3-2 (0-0)
The second column in TSoCB is for "location-based performance," which rewards teams for playing well on the road. The Panthers are 12th overall inthat column, only because they pantsed Ball State early this year. UWM is staying afloat because of strength of schedule, and since the RPI is involved, havingSam Houston State on tap for tonight is why they're here. Without dismissed leading scorer Avery Smith, this will likely be the last time you see this teamin this weekly post.
9. Illinois State 109.06, 3-2 (0-0)
This is a team that will be much better than people think, and Osiris Eldridge is a big reason why. Will they hang in the State's top 10 all year? Probablynot, but for now they're riding big wins against UNCW and SEMO, and non-embarrassments in the Chicago Challenge against Kent State and Indiana. Anotherteam with some low-State opponents coming up, and only gigantic performances against bottom-feeders don't bring you down.
10. Montana 108.65, 5-2 (0-0)
Here's a team you haven't heard too much about this season. And why not? They've beaten Air Force at the Washington State tournament, destroyedColorado State to open the season by a 75-39 score, and topped TSoMM No. 6 South Dakota State. But big losses to Gonzaga and WSU have put them in their place.Like I said, this is only beginning to be sorted out.
The next 15:
11 - Miami (Oh.) 108.35, 12 - North Texas 107.07, 13 - Saint Joseph's 105.76, 14 - Siena 104.69, 15 - Central Michigan 104.63, 16 - Nevada 103.66, 17 -Saint Mary's 103.50, 18 - Northern Iowa 103.07, 19 - Sam Houston State 101.94, 20 - Northeastern 100.44, 21 - Virginia Commonwealth 99.871, 22 - Holy Cross99.709, 23 - Chattanooga 98.541, 24 - College of Charleston 98.372, 25 - North Dakota State 96.606
1. Drake 123.96, 3-1 (0-0)
Yeah, like I said. The Bulldogs are the number one team in the mid-major subsection of the index, and the second overall, because they lead by a bunch in theefficiency column. They hung tough with Saint Mary's on Nov. 10, before Saint Mary's did that Oregon thing, then completely demolishedWisconsin-Milwaukee 80-59 on 1.248 points per possession. The next time they don't beat somebody by a million points, even if that happens on Saturdayagainst North Carolina Central, they will, in the words of this morning's Wall Street Journal, "sink into correction."
2. Xavier 113.98, 4-1 (0-0)
The Muskies were 51st overall in this index a week ago, but TSoCB loved its performance against Indiana over the weekend, vaulting the X into the top rungs ofmid-majordom (and yes, the A-14 is in the club this year). And who wouldn't love it? An 80-65 win in Chicago, giving Xavier a per-game efficiency rating of113.943 (which is good). They also have the 25th best efficiency mark of the year so far, a 137.7701 against Southeast Missouri on Nov. 10, as per the RealMeat Report.
3. Butler 112.47, 6-0 (0-0)
Last year's mid-major darlings, this year's mid-major darlings. The Bulldogs are likely to top this list next week, mostly on the strength of theirAlaska sweep. Even a respectable showing against Ohio State at home this weekend will help here.
4. South Alabama 112.37, 4-2 (0-0)
Another team helped out here by efficient performances. The Jaguars destroyed San Diego and Chattanooga at the Anaheim Classic, and have lost their pair ofgames by a combined eight points and a combined efficiency margin of 8.5. This index likes that kind of stuff, but not enough to keep this team around thishigh. They are at the Vanderbilt Fightin' Trocchis on Thursday.
5. Niagara 112.07, 2-1 (0-0)
Niagara is here because it killed Central Michigan, and NU's loss to Duquesne was the dent that sent it from an unpublished No. 1 last week to nickelposition. Central Michigan is sort of the oddball in this whole index so far -- they're 0-4, but their strength of schedule is so high that it'shoisting up anything that's come into contact with them. As the Chips continue to get pounded, teams like Niagara will suffer along with them. With twoteams coming up (Bonaventure and Liberty) in the low 200's, that'll drag the Purple Eagles down too.
6. South Dakota State 111.85, 2-2 (0-0)
Summmmit Leeeeague! We have a bonus/penalty system that knocks you for home losses, and losing to Montana on Nov. 17 dented the Jacks' number. But theindex loves its 61-55 win over Northern Iowa, a very efficient performance that included a -6 turnover differential and -10 on fouls. Also here for playing No.8 UWM. We'll get to them in a bit.
7. Texas-Arlington 111.15, 5-0 (0-0)
This is a very good and undervalued team right now, but this is a little too high, obviously. Four straight wins over Cal Riverside, Texas Southern, UALR andNorth Texas, all with sizeable efficiency margins, propel the Mavericks into the top 10. Last night's 99-66 win over infamous Schreiner isn't included.No games against non-D1 opponents are.
8. Wisconsin-Milwaukee 109.20, 3-2 (0-0)
The second column in TSoCB is for "location-based performance," which rewards teams for playing well on the road. The Panthers are 12th overall inthat column, only because they pantsed Ball State early this year. UWM is staying afloat because of strength of schedule, and since the RPI is involved, havingSam Houston State on tap for tonight is why they're here. Without dismissed leading scorer Avery Smith, this will likely be the last time you see this teamin this weekly post.
9. Illinois State 109.06, 3-2 (0-0)
This is a team that will be much better than people think, and Osiris Eldridge is a big reason why. Will they hang in the State's top 10 all year? Probablynot, but for now they're riding big wins against UNCW and SEMO, and non-embarrassments in the Chicago Challenge against Kent State and Indiana. Anotherteam with some low-State opponents coming up, and only gigantic performances against bottom-feeders don't bring you down.
10. Montana 108.65, 5-2 (0-0)
Here's a team you haven't heard too much about this season. And why not? They've beaten Air Force at the Washington State tournament, destroyedColorado State to open the season by a 75-39 score, and topped TSoMM No. 6 South Dakota State. But big losses to Gonzaga and WSU have put them in their place.Like I said, this is only beginning to be sorted out.
The next 15:
11 - Miami (Oh.) 108.35, 12 - North Texas 107.07, 13 - Saint Joseph's 105.76, 14 - Siena 104.69, 15 - Central Michigan 104.63, 16 - Nevada 103.66, 17 -Saint Mary's 103.50, 18 - Northern Iowa 103.07, 19 - Sam Houston State 101.94, 20 - Northeastern 100.44, 21 - Virginia Commonwealth 99.871, 22 - Holy Cross99.709, 23 - Chattanooga 98.541, 24 - College of Charleston 98.372, 25 - North Dakota State 96.606