LSU has become the sixth different team to occupy the top spot in CB360’s exclusive Composite National Rankings (CNR) during consecutive weeks, in addition to holding down that No. 1 position during midseason (matching Vanderbilt with three weeks at #1 in the CNR). The four other teams that have owned the top spot in back-to-back weeks are: Vanderbilt, Virginia, TCU and Texas A&M.
Two others among the top–6 in the current CNR – [2] UCLA and [6] Louisville – remain in the same spot from a week ago, while A&M slipped back two spots to 5th (after losing the series vs. South Carolina). Current [3] TCU and [4] Illinois each moved up a spot, corresponding with A&M’s drop. Current #7 Miami also has moved up one position, while Dallas Baptist slid from 7th to 9th and two teams entered/re-entered the top–10: [8] Florida (up from 11th) and [10] Missouri State (formerly #12). This is the first top–10 ranking for the MSU Bears in the six-year history of the CB360 Composite National Rankings.
Florida State (9th to 12th) tumbled outside the top–10, as did current #11 Vanderbilt (which was 10th a week ago).
– front-page photo of Jared Gates courtesy of South Alabama
CLICK HERE for the preseason top-50, with complete release, historical notes, etc.
… week–2 update … week–3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13
The current CNR formula includes 21 elements – the most detailed formula in the seven-year history of the CNR at CB360
(links to all 20 elements included lower down on this page):
• Seven regular national polls/rankings (USA Today coaches; NCBWA writers; Baseball America; D1baseball.com; Perfect Game; Collegiate Baseball magazine; and ESPN Power Rankings)
• Three NCAA Tournament projections (BA, D1Baseball.com and Perfect Game)
• Three RPI elements (Official NCAA RPI, Warren Nolan RPI and Boyds World Pseudo-RPI)
• Five other numerical evaluations (Boyd’s World ISR, Massey Strength Ratings, Massey Power Rankings, ELO Rankings from Massey, and Warren Nolan Power Index/NPI)
• Three final elements that award a small bonus (projected final strength of schedule, plus current offense strength and defense strength, all per Massey)
The CNR Top-50 – which made its debut on CB360 in 2009 – can serve as a snapshot for teams that project for making the NCAAs (as at-large entrants, if they don’t win their conference automatic bids). In the past, the weekly top-50 also has included a listing of other projected NCAA qualifiers, for conferences that don’t feature any teams in the top-50 … and those teams also are included at the bottom of this page, based on a composite of various projections and other elements.
Only three teams – UCLA, LSU, and TCU – have been in the CNR top–10 all season (LSU and TCU top–7 all year). There are only 20 teams that have been on the CNR top–50 throughout all of the 2015 season, led by six from the ACC (Louisville, Miami, FSU, UNC, UVa and GT) plus four SEC (LSU, A&M, Florida and Vandy) and three Pac-12 (UCLA, ASU and Oregon St.) – along with the Big 12 duo over TCU and OK State, the Big Ten’s Illinois and Maryland, and Rice (CUSA), Houston (AAC) and UCSB (Big West).
The current top–8 in the CNR (projected national seeds) include three from the SEC (LSU, A&M and Florida) and two ACC (Louisiville & Miami), plus one each from the Pac-12, Big 12 and Big Ten (UCLA, TCU and Illinois). Projecting the 16 regional top seeds (typically hosts), based on the current CNR, there would be four from the SEC, three ACC, and two each from the MVC and Big 12 (plus the Pac-12’s UCLA, Big Ten’s Illinois, UCSB out of the Big West, the CAA’s College of Charleston and the Houston from the AAC). If that projection holds true, the 16 host seeds/regional top seeds would come from nine different conferences (SEC–ACC–MVC–Big12–Pac12–B1G–BW–CAA–AAC).
Here are some more quick notes on the current Top-50 (scroll down for the full listing):
• COMING and GOING – These three teams have moved into the CB360 Top-50:
[45] Southern Mississippi – swept series vs. Charlotte
[47] Tulane – won 2-of-3 vs. South Florida
[49] South Alabama – won 2-of-3 at Louisiana (Lafayette)
… and these three have slipped outside the top-50:
[39] UNC Wilmington – was swept in series at College of Charleston
[48] Memphis – lost 2-of-3 at UCF
[49] Kentucky – lost midweek vs. Louisville and lost 2-of-3 at home vs. Georgia
• MOVERS & SHAKERS – These four other teams climbed seven or more spots within the top-50:
Notre Dame (#45 to #29) – swept series vs. North Carolina
N.C. State (#50 to #41) – won midweek vs. Campbell and swept series at Wake Forest
Virginia (#41 to #34) – won 2-of-3 vs. Duke (later won midweek vs. Richmond)
Ole Miss (#46 to #39) – swept series vs. Mississippi State
… and these four teams each slid seven or more spots while still remaining within the top-50:
North Carolina (#21 to #31) – won midweek vs. UNC Asheville and Elon but was swept in series at Notre Dame
Auburn (#27 to #37) – was swept in home series vs. Alabama
Nebraska (#38 to #48) – lost 2-of-3 at home vs. Purdue
Florida Atlantic (#13 to #20) – won midweek vs. UCF but was swept at home by Rice
• WELL BEYOND EXPECTATIONS – Six teams currently find themselves in the top–25 of the CNR, despite not even being top–50 in the preseason CNR: [10] Missouri State, [17] USC, [18] Iowa, [20] Florida Atlantic, [23] Nevada and [24] Redford … Dallas Baptist was at the bottom of the preseason top–50 but now sits all the way up at #9, while preseason #37 Illinois has risen to 4th in the current CNR. … The current top–10 of the CNR includes one team (Missouri State) that was not even in the preseason top–50, plus four other teams that were not in the preseason top–10 (three of them far from it): DBU, Illinois, preseason #33 Texas A&M and preseason #18 Miami.
• THAT’S WHY THEY PLAY THE GAMES – 23 of the teams in the CB360 preseason Top–50 (Composite National Rankings) currently sit outside the top–50, including four teams that were in the top–20 of the preseason CNR (#9 Texas, #11 South Carolina, #17 Texas Tech and #19 Mississippi State) … other preseason top–50 currently outside the top–50: [21] Oregon, [22] Stanford, [23] Kennesaw State, [27] Clemson, [28] Cal Poly, [29] Liberty, [30] Tennessee, [32] LMU, [35] Alabama, [38] UCF, [40] St. John’s, [42] Kent St., [43] Wichita St., [44] La. Lafayette, [45] Pepperdine, [46] Ball St., [47] Sam Houston St., [48] San Diego and [49] Kentucky.
• FALLING OFF – Among teams still in the top–50, some have plummeted from early-season expectations:
– Virginia (preseason #2, then #1 for two weeks … now #34)
– Nebraska (preseason #26 … now #48)
– Ole Miss (preseason #24 … now #39)
– CONFERENCE CALL – Here is the breakdown of the current CB360 top-50, by conference:
• 8 SEC teams (3 top-8; 4 top-16; 5 top-25 teams) – (1) LSU, (5) A&M, (8) Florida, (11) Vandy, (25) Arkansas, (37) Auburn, (39) Ole Miss and (50) Missouri
• 8 ACC teams (2 top-8; 3 top-16; 3 top-25 ) – (6) Louisville, (7) Miami, (12) FSU, (29) ND, (31) UNC, (34) UVa, (38) Ga. Tech and (41) NC St.
• 6 Big Ten teams (1 top-8; 1 top-16; 2 top-25) – (4) Illinois, (18) Iowa, (33) Ohio St., (36) Maryland, (43) Michigan State & (48) Nebraska
• 5 Pac-12 teams (1 top-8; 1 top-16; 4 top-25): – (2) UCLA, (17) USC, (21) Oregon St., (22) Arizona St. and (26) Cal
• 4 American Athletic Conf. teams (1 top-16; 1 top-25) – (16) Houston, (44) East Carolina, (46) South Florida and (47) Tulane
• 3 Missouri Valley teams (2 top-16; 2 top-25) – (9) Dallas Baptist, (10) Missouri St. and (40) Bradley
• 3 Big West teams (1 top-16; 1 top-25) – (14) UCSB, (28) CS Fullerton and (35) UC Irvine
• 3 Conference USA teams (2 top-25) – (19) Rice, (20) Florida Atlantic and (45) Southern Miss.
• 2 Big 12 teams (1 top-8; 2 top-16; 2 top-25) – (3) TCU and (13) Oklahoma State
• 2 Big South teams – (24) Redford and (27) Coastal Carolina
• 1 Colonial Athletic Assoc. team – (15) Coll. of Charleston
• 1 Mountain West team – (23) Nevada
• 1 Summit League team – (30) Oral Roberts
• 1 Atlantic Sun team – (33) North Florida
• 1 Southland team – (42) Southeastern Louisiana
• 1 Sun Belt team – (49) South Alabama
_____________
COMPOSITE NATIONAL RANKINGS (CNR) CRITERIA: Teams receive points based on their standings in each poll/rating/projection (60 pts for #1; 59 for #2, etc.). For polls involving voting points (coaches and CB) and the various RPI-type ratings, the CNR adjusts to reward teams that have larger margins in the voting/point totals (whereas two teams with nearly the same voting-point total will be closer in the CNR allotment for that poll). For the NCAA field projections, teams are awarded CNR points based on their respective seedings, “last in” and “last out,” etc. (teams likely projected to make the field only via automatic bids do not receive points in the CNR formula).
The polls/ratings/projections are averaged, with 40 points typically then added to each total in order to yield the 100-point benchmark. Early in the season (projected SOS; and preseason conference coaches polls) and late in the season (final-10 games), a maximum bonus/penalty of 2.0 (SOS & conf. poll) or 0.5 points (final-10) is factored into the formula (in that case, 38.0, or 39.5, rather than 40, is added to the poll/rating/projection avg.). For late-April CNR, small bonuses are being factored in for: projected final strength of schedule; offense strength; and defense strength (all per Massey).
The CNR were introduced in 2009 by CB360 founder Pete LaFleur, who has created a similar formula for Composite National Rankings on affiliate site CollegeSoccer360.com.
Here are links to the 21 criteria currently used in the CNR:
• National Coaches Poll (USA Today/ESPN; top-25, plus rec. votes)
• National Collegiate Baseball NCBWA Writers Poll (top-30, plus rec. votes)
• DIBaseball.com top-25 (plus rec. votes)
• Baseball America top-25
• Collegiate Baseball magazine rankings (30 teams)
• Perfect Game rankings (top-25)
• ESPN.com Power Ratings (top-20, plus rec. votes)
• Baseball America projected NCAA Tournament field
• DIBaseball.com projected NCAA Tournament field
• Perfect Game projected NCAA Tournament field
• Official NCAA RPI (top–60)
• WarrenNolan.com RPI (top–60)
• Boyds World Pseudo-RPI (top–60)
• Boyds World ISR (Iterative Strength Ratings; top–60)
• Massey Strength Ratings (top–60)
• Massey Power Ratings (top–60)
• ELO Ratings (Warren Nolan; top–60)
• Warren Nolan Power Index (NPI; top–60)
The below three elements award a small bonus (max. 1.0 point each, with baseline max of 97 for the average of the above 19 core elements):
• Offense Strength (Massey; top–60)
• Defense Strength (Massey; top–60)
• Projected Final Strength of Schedule (Massey; top–60)
_________
CB360 Composite National Rankings #14
(top-50, plus projected NCAA field-of-64 – May 14, 2015)
(rank) Team – voting pts (previous weeks … 2015 preseason)
1. LSU – 96.21 (#1 after week-12 … 2 … 2 … 3 … 5 … 5 … 1 … 3 … 4 … 6 … 7 … 5 … #5 preseason)
2. UCLA – 95.39 (2 … 1 … 1 … 2 … 4 … 6 … 6 … 7 … 10 … 4 … 5 … 6 … 6)
3. TCU – 93.72 (4 … 4 … 7 … 6 … 3 … 2 … 4 … 1 … 1 … 2 … 2 … 3 … 3)
4. Illinois – 93.19 (5 … 8 … 11 … 16 … 14 … 18 … 18 … 22 … 23 … 37 … 27 … 30 … 37)
5. Texas A&M – 90.70 (3 … 3 … 3 … 1 …1 … 3 … 2 … 5 … 8 … 22 … 24 … 24 … 33)
6. Louisville – 90.64 (6 … 6 … 5 … 4 … 6 … 11 … 8 … 13 … 18 … 23 … 20 … 10 … 10)
7. Miami – 90.07 (8 … 7 … 6 … 5 … 8 … 10 … 12 … 19 … 21 … 17 … 14 … 11 … 18)
8. Florida – 89.84 (11 … 9 … 4 … 8 … 11 … 4 … 5 … 2 … 3 … 5 … 4 … 4 … 4)
9. Dallas Baptist – 89.03 (7 … 5 … 9 …. 15 … 15 … 15 … 21 … 27 … 27 … 25 … 25 … – … 50)
10. Missouri State – 86.91 (12 … 13 … 14 … 14 … 23 … 41 … – … – … – … – … – … – … –)
11. Vanderbilt – 86.41 (10 … 11 … 15 … 7 … 2 … 1 … 3 … 4 … 5 … 3 … 3 … 1 … 1)
12. Florida State – 85.72 (9 … 10 … 13 … 12 … 7 … 11 … 7 … 12 … 15 … 21 … 22 … 16 … 13)
13. Oklahoma State – 83.98 (15 … 14 … 17 … 13 … 12 … 14 … 20 … 26 … 32 … 20 … 18 … 13 … 7)
14. UC Santa Barbara – 82.06 (14 … 15 … 12 … 11 … 13 … 13 … 15 … 17 … 17 … 19 … 17 … 21 … 25)
15. College of Charleston – 78.98 (17 … 19 … 18 … 26 … 28 … 44 … 49 … – … _ … 39 … 30 … 42 … 34)
16. Houston – 75.96 (20 … 24 … 31 … 29 … 22 … 16 … 16 … 21 … 22 … 9 … 6 … 7 … 8)
17. USC – 75.84 (19 … 16 … 8 … 10 … 10 … 9 … 14 … 10 … 11 … 24 … 37 … – … –)
18. Iowa – 75.72 (18 … 21 … 23 … 20 … 25 … 30 … – … – … – … – … – … – … –)
19. Rice – 75.35 (23 … 27 … 39 … 28 … 20 … 22 … 26 … 9 … 12 …. 13 … 11 … 15 … 14)
20. Florida Atlantic – 74.86 (13 … 12 … 16 … 17 … 17 … 24 … 30 … 20 … 26 … 26 … 36 … – … –)
21. Oregon State – 73.34 (22 … 28 … 32 … 36 … 29 … 27 … 22 … 28 … 25 … 28 … 28 … 38 … 31)
22. Arizona State – 71.81 (16 … 17 … 10 … 9 … 9 … 7 … 10 … 14 … 14 … 16 … 13 … 17 … 15)
23. Nevada – 69.14 (24 … 29 … 24 … 40 … 32 … 26 … 29 … 32 … 28 … 35 … 40 … – … –)
24. Radford – 68.63 (29 … 26 … 29 … 46 … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … –)
25. Arkansas – 67.85 (25 … 30 … 34 … – … – … – … – … – … – … 32 … 35 … 25 … 36)
26. California – 66.62 (26 … 34 … 47 … 30 … 26 … 21 … 24 … 30 … 41 … 44 … – … – … –)
27. Coastal Carolina – 65.69 (28 … 23 … 30 … 21 … 24 … 29 … 42 … – … – … 49 … – … – … –)
28. Cal State Fullerton – 60.48 (34 … 45 … 46 … 44 … – … – … – … 45 … 24 … 40 … 43 … 22 … 16)
29. Notre Dame – 59.39 (45 … 37 … 25 … 31 … – … – … 44 … 33 … 39 … 33 … – … – … –)
30. Oral Roberts – 58.26 (31 … 42 … 33 … 38 … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … –)
31. North Carolina – 57.33 (21 … 22 … 19 … 23 … 31 … 32 … 25 … 23 … 13 … 15 …12 … 14 … 12)
32. North Florida – 56.20 (35 … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … –)
33. Ohio State – 56.19 (30 … 18 … 22 … 34 … 38 … 47 … – … – … – … – … – … – … –)
34. Virginia – 55.88 (41 … 33 … 27 … 41 … 21 … 19 … 17 … 8 … 2 … 1 … 1 … 2 … 2)
35. UC Irvine – 54.61 (32 … 48 … 38 … 32 … 41 … – … – … – … – … – … – … 39 … 41)
36. Maryland – 52.83 (36 … 20 … 20 … 18 … 18 … 31 … 19 … 31 … 29 … 18 … 21 … 20 … 20)
37. Auburn – 51.74 (27 … 25 … 37 … 39 … 43 …. 49 … – … – … 30 … 38 … – … – … –)
38. Georgia Tech – 51.65 (33 … 41 … 40 … 24 … 33 … 38 … 35 … 24 … 31 … 29 … 32 … 34 … 39)
39. Mississippi – 51.52 (46 … 44 … 44 … 48 … – … 50 … 45 … – … 46 … 30 … 26 … 28 … 24)
40. Bradley – 50.72 (37 … 36 … 36 … 43 … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … –)
41. North Carolina State – 50.49 (50 … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … –)
42. Southeastern Louisiana – 50.27 (40 … 38 … 48 … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … –)
43. Michigan State – 49.09 (42 … 35 … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … –)
44. East Carolina – 47.74 (44 … 46 … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … –)
45. Southern Mississippi – 47.66 (– … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … –)
46. South Florida – 46.28 (47 … 40 … 42 … 35 … 42 … 45 … – … – … – … – … – … – … –)
47. Tulane – 45.26 (– … 50 … – … – … – … – … – … 37 … 42 … 31 … 39 … – … –)
48. Nebraska – 44.77 (38 … 31 … 21 … 19 … 19 … 23 … 31 … 48 … – … – … 42 … 36 …. 26)
49. South Alabama – 43.94 (– … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … –)
49. Missouri – 43.94 (43 … 49 … 28 … 25 … 27 … 34 … 32 … 35 … – … – … – … – … –)
Next Five: UNC Wilmington, Liberty, Indiana, Alabama and St. John’s
• 16 Other Projected 2015 NCAA Tournament Teams
(conferences not in top–50):
(based on composite preseason projections; to be updated in mid-April):
San Diego (WCC) … Mercer (SoCon) … Wright State (Horizon)
St. John’s (BIG EAST) … Alabama State (SWAC) … Columbia (Ivy League)
South Alabama (Southland) … Southeast Missouri State (Ohio Valley)
Stony Brook (America East) … Rider (MAAC) … Saint Louis (A-10)
Central Michigan (Mid-American) … Bryant (Northeast)
CS Bakersfield (WAC) … Navy (Patriot League) … Norfolk State (MEAC)
– Dropped Out of the Top-50 after Week–13
39. UNC Wilmington – 52.24 (39 … 26 … 27 … 34 … 40 … 37 … 42 … 40 … – … 50 … – … –)
48. Memphis – 49.54 (32 … 45 … 50 … 44 … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … –)
49. Kentucky – 44.33 (47 … – … – … 39 … 39 … – … – … – … – … – … – … 49)
– Dropped Out of the Top-50 after Week–12
43. Louisiana-Lafayette – 50.03 (– … – … – … – … – … – … 47 … – … – … 45 … 44)
50. Tulane – 46.42 (– … – … – … – … – … 37 … 42 … 31 … 39 … – … –)
– Dropped Out of the Top-50 after Week–11:
35. Texas Tech – 56.83 (33 … 46 … 33 … 27 … 15 … 19 … 7 … 9 … 17)
41. Oklahoma – 52.69 (37 … 49 … – … 34 … 47 … – … – … – … – … –)
43. Connecticut – 52.48 (47 … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … – … –)
49. UCF (Central Florida) – 47.00 (22 … 16 … 8 … 9 … 11 … 9 … 14 … 19 … 33 … 38)
50. Alabama – 46.85 (– … 50 … 48 … 41 … 38 … 47 … 41 … 31 … 29 … 35)
– Dropped Out of the Top-50 after Week–10:
42. Long Beach State – 54.75 (37 … – … – … – … – … 36 … – … – … – )
45. San Diego State – 53.25 (36 … 35 … 38 … 39 … 33 … 27 … 33 … – … –)
49. South Carolina – 48.97 (30 … 17 … 11 … 6 … 7 … 8 … 10 … 12 … 11)
– Dropped Out of the Top-50 after Week–9:
35. Texas – 56.66 (20 … 13 … 16 … 16 … 12 … 9 … 8 … 9)
39. Kentucky – 53.01 (39 … – … – … – … – … – … – … 49)
40. Arizona – 51.94 (25 … 33 … 41 … 37 … – … – … – … –)
45. San Diego – 48.43 ( 28 … 36 … 36 … 38 … 45 … – … – … –)
47. Indiana – 47.84 (36 … 28 … 29 … – … – … 49 … 32 … –)
48. Wright State – 47.25 (43 … 43 … – … – … – … – … – … –)
50. Alabama – 46.50 (48 … 41 … 38 … 47 … 41 … 31 … 29 … 35)
– Dropped Out of the Top-50 after Week–8:
37. Georgia – 47.46 (– … – … 50 … – … 29 … – … –)
42. Oregon – 44.53 (23 … 18 … 6 … 10 … 15 … 18 … 21)
46. Cal State Northridge – 41.38 (40 … 43 … 44 … – … – … – … –)
50. Mississippi – 39.97 (45 … – … 46 … 30 … 26 … 28 … 24)
– Dropped Out of the Top-50 after Week–7:
34. Oklahoma – 48.31 (47 … – … – … – … – … –)
39. Mississippi State – 44.20 (25 … 20 … 11 … 16 … 19 … 19)
44. Notre Dame – 41.66 (33 … 39 … 33 … – … – … –)
46. Duke – 41.27 (– … – … – … – … – … –)
47. Old Dominion – 38.57 (– … – … – … – … – … –)
48. Stanford – 36.27 (40 … 34 … 34 … 44 … 26 … 22)
50. New Mexico – 35.50 (46 … 35 … 42 … – … – … –)
– Dropped Out of the Top-50 after Week–6:
34. Campbell – 50.45 (43 … – … – … – … –)
37. Tulane – 46.98 (42 … 31 … 39 … – … –)
44. Milwaukee – 44.14 (– … – … – … – … –)
45. Cal State Fullerton – 43.63 (24 … 40 … 43 … 22 … 16)
49. East Carolina – 41.89 (– … – … – … – … –)
50. Central Arkansas – 41.69 (– … – … – … – … –)
– Dropped Out of the Top-50 after Week–5:
30. Auburn – 54.27 (38 … – … – … –)
36. Arkansas – 48.48 (32 … 35 … 25 … 36)
45. Georgia Southern – 43.11 (– … – … – … –)
46. Mississippi – 42.03 (30 … 26 … 28 … 24)
47. Kennesaw State – 41.93 (46 … 23 … 23 … 23)
47. Louisiana-Lafayette – 41.93 (– … – … 45 … 44)
50. Georgia – 41.75 (– … 29 … – … –)
– Dropped Out of the Top-50 after Week–4:
36. Long Beach State – 48.09 (– … – … –)
39. College of Charleston – 45.83 (30 … 42 … 34)
43. Baylor – 42.80 (34 … 43 … –)
47. Columbia – 42.46 (– … – … –)
48. Arkansas State – 42.40 (– … – … –)
49. Coastal Carolina – 42.40 (– … – … –)
50. Clemson – 42.30 (48 … 44 … 27)
– Dropped Out of the Top-50 after Week–3:
29. Georgia – 50.50 (– … –)
38. UNLV – 42.27 (40 … –)
41. Grand Canyon – 41.57 (– … –)
42. Nebraska – 41.36 (36 … 26)
45. Tennessee – 39.02 (41 … 30)
46. Liberty – 38.57 (27 … 29)
47. Loyola Marymount – 38.52 (35 … 32)
49. Indiana – 38.04 (32 … –)
50. UNC Wilmington – 38.01 (– … –)
Dropped Out of Top-50 after Week–2:
31. Florida International
37. Cal Poly (#28 preseason)
39. UC Irvine (41)
45. Louisiana (Lafayette) (44)
46. Sam Houston State (47)
47. Washington
48. Pepperdine (45)
49. St. John’s (40)
50. Fresno State
Note: the following teams dropped out of the top-50 after being in the preseason CNR –
(42) Kent State, (43) Wichita State, (46) Ball State, (48) San Diego and (49) Kentucky (also #50 Dallas Baptist, which later returned to the top-50).