Early Highs & Lows

As the saying goes, You can't win 'em all. Especially when you are the big boy on the block with a big target on your back for most of your non-conference games as smaller schools ramp up for one of the precious few chances to get some national attention.  Every year several mid or low majors jump up and pick off one of the big boys, and just a short week into the season, this year is proving no exception.

Here's a quick rundown of what you might have missed in the opening week; five teams that have underwhelmed and a few more that have impressed.  With about a half-dozen preseason tournaments going on this weekend, this list is sure to grow rapidly.  The Maniac will provide another solid recap on Monday, as well as issuing some "Upset Alerts" for this weekend, so be sure to check back tonight and tomorrow

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Five Underwhelmers:

1.  Boston College - When you lose at home to Yale, you immediately earn the top spot on our ignominious list.  With dates with Texas A&M, Indiana and Providence looming, the Eagles better straighten up and fly right in a hurry or this season could get ugly.

2.  LSU -  It seems like the Tigers seem to find their way into the Maniac's doghouse every Winter.  Usually it's for their dreadful non-conference schedule.  This year, it's for their dreadful schedule AND getting blasted at home by Nichols State.  This Sunday's date with Memphis will be a good indication as to whether it was just a rough night or the start of a rough season.


3.  Wake Forest - Perhaps no team in the country has been hit harder by early NBA entrants than the Deacons.  Kentucky may have lost more players, but at least there it is sort of expected.  It's also far easier to reload in the Bluegrass than it is in the pale shadow of Duke and UNC.  It's an excuse for the Deacons to be down this season.  It's not an excuse for opening with a home loss to Atlantic Sun also-ran Stetson .  Following it up with a 90-69 drubbing, again at home, to Virginia Commonwealth has it looking like Wake could be near the bottom of a down ACC.

4.  Xavier - How does a 2-0 team make this list?  Easy if you have caught any of their first two home games.  The season opened with a comeback three point win over Western Michigan.  Two night ago they needed overtime to tackle the mighty Mastadons of IPFW.  Xavier may not technically be in a "power" conference, however being the only team in the country aside from Michigan State to earn a spot in the last three Sweet Sixteens lends for "power" conference expectations.  Their first two contests didn't meet them.

With one of the nation's toughest non-conference schedules (Wofford, Iowa, Butler, Gonzaga, Georgia, LSU, Cincinnati and Wake Forest - plus possible meetings with either Old Dominion/Clemson or Seton Hall/Alabama) the Muskies better see some improvement quickly or it could be more than their Sweet 16 streak in jeopardy, it could be their tourney appearance streak as well...


5.  South Florida - Last year the Bulls became media darlings of sorts as they made a daring run towards the NCAA Tournament despite being projected 14th or 15th in preseason BEast coaches polls.  The Bulls came up just short, but entered this season with high expectations, despite Dominique James leaving early for the NBA.  With losses to Southern Miss and UCF, the Bulls are not only digging a nearly-impossible to climb out of ditch, they would also be in last place in Conference USA.

And a Few Pleasant Surprises...

*  Gardner Webb - Yes, they got boat raced down in Tallahassee, but the opening win over Charlotte was impressive.  With upcoming dates with Michigan, Oklahoma, Arizona State and Louisville the Bulldogs will get a few more chances to add another profile win.  Don't laugh, one of those wins could be the difference between a #13 and a virtually unwinnable #15 or #16 seed in March.

*  Georgia - Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee enter the season ranked and Vanderbilt is considered a fringe tournament team by most.  However, don't sleep on Georgia in the slightly overrated SEC East.  Their win over Colorado is a better win that it appears at first blush, and the 'Dawgs handled them with relative ease.  A Thanksgiving date with Notre Dame and early December hookups with Georgia Tech and UAB will give the 'Dawgs a chance to build a solid profile before conference play.

*  South Dakota State - 3-0 with a road win at Iowa is an encouraging start for the Jackrabbits (yes, that's really their mascot).  They'll get two more shots; hosting Nevada and visiting Minnesota.  They'll get some stiff competition from Oral Roberts and IUPUI (and possibly Oakland) in the Summit league, but early season BCS-conference wins are what keep low majors off that 15/16 line come March.

*  St Mary's - They've played two non D-1 throwaways, but the 76-71 win over an improved St John's squad could be a nice chip to pile in March.  Omar Samham is gone, but don't make the mistake of overlooking the Gaels.  They'll get their chance on December 1st to do something conference rival Gonzaga could not; beat San Diego State.

*  San Diego State - Speaking of which, the Aztecs might be the best mid-major in the country this season.  Their road win in the Kennel is as impressive a win as a team has notched so far in this young season.  If "best" seems like hyperbole, it isn't.  They have to be considered no worse than co-favorite with BYU to win the Mountain West, and appear to be ahead of Gonzaga, Memphis, Xavier, Butler and the other usual suspects.

And the recap wouldn't be complete without a tip of the beanie to the Yale Bulldogs, despite losses to Quinnipiac and Providence, they were still able to go into Chestnut Hill and pull off the stunner. 

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