Good Thanksgiving? Good. Glad we’re all caught up. So, let’s get right to it.
Here are this week’s local college basketball rankings (last week’s in parentheses):
1. St. John’s (1)
Record: 4-1
Up next: Friday (7 p.m.) vs. Penn State at Barclays Center
It would have been nice to see the Red Storm flex some muscle in games against Monmouth and Longwood, but wins are ultimately all that matters. With back-to-back games against power conference teams this weekend in Brooklyn, St. John’s will get the opportunity to show how far it has come since the season opener against Wisconsin.
2. Stony Brook (3)
Record: 5-2
Up next: Sunday (2 p.m.) vs. St. Francis Brooklyn
For a team that has had so many crushing defeats in recent seasons, it’s a great sign the Seawolves have been handling late-game situations so well. Sophomore Jameel Warney’s 32 points and 21 rebounds in a triple-overtime win at Detroit on Sunday was just the latest step for the big man who seems to get better with each game.
3. Seton Hall (4)
Record: 4-2
Up next: Sunday (2 p.m.) vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
It all balanced out for the Pirates last weekend in Brooklyn. They lost a one-point heartbreaker against Oklahoma and followed it up the next night with a one-point win over Virginia Tech. Something tells me Seton Hall won’t be looking past Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday.
4. Manhattan (2)
Record: 3-2
Up next: Saturday (4 p.m.) at Hofstra
The chances of a MAAC team getting an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament — like Iona two seasons ago — are so unbelievably rare, but the Jaspers could enter that conversation if they play up to their potential. That means no more giveaways like Tuesday’s home loss to Fordham.
5. Iona (6)
Record: 2-2
Up next: Sunday (2 p.m.) at Florida Gulf Coast
Iona put on its best performance of the season on Saturday, shooting 50 percent from the floor in a 16-point home win against previously unbeaten George Mason. Now, the Gaels go down to “Dunk City.” It will be on ESPN3. You’re welcome.
6. Fordham (10)
Record: 3-2
Up next: Wednesday (7 p.m.) vs. Furman
Losing at home to Sacred Heart was really bad, but the young Rams’ ability to bounce back and win at Manhattan a few nights later said a lot more about Tom Pecora’s squad. Jon Severe had a career-high 30 points, but senior Branden Frazier’s steady play at the point is making just as much of a difference as the freshman phenom’s scoring outbursts.
7. Wagner (11)
Record: 4-4
Up next: Tuesday (7 p.m.) vs. Lafayette
The Seahawks’ three-game winning streak came to an end with two losses (St. Bonaventure and Illinois-Chicago) in the Gulf Coast Classic. The good news is the offense is finally starting to click, averaging 78.8 points over the past five games.
8. St. Francis Brooklyn (8)
Record: 4-3
Up next: Sunday (2 p.m.) at Stony Brook
After opening the season with five road games, the Terriers returned home to win games against Oakland and Mount St. Vincent. How the team performs against Stony Brook could prove whether St. Francis is a legitimate contender in the Northeast Conference.
9. Columbia (9)
Record: 4-3
Up next: Sunday (2 p.m.) at Elon
The Lions won their past two games — against Idaho and American — and guard Maodo Lo is a big reason why. The sophomore has scored in double figures in the past five games and has raised his scoring average to 13.4, after averaging 6.2 points last season.
10. Rutgers (7)
Record: 4-4
Up next: Wednesday (7 p.m.) at George Washington
Rutgers is coming off a home loss to Fairleigh Dickinson. Let that sink in for a few minutes.
11. NJIT (12)
Record: 4-3
Up next: Sunday (2 p.m.) vs. Albany
The Highlanders’ four-game winning streak was snapped in a three-point loss to Central Connecticut State on Tuesday, but the team gets a rare homestand with its next three games in Newark.
12. LIU Brooklyn (5)
Record: 1-4
Up next: Sunday (2 p.m.) vs. Norfolk State
The Blackbirds badly need star forward Julian Boyd back. LIU has lost four straight games since its season-opening win, losing three games last week on a West Coast trip by an average of more than 22 points. Jason Brickman, averaging 9.2 assists, can only do so much.
13. Hofstra (15)
Record: 2-4
Up next: Saturday (4 p.m.) vs. Manhattan
The bar was set pretty low after last season, but the Pride have played pretty well with a thin roster. Last week, Hofstra upset Hartford, lost in overtime at Richmond and hung close with Belmont. The ceiling isn’t very high, but the basement might not be too low.
14. Army (14)
Record: 1-4
Up next: Saturday (1 p.m.) vs. Houston Baptist
Army could still be a contender in the Patriot League, with sophomore Kyle Wilson leading a deep team, but the Black Knights need a good game or two to remind us why they were a potential breakout team.
15. St. Peter’s (16)
Record: 2-3
Up next: Saturday (1 p.m.) at Boston U.
Two straight wins over Binghamton and Fairleigh Dickinson aren’t all that impressive, but the arrival of transfer forward Marvin Dominique has boosted the Peacocks after a miserable season. He’s averaging 18 points and 8.8 rebounds.
16. Fairleigh Dickinson (17)
Record: 2-6
Up next: Sunday (2 p.m.) at Seton Hall
Welcome to the high point of the season. The Knights broke a six-game losing streak with a shocking one-point win at Rutgers. Their other win came against Division II Caldwell.
17. Fairfield (13)
Record: 1-5
Up next: Friday (12:30 p.m.) at Providence
The schedule has been slightly challenging, but five straight losses, while averaging 51.6 points, leaves little reason to believe things are getting better.