You couldn’t have asked for more from the opening week of the season. Well, I guess you could have, but that would be greedy.
There were buzzer-beaters (Manhattan’s George Beamon crushing Columbia), upsets (St. Francis Brooklyn traveling to Miami and taking down the defending ACC champion Hurricanes) and phenomenal debuts (Fordham freshman Jon Severe’s record-setting shooting performance).
It was a promising week for a season with so much potential.
1. St. John’s
Record: 0-1
Up next: Friday (6 p.m.) vs. Wagner
The Red Storm dropped their season opener to Wisconsin, 86-75, in Sioux Falls, S.D., but showed the talent of an NCAA tournament team. JaKarr Sampson and D’Angelo Harrison were the only players to score more than six points, meaning teammates like Orlando Sanchez and freshman Rysheed Jordan need to help balance the box score.
2. Manhattan
Record: 2-0
Up next: Saturday (7 p.m.) vs. George Washington
The Jaspers had an absolutely wild week, winning in double overtime at La Salle — a Sweet 16 team last season — before their last-second miracle shot in Morningside Heights. Beamon, who is averaging 26 points per game, looks like the early favorite for the MAAC Player of the Year, while sophomore sharpshooter Shane Richards has opened the season 10-of-15 on 3-pointers.
3. Stony Brook
Record: 3-0
Up next: Sunday (5 p.m.) at Indiana
The America East regular-season champs look like a good bet to retain their crown. Sophomore Jameel Warney has posted a double-double in every game and is shooting 66.7 percent from the field. After Indiana was nearly knocked off by LIU Brooklyn, the Seawolves won’t be overlooked, but they will still present a serious challenge.
4. Seton Hall
Record: 2-0
Up next: Saturday (3 p.m.) at Mercer
Following a win over Niagara, the Pirates eked out a 78-76 home win over Kent State. Though star swingman Fuquan Edwin has struggled, shooting 35 percent from the field, sophomore guard Sterling Gibbs has made a heck of a Hall debut as a transfer, averaging 21 points, 5.5 rebounds and five assists.
5. Rutgers
Record: 2-1
Up next: Monday (7:30 p.m.) vs. Canisius
The ruins of the Mike Rice era are quickly being rebuilt. Kadeem Jack and Myles Mack opted to stay in Piscataway and have been the reason for the team’s early success, with Jack hitting the game-winning free throws against Yale on Wednesday and scoring 30 points in the season-opening win against Florida A&M.
6. LIU Brooklyn
Record: 1-1
Up next: Friday (10 p.m.) at UC Irvine
The Blackbirds almost became a Cinderella story long before March with their near-upset at Indiana, despite playing without star forward Julian Boyd. Point guard Jason Brickman is better than ever, despite less talent around him than ever, and could lead the nation in assists again. He has 24 assists in the first two games.
7. Iona
Record: 0-1
Up next: Saturday (2 p.m.) vs. Wofford
The Gaels blew a 15-point lead at Cleveland State and the team is searching for someone to fill the void of Momo Jones as the go-to guy down the stretch. Sean Armand is the obvious candidate, but the senior needs help from a team that shot 36.9 percent in the opener. Oh, and on Tuesday, they visit Kansas and Andrew Wiggins. Should be fun.
8. Fordham
Record: 1-1
Up next: Friday (7 p.m.) vs. Lehigh
Severe showed why he was so highly hyped with 28 points on 7-of-10 3-point shooting in the win over St. Francis (Pa.), but guard Branden Frazier will be the reason this team may be able to compete this season. The senior scored 33 points in a loss at Syracuse on Tuesday.
9. St. Francis (Brooklyn)
Record: 2-0
Up next: Saturday (Noon) at Dayton
The Terriers may have had the best week in New York, knocking off Miami and following it up with a win at Florida A&M. They play their first five games of the season on the road, including an unenviable trip to Syracuse on Monday.
10. Wagner
Record: 1-1
Up next: Friday (6 p.m.) at St. John’s
No one knows what to make of the NEC favorites, yet. The Seahawks lost at Penn State and then struggled in an eight-point home win over Division II Chestnut Hill. This week should provide some clarity, as Wagner will be tested with games at St. John’s and Coppin State, and receive a visit from Vermont. Bashir Mason’s defense-oriented bunch must help themselves out on offense, having shot a horrendous 29.9 percent from the field so far.
11. Columbia
Record: 1-1
Up next: Friday (9 p.m.) at Michigan State
It gets ugly real fast. The Lions were one miracle away from 2-0 and now have to go to East Lansing to take on the best team in the country. On the bright side, sophomore point guard Grant Mullins looks ready to fill the massive hole left by Brian Barbour. Mullins showed well-timed aggression and dropped 23 points, including 12 of the team’s final 14, in the loss to Manhattan.
12. Fairfield
Record: 1-1
Up next: Saturday (8 p.m.) at Loyola (Md.)
Fairfield, which produced a 13-point win over Sacred Heart and a 10-point loss to Hartford, might not be the model of consistency we’ve seen over the past decade if the scoring isn’t better than the 60-point clip they’re at this season.
13. Army
Record: 1-1
Up next: Friday (7 p.m.) vs. NJIT
The Black Knights are deep, but may not be ready to take the next step after last season’s breakthrough campaign. They lost their season opener against Air Force and could move to 3-1 with upcoming home games against NJIT and Delaware, but after that comes a trip to Notre Dame.
14. Hofstra
Record: 1-2
Up next: Tuesday (7 p.m.) at Richmond
At one point, the Pride only trailed by single digits in the second-half at Louisville. Of course they lost by 28, but it was impressive they could even battle that long. The team’s 14 3-pointers fell one shy of the school record and four players are averaging double-digit points, including freshman Jamal Robinson with 11.3 points. It’s already better than last season.
15. St. Peter’s
Record: 0-2
Up next: Sunday (2 p.m.) at Kent State
The wins aren’t there yet, but there’s reason for optimism. Marvin Dominique, a junior forward transfer from Fordham, put up 31 points and 14 rebounds in a near-upset against LIU Brooklyn in the season opener at Barclays Center.
16. NJIT
Record: 0-2
Up next: Friday (7 p.m.) at Army
With the team’s top two scorers gone from last season, freshman Damon Lynn has stepped in right away and is averaging 17.5 points in the first two games. Unfortunately, the Highlanders road-heavy schedule sends them away from Newark for their next three games.
17. Fairleigh Dickinson
Record: 1-1
Up next: Friday (7 p.m.) at Hartford
The Knights picked up an easy win against Division II Caldwell College, but were hammered in a 80-58 loss to Hofstra. I’m afraid to see what happens when they travel to No. 6 Arizona on Monday.