Yahoo's take on the Big 4

Atlantic 10

1. Dayton
2. Xavier
3. LaSalle
4. Richmond
5. Duquesne
6. Temple
7. Charlotte
8. Rhode Island
9. Saint Joseph's
10. UMass
11. Saint Louis
12. Bona
13. GW
14. Fordham

Notes: The Bonnies have to improve their play in the backcourt where they had more turnovers than assists.

MAC

East Division
1. Akron
2. UB
3. Kent State
4. Miami
5. Bowling Green
6. Ohio

West Division
1. Central Michigan
2. Ball State
3. Western Michigan
4. Eastern Michigan
5. Northern Illinois
6. Toledo

First team
Rodney Pierce, UB

Notes: The Bulls have to figure out a way to finish the season stronger than they did last season when they lost seven of their last 11.

MAAC

1. Siena
2. Niagara
3. Rider
4. Fairfield
5. St. Peter's
6. Loyola
7. Manhattan
8. Canisius
9. Iona
10. Marist

First team
Bilal Benn, Niagara
Tyrone Lewis, Niagara

Notes: The Griffs have five starters returning including four juniors and a senior. The preseason publications are overlooking Canisius.

Yahoo's Top 10

1. Kansas
2. Kentucky
3. Michigan State
4. Villanova
5. Purdue
6. Texas
7. North Carolina
8. Duke
9. West Virginia
10. Cal

Yahoo ranks the nation's teams 1-347 and here's where the Big 4 teams are ranked:

56. Niagara
95. UB
193. Bona
232. Canisius

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)