The 2019-20 season already has seen quite a few shakeups in the first two months. With so many upsets and chaotic results, ranking teams based off of the results so far this year has been difficult to say the least. Here’s to hoping the month of November provides a bit more clarity!
Below is the official November Power Rankings list, voted on and written by the NCDA Content Team. Please keep in mind: these power rankings have no impact on the actual NCDA Standings.
1) Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State remains #1 in the nation after only seeing action at one event in October. The Lakers went 2-0 at their home tournament with wins over MSU and UWP. The Michigan State game was an interesting one, as the Lakers trailed 1-0 early in the match, before hitting their stride in the second half resulting in a comfortable win. GVSU will have a few big tests in the month of November, including the No Fear Invitational at Ohio, and a Michigan State tourney the following weekend.
2) Towson
Towson did not play in any events in the month of October, but they remain at #2 in the PR. The Tigers will need to increase their output if they hope to remain near the top of the rankings. Thankfully, they are scheduled to play at VCU and at home in November which will give us a better indication of where they stand as a team.
3) James Madison
James Madison is in a similar boat to Towson. They have only played in one event all season. While it is still very early in the year, it is hard to gauge how good this team can be based on their limited amount of games. We look forward to seeing this talented squad in action in the month of November.
4) Ohio
The Bobcats looks like a team that is on a mission and their undefeated record is proof of that. Ohio has a target on their back and are hosting the biggest tournament in the league this season outside of Nationals. If they continue this level of success, pencil their name into the Final Four.
5) Miami
Miami has kept a consistent pace thus far in the season. With Tom Morand and Kevin Corotis on the mend, guys like Dominic Tyburski and Ethan Oilar have stepped up in the early half of the semester. Miami is still getting big wins, but close losses seem to creep up on them still. When this team is healthy, we will truly know what this RedHawks squad is made of.
6) Michigan State
Michigan State finished 1-1 in the month of October, recording a win over UWP and a loss to GVSU. The Spartans flashed their potential in the GVSU match, taking an early lead, and hanging with the Lakers for the entire first half. MSU can be a dominant catching team when they are well coordinated. If the Spartans can continue to make improvements they will be a very tough out later this season.
7) Central Michigan
This team is difficult to read at this point in the year. The Chippewas did not attend the GVSU Gauntlet, instead choosing to head to the RedHawk Invite the following weekend. At that event, they earned wins over Kent and BGSU, but they got throttled 6-1 at the hands of Miami.
8) Ohio State
OSU may have had one of the best glow-ups of the early part of the season. The Buckeyes are looking legitimate right now, and I’m sure that they have no plans of slowing down. With the growing pains behind them, I fully expect this young team to make waves in the coming months and up until Nationals. Dylan Greer and Ben Johnson’s hard work has begun to pay off, and victory is a good look for them.
9) Bowling Green State
The Falcons are having a roller coaster of a season. Up and down showings from one tournament to the next. They’ll need to put together more consistent play. Max Vincent and Owen Sill continue to shine on the roster, and if they can keep up their performances, they’ll be a shoe-in for the All-Ohio squad, and All-American candidates.
10) Maryland
Maryland continues another steady month with another 2-1. Currently viewed as the 3rd best team on the East Coast, they would need a signature win on their resume to let folks know it would be unwise to sleep on them. A win against JMU/Towson would do just that.
11) Saginaw Valley State
October was a mixed bag for the Cardinals. On one hand, they took down Miami, one of the biggest wins they’ve had in a while. On the other hand, they lost to both BGSU and Akron at the same event. This team is clearly inconsistent, but it is nice to see they have the potential to take down a squad like the RedHawks.
12) Virginia Commonwealth
When VCU plays as a team, they have the potential to do great things. When they play as individuals, opponents will pick them apart one by one. The month of November will be a critical moment for the Rams this season.
13) Akron
The Zips have so far rebounded form a lackluster performance at the Buckeye Invitational, going 2-1 at every tournament since. An overtime thriller with Penn State and tough loss from Miami are currently keeping them out of top 10 contention. These folks are young and hungry, which is something we haven’t been able to say about them for a few seasons. They’ve begun to put it together.
14) Cincinnati
As a 2nd year team, the Bearcats are exceeding expectations thus far. Now, they will need to take the next step in game strategy and leadership on the court to compete against teams above their skill level. UC is putting themselves in great position to potentially make it into the top 16 bracket at Nationals 2020.
15) Wisconsin Platteville
Wisconsin Platteville had a busy month in October, finishing 3-2, with those two losses being to GVSU and MSU. All in all, this team is still inexperienced, and not as deep as they could be, but they will surely improve as we progress further into the season. Don’t be surprised when UWP puts up a much better fight next time they face a Michigan school.
16) North Georgia
The gap is apparently closing in the Georgia Civil War rivalry. UNG went 2-0 in their doubleheader with Georgia Southern, but needed overtime to win the second game. It is still tough to assess where this team is at after that event. We will need to see them in action against some out-of-region foes.
17) West Virginia
West Virginia continues to improve and is moving in the right direction. They need to figure things out when they don’t have ball advantage and when their opponents figure out their strategy. However, they’re extremely close to moving to the next level and to be viewed as a team that will upset mid-tier teams.
18) Kentucky
Kentucky remains 1-2 on the year after no action this month. The Wildcats will be at the Summit Street Slugfest and the No Fear Invitational in November, so we will know much more about this team and their potential one month from now.
19) Penn State
Penn State lost 2 games earlier in October, to Ohio State and Kent State. That’s a tough month for the Nittany Lions, considering Kent has struggled to get many wins this year. PSU needs more time to develop talent as we head towards the winter. Their win over Akron is a positive sign.
20) Cleveland State
We’re not going to lie: going 0-4 in the month of October isn’t a good look at all. But it’s early in the season and there is still time for the Vikings to get it right. If they play in any tournaments this November, and get some key wins, it will change the narrative for this team.