1. MURRAY STATE (19-0, 7-0) (1)
Mid-Major Top 25: Creighton And Saint Mary’s Make Moves Toward No. 1
Undefeated Murray State is still No. 1 in the latest SB Nation Mid-Major Top 25.
The Racers survived a scare at Morehead State earlier this week, using a late run to pull out a 66-60 victory. Everyone’s fully aware that an upset of Murray would be national news at this point, so the Racers are going to keep getting these types of efforts from OVC opponents until their record is finally blemished.
2. CREIGHTON (17-2, 7-1) (3)
Unbelievable stat of the day: Creighton has forced just three turnovers in two of its last three games. The Bluejays won both contests.
3. SAINT MARY’S (18-2, 7-0) (5)
The Gaels have been beating opponents by an average of more than 15 points per game during their current eight-game winning streak.
4. HARVARD (15-2, 1-0) (4)
Harvards is off to the best start of any Ivy League program since Princeton in 1997-98 (16-1). The Crimson’s 15-2 start is also the best for the program since going 16-1 to begin the 1945-46 season.
5. WICHITA STATE (16-3, 7-1) (6)
The Shockers are now tied atop the MVC standings with Creighton at 7-1. No other team in the Valley has less than three conference losses.
6. GONZAGA (15-3, 5-1) (2)
There’s no shame in losing at Saint Mary’s...there’s a little shame in losing at Saint Mary’s by 21.
7. MIDDLE TENNESSEE (18-2, 7-0) (8)
The Blue Raiders tied the best start in school history when they defeated Arkansas State 59-46 on Thursday.
8. DAVIDSON (13-4, 7-0) (14)
Not only are the Wildcats the lone unbeaten team in the SoCon, they’re only team in the league with less than three losses.
9. IONA (14-4, 4-1) (7)
Iona bounced back from a tough loss to Manhattan with an impressive 11-point win over Loyola (Md.). I’d alos like to note that the Gaels are the only school on this list who email me all of their pre and postgame notes. If I could rank them higher, best believe I would.
10. LONG BEACH STATE (13-6, 6-0) (16)
The Beach is a perfect (albeit predictable) 6-0 in the Big West heading into Saturday’s showdown at UCSB.
11. DENVER (15-4, 5-1) (15)
The Pioneers’ Feb. 4 game against Middle Tennessee has been picked up by ESPN. Show out, Pioneers.
12. WEBER STATE (15-3, 7-0) (17)
Damian Lillard, the nation's leading scorer at 25.5 points per game, was one of the players named to the John Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 list.
13. ORAL ROBERTS (17-4, 9-0) (18)
ORU is the only unbeaten in a Summit League that surprisingly is the No. 12 conference in the country according to the RPI.
14. BYU (16-5, 5-2) (11)
Even without the Jimmer, BYU ranks in the top 25 nationally in points per game, field goal percentage, assists per game and rebounds per game. They also just lost to Loyola Marymount at home by 14, but I was trying to be positive.
15. OHIO (14-4, 2-2) (9)
The Bobcats bounced back from a tough loss at Akron by dominating Kent State, 87-65.
16. CLEVELAND STATE (15-4, 5-2) (10)
No Cleveland State player is averaging more than 12 points, the Vikings are being outrebounded by their opponents and they’ve taken a staggering 198 less free-throws than their opposition. And yet, CSU is 15-4.
17. GEORGE MASON (14-5, 6-1) (12)
Mason has responded to a loss at Drexel with identical 89-63 victories over James Madison and Delaware. They’ll face winless Towson (0-19, 0-7) on Saturday.
18. KENT STATE (12-5, 2-2) (13)
The Flashes looked to make an early statement in the MAC race when they traveled to Ohio and they succeeded, by losing by 22.
19. WAGNER (15-3, 6-1) (22)
The Seahawks haven’t lost since Dec. 10.
20. VCU (14-5, 5-2) (21)
VCU avoided what would have been an awful loss to William & Mary by topping the Tribe 69-68 in overtime on Thursday. There’s little question that the Rams were looking ahead to Saturday’s showdown with rival Old Dominion.
21. MILWAUKEE (13-6, 6-1) (NR)
All of the sudden the Panthers are alone atop the Horizon League standings at 6-1.
22. BELMONT (13-6, 6-1) (25)
The Bruins handed Florida Gulf Coast its worst loss in program history when they pounded the Eagles 95-53 on Monday.
23. SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (15-5, 7-1) (NR)
The Jackrabbits will play three straight on the road before getting their rematch with Oral Roberts on Feb. 2.
24. NORFOLK STATE (14-5, 5-0) (NR)
Norfolk has won seven straight since an embarrassing 32-point loss at Illinois State on Dec. 18.
25. LIU BROOKLYN (13-6, 7-0) (NR)
The early NEC game of the year will take place on Saturday when Long Island and Wagner battle for first place.
DROPPED OUT: College of Charleston (19), Georgia State (20), Illinois State (23), Missouri State (24).
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