College Basketball

Iona capable of reaching another NCAA tournament

St. John’s hangs on to the top spot this week, but Iona is rising fast. Despite losing their three best players from their NCAA tournament teams the past two seasons, Tim Cluess’ kids could soon claim the top spot if the Red Storm don’t clean up their inconsistencies.

Here are this week’s local college basketball rankings:

(Last week’s rankings in parentheses)

1. St. John’s (1)

Record: 5-2
Up next: Saturday (1:30 p.m.) vs. Fordham

The Red Storm’s first game at the Garden this season comes on Saturday, when their slow starts cannot continue against the up-and-coming Rams. Fortunately, Chris Obekpa has never been better at bailing the defense out down low, swatting a nation-best 5.7 shots per game.

2. Iona (5)

Record: 4-2
Up next: Sunday (1:30 p.m.) at Fairfield

The Gaels have won three straight games, including a decisive road win at Florida Gulf Coast. The MAAC kings aren’t going to give up the crown so easily.

3. Stony Brook (2)

Record: 6-3
Up next: Saturday (11 a.m.) vs. La Salle at Madison Square Garden

The Seawolves bounced back from a last-second loss to St. Francis Brooklyn with a home win over Fairleigh Dickinson, in which five players hit double figures in scoring. Stony Brook will enjoy a rare spotlight game against the Explorers, in one of its toughest matchups this season.

4. Fordham (6)

Record: 4-2
Up next: Saturday (1:30 p.m.) vs. St. John’s

The loss to Sacred Heart seems like it happened to someone else. With a win at Manhattan and a 31-point thrashing of Furman, the Rams are surging entering their interborough showdown on Saturday.

5. Manhattan (4)

Record: 4-2
Up next: Friday (7 p.m.) at Marist

It’s been a quiet week for the Jaspers, off since Saturday’s closer-than-expected 66-59 win at Hofstra. Manhattan may still be the best team in the MAAC, but it has not played up to its immense potential.

6. St. Francis Brooklyn (8)

Record: 5-3
Up next: Saturday (3 p.m.) at Army

The Terriers may not be perennial underdogs for much longer. With three straight victorires, including an impressive road win at Stony Brook, the Terriers are lurking as a legitimate contender in the Northeast Conference.

7. Seton Hall (3)

Record: 5-3
Up next: Sunday (8 p.m.) at Rutgers

After a convincing win over LIU Brooklyn on Thursday night, the Pirates play three straight in-state opponents: Rutgers, NJIT and St. Peter’s.

8. Columbia (9)

Record: 5-4
Up next: Saturday (7 p.m.) at Bucknell

The Lions have won three of their past four games, only losing in overtime at Elon. When sophomore guard Grant Mullins is going strong, like in his 28-point effort against Army, Columbia is a different team.

9. Rutgers (10)

Record: 4-4
Up next: Sunday (8 p.m.) vs. Seton Hall

The Scarlet Knights have lost four of their past five games, with the lone win coming over Division II Stillman. A win in Sunday’s rivalry game against Seton Hall might be as good as it can get this season.

10. NJIT (11)

Record: 5-4
Up next: Saturday (2 p.m.) vs. UMass-Lowell

Coach Jim Engles is doing a tremendous job once again and guard Damon Lynn could help elevate the program even further. The freshman from New Jersey is averaging 20.1 points.

11. Wagner (7)

Record: 4-5
Up next: Saturday (7 p.m.) at Penn

The NEC preseason favorites are having trouble living up to the hype. The Seahawks have lost three straight, including a 12-point home loss to Lafayette on Tuesday.

12. Fairleigh Dickinson (16)

Record: 3-7
Up next: Saturday (7 p.m.) at Princeton

The Knights broke a 20-game Division I losing streak with back-to-back wins at Rutgers and Seton Hall. Brighter days are ahead for the long-struggling program, under new coach Greg Herenda.

13. LIU Brooklyn (12)

Record: 2-5
Up next: Monday (7:30 p.m.) at Lehigh

The Blackbirds are 0-4 on the road and play their next two away from Brooklyn, at Lehigh and NJIT.

14. St. Peter’s (15)

Record: 2-4
Up next: Friday (7 p.m.) at Canisius

A one-point loss at Boston U. broke the Peacocks’ two-game winning streak. Now, their MAAC season opens with a dreaded trek to upstate New York for back-to-back games against Canisius and Niagara.

15. Hofstra (13)

Record: 2-6
Up next: Saturday (1 p.m.) vs. SMU

New coach Joe Mihalich has his undermanned team doing everything possible, compiling a record that isn’t all that bad when considering everything that happened last season.

16. Army (14)

Record: 1-6
Up next: Saturday (3 p.m.) vs. St. Francis Brooklyn

This does not look like the year that the Black Knights will emerge from the “Forgotten Five.”

17. Fairfield (17)

Record: 1-6
Up next: Friday (8:30 p.m.) at Quinnipiac

With six straight losses, and the next three games against Quinnipiac, Iona and Belmont, the Stags may not end that steak anytime soon.