William Penn Makes Biggest Jump, Now #7
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–The best start in school history has vaulted the Statesmen basketball team into the top ten for the first time in over four years as the NAIA released its first regular season Division II men’s basketball poll Tuesday.
William Penn (12-0) improved a division-high 12 spots from its preseason position of #19 to #7. It is the program’s highest ranking since being #5 on February 13, 2008.
The Statesmen are not the only Midwest Collegiate Conference representatives in the poll as Mount Mercy is now 18th.
Northwood (Fla.) remains #1 with 312 points and all 12 first-place votes. Cardinal Stritch (Wis.), Dordt, Eastern Oregon, and Indiana Wesleyan round out the top five.
William Penn puts its perfect record on the line Wednesday night as it travels to Pella to face Central at 7:30 p.m.
NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball Rating #1 – November 27, 2012
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. Northwood (Fla.) (12)
2. Cardinal Stritch (Wis.)
3. Dordt
4. Eastern Oregon
5. Indiana Wesleyan
6. Northwestern
7. William Penn
8. Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
9. Davenport (Mich.)
10. Grace (Ind.)
11. Indiana-Southeast
12. Warner (Fla.)
13. Warner Pacific (Ore.)
14. Doane (Neb.)
15. Cornerstone (Mich.)
16. Southern Oregon
17. Bellevue (Neb.)
18. Mount Mercy
19. Valley City State (N.D.)
20. Northwest (Wash.)
21. Spring Arbor (Mich.)
22. Central Christian (Kan.)
23. Indiana-East
24. Madonna (Mich.)
25. Point (Ga.)
Others receiving votes: St. Thomas (Fla.) 52; Oregon Tech 50; Briar Cliff 50; St. Mary (Kan.) 22; Indiana Tech 19; Rochester (Mich.) 18; Cal Maritime 16; St. Francis (Ind.) 15; York (Neb.) 12; Hastings (Neb.) 11; Dakota State (S.D.) 8; Saint Xavier (Ill.) 7; Ave Maria (Fla.) 6; McPherson (Kan.) 5; Tennessee Wesleyan 4.
