Statesmen Now Unanimous #1
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa–The William Penn men’s basketball team extended its winning streak, and in doing so strengthened its hold on the top spot as the fourth NAIA Division I poll was released Tuesday.
WPU (20-1, 10-1 Heart), which has won nine games in a row, is the coaches’ unanimous pick for #1 with 219 points and all nine first place-votes. It is the fifth time in their history that the navy and gold have been ranked first nationally.
The program’s streak of being in the top five has now stretched to 14 consecutive polls; William Penn is in the top 10 for the 17th-straight rating.
While there was considerable movement behind the Statesmen with three new programs joining the top 10, the rest of the top five were not bumped out, but did move around a bit. The Master’s (Calif.) is now second, while Columbia (Mo.), LSU Shreveport, and Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) rounded out the division’s top five squads.
Fellow Heart of America Athletic Conference foe Central Methodist lost two games since the last ranking, but only fell three positions to #12. Peru State, at #27, and Graceland, at #31, are also representing the league in the receiving-votes section.
William Penn travels to Cedar Rapids Wednesday to face Mount Mercy in Heart play at 7:30 p.m.
NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball Rating #4 – January 30, 2018
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. William Penn (9)
2. The Master’s (Calif.)
3. Columbia (Mo.)
4. LSU Shreveport
5. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
5. Pikeville (Ky.)
7. Science & Arts (Okla.)
8. Montana Western
9. Hope International (Calif.)
10. Georgetown (Ky.)
11. Dalton State (Ga.)
12. Central Methodist (Mo.)
13. LSU Alexandria
14. Carroll (Mont.)
15. Oklahoma City
16. Westmont (Calif.)
17. William Carey (Miss.)
18. Our Lady of the Lake (Texas)
19. Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)
20. Wayland Baptist (Texas)
21. Cumberlands (Ky.)
22. Missouri Baptist
23. Xavier (La.)
24. Texas Wesleyan
25. Life (Ga.)
Others Receiving Votes: Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) 47; Peru State (Neb.) 46; William Jessup (Calif.) 27; Campbellsville (Ky.) 23; Faulkner (Ala.) 14; Graceland 9; Talladega (Ala.) 4; Dillard (La.) 3.
