Bellarmine MBB rise in polls after knocking off two top 25 teams last week

0
After recording three victories last week–including two over ranked opponents, the Bellarmine men’s basketball team rose in both national ranking polls this week, ascending to No. 6 in the National Media Poll sponsored by D2SIDA and to No. 10 in the NABC Division II Coaches Poll.

The Knights started their successful week by going on the road and knocking off Southern Indiana (USI), which was ranked No. 10 at the time, and concluded the week with a 20-point win over then No. 22 Wisconsin-Parkside (UWP).

Last week featured many upsets in the Division II ranks, and this week’s rankings reflect a lot of movement. However, Northwest Missouri and Fairmont State kept their records unblemished to remain 1-2 in both polls.

Among Midwest Region teams, Bellarmine is the highest ranked in both polls with USI close behind at No. 8 (Media) and No. 12 (NABC). Ferris State and Kentucky Wesleyan also make an appearance in the polls, and, interestingly, both are ranked No. 17 with Kentucky Wesleyan getting the coaches’ ranking and Ferris State getting the nod in the media poll. Wisconsin-Parkside checks in at No. 25 in both polls this week. Quincy and Findlay are among teams getting votes.

2016-17 DII Media Poll Sponsored by D2SIDA (Jan. 24)
School (First Place Votes) Record Points LW
1 Northwest Missouri (14) 18-0 350 1
2 Fairmont State 18-0 334 2
3 California Baptist 17-1 315 3
4 Shippensburg 17-0 282 7
5 Queens 17-1 280 4
6 Bellarmine 16-3 259 15
7 West Liberty 17-1 248 T-8
8 Southern Indiana 18-1 234 5
9 Tarleton State 16-3 234 T-8
10 Barry 15-2 231 6
11 Western Washington 15-3 178 18
12 Arkansas -Monticello 14-1 172 11
13 Lincoln Memorial 14-4 162 17
14 Wheeling Jesuit 16-2 139 13
15 UT-Permian Basin 14-4 102 NR
16 MSU-Moorhead 17-3 101 23
17 Ferris State 15-3 98 25
18 West Texas A&M 18-4 91 10
19 Hawai’i Pacific 18-1 85 RV
20 Chico State 16-3 84 14
21 Valdosta State 14-3 81 NR
22 St. Thomas Aquinas 15-4 72 RV
23 Indiana (PA) 17-2 67 22
24 Augusta (Ga.) 15-3 50 RV
25 Wisconsin-Parkside 15-3 40 12
Also receiving Votes: Southern New Hampshire (36), Texas A&M Commerce (36), Kutztown (20), Limestone (18), Eckerd (17), Saint Rose (15), UC San Diego (12), Southwest Minnesota State (12), Kentucky Wesleyan (7), Quincy (7), UNC Pembroke (5), Findlay (3), San Francisco State (2).

 

NABC/Division II Rankings
(Jan. 24, 2017 – Poll #9)
Record Points Last
1. Northwest Missouri (12) 18-0 396 1
2. Fairmont State, W.Va. (4) 18-0 388 2
3. West Liberty, W.Va. 17-1 365 4
4. California Baptist 17-1 351 5
5. Shippensburg, Pa. 17-0 336 8
6. Indiana, Pa. 17-2 295 10
7. Hawai’i Pacific 18-1 179 14
8. Queens, N.C. 17-1 270 3
9. Wheeling Jesuit, W.Va. 16-2 257 6
10. Bellarmine, Ky. 16-3 249 15
11. Kutztown, Pa. 15-2 235 13
12. Southern Indiana 18-1 228 9
13. Barry, Fla. 15-2 225 7
14. Tarleton State, Texas 16-3 177 11
15. Western Washington 15-3 175 17
16. Fort Lewis, Colo. 17-3 162 21
17. Kentucky Wesleyan 16-2 155 23
18. Arkansas-Monticello 14-1 115 16
19. Alabama-Huntsville 13-4 93 25
20. West Texas A&M 18-4 66 12
21. MSU Moorhead, Minn. 17-3 63 NR
22. Colorado School of Mines 16-3 56 NR
23. Chico State, Calif. 16-3 50 19
24. Lincoln Memorial, Tenn. 14-4 34 NR
25. Wisconsin-Parkside 15-3 29 22
Others receiving votes: UC San Diego 26, Southwest Minnesota State 24, Saint Rose (N.Y.) 18, UT-Permian Basin (Texas) 15, Valdosta State (Ga.) 14, Eckerd (Fla.) 13, San Francisco State (Calif.) 13, Southern New Hampshire 5, Ferris State (Mich.) 4, St. Thomas Aquinas (N.Y.) 3, Angelo State (Texas) 2, Findlay (Ohio) 2, Virginia State 2.
Dropped out: UC San Diego (18), San Francisco State (20), Delta State (24).
Records are through games of Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017.