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NCAA Basketball: Ranking the unbeaten teams that aren’t ranked in 2020-21

By Ryan Kay

Arkansas guard Desi Sills (3) during a basketball game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Arkansas Razorbacks during the SEC Basketball Tournament held at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.Sec Tourney Vanderbilt Arkansas Bp Jpg
Arkansas guard Desi Sills (3) during a basketball game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Arkansas Razorbacks during the SEC Basketball Tournament held at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.Sec Tourney Vanderbilt Arkansas Bp Jpg /
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Southern Illinois’ Marcus Domask Ds2520mbkuesill31
Southern Illinois’ Marcus Domask Ds2520mbkuesill31 /

7. Chattanooga Mocs

Team: Chattanooga

Conference: Southern

Record: 9-0

Victories: UNC Asheville, Lander, @Middle Tennessee, Northern Kentucky, @UAB, @Tennessee Tech, @Tennessee State, North Georgia, and @Bellarmine

KenPom ranking: 164

Leading Scorer: David Jean-Baptiste (entered transfer portal) 18 points per game.  Malachi Smith now the leading scored is averaging 17.1 points per game.

Why they are undefeated: Their defense is the main reason why they are excelling on the court. They have held four teams to 63 or fewer points, with their best defensive effort being on the road against Tennessee Tech and holding them to only 54 points. In seven of their nine victories, they have stopped their opponents from scoring 68 or fewer points.

Chattanooga is dominant on the road being 5-0 on the season and having an average margin of victory away from their home court being just under seven points and holding those opponents to an average of 64.2 points. They also gave UAB their only loss on the season.

Reasons to be Pessimistic: Like the Winthrop, their opponents that they have played this season have not been high competition as a whole has not faced off against one Power Five program. The two wins over non-division one teams are not that impressive and the wins like the one against 0-9 Tennessee Tech is not very impressive.

Chattanooga besides two opponents has not faced tough, quality competition at all.  The leading scorer Jean-Baptiste entered the transfer portal after their fifth game. The Mocs will have the Citadel to challenge them for the conference title but they do not have a strong opponent remaining on their schedule.

Next Opponent: Furman on 12/30

507. . . . Southern Illinois Salukis. 6. player

Team: Southern Illinois

Conference: MVC

Record: 6-0

Victories: North Dakota (twice), @Southeast Missouri State (OT), @Butler, Murray State, and Quincy.

KenPom ranking: 154

Leading Scorer: Marcus Domask is averaging 17.7 points per game.

Why they are undefeated: Their defense has been outstanding this season and that is why they undefeated as Southern Illinois has proven that they have the ability to stop opposing teams’ ability to score against them this season. The Salukis defense has not given up more than 79 points a game this season and in that one game that they gave up 79 points, that game went to overtime.

They have on average, are limiting their opponents this season to only 65.5 points per game. Their offense has been solid and gives them balance, they have scored 85 or more points in three games this season. Their season-high was when they scored 102 and they have scored 70 or more points in five of the six games they have participated in this season. They have defeated Murray State and won at Butler which is impressive.

Reasons to be Pessimistic: They have had some very close games this season having to go to overtime and winning two games by four or fewer points. The two wins over North Dakota are not headlining victories as the Fighting Hawks are only 1-8 at this point of the season. South Illinois plays four of their next six games on the road and they need to prove that they can win in conference play.

Next Opponent: Evansville on 12/27

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