Indiana Tops Initial MRI Computer Rankings, Gonzaga, Missouri Valley Strong

Near the end of the summer, we introduced you to the concept of the MRI, the computer ranking system that I developed more than a decade ago. The goal then was to identify those mid-major programs that deserved a little more attention than they would normally get from the major media.

That definition of major media has changed quite a bit in the last 12 years. The big boys play a little more attention to the top mid-major programs, but the concept remains the same.

If you aren't winning major tournaments, like Gonzaga or Creighton, and you aren't playing the cream of the crop (and usually getting beat), you will be missed.

And so we feel that the MRI is a strong addition to the Mid-Major Madness discussion, as it will help us to show which teams might be getting ignored on a wider scale.

Here is a warning: it is still rather early in the season, but we have always released the initial rankings on the Monday following Thanksgiving. You might find some teams you hadn't counted on near the top of the charts (Texas Tech (thanks to Cupcake City), Northwestern, Colorado State). And you might find some teams you will be immediately looking for nowhere near the top 25 (Kentucky, Michigan State, Florida State).

There will be a lot of fluidity over the next several weeks as the kinks in the data based on a single game or two get smoothed into the seasonal data, but the data still holds pretty well right now. We have seen as much in past seasons.

This will also be the first time that we release the full rankings every week of the year. In the past, we have only shown the top 25, and a few other teams of note. Now, you will get all 347 teams.

And last, before we pick out the highlights, remember that these rankings only consider games against Division 1 opponents. As such, the records might be a little different than what you are used to seeing. And some teams like Texas and North Texas get a break from embarrassing lower division losses.

With that, here are three things that stood out the most in the initial MRI rankings:

1. Indiana has helped to validate the group think that put the Hoosiers at No. 1 in all of the preseason rankings. They have won and won well against almost everyone on the schedule so far, including knocking off difficult opponents. But the team that we should all be watching is Gonzaga, who closed out a nice tournament in Orlando with a convincing win over Davidson. The Zags have been facing difficult Big 6 competition and dominating games in all aspects. As we mentioned in our roundup of the Old Spice Classic final, this is a special team based on the results they have been generating. It is entirely possible we will be looking Gonzaga on top of this ranking before the end of the year.

2. We don't consider the Mountain West a mid-major conference based on its performance in the past few seasons. This year looked like it was going to be no different. The league was the third best conference until this weekend played itself out. Still, the Mountain West is still a strong No. 7, barely behind the SEC. Colorado State is the surprise leader in the league, but there are four or five other teams that have been making names for themselves in this early season. And don't sleep on the Atlantic 10, another conference we normally ignore at Mid-Major Madness. The league might not have the shining example out front, or in the top 25, but there are a lot of clustered teams just beyond that mark who could make a strong move. The Atlantic 10 could be looking at a strong showing come March given that the strength goes about eight deep.

3. The Missouri Valley has done quite a job of establishing itself in the early going. Between Creighton (a monster team when the shooting is right), Illinois State (could give Louisville a scare given new injury concerns) and Wichita State (yes, we were wrong), the league has a trio of candidates to hold spots near the top of the rankings all season long. Northern Iowa didn't do too badly given the level of competition it faced at Atlantis, and Bradley and Southern Illinois have been pleasant surprises in the early going. The Valley could be deeper than anyone guessed, and an upset waiting to happen on any night given the early season numbers.

Here are the full computer rankings through the games of Nov. 25, 2012.