Is CMU the 2nd-best college hoops team in Michigan?

It's been an up-and-down year for our two big college basketball programs in the state, especially Michigan.

But one particular program in Mount Pleasant is playing solid basketball these days.

Central Michigan became the state's first Division I 20-game winner Saturday, when the Chippewas beat Ball State 83-60 at McGuirk Arena.

CMU is now 20-5 overall, including 10-4 in Mid-American Conference play, and has won five consecutive games. That 10-4 mark in the conference is tied at the top with Toledo and Kent State, neither of whom have 20 wins overall.

The Chips also feature a prolific offensive attack; they rank 11th in Division I basketball with 79.7 points per game and 23rd in field goal percentage (47.9%), led by junior guard Chris Fowler (15.5 points, 6.1 assists per game).

So this begs the question: How good are the Chippewas?

Well, they could be better than the Wolverines (14-13). As of today, CMU ranks 78th in the NCAA men's basketball RPI, ahead of Michigan at 83rd (Michigan State is 28th). Furthermore, in Ken Pomeroy's efficiency rankings, CMU ranks 82nd, ahead of Michigan at 91st. CMU ranks 32nd in adjusted offensive efficiency and 202nd in adjusted defensive efficiency.

Of course, the season isn't over; Central Michigan has a big game coming up Tuesday at Eastern Michigan who, at 17-10 overall, isn't a slouch, either. There's one more showdown coming up with Toledo, too (7 p.m. March 3 in Mount Pleasant). And it goes without saying that the MAC tournament is critical in terms of getting an NCAA tournament berth.

But for a program still waiting for its first foray in the Big Dance since 2003 (remember Chris Kaman?), it should be an exciting month for coach Keno Davis and company.

Contact Brian Manzullo: bmanzullo@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BrianManzullo.