HUNTINGTON - Your job, all ye Marshall fans, is to embrace your basketball team.
This team is beginning to click, at least at Cam Henderson Center. In that goofy-looking building on Third Avenue, the Thundering Herd has won four in a row and has buffed the floor with the last three opponents. When they do that, they're a hoot.
The latest job came Sunday, an impressive 94-76 win over Western Kentucky that wasn't that close. Marshall led by 26 points before the under-12 media timeout of the second half.
The Hilltoppers may not have their two stars from previous season, but they're not Texas-San Antonio. Odds are they'll defeat Marshall at Diddle Arena on Feb. 13.
With that in mind, my job is to not overreact. My job is to not anoint this MU team, 5-9 overall, a sudden contender. As coach Dan D'Antoni says, Sunday's game was just that - a game.
One game.
With that, I bring you one of my time-honored (or dishonored) traditions, my Conference USA rankings heading into the league season. I do this for two reasons: (a) I am eyeball-deep in football in early November and (b) preseason rankings are futile.
For example, Sporting News ranked Florida Atlantic 10th and UTSA 11th of 14 teams. Those teams would be happy to sniff that stratosphere.
I will list teams in order, with best result (it can be a close loss), worst loss and a comment. Top scorers are as of Saturday.
Here we go:
1. Louisiana Tech (12-2, 1-0). Best result: 82-74 win at Ohio State. Worst loss: 94-68 at Memphis. Top scorer: Alex Hamilton, 18.3.
Hamilton is no Speedy Smith, but he is fourth in scoring and leads in assists (6.14) and steals (30). Eric Konkol stepped into a good situation after coach Michael White left for Florida. Bulldogs have won 39 straight at home, and has never lost a C-USA game there.
2. UAB (11-3, 1-0). Best result: 75-74 loss at Auburn. Worst loss: 72-58 vs. Illinois (neutral site). Top scorer: Chris Cokley, 16.1.
After beating Iowa State in the NCAA tournament last year, the Blazers remain a good pick for favorite, but must avoid the inexplicable losses that dragged their record down in 2015. All starters return, but William Lee must pick up the pace. Win over Middle Tennessee a nice start
3. Old Dominion (8-6, 1-0). Best result: 66-64 loss to St. Joseph's (neutral site). Worst loss: 61-39 to Purdue (neutral site). Top scorer: Trey Freeman 16.4.
Freeman and Bacote are back and the Monarchs have won 32 in a row at the league's best arena - and they're leading the league in attendance. Being the league's easternmost team poses an extra travel burden for all four Texas teams this winter.
4. Middle Tennessee (8-5, 0-1). Best results: 88-81 win over Auburn, 83-62 win over Belmont. Worst loss: 76-65 at Murray State. Top scorer: Giddy Potts, 14.8.
Actually, Reggie Upshaw is the top scorer playing, 13.8. Potts is out indefinitely for academic reasons, which removes the league's top 3-point shooter.
5. Western Kentucky (8-6, 0-1). Best result: 81-73 loss to Duquesne (neutral site). Worst loss: 94-76 at Marshall. Top scorer: Justin Johnson, 16.5.
Yes, I saw Sunday's game. The Hilltoppers have four long days to iron out some issues before the Florida Whatever teams come to Bowling Green.
But after coach Ray Harper recovers from his head nearly exploding, his team won't get outhustled that badly again. And Justin Johnson (11 of 13 vs. Marshall, 24 points) is a stud.
6. Texas-El Paso (10-5, 2-0). Best result: 71-66 win over Southern Illinois (neutral site). Worst loss: 85-76 to Norfolk State. Top scorer: Lee Moore 14.0.
OK, so the Miners are coming off a second-place C-USA finish and an NIT berth. But they had to replace six of their seven top scorers and 7-foot-1 Matt Willms is likely out for the season with a foot injury. Young Miner teams tend to fall flat on the road.
7. North Texas (6-9, 1-1). Best result: 74-66 loss at Southern Illinois. Worst loss: 86-74 vs. Troy. Top scorer: Deckie Johnson, 14.6.
Here it comes, the ooey gooey middle of the league. Marshall can make this spot by default if it can carry some of Sunday's play to the road. NT finally pitched problem child DeAndre Harris, and J-Mychal Reese (14.4 points, 3.86 assists, 20 steals) has a cool name and cool game.
8. Marshall (5-9, 1-0). Best result: 94-76 win over Western Kentucky. Worst loss: 85-61 at Morehead State. Top scorer: James Kelly 17.9.
This is a risky pick because of road difficulties - four conference wins in the last three years. Living by the 3-pointer could cost a game and shaky free-throw shooting can cost one or two more.
But if this team continues to crush opponents at home, a 3-0 start is coming and a four-spot improvement is very possible. This team is very different from a year ago, even if WKU's Harper doesn't think so.
"Nothing [is different]," he said. "They still take quick shots, run 3s, shoot 'em."
Whatever you say, Ray.
9. Rice (5-10, 0-2). Best result: 90-89 win at New Mexico. Worst loss: 85-80 at UTSA. Top scorer: Marcus Evans 19.3.
The Owls' loss to the Roadrunners on Sunday zapped my bullishness on this team. They have the formula to annoy opponents: The league's top two scorers in Evans and Egor Koulechov (18.4), a good point guard (Max Guercy, 5.57 assists) and the most free throws made (259).
Owls are missing Marcus Jackson (meniscus), who averaged 14.5 points a year ago.
10. Florida International (7-7, 1-0). Best result: 64-61 loss at James Madison. Worst loss: 81-75 at Stetson. Top scorer: Adrian Diaz 15.2.
Diaz poses major problems inside, averaging 9.1 rebounds. The Panthers are on a three-game winning streak, but those teams are a combined 9-32.
11. Charlotte (3-10, 0-1). Best result: 62-59 loss to Georgetown. Worst loss: 76-70 to Campbell. Top scorer: Braxton Ogbueze, 11.6.
Mark Price has taken over, and you have until Feb. 18 to figure out who plays for the 49ers. This may be my most overranked team.
12. Southern Mississippi (3-9, 0-1). Best result: 58-55 loss to Alabama. Worst loss: 59-40 to Tulane. Top scorer: Nobody in double figures.
Norville Carey's season-ending injury compounds a grim situation for coach Doc Sadler.
13. Florida Atlantic (2-12, 0-1). Best result: 64-59 loss to Florida State (at nearby Sunrise, Florida). Worst loss: 79-65 to Lipscomb. Top scorer: Nobody in double figures.
Owls hitting 74.4 percent from the free-throw line, tops in C-USA. Also shooting the fewest free throws.
14. UTSA (3-12, 1-1). Best result: 85-80 win over Rice. Worst result: 116-50 loss at Texas.
Is Sunday's win a matter of the blind Roadrunner snagging an acorn?