Here are this week’s local college basketball rankings:
(Last week’s rankings in parentheses)
1. St. John’s (1)
Record: 7-3, 0-0
Up next: Saturday (2 p.m.) vs. Youngstown State
The team everyone had been waiting to see may finally be here. The Johnnies nearly upset No. 2 Syracuse, then demolished San Francisco the way a Big East team should. Two more games remain before conference play begins. The letdowns must be left behind.
2. Manhattan (3)
Record: 8-2, 2-0
Up next: Saturday (3 p.m.) vs. Buffalo at Barclays Center
The Jaspers have won five straight games since the loss to Fordham and sport the best road record in the country (6-0) following a swing through the Carolinas, where they defeated the South Carolina and UNC Wilmington.
3. Stony Brook (5)
Record: 8-4, 1-0
Up next: Sunday (6 p.m.) vs. Cornell
Back-to-back road wins at New Hampshire and Loyola (Md.) have the Seawolves back on track after the loss to La Salle.
4. Iona (2)
Record: 5-4, 2-0
Up next: Sunday (4 p.m.) at Nevada
There is no shame in suffering losses to quality teams St. Bonaventure and Dayton, but the Gaels’ defense must show some fight with three straight road games ahead.
5. Fordham (6)
Record: 6-3, 0-0
Up next: Saturday (2 p.m.) at Monmouth
With four games left before A-10 play begins, the Rams could be looking at a winning record in their non-conference schedule. It’s been awhile since we could say that.
6. Seton Hall (7)
Record: 7-4
Up next: Sunday (5 p.m.) vs. Eastern Washington
Can Kevin Willard catch a break? Following Fuquan Edwin’s injury, guard Sterling Gibbs now will be sidelined roughly two weeks with a knee injury. Still, that doesn’t excuse a home loss to St. Peter’s in overtime.
7. Columbia (7)
Record: 6-5, 0-0
Up next: Saturday (4 p.m.) vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
The Lions have been off since Dec. 9, and follow Saturday’s game with another week off before an intriguing matchup against St. John’s at Barclays Center.
8. St. Francis Brooklyn (8)
Record: 7-5, 0-0
Up next: Monday (2 p.m.) vs. NJIT
The up-and-down season is rising once more, following back-to-back wins against Canisius and Lafayette.
9. NJIT (9)
Record: 6-6
Up next: Saturday (2 p.m.) vs. Holy Cross
After eight days off, the Highlanders jump back into action against the Crusaders, then play road games in eight of their next nine contests.
10. LIU Brooklyn (13)
Record: 4-6, 0-0
Up next: Saturday (5:30 p.m.) vs. Temple
It is unusual to see the Blackbirds averaging only 75.2 points per game, but LIU has won two straight nail-biters, taking a 3-point win over Lamar on Gerrell Martin’s buzzer-beater.
11. Wagner (10)
Record: 5-7, 0-0
Up next: Saturday (3 p.m.) at Rider
The preseason NEC favorite has lost five of six and is showing just how wide-open the conference is.
12. Rutgers (9)
Record: 4-7, 0-0
Up next: Dec. 30 (3 p.m.) at Monmouth
The Scarlet Knights broke a four-game losing streak with a convincing win over UNC Greensboro. Myles Mack is continuing to do all he can for the shorthanded squad, totaling 21 points, eight assists, five steals and four rebounds in the win.
13. Army (14)
Record: 3-6, 0-0
Up next: Sunday (2 p.m.) at Rutgers
The Black Knights are not done yet. With two straight wins, Army heads to Piscataway with a good chance to extend the streak, coming off a season-high 90 points against Maine.
14. St. Peter’s (16)
Record: 2-6, 0-2
Up next: Sunday (2 p.m.) at Hartford
With their upset victory at Seton Hall, the Peacocks have shown that though they may not contend for a conference championship, they’ll certainly steal some games in the MAAC.
15. Hofstra (15)
Record: 3-6, 0-0
Up next: Monday (7 p.m.) at Siena
The Pride will be looking for back-to-back wins for the first time this season, following a 72-67 win over Central Connecticut State on Sunday.
16. Fairleigh Dickinson (13)
Record: 3-9, 0-0
Up next: Saturday (4 p.m.) at Columbia
The Knights have the week off before finish their six-game road trip in Morningside Heights, following games at Rutgers, Seton Hall, Stony Brook, Princeton and Iowa.
17. Fairfield (17)
Record: 2-8, 0-2
Up next: Saturday (2 p.m.) at Green Bay
The streak is over! The Stags broke an eight-game losing streak with a 64-60 win over Northeastern. Four straight road games is their reward.