NCAA Basketball: Akron Zips make big move in Mid-Major Power Rankings
Dec 3, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; Akron Zips forward Kwan Cheatham Jr. (2) and center Isaiah Johnson (23) and guard Josh Williams (1) and guard Jimond Ivey (0)and guard Antino Jackson (55) take the court against the Creighton Bluejays at CenturyLink Center Omaha. Creighton defeated Akron 82-70. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
The Akron Zips are one of several NCAA basketball teams to watch come March. The Zips have won 12 straight.
Akron (19-3) appears to be hitting their stride and are one of a handful or more mid-major teams that could make some noise come March. The Zips have not dominated their competition, but nevertheless, are undefeated in MAC play (9-0). The have narrowly escaped with wins the last two games, eking out a home victory over Buffalo (91-90) and then overcoming a 15-point deficit to defeat Northern Illinois 76-73.
Akron is a well-balanced veteran-laden team led by Isaiah Johnson. Johnson leads the team in scoring, field goal percentage, and assists. He is also second on the team in rebounding. Kwan Cheatham Jr., Antino Jackson, and Jimond Ivey are also averaging double-figures.
Akron is one of several teams that made a move in this week’s poll. The Zips jumped three spots from No. 6 to No. 3. Vermont also moved up multiple spots from No. 13 to 11. Wichita State, Illinois State, Valparaiso, Saint Mary’s and Belmont each moved up one spot.
In the meantime, UNC Greensboro, Winthrop, College of Charleston and Chattanooga dropped out of the poll. Those four were replaced by Florida Gulf Coast, Monmouth, Bucknell and East Tennessee State.
This poll considers mid-majors to be every team not in the Power 5 conferences (Big 12, Big Ten, SEC, Pac-12 and ACC), along with the Big East, Atlantic-10 and Mountain West.
Dec 15, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Monmouth Hawks guard Austin Tilghman (23) and guard Justin Robinson (12) celebrate after beating the Georgetown Hoyas 83-68 at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Power Rankings: 15-11
15. East Tennesee State (18-5): The Buccaneers are back in our mid-major poll as they are on a four-game winning streak. East Tennessee State also sits alone atop the Southern Conference after defeating arch-rival Chattanooga a few days ago.
14. Bucknell (18-6): The Bison have won six straight and sit atop the Patriot League standings. Junior forward Zach Thomas leads four players in double-figures. Bucknell is in these rankings for the first time.
13. Monmouth (18-5): The Hawks sit atop the MAAC with a 10-2 record after rolling off eight straight victories, all by double-digits. Sophomore guard Micah Seaborn has tallied double-figures in 12 straight games and had his 13th career, 20-point effort in a win over Marist on Friday. Senior guard Justin Robinson poured in 24 points on Monday to break Monmouth’s Division I all-time scoring record. Monmouth is in the rankings for the first time.
12. Florida Gulf Coast (18-6): The Eagles moved into the top-15 for the first time this season. FGCU is on a five-game win streak following a huge Atlantic Sun win over North Florida. Brandon Goodwin poured in 29 and Demetris Morant had 14 points and 13 boards in the win. Morant has six double-doubles this season.
11. Vermont (19-5): The Catamounts extended their winning streak to 11 games with big road wins over Albany and Stony Brook this week. Leading scorer Trae Bell-Haynes became the 36th player in program history to top the 1,000 point plateau. The ‘Cats have five more wins than they had at this point last year.
Nov 21, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Belmont Bruins head coach Rick Byrd looks on against the Florida Gators during the first half at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Power Rankings: 10-6
10. UNC Wilmington (20-4): The Seahawks have lost two straight, dropping games to William & Mary and College of Charleston. Sophomore Devontae Cacok has registered three straight double-doubles and has 10 for the season. Cacok hauled in a season-high 24 boards in a victory over Drexel (Jan. 21). This team moved down from No. 4.
9. Belmont (17-4): The Bruins have surpassed the 90-point mark in each of their last two games as they have received balanced scoring efforts from five different players. Belmont has won 13 in a row. Senior forward Evan Bradds has dumped in at least 20 points in each of his last nine games. Coach Rick Byrd has 748 career wins, passing former Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan.
8. Valparaiso (19-4): The Crusaders have won eight in a row. Valpo has 18 wins in their first 22 games for the third straight season. Senior guard Shane Hammink, the team’s second-leading scorer, has scored 20 or more points in two of the last four games and seven times total. Senior forward Alec Peters has torn the school’s record book apart, setting new records in field goal makes, rebounds, points and free throws made.
Six games, four Valpo career records, six victories. #GoValpo #HLMBB pic.twitter.com/6XFzJ5WEuz
— Valpo Basketball (@ValpoBasketball) January 30, 2017
7. Illinois State (19-4): The Redbirds are off to their best start in MVC play (11-0) and have won 12 in a row overall. Sophomore forward Phil Fayne produced his first double-double of the year in win over Evansville. Fayne has been terrific the last three games, averaging over 17 points and grabbing over eight rebounds a game.
6. Wichita State (20-4): The Shockers have won 20 games for the eighth straight season. They stepped up their defensive game recently, holding three of their last four opponents under 60 points. Freshman guard Landry Shamet has scored 36 points, on 12-of-18 shooting, and doled out nine assists in the last two games.
December 8, 2016; Moraga, CA, USA; Saint Mary’s Gaels head coach Randy Bennett during the second half against the UT Arlington Mavericks at McKeon Pavilion. The Mavericks defeated the Gaels 65-51. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Power Rankings: 5-1
5. New Mexico State (21-2): The Aggies have won 19 straight games.
4. Middle Tennessee State (20-3): The Blue Raiders remained perfect in C-USA (10-0) with a 10-point win over UT-San Antonio for their ninth double-figure win in conference play. JaCorey Williams, Giddy Potts and Reggie Upshaw are all averaging over 14 points, five rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steals and shooting over 49 percent from the field. Williams has eight double-doubles on the season.
3. Akron (19-3): Antino Jackson and Isaiah Johnson combined to score 31 of Akron’s 41 to help the Zips defeat Northern Illinois on Tuesday. Akron ranks in the NCAA’s top 100 in 14-of-32 statistical categories, including No. 6 in three-point field goals made per game, No. 12 total three-point field goals made (225), No. 23 in three-point field goals attempted (575), and No. 28 three-point goal percentage (39.1).
2. Saint Mary’s (20-2): The Gaels are the second in the nation in scoring defense, and have limited 13 of their opponents to 60 or less points a game. Aussie big man Jock Landale continues to put up big numbers in scoring and rebounding, posting nine double-doubles overall. Saint Mary’s held off Pacific on Thursday for its 14th victory in the last 15 games.
1. Gonzaga (23-0): The Zags extended its nation-high winning streak to 23 games by defeating BYU in Provo. The Bulldogs defeated Pacific by 47, which is the program’s largest victory in conference play since defeating Saint Mary’s by 54 on Jan. 13, 2001. Gonzaga moved to the top of the AP poll for just the second time in school history this week. The Bulldogs, who own the highest scoring margin in the nation, have not trailed at any point in their last 13 halves of basketball.
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