The weak, in review

No, that is not a typo. We're always talking about the Top Ten -- and we could this week, too. Illinois was thumped by Nebraska, so we're going to have a new #1. And #2-10 is far from clear, in my opinion. But I'm turning my attention to the Bottom Ten, according to Pablo. Who are they and how did they get there?

(Pablo Rankings are as of 10/17/11)

#10 (#320 in Pablo) Coppin State - The Eagles are 5-18 overall and 2-6 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic. 5 wins seems like a lot for our #10 team, but their best win was over #298, Loyola Maryland. Everyone else has been in the 300s. They have only played two teams above #160 -- Towson and Bowling Green -- and were swept by both.

#9 (#321) Grambling State - The Lady Tigers are 4-18 overall and 4-4 in the Southwestern Athletic. Their 4 wins are against teams in the 320s, but, unlike Coppin State, they have ventured into the top 100 to play TCU, New Mexico State and LSU. They failed to reach 17 points in any of those 9 games.

#8 (#322) Arkansas-Pine Bluff - The Lady Lions (who lost to the Lady Tigers, by the way, in 5) are 4-18 overall and 4-3 in the Southwestern Athletic. No wins above 320 and two losses to DII schools. They have played two schools in the 20s -- Tulsa and Oklahoma -- reaching 15 points in the Sooner match.

#7 (#323) Mississippi Valley State - The Lady Devils, yet another SWA team, stand 11-10 and 5-6 in conference. How do they rank so low, and below the Lady Tigers and Lions no less? Probably has to do with the 5 matches against NAIA schools (all wins) and another against a DII school (another win). Take those away and their 5 wins are all in the SWA. They are yet to play a team ranked above #249.

#6 (#324) Southern - The Lady Jaguars are 7-15 and 5-6 in the, you guessed it, SWA. I'm sorry. But I'm done with the SWA and the Lady felines. Let's move on.

#5 (#325) North Carolina A&T - The Aggies end the SWA's run, as our 2nd MEA representative. Their record? 1-23 and 1-7 in conference. Their lone win is over Savannah State, a decisive sweep. This record is even more impressive considering they have only played one team close to #100 (NC State at #108).

#4 (#326) Saint Peters - The Metro Atlantic Athletic pops into our mix with the Peahens at 0-23 and 0-12 in conference. On the bright side, they have gone 5 in two matches. On the dark cloudy side, they have no one left on their schedule ranked below them -- although Loyola Maryland looms small.

#3 (#327) Texas Southern - The SWA reappears with the -- WHAT? -- Lady Tigers at 1-18 and 0-8 in conference.

#2 (#328) Savannah State - The aforementioned Tigers (no sex indicated) are 0-19 and 0-8 in the MEA. This includes being swept by NC A&T, but the rematch, at home, is scheduled for 11/11/11. Is victory possible? They have to like the date, unless that's their point totals in the match.

#1 (#329) Alcorn State - The Lady Braves take the top spot by virtue of a 2-21 record, including 0-8 in the SWA. Pablo has them 605 points behind Savannah State, which is more than 3 times the Home Court Advantage of 178. In short, they are the undisputed #1. So whom did they beat? Dillard and Tougaloo, both NAIA schools. Tougaloo? They also have the distinction of losing 4-25, 5-25, 4-25 to Arkansas State.

So what was the point of this little exercise? Was it just mean-spirited and basically uncalled for?

I'd like to think it wasn't. But why do I feel so guilty?