RPI notes

The first official RPI rankings were released today. Here's how the America East shakes out:

UMBC (58)
UNH (201)
Hartford (212)
UVM (230)
Albany (236)
Maine (270)
Boston U. (290)
Stony Brook (319)
Binghamton (326)

The Bearcats are tied for the worst record in the league with the Seawolves. Binghamton also has the second-weakest strength of schedule in the conference, ahead of only Albany (4-4).

Maryland-Eastern Shore, at 1-9 --- with its lone win of the season coming against SBU --- currently sits at no. 312.

Presbyterian, an independent with a 1-10 mark, currently sits ahead of the Bearcats at no. 325. And Chicago State, another independent, improved to 2-8 yesterday with an 83-69 win over Jackson State.

Eastern Illinois (0-8) currently sits last at no. 341, but squeaking in just ahead of them is North Florida (0-6) at no. 340 --- the same North Florida team that led the Bearcats for 38 minutes at the Events Center on Dec. 17, 2005 --- the day that Jaan Montgomery debuted for Binghamton.

If the America East ever hopes to improve as a league, they cannot sustain three teams with RPIs of 290 or higher. It's early-season performances like Bing, SBU and surprisingly Boston that continue to drag the America East through the mud year after year.