The Index 12/8 

    Another week in the books and this one did NOT disappoint, the post MTE hangover did not appear as the remaining non-con matchups helped fill the start of conference play. The Index responded well to its opening rankings, it wasn't perfect and we will have movement but the foot is in the door. Before we jump into this weeks rankings, I want to talk about how some of these conferences are holding up early in the season. The power conferences are doing their shuffle currently, the Big 12 is clearly rising, the ACC vs SEC clash I feel did more harm for both conferences than good, and the depth of the Big East is regressing from a strong season last year. The Big 10 and Big 12 are gonna clash this year and the SEC may not like the result on selection Sunday even with a relatively strong non-conference showing. Unfortunately for these power conferences the mid majors have come to play this year and I don't think they can be ignored this year. The A10, WCC, Mountain West, The American, and Big West are vying for multiple bids right now. The WCC is in position to get three teams into the tournament with the shocking emergences of the Santa Clara Broncos in what was supposed to be a regrouping season for Herb in the south bay. The Broncos look to be the prized 3rd chair in the WCC and have built an impressive resume going into conference play. The A10 spent the last few seasons letting their status as a multi bid league come into question with a lack of competitive depth. This season has been a total rewrite, George Mason & Washington picking up where they left off last season, the surprising Bonnies checking boxes in their non-con season, and the Bilikins quietly chugging along with an IMPRESIVE list of wins right now. The A10 also still has a strong Dayton team as their face albeit a sluggish start to the season and VCU continuing to be a respected program nationally. Lastly, the Big West has the potential to be a bid stealing league come conference tourney time. At the top of the league right now is UCSB, UCSD, and Hawaii. This group should see two bids as they have shown some muscle in the non-conference schedule. The middle of the Big West however has the potential to cause issues for this conference. Cal Poly who has added some talent to their run and gun system and if you catch them on the wrong night they can hang a nasty number on you quickly. UC Irvine who has become a somewhat familiar face in March is still a threat and Andy Newman's Matadors coming off a 3rd place finish last season and 22 wins is building a winner in Northridge. These conference races are proving to be worth your time and may end up squeezing the power conferences more than they expect come March.

The Index 12/8 

1. Arizona 

2. Duke 

3. Gonzaga 

4. Alabama 

5. Michigan 

6. Purdue 

7. Illinois

8. St. Mary's 

9. UCONN

10. Tulsa

11. Florida

12. Wake Forest

13. UCLA

14. Hawaii

15. BYU

16. New Mexico 

17. Oklahoma State 

18. Yale

19. Louisville 

20. Washington

21. Georgia 

22. Illinois State 

23. George Washington

24. UCSD

25. Cal Baptist

Receiving Votes: Cal Poly, Portland State, High Point, Lipscomb, UNC Wilmington

Risers of the Week:

With some impressive and entertaining games on last weeks slate, several teams highlighted themselves and stood out from the crowd. Specifically New Mexico, Oklahoma State, and UCLA went out and showed off some quality ball. Oklahoma State may boom or bust their way to a top 4 seed in the Big 12 as they have yet to score less than 84 points in a game and that is against Texas A&M, Northwestern, and Grand Canyon included. They are gonna try and outrun everyone this season and you have to see it to believe it, do not miss Bedlam on the 12th this week. UCLA quietly contained Washington and burned them from deep in Seattle, and packed up (a reeling and hurt) Oregon at home. Skyy Clark looks like a 5 star on both ends of the court, and Jamerson (Torero Forever) coming off the bench their size is daunting. Ol' Mick Cronin is at it again and its a lot more pleasing to the eye this season opposed to last years team that refused to find the hoop. Eric Olen in year one has the PIT rocking just like lil Richie Pitino did. In a huge west coast conference clash last week, the Lobos simply handled a Santa Clara team that has emerged as a possible at large team with their resume. I was worried the PIT was gonna lose some luster but Olen has the place ready to rock the Mountain West. Also if you're not watching Koa Peat right now at Arizona, you are missing an animal out there. 

Spit'em Out: 

I am gonna be honest the only team worth mentioning this week is the Hoosiers in Bloomington. At the start of the year the whole "Americas Best Men's League Team" was cute and fun, but just like bartending too late into your twenties, it eventually starts to get a little weird and tired. They are too small, they don't do anything consistent or great. Letting this Minnesota team handle you and to then follow that up with an immediate laugher to Louisville is getting knocked off the Index so fast. I wanted to believe in them, I saw a lot of myself in Tucker DeVries and that blinded me to some obvious red flags. Anyway Indiana is out of here, they have a long road back to this list. 

This Weeks Slate:

Mon: 

Lafayette @ Penn

Tues:

Villanova @ Michigan 

Clemson @ BYU - They gonna have a cult off 

McNeese @ Rhode Island 

Florida @ Uconn

USC @ USD - At the Jenny Craig 

Wed:

Charleston @ USF

New Mexico @ VCU

Bryant @ Iona

Colgate @ St. Bona

Idaho State @ Utah Valley

Wisconsin @ Nebraska 

Fresno State @ CSUN

Thur: 

UT Arlington @ UT Rio Grande 

Iowa @ Iowa State 

Fri:

East Tennessee State @ Austin Peay 

Cal Baptist @ Eastern Washington

Sat:

Iona @ St. Johns

DePaul @ Wichita State 

St. Thomas @ UNC Asheville

Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma

Utah Valley @ UC Santa Barbara 

George Washington @ Florida

Nebraska @ Illinois

La Salle @ LIU

Utah State @ Illinois State

Oakland @ Northern Iowa

ASU @ Santa Clara

USF @ Saint Louis 

Arizona @ Alabama

UCLA @ Gonzaga

Tulane @ UCSD

UTEP @ Hawaii - In the Sheriffs Office 

Sun:

FGCU @ New Mexico

Troy @ UAB

Queens @ Wake Forest

St. Mary's @ Boise State