Some minor movement in the rankings this week, while the #1 team put some distance between them and the rest of the city for the time being. The season is just heating up, so grab your popcorn and enjoy.
6. Penn (2-4)
Penn remains at the bottom of the City 6 Rankings again this week. The Quakers played twice since last week’s rankings and went 1-1 in those games. After beating Niagara big, Penn gave away a winnable game to Lafayette. Plain and simple, the Lafayette game should have been won. The Quakers gave Lafayette their first win of the entire season in that game.
The Quakers have some talented players on their squad, but until they piece things together, they will remain in the cellar of the rankings.
5. La Salle (3-4)
The Explorers have gone 0-2 since last week’s rankings and are off to a forgettable start this season. La Salle fell 71-63 against a talented Providence squad on Sunday, and followed that up with a 15-point loss to Northern Iowa on Monday. Northern Iowa ran away with the game in the second half, as La Salle continued to look a bit lost without Ramon Galloway this season.
At 3-4, the Explorers drop a spot from last week’s rankings, coming in at #5 this week. The potential is there for La Salle, but they will need a definitive leader to step up, and soon, if they wish to be dancing this March.
4. Temple (3-3)
The Owls haven’t played since the last set of rankings came out, but they jump up a spot to #4 this week due to La Salle’s continued struggles. Temple won big over UAB last Sunday and at 3-3 on the season look slightly more put together than the Explorers at the moment.
3. Saint Joseph’s (4-2)
Saint Joseph’s went 2-1 this week, with their only loss coming on Thanksgiving to a solid LSU squad. While it wasn’t a pretty game as the Hawks fell by 17, the Tigers are a talented team and did just beat Butler today. The Hawks followed up their holiday loss with two straight wins over Siena and Washington State.
While neither of the teams they beat this week were strong opponents by any means, the Hawks have won when they should and look to be in the capable hands of Langston Galloway and Ronald Roberts, Jr. For the time being, Saint Joseph’s remains at #3 in the rankings.
2. Drexel (4-2)
Since last week’s rankings, the Dragons have gone 1-1, dropping a close one to #4 Arizona and topping Alabama in triple-overtime. Drexel dominated the first half against the fourth-ranked Wildcats, but couldn’t sustain their first half success, falling 66-62 in the end. The Dragons followed their close loss with a win over Alabama that raised every Drexel fan’s heart rate.
While the Alabama game was too close for comfort, Drexel has won the games they should and both losses have come against ranked squads. The Dragons remain at #2 in this week’s rankings.
1. Villanova (7-0)
It’s not even a close race for the #1 spot in the rankings this week, as Villanova is head and shoulders above the rest of the City 6 at the moment. The Wildcats went 3-0 this week, dominating USC before topping #2 Kansas and #23 Iowa. The balance and depth of this Villanova squad is impressive, as quite a few players are capable of taking over for the Wildcats on any given night. With the addition of Dylan Ennis, who returned from a broken hand this week, the Villanova lineup just became even more dangerous.
Two wins against ranked opponents in two days is no simple task, especially against the #2 squad and future lottery pick Andrew Wiggins. Villanova’s next three games will all come in the City 6, so we will have a good measure soon of whether they truly are that superior to the rest of the city squads. Enjoy the wins Wildcats fans, but remember that there is plenty of season left to go.
By: Kyle Babcock
Follow us on Twitter: @BroadStBeat
Penn remains at the bottom of the City 6 Rankings again this week. The Quakers played twice since last week’s rankings and went 1-1 in those games. After beating Niagara big, Penn gave away a winnable game to Lafayette. Plain and simple, the Lafayette game should have been won. The Quakers gave Lafayette their first win of the entire season in that game.
The Quakers have some talented players on their squad, but until they piece things together, they will remain in the cellar of the rankings.
5. La Salle (3-4)
The Explorers have gone 0-2 since last week’s rankings and are off to a forgettable start this season. La Salle fell 71-63 against a talented Providence squad on Sunday, and followed that up with a 15-point loss to Northern Iowa on Monday. Northern Iowa ran away with the game in the second half, as La Salle continued to look a bit lost without Ramon Galloway this season.
At 3-4, the Explorers drop a spot from last week’s rankings, coming in at #5 this week. The potential is there for La Salle, but they will need a definitive leader to step up, and soon, if they wish to be dancing this March.
4. Temple (3-3)
The Owls haven’t played since the last set of rankings came out, but they jump up a spot to #4 this week due to La Salle’s continued struggles. Temple won big over UAB last Sunday and at 3-3 on the season look slightly more put together than the Explorers at the moment.
3. Saint Joseph’s (4-2)
Saint Joseph’s went 2-1 this week, with their only loss coming on Thanksgiving to a solid LSU squad. While it wasn’t a pretty game as the Hawks fell by 17, the Tigers are a talented team and did just beat Butler today. The Hawks followed up their holiday loss with two straight wins over Siena and Washington State.
While neither of the teams they beat this week were strong opponents by any means, the Hawks have won when they should and look to be in the capable hands of Langston Galloway and Ronald Roberts, Jr. For the time being, Saint Joseph’s remains at #3 in the rankings.
2. Drexel (4-2)
Since last week’s rankings, the Dragons have gone 1-1, dropping a close one to #4 Arizona and topping Alabama in triple-overtime. Drexel dominated the first half against the fourth-ranked Wildcats, but couldn’t sustain their first half success, falling 66-62 in the end. The Dragons followed their close loss with a win over Alabama that raised every Drexel fan’s heart rate.
While the Alabama game was too close for comfort, Drexel has won the games they should and both losses have come against ranked squads. The Dragons remain at #2 in this week’s rankings.
1. Villanova (7-0)
It’s not even a close race for the #1 spot in the rankings this week, as Villanova is head and shoulders above the rest of the City 6 at the moment. The Wildcats went 3-0 this week, dominating USC before topping #2 Kansas and #23 Iowa. The balance and depth of this Villanova squad is impressive, as quite a few players are capable of taking over for the Wildcats on any given night. With the addition of Dylan Ennis, who returned from a broken hand this week, the Villanova lineup just became even more dangerous.
Two wins against ranked opponents in two days is no simple task, especially against the #2 squad and future lottery pick Andrew Wiggins. Villanova’s next three games will all come in the City 6, so we will have a good measure soon of whether they truly are that superior to the rest of the city squads. Enjoy the wins Wildcats fans, but remember that there is plenty of season left to go.
By: Kyle Babcock
Follow us on Twitter: @BroadStBeat
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