This week saw some of the top performing mid-major teams come down to earth a little with some unexpected losses. Some other teams are out to hot starts and have put the country and notice of their play and multiple new teams have entered the top rankings. This is the Top 10 Mid-major Poll after the second week of games.
1. Missouri State (3-1) Prev. Ranking: 2
Missouri State leaps up the top spot more based on what other teams failed to do instead of what they did per say. Other teams had some unexpected losses and that dropped them and allowed the Lady Bears to retake the top spot.
2. Gonzaga (3-2) Prev. Ranking: 3
Gonzaga had to fight for a tough and close win over Montana over the weekend. Also moved up due to not having a loss or even a bad loss to date on their resume.
3. Florida Gulf Coast (4-2) Prev. Ranking: 4
FGCU’s only two losses are to ranked opponents. This last week, they have had comfortable wins over UCF and Temple. This looks like a complete team who might not be stopped again for a while when looking at their upcoming schedule.
4. South Dakota State (3-2) Prev. Ranking:1
SDSU Jackrabbits were flying high after early season wins over ranked Iowa State and then a buzzer-beating win over Gonzaga. However, after those two wins, they had a bit of a letdown this week with losses at Kansas State and Northern Iowa. Upcoming games against Drake and Missouri State won’t make getting back on the winning track easy.
5. South Dakota (2-2) Prev. Ranking: 5
After opening the season with back to back losses to ranked teams, the Coyotes have regrouped with wins over Lipscomb and Wichita State. Coming up they have games at Bradley and at Oklahoma so they will have good tests in the upcoming week.
6. Bowling Green (4-1) Prev. Ranking: NR
Bowling Green suffered their first loss this season in a tough game against Purdue. Up until that loss, they had opened their season with four consecutive wins, including a hard-earned 64-62 win over Milwaukee.
7. Northern Iowa (3-2) Prev. Ranking: NR
Northern Iowa makes their first appearance in the mid-major rankings this season. After a disappointment bad loss to North Dakota State, Northern Iowa has rebounded with a tight 2-point win over Wichita State and a impressive double-digit win over top-25 ranked South Dakota State Jackrabbits.
8. Colorado State (6-1) Prev. Ranking: NR
CSU appears to be flying under the radar, but after starting their season 6-1 and averaging over 80 points per game, they have found themselves in the rankings. Their next game will be a second match with Denver who they are coming off blowout win over this weekend.
9. Ohio (2-1) Prev. Ranking:6
After starting the season with two wins, including over Notre Dame, Ohio fell in a close contest to Kent State. Coming up they have games against Northern Illinois and a massive test against West Virginia.
10. Drake (2-2) Prev. Ranking: 8
Drake flushed the bad taste out of their mouth from close losses to Green Bay and Iowa with an impressive blowout win over the Minnesota Gophers. They were in control from the tipoff against the Gophers and seemingly scored from both inside and outside at will.
Also Considered:
-Bradley (3-2)
-Buffalo (3-2)
-Milwaukee (5-1)
-Belmont (2-2)
-IUPUI (4-1)
-Loyola Chicago (1-1)
