From IUP Sports Information
Sporting one of the best records in the nation, the IUP men’s basketball program is now the new No. 2 team in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II Coaches’ Poll, released Tuesday afternoon.
This is the highest ranking of the season for the Crimson Hawks, who moved into the spot vacated by West Liberty after improving to 22-2 overall with an 80-67 win at Pitt-Johnstown last week.
Northwest Missouri State (25-0) remained at No. 1 earning all 16 first place votes and 400 points in the voting. The Crimson Hawks trail with 384 points with Nova Southeastern (21-2) at No. 3 with 365 points. West Texas A&M (25-3) and St. Edwards (23-2) round out the top five.
This marks the 11th poll release (out of 14) this season that the Crimson Hawks sit among the top three spots in the rankings. They’ve also been ranked in the top 10 all season long after opening the preseason at No. 8.
The Crimson Hawks are the only team from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in this week’s top 25, and one of three Atlantic Region squads in the rankings. West Liberty (20-3) fell to No. 7 and Virginia State (22-4) is No. 19.
Crimson Hawks move up in media poll
IUP bumped up one spot to No. 4 in this week’s D2SIDA Media Top 25. Northwest Missouri also sits atop that poll with Nova Southeastern at No. 2 and St. Edwards at No. 3. USC Aiken joins the top five according to the media.
West Chester (19-5) is included in the media’s top 25 rankings at No. 21.
IUP takes over top spot in regional poll
With West Liberty’s loss last week, the Crimson Hawks moved back into the top spot in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region media poll for this week. IUP garnered five first place votes with West Chester grabbing the final spot to sit at No. 3. West Liberty is No. 2 in the region.
The NCAA regional rankings, which determine postseason berths and seedings, will debut Wednesday, February 20.
IUP Women’s Basketball Team Holds at No. 3
Another undefeated week helped the Crimson Hawks hold on to their No. 3 spot in the polls as the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) released its latest Division II Top 25 Coaches’ Poll Tuesday afternoon.
The top seven teams from last week’s rankings all kept their spot with just one team moving out of the top 10 after a week full of victories for the best in the nation.
Drury (24-0) received all 24 first place votes to remain at No. 1 with UC San Diego (22-0) staying at No. 2 just ahead of IUP (21-1). UC San Diego received 569 of a possible 600 points with the Crimson Hawks trailing at 529.
Fort Hays State (23-1) is still at No. 4 with University of the Sciences (24-1) at No. 5.
This marks the 10th time in the 14 polls released this year that the Crimson Hawks have been ranked in the top three in the nation. They’ve held onto a top five spot in every single poll since the preseason rankings were announced. No other Division II team can match either.
The Crimson Hawks were in action just once last week, defeating Pitt-Johnstown 57-35 on the road to improve to 21-1 overall and 16-1 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).
California (20-3) is the only other team from the PSAC in the top 25, moving up to No. 18 this week. Other Atlantic Region teams included are Virginia Union (22-2) at No. 13 and Glenville State (22-2) at No. 21.
IUP stays the same in media poll
The top teams remain the same in the D2SIDA Media Top 25 with the Crimson Hawks holding onto their No. 4 ranking. Drury and UC San Diego are the top two teams in that poll as well, with Fort Hays State sitting in front of IUP at No. 3.
IUP remain on top of the region
IUP remained on top in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region poll pulling in all six first place votes. Virginia Union is second in the region Glenville is third, Cal is fourth and Bowie State is fifth.
The NCAA regional rankings, which determine postseason berths and seedings, will debut Wednesday, February 20.
