Saturday, January 30, 2010

Bearcats too much for Friars

(Enquirer/Jeff Swinger)

The Cincinnati Bearcats improved to 14-7, 5-4 in the Big East, with a 92-88 win over the Providence Friars. Providence is now 12-9, and 4-5 in conference. The Bearcats were powered by a career day from Cashmere Wright. Cash went for 24-4-5 assists-3 steals in his first start since December 16. Darnell Wilks tossed in 10 points, including the monster dunk back that's pictured. For the Friars, Sharaud Curry matched his career high with 27. Jamine Peterson had 19. 

The game was like the opposite of Louisville game. The Bearcats fell behind 9-3 and Providence couldn't miss. The Friars made their first 6 3s, and had a 26-19 lead halfway through the 1st half. Wright and Wilks would power the UC offense, and the Cats were able to match the Friars 44 at the half. The Bearcats went on a 13-0 run down 60-57 in one of their best 5 minutes of the season. The lead would be 9 with 25 seconds left, but due to missed free throws by Deonta Vaughn and Wright, Curry would hit 2 shots from deep to make it a 3 point game. Jaquan Parker made a free throw with 5 second left to seal it. 

This was a nice win for UC, as they have to win against similar teams to them if they want to make the NCAA tournament. More on Monday. 

Friday, January 29, 2010

Know Your Opponent: Providence Friars edition

The Bearcats look to bounce back after a tough loss at Louisville, and nearly a week off, as they host the Providence Friars Saturday night at 8 on ESPNU. The Friars are coming off a huge win over Connecticut Wednesday. The Friars and Bearcats are both 4-4 in the Big East. This is a pivotal game as a result. The first round bye is huge in the Big East tournament, and there is some other tournament in March. How do the 13-7 Bearcats and 12-8 Friars stack up? What a great question. See the answer after the jump.
Last thing. If you want to read about Providence until your eyes bleed, check out our good friends FriarBlog and  Friars Basketball. I'm pretty sure there's nothing to do in Rhode Island besides talk about Providence and watch Family Guy.


Big East Breakdown

The Big East season is in full swing. Everyone has played 8 games, except Louisville, West Virginia and UConn who played 7, and Georgetown who played 9. I figure we look at who everyone beat, who beat them, who they have for the next 5 conference games, their chances on winning the regular season, conference tournament and making the NCAA. It'll be easier than it sounds.

1. Villanova Wildcats 8-0. 19-1
Key Players: Scottie Reynolds 18.7 pts 3.3 assts. Corey Fisher 13.3 pts 4.3 asst. Antonio Pena 10.8 pts 7.6 rbs
Who They Beat: Marquette (2), Louisville, DePaul, Georgetown, Rutgers, St John's, Notre Dame
Who Beat Them: No one
Who's Next: Seton Hall, @Georgetown, @West Virginia, Providence, UConn
Regular Season Champ %: 74. They travel to Pitt and Syracuse as well as the games above. They have tough sledding ahead.
B.E Tournament Champ%: 78.
NCAA %: 100. Only an injury or a severe fade keeps the Wildcats out

2. Syracuse Orange 7-1. 20-1
Key Players: Wesley Johnson 17.1 pts 9 rbs. Andy Rautins 10.6 pts 5.2 assts Kris Joseph 10.2 pts 5.1 rbs
Who They Beat: Seton Hall, South Florida, Rutgers, West Virginia, Marquette, Notre Dame, Georgetown
Who Beat Them: Pittsburgh
Who's Next: @DePaul, Providence, @Cincinnati, UConn, Louisville
Regular Season Champ %: 84. I really like this Orange team. They play together great, and they lock down defensively. I think Wes Johnson is the best player in the Big East. 
B.E Tournament Champ%: 83. I think right now they are the favorites to do what Louisville did last year. However, I don't think it will happen
NCAA %: 100. Same reason as above

3. Pittsburgh Panthers 6-2. 16-4
Key Players: Ashton Gibbs 17.1 pts 2.9 rbs. Brad Wanamaker 12.8 pts 6.6 rbs 4.3 assts Gilbert Brown 9.7 pts 3.6 rbs
Who They Beat: DePaul, Syracuse, Cincinnati, UConn, Louisville, St John's
Who Beat Them: Georgetown, Seton Hall
Who's Next: @South Florida, @WVU, Seton Hall, WVU, @Marquette
Regular Season Champ %: 72. Pitt might have played their best basketball of the season, but there is a chance they could get 8 more wins in conference. They have proved that were better than everyone thought coming into the season.
B.E Tournament Champ%: 62. I don't think this is the type of team that could make a run in MSG
NCAA %: 96. They have some good wins, and they should make it

4. West Virginia Mountaineers 5-2. 16-3
Key Players: Da'Sean Butler 15.9 pts 6.4 rbs 3.5 assts. Kevin Jones 14.1 pts 7.8 rbs. Devin Ebanks 11.5 pts 8 rbs
Who They Beat: Seton Hall, Marquette, Rutgers, South Florida, DePaul
Who Beat Them: Notre Dame, Syracuse
Who's Next: Louisville, Pittsburgh, @St Johns, Villanova, @Pittsburgh
Regular Season Champ %: 66. The schedule toughens up on Hugg's boys. The lack of a point guard has hurt them in all their losses, and I think it's going to hurt their chances of winning the regular season.
B.E Tournament Champ%: 70. This is the type of team that could be a nightmare in the BET
NCAA %: 95. They have a nice resume, and shouldn't drop that many BE games to make it an issue. How long they last in the tournament is another story.

5. Georgetown Hoyas 6-3. 15-4
Key Players: Andy Freeman 16 pts 3.9 rbs. Greg Monroe 14.8 pts 10.1 rbs. Chris Wright 14.6 pts 4.2 assts
Who They Beat: St John's, DePaul, UConn, Seton Hall, Pittsburgh, Rutgers 
Who Beat Them: Marquette, Villanova, Syracuse
Who's Next: South Florida, Villanova, @Providence, @Rutgers, Syracuse
Regular Season Champ %: 69. There's a chance they could run the table. They play @Louisville, and @WVU though. There's also a chance they could not score, and they could lose to anyone. 
B.E Tournament Champ%: 60. I don't like this squad to pull off a run like that.
NCAA %: 93. They beat Temple and Butler non conference, and they'll finish above .500 in the BE, which should be enough. 

6. Louisville Cardinals 4-3. 13-7
Key Players: Samardo Samuels 15.9 pts 7.6 rbs. Edgar Sosa 13.9 pts 3.8 assts. Preston Knowles 8.8 pts 3.8 rbs
Who They Beat: South Florida, Providence, St John's, Cincinnati
Who Beat Them: Villanova, Pittsburgh, Seton Hall
Who's Next: @WVU, UConn, Rutgers, @St John's, @Syracuse
Regular Season Champ %: 9. The odds fall off the charts after Georgetown. The middle of the conference is good, do not get me wrong. But they can't afford to slip up the rest of the way to catch Nova and Syracuse. 
B.E Tournament Champ%: 20. Louisville jumped out to big leads on Nova and Pitt, and with their pressure they could pull off the 4 day sweep. However, they lost to Nova and Pitt, so they could lose day 1. 
NCAA %: 64. Louisville doesn't really have much in the resume, but I think they are a little better than the rest of the Big East, and will find a way to make it in the Big Dance.

7. Cincinnati Bearcats 4-4. 13-7
Key Players: We know who they are, we can skip this part
Who They Beat: UConn, Rutgers, Notre Dame, South Florida
Who Beat Them: Pittsburgh, Seton Hall, St John's, Louisville
Who's Next: Providence, @Notre Dame, Syracuse, @UConn, @South Florida
Regular Season Champ %: 5. 
B.E Tournament Champ%: 11. I don't think there is much chance UC could run the gauntlet of the BET. I think that they need to win some games in it though. They need the first round bye. 
NCAA %: 60. The wins over Maryland and Vandy look good, so do wins over fellow bubblers ND and UConn. The Bearcats have to get some wins now.

7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish 4-4. 15-6
Key Players: Luke Harangody 24.5 pts 9.9 rbs. Tim Abromaitis 16.7 pts 4.5 rbs. Ben Hansbrough 11.5 pts 5 assts
Who They Beat: Providence, South Florida, West Virginia, DePaul
Who Beat Them: UConn, Cincinnati, Syracuse, Villanova
Who's Next: @Rutgers, Cincinnati, South Florida, @Seton Hall, St John's
Regular Season Champ %: 5. It could be higher, but they play no defense
B.E Tournament Champ%: 15. It's not out of the realm of possibility this team shoots lights out for 4 days. 
NCAA %: 61. ND doesn't have much in their resume, but they can get over 20 wins and that might be enough. The next 5 games are crucial. If they lose any, their chances go down a lot. 

7. Providence Friars 4-4. 12-8
Key Players: Jamine Peterson 17.9 pts 10.3 rbs. Sharaud Curry 15 pts 3.8 assts. Marshon Brooks 15 pts 4.6 rbs
Who They Beat: St John's, Rutgers, DePaul, UConn
Who Beat Them: Notre Dame, Louisville, Marquette, South Florida
Who's Next: @Cincinnati, @Syracuse, Marquette, Georgetown, @Villanova
Regular Season Champ %: 5. They also don't play much defense, and have a brutal stretch as you can see.
B.E Tournament Champ%: 10
NCAA %: 20. I just don't see it for the Friars. They lost to Iona, which is their only bad loss, and also lost to every other good team they've played. 

10. Connecticut Huskies 3-4. 13-7
Key Players: Jerome Dyson 19.1 pts 4.9 assts 4.7 rbs. Stanley Robinson 16.8 pts 7.4 rbs. Kemba Walker 13.4 pts 6.2 assts 4.1 rbs
Who They Beat: Notre Dame, Seton Hall, St John's 
Who Beat Them: Cincinnati, Georgetown, Pittsburgh, Providence 
Who's Next: @Louisville, DePaul, @Syracuse, Cincinnati, @Villanova
Regular Season Champ %: 8. Just because of the talent level. I doubt they win any of the road games though. Maybe Louisville, since they match up well with them it seems. But without Calhoun, who knows? 
B.E Tournament Champ%: 10. Talent level respect, even though they would have to win 5 games in 5 days at this point. 
NCAA %: 60. I don't know what to make of UConn. They are wildly inconsistent. The win over Texas could help, but that out be an outlier. The beat down against Providence was surprising. 

11. South Florida Bulls 3-5. 13-7
Key Players: Dominique Jones 21.4 pts 6 rbs 4.3 assts. Jarrid Famous 11.7 pts 8.1 rbs. Chris Howard 9.7 pts 3.9 rbs
Who They Beat: Rutgers, Providence, Seton Hall
Who Beat Them: Louisville, Notre Dame, Syracuse, West Virginia, Cincinnati
Who's Next: Pittsburgh, @Georgetown, @Notre Dame, @Marquette, Cincinnati
Regular Season Champ %: 3. What a ridiculous schedule
B.E Tournament Champ%: 6. No way a team runs all 5 games, but Dom. Jones gives them a fighters chance every night.
NCAA %: 11. Stranger things have happened. They have won 2 in a row, and get Augustus Gilchrist back soon

11. Seton Hall Pirates 3-5. 12-7
Key Players: Jeremy Hazell 22.5 pts 3.6 rbs. Herb Pope 12.3 pts 11.4 rbs. Jeff Robinson 9.7 pts 5.5 rbs
Who They Beat: Cincinnati, Louisville, Pittsburgh
Who Beat Them: West Virginia, Syracuse, UConn, Georgetown, South Florida
Who's Next: @Villanova, @Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, DePaul, @St John's
Regular Season Champ %: 4. 
B.E Tournament Champ%: 6. Maybe Hazell shoots out of his mind for a week. 
NCAA %: 35. The Pirates looked like they were making a move, and then lost to South Florida. They don't have the most brutal schedule, but they play 6 road games and I don't trust them.

11. Marquette Golden Eagles 3-5. 12-8
Key Players: Lazar Hayward 18.1 pts 7.7 rbs. Jimmy Butler 14.8 pts 6.6 rbs. Darius Johnson-Odom 12.4 pts 2.4 assts
Who They Beat: Georgetown, Providence, Rutgers
Who Beat Them: West Virginia, Villanova (2), DePaul, Syarcuse
Who's Next: @UConn, DePaul, @Providence, South Florida, Pittsburgh
Regular Season Champ %: 5. Their schedule eases up some, and I think the Eagles can make a run to the middle of the pack. 
B.E Tournament Champ%: 6. They have a nice team, but a propensity for losing close games. I don't think there's enough there to go on that big a run.
NCAA %: 29. They have 2 good wins against Xavier and Georgetown, but not much else. Their  close game losses are really hurting their portfolio. 

14. St John's Red Storm 2-6. 12-8
Key Players: DJ Kennedy 15 pts 6.4 rbs 3.2 assts. Dwight Hardy 11.9 pts 2.3 rbs. Paris Horne 8.3 pts 2.3 rbs
Who They Beat: Cincinnati, DePaul
Who Beat Them: Georgetown, Providence, Louisville, UConn, Villanova, Pittsburgh
Who's Next: @Rutgers, WVU, Louisville, @Notre Dame, Seton Hall
Regular Season Champ %: 3. 
B.E Tournament Champ%: 3. They would have to go on a crazy run to get a bye. Maybe they could win a game though.
NCAA %: 15. 

15. DePaul Blue Demons 1-7. 8-12
Key Players: Will Walker 16.1 pts 3.2 rbs. Mack Koswahl 14 pts 10.5 rbs Mike Stoval 7.1 pts 2.7 rbs
Who They Beat: Marquette
Who Beat Them: Pittsburgh, Georgetown, Villanova, Providence, St John's, Notre Dame, West Virginia
Who's Next: Syracuse, @Marquette, @UConn, @Seton Hall, Rutgers
Regular Season Champ %: 2. At least they won a conference game
B.E Tournament Champ%: 2. They were 1/5 of the way there last year. 
NCAA %: 2. 

16. Rutgers Scarlet Knights 0-8. 9-11
Key Players: Mike Rosario 15.3 pts 4.2 rbs. Jonathan Mitchell 10.1 pts 5.1 rbs. Hamady Ndiaye 9.1 pts 6.5 rbs. 
Who They Beat: No one
Who Beat Them: Cincinnati, West Virginia, Providence, Syracuse, South Florida, Villanova, Georgetown, Marquette
Who's Next: Notre Dame, St John's, @Louisville, Georgetown, @DePaul
Regular Season Champ %: 1
B.E Tournament Champ%: 1. The 16 seed won a game last year
NCAA %: 1. Everyone has a chance, no matter how small.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

National Breakdown

With a couple of key Big East games on the docket tonight, St John's at Pittsburgh and Seton Hall at South Florida, I think we should take a look at the national scene in regard to the NCAA tournament. This isn't a bubble watch or anything, just teams on the radar. The Big East not included. Let's start shall we?
(Standings thanks to ESPN.com)

Atlantic 10 + 4 
First off a rant. Why is it still the A-10? The Big 10 looks stupid for having 11, and the A-10 looked at it and said let's raise the stupid bar a few notches. They must have realized that no one cares about their league and what it's called, so they decided to screw it and add tons of teams. Rant over.


TEAM
CONF. W-L
OVERALL W-L
Temple
5-1
17-4
Charlotte
5-1
15-5
Xavier
5-1
13-6
Rhode Island
4-2
16-3
Richmond
4-2
15-6
Saint Louis
3-2
12-7
Dayton
3-3
14-6
La Salle
3-3
11-9
St. Bonaventure
2-3
9-9
George Washington
2-4
12-7
Massachusetts
2-4
8-12
Saint Joseph's
2-4
8-12
Duquesne
1-4
10-9
Fordham
0-7
2-17

The A-14 is pretty deep this year. It is unrealistic to think that all 7 contenders will make the NCAAs. They all have good wins though. Richmond beat Florida, Temple beat Villanova, Charlotte beat Louisville, Dayton beat Georgia Tech, Rhode Island beat Oklahoma State, and X beat UC. I think no more than 4 make it out of the conference with Rhode Island, Charlotte and Richmond being left out. 


ACC


TEAM
CONF. W-L
OVERALL W-L
Maryland
4-1
14-5
Virginia
3-1
12-5
Duke
5-2
17-3
Wake Forest
4-2
14-4
Florida State
3-3
15-5
Georgia Tech
3-3
14-5
Virginia Tech
2-2
15-3
Clemson
3-4
15-6
Boston College
3-4
12-9
North Carolina
2-3
13-7
North Carolina State
2-5
13-8
Miami (FL)
1-5
15-5

Surprising to see Maryland on top isn't it? I think it's a bit unrealistic to see Virginia hang out on top of the standings all year. Virginia Tech has a good record, but their best win is Georgia? Seton Hall? Penn State? Wake Forest looks to be for real. Duke is still the top dog if you ask me. If someone said to you that UC and UNC would have the same record at this point in the season, you would take it right? I think the ACC gets 6, Duke, Maryland, Wake, FSU, GT and Clemson. I wouldn't be shocked with 7.


Big 12


TEAM
CONF. W-L
OVERALL W-L
Kansas
5-0
19-1
Texas
4-1
18-2
Kansas State
4-2
17-3
Oklahoma State
4-2
16-4
Missouri
3-2
15-5
Texas A&M
3-3
14-6
Oklahoma
3-3
12-8
Baylor
2-3
15-4
Texas Tech
2-4
14-6
Colorado
2-4
11-9
Iowa State
1-4
12-8
Nebraska
0-5
12-8

Kansas will probably get back to the top spot on the polls come Monday, and are the odds on favorite to take the whole thing come March. I like Baylor, but that loss to Colorado could really hurt. The jury is still out on Oklahoma State, who has no good wins out of conference, but wins over K-State and A&M in conference. I think we could see 5 make it, with Kansas, Texas, K-State, Baylor and Oklahoma State. 


Big 10 + 1


TEAM
CONF. W-L
OVERALL W-L
Michigan State
8-0
18-3
Wisconsin
6-2
16-4
Ohio State
5-3
15-6
Illinois
5-3
13-8
Purdue
4-3
16-3
Minnesota
4-4
13-7
Indiana
3-4
9-10
Northwestern
3-5
14-6
Michigan
3-5
10-10
Iowa
2-6
8-13
Penn State
0-8
8-12

Michigan State has had some close calls in the league, but the Spartans are still undefeated. Purdue and Wisconsin throwdown tonight, and if the Boilers win, MSU has the conference almost locked up. The national media is made up of all Northwestern grads who want to see the Wildcats make the big dance. The schedule breaks for them as they play Indiana, Penn State and Iowa all twice. Plus Chicago State. That should be 7 wins, and one would think if they added a win against Minnesota or at Wisconsin, they would be in. I think 5 make it here, with MSU, OSU, Purdue and Wisconsin joining Northwestern.


Conference USA


TEAM
CONF. W-L
OVERALL W-L
UAB
6-0
18-2
Tulsa
5-1
16-4
Memphis
5-1
15-5
UTEP
5-1
14-5
Marshall
4-2
15-5
Houston
3-3
10-9
Southern Methodist
2-3
9-10
UCF
2-4
10-10
Southern Miss
1-4
11-8
East Carolina
1-5
7-13
Tulane
1-5
6-13
Rice
0-6
6-13

I added C-USA to the mix because it looks to be at least a 2 bid league. UAB is in control, but UTEP ended Memphis' conference winning streak and the 2 play next. Marshall hasn't beaten anyone. Memphis whiffed on their non-conference schedule and lost to UMass. I think UAB and UTEP make it.


Mountain West


TEAM
CONF. W-L
OVERALL W-L
Brigham Young
5-1
20-2
New Mexico
5-2
19-3
UNLV
5-2
17-4
San Diego State
3-3
14-6
Colorado State
3-3
12-8
Utah
3-3
10-10
TCU
2-4
10-11
Wyoming
2-4
9-11
Air Force
0-6
8-11

If you don't think the Mountain West is worth talking about, you are on crack sir. A day after calling BYU a top 10 team, the Bearcats Blog jinx kicked them in the nuts as they lost to New Mexico. The top 3 should all make it. SDSU could be a spoiler in the MWC tournament, but I doubt it. 


Pac 10


TEAM
CONF. W-L
OVERALL W-L
California
5-2
13-6
Arizona State
4-3
14-6
USC
4-3
12-7
Stanford
4-3
10-9
Arizona
4-3
10-9
UCLA
4-3
9-10
Washington State
4-4
14-6
Washington
3-5
13-7
Oregon
2-5
10-9
Oregon State
2-5
8-11

It's true to say that the Pac 10 has been full of suck. Washington has been gigantically disappointing, but I think they could win the conference tournament and steal a bid. I mean, look at the standings. The tournament is going to be a bid stealer. California should win the regular season, but keep an eye on Arizona State, who plays Cal tonight. Washington State has and artificially inflated record. 2 teams make it, maybe 3 but let's not go crazy.


SEC


EAST
CONF. W-L
OVERALL W-L
Vanderbilt
5-0
16-3
Kentucky
4-1
19-1
Florida
4-2
15-5
Tennessee
3-2
15-4
South Carolina
3-3
12-8
Georgia
1-4
9-9
WEST
CONF. W-L
OVERALL W-L
Mississippi State
3-1
15-4
Mississippi
3-2
15-4
Alabama
3-3
13-7
Arkansas
1-3
8-11
Auburn
1-4
10-10
LSU
0-6
9-11

After winning at Tennessee, look who is leading the SEC East. It's unsure if Vandy can ride the wave and take the East after Kentucky has been practically handed it. The 2 play Saturday. The West is the Mississippi teams and a bunch of jokers. Alabama is decent, but not more than that. Tennessee should make the tournament, but I see a swoon coming for them. Florida is a tough team to get a handle on, with 2 buzzer beaters this season from Chandler Parsons. 5 or 6 will make it between UK, Vandy, the Mississippi's, Florida and UT.


Smaller League breakdown


America East- Maine is 6-1, 14-6 overall. Stony Brook (14-7) is their competition at 6-2 but lost to Maine already.
Atlantic Sun- Campbell (12-7), Jacksonville (11-8), and East Tennessee State (11-10) are all 7-3. Looks like a 16 seed comes from here.
Big Sky- Weber State (13-7) is 7-1 and lead Northern Colorado (17-4) and Montana State (11-8) who are 6-2. NC beat Weber who beat MSU who beat NC.
Big South- Coastal Carolina at 18-3, 8-1, is running away with it with a 2 game lead on Radford (10-9) 6-3.
Big West- Pacific (12-6) 5-1 leads UC Santa Barbara (10-7) and Cal Poly (8-10) by half a game, but 1 in the loss column. 
CAA- George Mason (14-7) leads things with a 9-1 record. Old Dominion (16-5) is 8-1, and Northeastern (13-8) is 8-2. William and Mary (14-6) beat Wake and Richmond, but has dropped 3 straight and are 6-4. 
Horizon- Butler (16-4) is 9-0 and leads Wisconsin Green Bay (15-7) by 2 1/2 games. It's Butler's to lose.
Ivy- Cornell and Harvard are both 2-0 and have 16-3 and 13-3 records respectively leading some to wonder if the Ivy could get 2 bids. That seems unreasonable, but I wouldn't want to face either one in the first round.
MAAC- Siena (17-4) is 10-0 and look ready to march back to the dance. They can't afford to drop more than a game for an at large big. Iona (15-6), Fairfield (14-6), and St Peter's (12-8) are all 7-3.
MAC- Central Michigan (9-8) leads the West at 4-1 over 4-2 Northern Illinois (8-10), but the power is in the East. Akron (14-6) and Kent State (13-7) are both 4-2. 
MEAC- Morgan State (14-7) is 6-0 and appears to be the class of the league. Bethune-Cookman (12-8) and Howard (6-15) are hanging around at 5-2.
Missouri Valley- Northern Iowa (18-2) leads the way at 9-1 and as long as they don't collapse, they should get a bid. Wichita State (18-4) beat UNI, and are the closest competition at 7-3. 
Northeastern- There's a battle at the top as Quinnipiac (13-6) and Robert Morris (12-8) are 7-1. St Francis (9-10) and Long Island (8-11) are hanging around at 6-2.
Ohio Valley- Murray State has raced (get it? huh huh) out to a 19-3 record and are a perfect 10-0. Morehead State (14-6) are on their heels at 8-1, but lost to Murray by 30.
Patriot League- Lafayette (14-7) is 5-1, but Leigh (13-8) is right behind at 4-2. The league is tightly packed and the tournament title game that happens on a Friday in the middle of the afternoon on ESPN is something I always end up watching. 
Southern- Western Carolina (16-4) leads their division at 6-2, and Charleston (13-7) leads their division at 8-1. WCU beat Louisville, and Charleston beat UNC non conference. WCU beat Charleston on Monday.
Southland- Sam Houston State (13-5) and Texas A&M Corpus Christi (11-8) are 5-0 and leading the west, while Stephen F. Austin (14-5) leads the east at 4-2. 
SWAC- Texas Southern (10-9) and Jackson State (8-11) are 6-1 and lead a log jam of the 5-2 foes. Poor Alcorn State is 0-8 and 0-21 this season. The closest they've come to a win is having a game against Jackson State cancelled.
Summit- Oakland and IUPUI are both 15-7 on the year, but the Golden Grizzlies beat the Jaguars and are 9-0 to their 8-1. What one is which? Google search son. (Oakland are the Griz)
Sun Belt- Arkansas State (11-8) leads the west with a 6-2 record, a loss better than 6-3 Denver (13-7). In the east, Middle Tennessee (11-10) and Florida Atlantic (10-10) are both 6-3. 
WCC- Gonzaga (16-3) is 5-0 and has beaten all of their main competition on the road. The Zags shouldn't drop another one, except maybe to St Mary's (17-3). The Gaels are 4-1 in league and travel to Spokane in February.
WAC- Louisiana Tech and their 18-3 record have gotten some top 25 votes. They are leading the league at 6-1. Utah State (15-6) and New Mexico State (12-8) are 5-2.