Ranking the top 20 programs in the #NortheastCorridor

[NovaBall]

1. Villanova

Obviously




2. Syracuse

Debated hard about 2 versus 3. I think for now, it is still Cuse. When Hopkins takes over in a year, then the Huskies reclaim the spot




3. UConn

Kevin Ollie won with Calhoun's players and program. I think he still has it going on though and they will continue to make tournament after tournament after tournament out of the AAC. Problem is, their fans have lost interest and nobody cares




4. Maryland

Turgeon seems to be doing a pretty good job here.




5. Georgetown

Down year, but still have a Final Four coach and have had enough success the past decade to have confidence. I think this year was just a chemistry thing and I expect them to be back next year. I think they are much closer to #2 than they are #6.




6. Providence

3 straight tournaments. Picked up a win this year. Been spending time in the polls. Facility upgrade, coach with a long term contract. They will dip next year, but they have athletes, and their coach is a pretty proven developer of talent.




7. Saint Joseph's (PA)

Poised to become a tourney regular out of the Atlantic 10. As big a boom as conference realignment was to Villanova, it was very good for Saint Joseph's (PA) as well. Think old Xavier and Temple out of the A10 hogging all the bids and busting through the rankings. This could be SJU(PA) over the next decade.




8. Seton Hall

could be poised for a breakout year next year, or could just wallow in the okay but not great status for another year, and then maybe improve or maybe dip down. Not sure. This time next year, if Whitehead stays, maybe they are up in the top 5?




9. George Washington

Have been a consistent top 100 team with top 50 potential. Have a well respected coach who has figured out how to consistently put out quality teams from the A10.




10. Harvard

Tommy Amaker has built a winner in Cambridge. National rankings and tourney bids are no longer a surprise.




11. Temple

The once proud Owls have been hit hard by conference realignment. A former northeast corridor power, they Owls have not advanced to the second weekend of the dance in almost 20 years and have fallen off the map. Playing USF and ECU and a bunch of other random schools, and focusing on their quest for football mediocrity, has really tarnished the Temple brand. Sad to see




12. St. John's

Have to think this is the low point for St. John's. While they have been to the tourney a couple of times, they have not won a tournament game in over 15 years. Recruiting is promising, but this is a long term rebuild.




13. St. Bonaventure

Have a pretty good coach who has been winning games. Need to make the dance in order to move up though. Might happen next year.




14. La Salle

The Explorers are capable of a once a decade run. They had one not too long ago and talk about them rebuilding for a run next year is heating up.




15. Yale

Had their spot in One Shining Moment on Monday night. Is this just a good year, or is Yale ready to challenge Harvard as an Ivy League contender?




16. Monmouth

Again, just a good year or the start of something consistent? Only time will tell.




17. Stony Brook

Started from the bottom now they are here. Will Baker Dunleavy be the guy to turn them into a northeast corridor force?




18. UMass

Just seems stagnant in Amherst. They need to get Calipari back to pay some players and get good again.




19. Boston College

The poster child for conference realignment failing




20. Rutgers

The second poster child for why conference realignment might be good for the bank, but horrible for the on court product