Statesmen Remain #1 Entering Postseason
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–The William Penn men’s basketball team opens this week’s league tournament as not only the best team in the conference but also the best team in the nation as the tenth NAIA Division II men’s basketball poll was released Tuesday.
The Statesmen (28-1) are again #1 with 343 points and all 13 first-place votes. William Penn, winners of 14 in a row (ties school record), is the 31st program from NAIA Division II to hold the top spot on at least two occasions.
Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) remains second, while Northwood (Fla.) and Eastern Oregon switch spots for third and fourth. Northwestern rounds out the top five. Fellow Midwest Collegiate Conference program Mount Mercy is still tenth.
William Penn will look to keep its top billing into nationals by winning this week’s MCC Tournament. The navy and gold begin the tourney with Friday’s semifinal matchup against the winner of #4 seed Viterbo vs. #5 seed Grand View. A win in the semifinals will set a new school record for victories.
NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball Rating #10 – February 19, 2013
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. William Penn (13)
2. Cardinal Stritch (Wis.)
3. Northwood (Fla.)
4. Eastern Oregon
5. Northwestern
6. Indiana Wesleyan
7. Saint Xavier (Ill.)
8. Davenport (Mich.)
9. Rochester (Mich.)
10. Mount Mercy
11. Indiana-Southeast
12. Warner Pacific (Ore.)
13. Dordt
14. Tennessee Wesleyan
15. Madonna (Mich.)
16. Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
17. Grace (Ind.)
18. Southern Oregon
19. Bellevue (Neb.)
20. Bethel (Ind.)
21. York (Neb.)
22. St. Thomas (Fla.)
23. Valley City State (N.D.)
24. Hastings (Neb.)
25. Northwest (Wash.)
Others receiving votes: St. Mary (Kan.) 45; Spring Arbor (Mich.) 39; Cornerstone (Mich.) 38; Midland (Neb.) 31; Ave Maria (Fla.) 30; Lourdes (Ohio) 21; Oklahoma Wesleyan 18; Indiana-East 15; Cal-Maritime 9; Point (Ga.) 6; Dakota State (S.D.) 4; Doane (Neb.) 3.
