Some new rankings for the New Year. I hope yours is happy. Only a select few teams will feel that way in a few months.
(Last week’s rankings in parentheses)
1. St. John’s (1)
Record: 9-4, 0-1
Up next: Saturday (1 p.m.) at Georgetown
The Johnnies’ string of three straight wins was snapped with a Big East-opening loss at Xavier. Though the offensive chemistry is still coming together, Rysheed Jordan is playing his best ball of the season, looking like the prized recruit everyone was expecting. It should only get better.
2. Manhattan (2)
Record: 10-2, 3-0
Up next: Saturday (7 p.m.) vs. Fairfield
An 11-day layoff didn’t hurt Manhattan, which won at St. Peter’s, 74-62, on Thursday for its seventh straight win. If St. John’s should stumble early in Big East play, the Jaspers, off to their best start in 12 seasons, could jump to the top spot.
3. Seton Hall (4)
Record: 10-4, 1-0
Up next: Saturday (3 p.m.) vs. Creighton
The Pirates have won three straight games, including a one-point, double-overtime win at Providence, sealed by Sterling Gibbs’ last-second free throws. Seton Hall’s offense is clicking, averaging 83.3 points over the past seven games, six of them wins.
4. Stony Brook (3)
Record: 9-4, 1-0
Up next: Friday (9 p.m.) at VCU
Three straight wins and 11 days off made for happy holidays out in Suffolk County.
5. St. Francis Brooklyn (5)
Record: 9-5, 0-0
Up next: Saturday (4 p.m.) at Columbia
The Terriers have won four straight games, giving them their best start in 12 seasons. An intriguing matchup with the Lions is followed by a date with LIU in the Battle of Brooklyn.
6. Iona (7)
Record: 5-6, 2-0
Up next: Saturday (2 p.m.) vs. Niagara
A weather-related postponement on Thursday against Quinnipiac may be just what Iona needed. The Gaels have lost four straight, but now come home after three games on the road.
7. Columbia (8)
Record: 8-6, 0-0
Up next: Saturday (4 p.m.) vs. St. Francis Brooklyn
Columbia nearly took down St. John’s, then defeated Colgate in double overtime for its first road win of the season. Since a slow start to the season, junior forward Alex Rosenberg is averaging 15 points over the past nine games, including a career-high 23 points against the Raiders.
8. Rutgers (9)
Record: 7-7, 1-0
Up next: Saturday (6 p.m.) vs. Louisville
Perhaps the darkest days have passed. The Scarlet Knights have won three straight games — following losses in six of their previous seven – including an AAC-opening win over Temple on Wednesday. Unfortunately, the defending national champions are coming to town to ruin the good times.
9. Fordham (6)
Record: 7-6, 0-0
Up next: Wednesday (7 p.m.) at Duquesne
The Rams lost back-to-back games for the first time this season – against Harvard and Siena – heading into Atlantic 10 play. It can only get better, though, after winning eight total conference games in the past five seasons.
10. Wagner (11)
Record: 6-7, 0-0
Up next: Saturday (1 p.m.) vs. North Carolina Central
A disappointing two months no longer matters. After winning at Monmouth, 59-52, the Seahawks have one more game to build some confidence and prove they are still contenders in the Northeast Conference.
11. LIU Brooklyn (12)
Record: 5-8, 0-0
Up next: Jan. 9 (7 p.m.) at St. Francis Brooklyn
The Blackbirds open conference play with road challenges against city rivals St. Francis Brooklyn and Wagner. It isn’t clear when Julian Boyd will return to action, but he is believed to be ready to come back to the court this month. It will make all the difference.
12. Army (13)
Record: 5-7, 1-0
Up next: Sunday (2 p.m.) vs. Loyola (Md.)
The Black Knights won their conference opener at Lafayette convincingly, 85-66. After opening the season 1-6, Army is back in the Patriot League contender conversation.
13. St. Peter’s (14)
Record: 4-8, 0-3
Up next: Saturday (2 p.m.) vs. Canisius
The improving Peacocks continue to struggle against conference foes.
14. Hofstra (15)
Record: 4-9, 0-0
Up next: Sunday (4 p.m.) at Fairleigh Dickinson
The momentum of Tuesday’s home win over NJIT was squashed in a three-point loss at Tulane on Thursday, despite 31 points from Zeke Upshaw.
15. NJIT (10)
Record: 6-10
Up next: Saturday (4 p.m.) at St. Francis (Pa.)
After six straight losses, the Highlanders need these next eight days off.
16. Fairleigh Dickinson (16)
Record: 3-10, 0-0
Up next: Sunday (4 p.m.) vs. Hofstra
The Knights will have had two weeks off before they play the Pride. There is no way to know which team will show up: FDU has lost four straight games, yet the season’s only wins came against Rutgers, Seton Hall and Division II Caldwell College.
17. Fairfield (17)
Record: 3-10, 0-3
Up next: Sunday (7 p.m.) at Manhattan
Just when things seemed to be turning with a solid win at Bucknell, the Stags get embarrassed in a 19-point loss to Marist in which they went the first 8:30 of the game without scoring a point.