Now we’re through 80 games, and I think, comfortably able to at least make some comparisons to preseason expectations.

The below graph illustrates rankings jumps for all nine Horizon League teams, according to Ken Pomeroy’s rankings system over the time span of preseason to today. UIC outdid everyone (and probably every D-I team according to a recent post from John Templon), by jumping 164 spots, from 288 in the preseason rankings to 124 today. Milwaukee has fallen the most, 87 spots.

It’s relevant that preseason data still has some influence over all 347 teams in Pomeroy’s rankings, so that softens things, as it’s intended too, and could be holding the Flames back.

Some other notes for this week:

• There’s a new No. 1: UIC has the Horizon League’s overall highest efficiency margin thanks to the league’s best (and the nation’s 10th best) defensive efficiency (0.82 ppp)
• Youngstown State is playing very consistently. None of their numbers moved since last week (despite a non-D-I game), and the ‘Guins have maintained the exact same defensive efficiency numbers for three straight weeks.
•  Milwaukee (-0.06) and Valparaiso (-0.05) most negatively impacted their overall efficiency margin this week, while Detroit (+0.03) climbed the most probably thanks to a non-D-I game of their own.
• Youngstown State may have the most efficient offense (1.02 ppp), but no Horizon League offense is among the nation’s top 100.

Offensive efficiency (points per possession)

1. Youngstown State 1.02 ppp (no change since last week)
t2. Cleveland State 1.01 (-0.01)
t2. Loyola 1.01 (-0.01)
t2. Valparaiso 1.01 (-0.04)
5. Wright State 0.99 (no change)
6. Detroit 0.98 (+0.01)
7. Green Bay 0.97 (+0.01)
8. UIC 0.96 (+0.01)
9. Milwaukee 0.87 (-0.04)

Defensive efficiency (points allowed per possession)

1. UIC 0.82 (+0.01)
2. Valparaiso 0.88 (+0.01)
3. Wright State 0.89 (-0.01)
4. Youngstown State 0.96 (no change)
5. Loyola 0.97 (+0.03)
6. Cleveland State 0.99 (+0.03)
t7. Green Bay 1.02 (+0.04)
t7. Milwaukee 1.02 (+0.02)
9. Detroit 1.05 (-0.02)

Overall efficiency margin (O-PPP – D-PPP) (numbers below the graph)

1. UIC +0.14 (no change)
2. Valparaiso +0.13 (-0.05)
3. Wright State +0.10 (+0.01)
4. Youngstown State +0.06 (no change)
5. Loyola +0.04 (-0.04)
6. Cleveland State +0.02 (-0.04)
7. Green Bay -0.05 (-0.03)
8. Detroit -0.07 (+0.03)
9. Milwaukee -0.15 (-0.06)