December 4 Power Rankings
4 December, 2006The Patriot League had another big week, going 14-6 overall. No individual school was worse than .500 on the week. These big preseason performances help the entire league, and when conference play begins every team’s RPI is better off for the league’s overall performance. Light schedule on deck this week, with student-athletes across the country prepping for final exams.
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| 1. | Holy Cross (6-2) | 1 | The win at Yale was huge, because it made sure the Crusaders wouldn’t spiral down too much during their big series of road games. This week they travel to Duke to play a Blue Devil squad that is vulnerable by Duke standards but still overpowering compared to Patriot League schools. It would be a huge statement if the Crusaders could at least hang with Duke for a while, which is something Bucknell couldn’t do last year. |
| 2. | Bucknell (3-5) | 3 | The home loss to Northern Iowa was stern evidence that this year’s Bison squad does not match up to last year’s. But the way the team turned around, traveled overnight and beat George Mason showed a lot of heart and toughness. Coach Pat Flannery’s new lineup sacrifices some of Bucknell’s natural size advantage in favor of having his five most skilled players on the floor together; we’ll see if the new scheme sticks after the Bison’s two-week exam break. |
| 3. | American (5-2) | 2 | Another week, and once again the Eagles have beaten a couple of teams that they should have. American is tough to get a read on because they haven’t played even matchups yet, only losing to A-10 teams and beating up on low mid-majors. The Eagles get Longwood and Howard during the week, but their big match-up this week is a trip to Yale, where Bucknell and Holy Cross already escaped with victories. The Eagles need a win there to prove they belong with those two schools at the top of the league. |
| 4. | Navy (6-2) | 4 | Like American, the Midshipmen have an Ivy League matchup this week that will be a statement of how far they’ve come. Navy hosts likely Ivy winner Penn Thursday night. If any game will or can expose the Mids as frauds, it would be this one. Navy also hosts Howard on Monday as a warm-up game. |
| 5. | Army (6-2) | 5 | This is how far the Black Knight program has come in a few weeks: They’re playing a D-1 school this week, and if they lose, it will be a legitimate upset. That opponent, NJIT, is new to D-1 and just the type of low-major Army has been feasting on this year. Looking ahead, there’s a fair chance the Black Knights could have 10 wins when league play begins; raise your hand if you predicted that before the season began. |
| 6. | Lehigh (4-6) | 7 | Lehigh remains undefeated at home and winless on the road. Bad news for the Mountain Hawks: they’re traveling for a pair of tough games this week. First to Princeton on Wednesday, then at Miami over the weekend. |
| 7. | Colgate (3-3) | 6 | If someone’s got Colgate figured out, please send us a tip. Lineup changes, different guys getting a bunch of shots each game, drastic changes in performance level. You never know what you’re going to get from the Raiders from one game to the next. |
| 8. | Lafayette (2-6) | 8 | A pair exciting games for the Leopards this past week: First Andrew Brown misses a last-second potental game-tying lay-up vs. Princeton, then Ted Detmer hits a game-winning three at. St. Peter’s. The fact that Lafayette could hang with Princeton all game and then nearly lose to St. Peter’s says a lot about the Leopards’ offensive inconsistency. Lafayette travels to NJIT Monday night before hosting D-3 Lycoming, and coach Fran O’Hanlon will be looking to gain some momentum for his squad heading into a four-game homestand. |
