Post by nashvillestag on Nov 27, 2015 9:03:40 GMT -5
With these two wins over huge programs UCLA and Notre Dame, Monmouth has certainly helped the MAAC, not only in terms of RPI ranking, but also in perception that the league is stronger than some have thought. Big question within the league (and Stag land) however has to be whether they have passed Iona as the team to beat? Not only that, does this mean two automatic losses to the rank and file when league competition takes place later on? My own feeling is that despite the obvious power of the Hawks in this early part of the season, shifting of power for various reasons may take place over the next three months. Remember, although they have received some strong support from a couple of newcomers (Hornbeak comes to mind), most of the production has come from returnees such as Robinson and James, significant to know because if you remember last season the Stags with pretty much a weak and uninspired team was certainly able to play them fairly close when they competed against each other. The Stags are better we know. How much? The point is though that with Iona and now Monmouth as highly regarded in mid-major circles the league is stronger, at least perception wise. So for any other league member to defeat them would be a big deal when the time comes.
Last Edit: Nov 27, 2015 11:34:16 GMT -5 by nashvillestag
With these two wins over huge programs UCLA and Notre Dame, Monmouth has certainly helped the MAAC, not only in terms of RPI ranking, but also in perception that the league is stronger than some have thought....
Not sure if the perception would be that the MAAC is stronger or that Monmouth now is a stronger basketball program and on the rise? So far Iona and Monmouth are the only MAAC teams in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 or receiving votes.
Mid-Major Top 25 RECORD POINTS PREVIOUS 1. Gonzaga (28) 2-0 762 2 West Coast 2. Northern Iowa (2) 2-1 744 10 Missouri Valley 3. Wichita State 2-1 678 1 Missouri Valley 4. Valparaiso 5-1 642 3 Horizon 5. Evansville 3-0 633 6 Missouri Valley 6. BYU 2-1 515 4 West Coast 7. Central Michigan 2-0 481 8 Mid-American 8. Chattanooga (1) 3-0 467 19 Southern 9. Belmont 3-2 421 5 Ohio Valley 10. Saint Mary's 3-0 416 20 West Coast 11. UC Irvine 3-0 411 17 Big West 12. North Florida 3-1 370 9 Atlantic Sun 13. Yale 3-1 335 11 Ivy League 14. Oakland 1-1 305 14 Horizon 15. Akron 3-1 302 15 Mid-American 16. Stephen F. Austin 1-2 216 7 Southland 17. Western Illinois 4-0 199 24 Summit 18. UL-Lafayette 1-2 187 12 Sun Belt 19. South Dakota State 4-0 177 NR Summit 20. Iona 1-2 174 13 Metro Atlantic 21. Montana 2-1 154 16 Big Sky 22. Hofstra 3-1 129 21 Colonial 23. Monmouth 2-1 122 22 Metro Atlantic 24. Southern Illinois 4-0 119 NR Missouri Valley 25. NJIT 3-1 116 NR Atlantic Sun
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Sacramento State 88, Kent State 67, Murray State 52, Illinois State 51, Pepperdine 49, William & Mary 47, Stony Brook 43, Bucknell 41, Milwaukee 36, Loyola Chicago 35, Columbia 34, Northeastern 28, Georgia State 27, Princeton 27, Harvard 25, Albany 24, Northern Illinois 24, Buffalo 23, Radford 22, Wofford 21, Hawaii 20, Long Beach State 18, New Mexico State 18, Winthrop 17, Robert Morris 16, Western Michigan 16, Oral Roberts 15, Alabama A&M 12, High Point 11, UALR 9, Florida Gulf Coast, Grand Canyon 8, James Madison 8, Ohio 8, North Dakota State 6, Cal Poly 4, UNC-Wilmington 3, Lafayette 2, Toledo 2, Alabama State 1.
Right now, Monmouth is a much better TEAM (especially defensively) than Iona and should be the class of the league. Iona has more individual talent but they are figuring out still how to play as a team.
Saturday the MAAC went 1-4 with Siena's home overtime victory over Loyola MD the only win. Canisius, St. Peter's, Niagara, and Manhattan lost to Buffalo, Fairleigh Dickinson, Youngstown State, and Fordham repectively.
Monmouth (3-2) plays USC (5-1) at 12:30pm in Orlando on ESPN2 today.
And if you look close you will be able to see our old friend Martin Bahar on the USC bench. Very happy in his new job as a recruiting and video coordinator. Certainly hoping his team has a good run in order to enhance his chances of getting back to being an official coach again, something he very much wants to happen.
Last Edit: Nov 29, 2015 12:12:22 GMT -5 by nashvillestag
Post by nashvillestag on Nov 29, 2015 12:11:46 GMT -5
BTW if the all day NFL hasn't worn you out, tonight at 10:PM, ESPN2, the undefeated Providence Friars of Ed Cooley are playing in the final of a tournament in Anaheim, Cal. vs. the highly ranked Michigan State Spartans. Battle of All Americans in Kris Dunn for the Friars and Denzel Valentine for MS. Quite frankly the Spartans probably have too much other talent here, but of course with big Ed you can never count out his team.