Conference USA

Conference USA Power Rankings Week 2: Tops on Top

by Fletcher Keel
Conference USA play is in its second week, and we have some teams surprising – be it a winning or losing surprise – some teams doing what we thought they’d be doing, and other teams who, frankly, have little to no chance.
George Fant, who has strung together six straight double-doubles, the Tops continue to win and impress in their inaugural season." >
1

WKU Hilltoppers (12-5, 5-0)

Last week: 2-0 record
Last rank: 2

The Tops took to the road for the first time as a Conference USA and passed the test, being pushed to the brink by familiar foes in FAU and FIU, but refused to falter. Lead by George Fant, who has strung together six straight double-doubles, the Tops continue to win and impress in their inaugural season.
Alex Hamilton. That matchup against him and T.J. Price next week is going to be something else." >
2

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (14-4, 5-0)

Last week: 2-0 record
Last rank: 3

The Techsters are the other undefeated conference and, while you may call it biased that we put the Tops ahead of LA Tech, they did their winning this week in their own confines. Nothing wrong with it, but, you know, road wins are more impressive. Right? Anyway, the Dunkin’ Dawgs are 33rd in the nation in scoring and have one of the emerging top-guards in the conference in Alex Hamilton. That matchup against him and T.J. Price next week is going to be something else.
3

UAB Blazers (8-10, 4-1)

Last week: 1-1 record
Last rank: 5

In last week’s power rankings, we said that we would learn what UAB was made of after their trip to the aforementioned Techsters. Well, they proved exacty who they are – a team that’s in the contenders conversation. They took LA Tech to the absolute brink, leading by three at halftime but eventually falling by three when it was all said and done, but left a statement not only on the floor in Ruston, but around the conference as well.
4

Old Dominion Monarchs (15-2)

Last week: 2-0 record
Last rank: 1

ODU hasn’t let the loss to the Tops trip them up in the grand scheme of things, going 2-0 this past week with wins over Rice and North Texas. The Monarchs are still rebounding well, ranking 43rd in the nation, and have their first real test (sorry, Owls & Mean Green) since WKU this week as they take to the road to face MTSU and UAB. I’m really looking forward to that UAB game, too.
5

UTEP Miners (12-5, 4-1)

Last week: 1-0 record
Last rank: 4

UTEP is much better than a 5th ranked team in our power rankings. I’m fully aware. However, the reason they are so low is summed up in one word – inconsistency. They can put up 73 or 74 points in a game, like they’ve done the past two games, but they can also put up 45 – with 12 coming in one half. If they can find some consistency, they’ll be even more dangerous.
6

MTSU Blue Raiders (10-8, 3-2)

Last week: 1-1 record
Last rank: 7

The MTBR’s are kind of in Conference USA no-mans land. They’re the only team in the conference with a winning record, but multiple loses. They played LA Tech close, just running out of gas at the end. But, on the flip side, they beat Southern Miss by a single point. What? This team just hasn’t shown what they are or what they can be, really. Like I said. No mans land.
Torin Dorn still coming off the 49ers bench? Anyway, the 9ers are continuing to struggle, losing to Rice at home on Saturday to add to the confusion of their season. Maybe a tough non-conference ride gave their confidence a hit?" >
7

Charlotte 49ers (8-9, 2-3)

Last week: 1-1 record
Last rank: 6

Why in the world is Torin Dorn still coming off the 49ers bench? Anyway, the 9ers are continuing to struggle, losing to Rice at home on Saturday to add to the confusion of their season. Maybe a tough non-conference ride gave their confidence a hit?
8

UTSA Roadrunners (8-8, 2-3)

Last week: 0-1 record
Last rank: 8

UTSA continues to be a pleasant surprise, but I think the end of the UTEP game Saturday showed a bit of their true colors, being outscored 43-29 in the final 20 minutes. There still is a lot to learn about the Runners, but I’m pulling for them to be the surprise team of the year. Right behind UAB.
9

FIU Panthers (9-9, 2-3)

Last week: 1-1 record
Last rank: 9

The Panthers narrowly defeated the Herd…at home…but they took the Tops to the edge, so they’re another team that I’m not quite sure what to make of yet. I don’t think they’re going to prove themselves to be very good, but they can just as easily shut me up. However, I will say their only conference wins are against a one-win FAU and a winless Marshall. So….
10

Rice Owls (5-11, 2-3)

Last week: 1-1 record
Last rank: 11

While Charlotte might not be the team we thought they were, Rice beating them on the road is a good win for the Texas Owls. There’s not a whole lot going right for Rice, however, and they’ve got a tough two-game stretch ahead with Louisiana Tech and a non-conference tilt with Houston.
11

North Texas Monarchs (7-10, 1-4)

Last week: 0-2 record
Last rank: 10

The mean green didn’t scored more than 60 points this week on an East coast roadtrip, and much like Rice, they don’t have much good going for them.
12

FAU Owls (8-8, 1-4)

Last week: 1-1 record
Last rank: 12

FAU has a conference win! It came against Marshall, but they have a conference win!
13

Southern Miss Golden Eagles (5-11, 0-5)

Last week: 0-2 record
Last rank: 13

Southern Miss is still searching for their first Conference USA win of the year, and with a road trip coming up through Texas, we might be talking about it next week.
14

Marshall Thundering Herd (4-14, 0-5)

Last week: 0-2 record
Last rank: 14

Circle this date – January 29th. Its a Thursday, and its when the Herd host Southern Miss. That’s probably the best chance the Herd have for a conference win this year.
Now, its your turn! How would you rank the conference after its second week of conference play? Let us know in a comment below or on twitter @WaveTheRedTowel.