St. John’s has reclaimed the top spot after winning their first two conference games, but the margin between the Johnnies and Jaspers is smaller than ever. If the high-flying Iona Gaels are able to defeat Manhattan at home on Friday night, it could get all sorts of complicated.
(Last week’s rankings in parentheses)
1. St. John’s (2)
Record: 12-9, 2-6
Up next: Saturday (12:30 p.m.) vs. Marquette
The Red Storm finally got their first true road win – at Butler – and then showed they can play with anybody in a last-second loss at Creighton. Unfortunately, the Johnnies just can’t avoid the early holes they dig for themselves in every game.
2. Manhattan (1)
Record: 14-5, 7-3
Up next: Friday (9 p.m.) at Iona
A home overtime loss to Quinnipiac gave the Bobcats a season sweep against the Jaspers. Manhattan has to be hoping to avoid another matchup against the nation’s top rebounding team in the MAAC tournament.
3. Iona (6)
Record: 11-8, 8-2
Up next: Friday (9 p.m.) vs. Manhattan
The Gaels have won three straight heading into the huge showdown against Manhattan. Iona is shooting over 48 percent from the field as a team this season.
4. Seton Hall (3)
Record: 12-9, 3-5
Up next: Saturday (Noon) at Xavier
A troubling home loss to last-place Butler puts the Pirates in a tough spot going into back-to-back road games at Xavier and Villanova.
5. Columbia (4)
Record: 13-6, 2-0
Up next: Friday (7 p.m.) at Yale
We’ll finally be able to get a better gauge of the Lions after this weekend. They beat lowly Cornell for their first two conference wins.
6. Stony Brook (5)
Record: 15-7, 7-1
Up next: Saturday (2 p.m.) vs. Hartford
The first conference loss finally came Wednesday night at Albany, 77-67, and the Seawolves will have to return to the state’s capital for the quarterfinals and semifinals of the American East tournament, where they were upset as a No. 1 seed by the Great Danes last season.
7. St. Francis Brooklyn (7)
Record: 13-9, 4-3
Up next: Saturday (5 p.m.) vs. Wagner
The Terriers remain good enough to beat any team in the Northeast Conference, but haven’t been consistent enough to elevate to the top of the league.
8. Army (9)
Record: 10-10, 6-3
Up next: Saturday (1 p.m.) at Loyola (Md.)
A loss to first-place American and an overtime loss to second-place BU does nothing to diminish their recovery from a 1-6 start. The Black Knights aren’t favorites in the Patriot League, but they’re definitely still contenders.
9. Wagner (11)
Record: 10-10, 4-3
Up next: Saturday (5 p.m.) at St. Francis Brooklyn
With LIU Brooklyn’s Jamal Olasewere, Julian Boyd and C.J. Garner all gone, the Seahawks were finally able to take down their rivals, finishing a season sweep of the Blackbirds with a seven-point road win on Thursday.
10. Rutgers (8)
Record: 8-13, 2-6
Up next: Saturday (4:30 p.m.) vs. Houston
Four straight losses have put the Scarlet Knights right on schedule to where many believed they’d be this season.
11. Fordham (10)
Record: 8-12, 1-6
Up next: Saturday (7 p.m.) at Rhode Island
Though the season started with promise, the Rams have lost their last four conference games by an average of 22 points. Freshman Jon Severe is shooting 31.5 percent from the field in A-10 play.
12. Fairleigh Dickinson (12)
Record: 8-13, 4-3
Up next: Saturday (2 p.m.) at St. Francis (Pa.)
Thursday’s 87-82 overtime loss at Mount St. Mary’s could really come back to haunt the Knights, who would have been tied for second in the Northeast Conference with a win.
13. LIU Brooklyn (15)
Record: 7-13, 2-5
Up next: Saturday (2:30 p.m.) at Mount St. Mary’s
The very least the Blackbirds can do is get Jason Brickman into the NEC Tournament in his final season. Currently, LIU occupies the eighth and final spot.
14. St. Peter’s (13)
Record: 7-12, 3-7
Up next: Friday (7 p.m.) vs. Rider
The Peacocks have lost three straight after a season-high three straight wins. Outside of freshman Trevis Whyche (4.1 assists), no other player averages more than 1.4 assists.
15. Hofstra (14)
Record: 7-15, 3-4
Up next: Saturday (1 p.m.) at Charleston
The Pride’s turnaround in conference play has turned back, with the team losing three straight.
16. NJIT (16)
Record: 9-14
Up next: Monday (7 p.m.) at UMass-Lowell
The Highlanders broke a three-game skid with an overtime win over Delaware State, then blew a 10-point lead in the final 10 minutes against Duquesne. Six games remain this season, but only three come against Division I teams.
17. Fairfield (17)
Record: 4-17, 1-9
Up next: Saturday (1 p.m.) vs. Canisius
The new year hasn’t meant new results — the Stags are 1-8 in January.