There were a lot of games this week, but not many unexpected outcomes
1. Toledo Rockets (6-0), LW: 1
Last week: Florida A&M (W), Stony Brook (W), Detroit (W), Florida Atlantic (W)
This week: No games
The Rockets maintain the top spot after closing out the 2k Sports Classic 4-0. I had a little thought that the Boston College win was a fluke, but that's not so. There's no doubt the Rockets can score; they're tenth in the nation in points per game (92). But the defense is sketchy. They've given up an average of 82.4 points per game against D1 competition and it seemed like that lack of defense had finally caught up to them in the Detroit game. After an off week this week Toledo plays Detroit again, this time at Savage Arena.
2. Kent State Golden Flashes (6-1), LW: 2
Last week: Western Carolina (W), USC-Upstate (W), Niagara (W)
This week: Youngstown State (11/27), Kennesaw State (12/1)
The Flashes just keep rolling as they picked up three more home wins over decent teams. The USC-Upstate win was the most impressive and will go a long way in helping Kent's RPI. The Penguins of Youngstown State come to town this week at 6-1, but only three of those wins have come over Division I competition. Kendrick Perry is one of the best players in the country and will give the Flashes fits if not guarded. Kennesaw State is one of the worst teams in the nation.
3. Akron Zips (1-2), LW: 3
Last week: No games
This week: Malone (11/27)
Akron had an off week, and they needed it. There was a little scare that Demetrius Treadwell had quit the team, but that's not the case. The game against Malone is scheduled as an exhibition so I don't believe that will count in the overall win-loss.
4. Ohio Bobcats (4-1), LW: 4
Last week: at Morgan State (W), Heidelberg (W)
This week: Mercer (11/26), Evansville (11/30)
Mercer's a good team and almost knocked off Texas in the season opener. The Bears also beat Seton Hall in double overtime, so the Bobcats can't be downplaying this one. This game really doesn't get any closer as Ohio is ranked 109th in KenPom's ratings and Mercer is 108. Evansville sits at 115, so they're a good team too. The big name factor might not be there, but these are two of the better mid-major matchups of the year. The Purple Aces are 5-0 with wins over Valparaiso and Mercer.
5. Eastern Michigan Eagles (5-0), LW: 6
Last week: Cleveland State (W), Texas-Arlington (W)
This week: at Kentucky (11/27)
The Eagles actually beat someone of substance this week knocking off Cleveland State and Texas-Arlington. The Eagles are 5-0 for the first time since the mid-90s when Earl Boykins was running the show. It doesn't get any easier though as the rest of the non-conference schedule will be a gauntlet: at Kentucky, home against Massachusetts, at Purdue, home against Green Bay, at Oakland, at Duke, at Syracuse. Yeesh.
6. Buffalo Bulls (1-2), LW: 5
Last week: No game
This week: Robert Morris (11/26), Delaware State (11/30)
The Bulls fall because they didn't play a game and Eastern Michigan actually beat a good team. Plus, it becomes harder and harder to have the Eagles in the sixth slot when they are playing so well. Delaware State is awful so that should be an easy win, and it seems that Robert Morris may just as well join the conference. They've played Eastern Michigan already, play Buffalo on Tuesday and get Toledo in December.
7. Western Michigan Broncos (3-2), LW: 7
Last week: North Dakota State (L)
This week: Oakland (11/26), Cornell (11/29)
The Broncos lost their only game this week to the Bison but get a chance to make up some ground with two seemingly easy games. Oakland is 0-6 this year after going through a mini-scandal that could have been really bad. Cornell is also 0-6. With those opponent records it should be Feast Week for the Broncos, but no game is a gimme.
8. Ball State Cardinals (2-2), LW: 8
Last week: Southeast Missouri State (W), Butler (L)
This week: at Utah (11/27), at Cleveland State (11/30)
The Cardinals were right there against Butler but just couldn't hold on. If they would have held on I probably would have bumped them past Western. The good thing is they get a chance to replicate that performance against two quality teams on the road. The Utah game will be a tough one, but the Utes aren't ever that great. The game at Cleveland State will be a good measuring stick, especially since Eastern Michigan beat them earlier this year.
9. Central Michigan Chippewas (3-3), LW: 11
Last week: Austin Peay (W), Montana State (L), Cal State Northridge (W)
This week: at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (11/26), Jacksonville State (11/30)
The Chips finally picked up Division I wins this season as the hosts of a mini-tournament. They face two of the worst teams in the country this week in the Islanders and Gamecocks, ranked 330 and 312 (respectively) out of 351 by KenPom. Central Michigan will have to be a little more consistent than last week when they scored 90, 54, and 90 again.
10. Northern Illinois Huskies (2-3), LW: 9
Last week: St. Joseph's (IN) (W)
This week: at Nebraska (11/30)
NIU didn't do much this week but won the only game on their schedule. Nebraska isn't a great team, but they're better than the Huskies. NIU will be lucky to stay within twenty in this one.
11. Bowling Green Falcons (1-3), LW: 10
Last week: at Wisconsin (L), at Saint Louis (L)
This week: Presbyterian (11/26), Oral Roberts/Georgia Southern (11/27)
It was a tough road trip for the Falcons but they showed some fight against Wisconsin. Spencer Parker proved he can provide meaningful minutes and that's something Bowling Green will need going forward. They'll travel to Cancun, Mexico to play in the portion of the Cancun Challenge that is actually in Mexico. The Blue Hose of Presbyterian are awful and sit at 1-5. They're ranked 346th out of 351 by KenPom, so that should be an somewhat easy win. The Falcons will likely get Oral Roberts next, who are a pretty decent team. They're 2-3 but the losses have come against good competition.
12. Miami RedHawks (0-4), LW: 12
Last week: at Xavier (L), Wilmington (OH) (L)
This week: No games
Well when you lose to a Division III team you aren't going to go anywhere. It's probably a good thing that they get an off week, they need it.