The Metro Poll Season 2, Volume 2: Plenty of Room at the Top!

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Happy Monday, hoops fans! Another week of basketball in the books, and another week of updated rankings featuring your favorite NYC teams. Let's check out this week's super close rankings, as well as recaps and reactions from the biggest matchups.

The 2021 Metro Poll-Week 2

Reaction

Not only do we have two teams tied at the top, but two tied right below them! Unfortunately, neither of these pairs will meet each other in non-conference play this year, but we'll likely be able to set them apart once they head into their respective conference plays. Wagner holds strong in the middle despite taking the week off, so they'll need to rack up some more wins soon if they want to justify their current position. Columbia could push past Fordham soon if they keep winning, and Fordham will need to stop letting some bad teams hang around too long before they head into conference play.

Is Hofstra the Best 1-3 Team in the Northeast?

It's hard to compliment a team with a 1-3 record, but in Hofstra's case, I think it's fitting. With two close losses in the Top 25, including a 2-point loss to #20 Maryland, Hofstra's loss to Iona is really the only game you can rag on them for. The Pride look like a team that could be a serious threat to a 4-6 seed, and I look forward to seeing how they fare in the Colonial. At the center of the Pride's success is Jared Cooks, who is currently averaging 19 points a game, and hit several clutch shots to keep the Pride neck-and-neck with the Terps this weekend. Their game against Richmond tonight, a rematch from last year in which Hofstra won, could be a huge indicator of this team's actual tournament potential.

Iona Stays Undefeated

With the way the Gaels have opened their season, there's no reason why they shouldn't repeat as champions of the MAAC. In their most recent victories in the MAAC-ASUN Challenge, Iona dominated against Liberty, 54-50, and North Alabama, 81-65. In the latter game, Iona held the Lions to just seven made field goals in the second half. Nelly Junior Joseph has no doubt been the biggest presence for the Gaels. In the Challenge, Junior Joseph averaged a double-double (15.5 ppg and 10.5 rpg), and was named the Most Outstanding Performer of the entire event. The Gaels' biggest test of the season so far comes on Thanksgiving Day, in a rematch from last year's tournament against ranked Alabama.

See you next week!