Ephs Jump to No. 2 in Hoops Ranking
 |
The Ephs jumped over Washington University (St. Louis), which remain ranked third. Guilford moved up from second to first after then-No. 1 UW-Stevens Point lost to UW-Whitewater. Whitewater, which entered the week ranked No. 5, fell to 6 after following up its victory over Stevens Point with a loss to UW-Stout.
Williams has been statistically dominant throughout the season. On the offensive end of the floor, the team is ranked first in the nation in field goal percentage at 52.2 percent and is ranked fifth in the nation in scoring with 87.2 ppg. In a testament to their defensive abilities, the Ephs are also ranked first in the nation in scoring margin with plus-20.2 ppg and 10th in the nation in rebounding margin with plus-8.3 rpg.
Blake Schultz, James Wang, and Troy Whittington are leading the way for the Ephs’ torrid offense. Schultz is scoring a NESCAC-leading 18.9 ppg, while Wang is sixth with 16.4 ppg and Whittington is 17th with 11.9 ppg. Whittington leads the conference and the nation in field goal percentage, shooting an incredible 70.4 percent from the field; Wang is first among guards fifth overall in the conference, shooting 57.9 percent from the field, and Schultz is eighth while shooting 52.2 percent. Wang leads the team in assists with 4.5 per game, good for fourth in the conference.
The trio also plays a large role on the Ephs' stellar defense. Schultz, Wang and Whittington average 4.7, 4.4, and 6.1 boards per game, respectively. Joe Geoghegan leads the way for the Ephs on the glass with an average of 8.5 per game, good for third in the conference. Whittington is second in the conference and first on the team in blocks with 2.35 per game, while Schultz is third in the conference and first on the team in steals with 1.7 per game. The team as a whole is holding opponents to 39.6 percent shooting per game.
National statistical rankings can be found at this link; NESCAC statistical rankings can be found here.
Colby entered the poll this week ranked 25th, and is the only other NESCAC team ranked after defeating Amherst, who fell out of the poll. The Jeffs had been ranked 18th coming into the week. Colby's jump in the rankings is impressive, given that the Mules had not even received votes coming into the week. The Mules and the Ephs are tied atop the NESCAC with identical 5-0 records; the two teams will face off this Friday, Feb. 5, in Williamstown at 8 p.m. in a showdown that will give the victor control of its own destiny.
The entire Top 25 poll through games played Sunday, Jan. 31:
No. Team W-L Pts. Last Week
1 Guilford (24) 18-1 624 2
2 Williams 19-1 571 4
3 Washington U. (1) 16-2 567 3
4 UW-Stevens Point 18-2 544 1
5 St. Thomas 17-2 525 6
6 UW-Whitewater 16-3 487 5
7 Virginia Wesleyan 17-2 468 7
8 Middlebury 17-2 391 8
9 St. Norbert 16-1 388 12
10 Whitworth 17-2 357 15
11 Chapman 18-2 350 13
12 MIT 18-2 348 14
13 William Paterson 20-1 345 16
14 Anderson 17-2 281 10
15 Franklin and Marshall 16-3 254 17
16 Eastern Mennonite 15-3 250 11
17 Texas-Dallas 15-3 219 19
18 Randolph-Macon 15-4 215 9
19 Brandeis 14-3 196 20
20 St. Mary's (Md.) 16-3 177 23
21 Wooster 15-4 131 24
22 Medaille 19-1 130 25
23 Carthage 15-4 92 —
24 Mississippi College 15-3 60 22
25 Colby 15-2 44 —
Dropped out: No. 18 Amherst, No. 21 Illinois Wesleyan.
Others receiving votes: Albright 40, Illinois Wesleyan 34, Amherst 14, Cabrini 12, Lycoming 4, Emory 3, St. John Fisher 2, Stevens 2.
Poll courtesy of D3Hoops.com.
