WPU Slips One to #8 in Final Rating
Oskaloosa–Its first loss since December had little effect on the Statesmen men’s basketball team as the NAIA’s final regular season top-25 poll was released Wednesday.
William Penn (25-3, 21-1 Heart) lost just one position to #8 with 422 points. It is the 67th-consecutive time in which the navy and gold have been ranked in the top 25.
WPU is the only Heart of America Athletic Conference squad in the top 25, while Peru State (#28), Evangel (#35), and Baker (#45) are all in the receiving votes area.
The NAIA’s top five remains unchanged. College of Idaho is still the unanimous #1 with 560 points and all 20 first-place votes. Arizona Christian is second, while Union (Ky.), Grace (Ind.), and Langston (Okla.) conclude the top five.
The Statesmen return to Oskaloosa Thursday to host Benedictine in the Heart Quarterfinals at 7 p.m.
NAIA Men’s Basketball Final Rating — February 22, 2023
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. College of Idaho (20)
2. Arizona Christian
3. Union (Ky.)
4. Grace (Ind.)
5. Langston (Okla.)
6. Indiana Tech
7. Oklahoma Wesleyan
8. William Penn
8. Georgetown (Ky.)
10. Montana Tech
11. Jamestown (N.D.)
12. Kansas Wesleyan
13. Faulkner (Ala.)
14. Florida College
15. Huntington (Ind.)
16. Indiana Wesleyan
17. LSU Shreveport
18. Morningside
19. Loyola (La.)
20. Antelope Valley (Calif.)
21. Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)
22. Southwestern (Kan.)
23. Iowa Wesleyan
24. Thomas More (Ky.)
25. The Master’s (Calif.)
Receiving Votes: Tougaloo (Miss.) 67, Wayland Baptist (Texas) 61, Peru State (Neb.) 59, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 45, Mayville State (N.D.) 34, Dordt 33, Rio Grande (Ohio) 32, Hope International (Calif.) 25, Eastern Oregon 21, Evangel (Mo.) 19, Saint Xavier (Ill.) 14, Madonna (Mich.) 13, Texas A&M Texarkana 13, Ottawa (Ariz.) 9, St. Thomas (Fla.) 8, Thomas (Ga.) 7, Marian (Ind.) 6, Xavier (La.) 5, SAGU (Texas) 5, Baker (Kan.) 4.
