Fear not, America, this isn’t dead just yet. Other priorities got in the way of me doing it last week, but I’m back.

Countdown to the A-10 tournament at Barclays Center in Brooklyn: 31 days

Volume 1 | Volume 2 | Volume 3 | Volume 4 | Volume 5 | Volume 6 | Volume 7

POWER RANKINGS

In 140 characters or less, like on Twitter, I’ll explain my picks.

1. Butler (20-4, 7-2 A-10): Have played shaky against some of the A-10′s best (losses are to SLU and La Salle) but their track record speaks for itself at this point.

2. Virginia Commonwealth (19-5, 7-2 A-10): Despite one uncharacteristic week in which they lost two games, the Rams are otherwise superior basketball.

3. Saint Louis (18-5, 7-2 A-10): Billikens are winners of six straight now — including one over Butler — and appear to be on a mission.

4. UMass (16-6, 6-3 A-10): Minutemen are slowly putting it all together, and at a perfect time as they visit VCU and host Temple this week.

5. La Salle (16-6, 6-3 A-10): Only putting Explorers behind UMass because of the head-to-head result, but otherwise have been playing phenomenal basketball as of late.

6. Temple (16-7, 5-4 A-10): Owls had a much-needed and big week with two wins.

7. Charlotte (17-6, 5-4 A-10): 49ers had a chance this week to supplant themselves as a team to not joke about, but lost to both VCU and Temple. Still don’t know what to make of them.

8. Xavier (13-9, 6-3 A-10): A win over Duquesne doesn’t say much of anything this year, but the Muskies are in the driver’s seat for a respectable seed in the A-10 tourney.

9. George Washington (11-11, 5-4 A-10): GWU fans packed the bill and nearly knocked off Butler this weekend. That’s something I didn’t think I would say this season, so kudos.

10. Saint Joseph’s (13-9, 4-5 A-10): It’s really difficult to figure out why this team was picked to win the A-10 in the preseason right now. Just a bad season for the Hawks.

11. Richmond (14-10, 4-5 A-10): It gets easier for the Spiders in the second half of their A-10 schedule, but how that will help them at this point I can’t point my finger on.

12. St. Bonaventure (11-11, 4-5 A-10): Slim pickings at this point in the rankings, and the Bonnies have simply just shown more to me here than the rest of the pack.

13. Dayton (13-10, 3-6 A-10)
14. Fordham (6-18, 2-7 A-10)
15. Rhode Island (6-16, 1-8 A-10)
16. Duquesne (7-16, 0-9 A-10)

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Khalif Wyatt, Temple: The senior guard was instrumental in the Owls’ success this week, scoring a game-high 25 points in their win over Charlotte before scoring 20, including the game-winning 3, in their win over Dayton on Saturday.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH

Ramon Galloway, La Salle: 17.1 points per game, 3.4 assists per game, 2.3 steals per game

Rotnei Clarke, Butler: 16.9 points per game, 3.6 3-pointers per game, 43.4 3-point percentage

Chaz Williams, UMass: 16.1 points per game, 7.1 assists per game, 2.0 steals per game

Khalif Wyatt, Temple: 18.9 points per game, 3.9 assists per game

Treveon Graham, VCU: 15.9 points per game, 6 rebounds per game

GAMES OF THE WEEK

UMass at VCU, Thursday, 9 p.m.: This one pits the two highest scoring offenses in the A-10. Buckle up your seat belts.

Follow Stephen Hewitt on Twitter @steve_hewitt or send him an email at shewitt@student.umass.edu.