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MRI 2007 - Week 1: Badgers Bring Us Back On Top

November 26, 2007  |  By Benjamin Miraski

Can you believe another season is already seven games old for some teams? And that means it is time to reveal the MRI standings for the first time this year.

Before we get to the rankings, remember that this is early. A team like Duquesne, was 250th in the league last year. For them to hold onto an #11 ranking would be a huge turnaround. In fact, there are 4 teams which were listed at 125 or higher last season in this year's first rankings. No doubt that will change at some point, but right now, they are riding high, so who can complain? Maybe that gives us a little insight into those bubble teams we will be talking about in 2 months. Maybe even sooner than that, considering that I am already hearing teams labeled as "bubble watch" even though the conference season has yet to start.

And as with all early rankings, teams that are on a roll now are in no guarantee to make the tournament. Let's all remember what we should call "The Clemson Factor". Sometimes, you can really pad the MRI numbers before you come down to earth. Even when you come down, don't think that you will fall. You might just stay even.

Last season was a great example of that. Clemson never really lost points after a certain point. They just stayed even in their MRI score. The bigger issue was that teams wouldn't pass them. It was part of what made last year's tournament so chalky. There were about 16 really good teams which were almost destined for the Sweet 16, and then there was everyone else. No surprises, No George Mason. Just a mass of teams which should have had the NCAA contracting to a 32 team exhibition.

Expect a lot of familiar faces back this season. Duke (#3) looks like they are back to being Duke, a team that has held the #1 ranking for at least a week in almost every MRI season. It won't be such a stretch for that to happen again if they can beat starting #1, Wisconsin on Tuesday. This may be the best early match in the MRI ever. (Just for kicks, the MRI is predicting a Wisconsin win, but not by much. See if Brian Butch being back from that freaky elbow injury makes any difference to you.)

Other names at the top also look familiar. UCLA is starting the year at #2. Returning almost every major player on the team from last season has them poised to go to a third straight Final Four. I don't doubt their ability at all. At #4 is a team that looks a lot like UCLA, Pittsburgh. UCLA's Eastern image is quietly having a nice 4-0 start.

Rounding out the initial top 5 is Virginia who is off to a 5-1 beginning to their season. Sean Singletary is back to his shooting self, while he gets help from Adrian Joseph inside. It will certainly be something to see if they can keep it up during the ACC season. Of course, they could fall victim to the "Clemson Factor", although their early season hasn't exactly been cupcakes, winning against Arizona and Drexel.

Speaking of the "Clemson Factor", look for it to possibly come into play again on its namesake. Clemson might be 5-0, but the combined record of their opponents is 9-21, the worst in the ACC, except for Wake Forest's schedule which has opponents at 4-12.

And with that, let's go to all the rankings in Week 1 of the MRI.

Posted November 26, 2007 8:52 PM

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