WPU Up to #3
Oskaloosa–The Statesmen men’s basketball team’s perfect start to the season has netted an improvement in the rankings as the NAIA released its first top-25 poll Wednesday.
William Penn (6-0) improves one spot from the preseason rating to #3 with 555 points. The navy and gold also own one of the 21 first-place votes. It marks the 52nd-consecutive time the Statesmen have been in the top 25 and the eight-straight occurrence of WPU being in the top five.
The navy and gold are one of three representatives from the Heart of America Athletic Conference in the rating as Benedictine is down to #24, while Park has joined the receiving votes section in 36th unofficially.
There is a new #1 as Saint Francis (Ind.) vaults from the runner-up spot; the Cougars currently have 589 points and 18 first-place votes. Loyola (La.) is second with the final two first-place nods, while Arizona Christian and Carroll (Mont.) wrap up the top five.
The Statesmen remain in Oskaloosa Saturday to host Briar Cliff in non-conference action at 3 p.m.
NAIA Men’s Basketball Rating #1 – November 17, 2021
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. Saint Francis (Ind.) (18)
2. Loyola (La.) (2)
3. William Penn (1)
4. Arizona Christian
5. Carroll (Mont.)
6. Shawnee State (Ohio)
7. Talladega (Ala.)
8. Indiana Wesleyan
9. SAGU (Texas)
10. Jamestown (N.D.)
11. Marian (Ind.)
12. Bethel (Kan.)
12. Science & Arts (Okla.)
14. Oklahoma Wesleyan
15. Stillman (Ala.)
16. Georgetown (Ky.)
17. The Master’s (Calif.)
18. College of Idaho
19. Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)
20. LSU Shreveport
21. Mid-America Christian (Okla.)
22. Morningside
23. Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)
24. Benedictine (Kan.)
25. Cornerstone (Mich.)
Receiving Votes: William Jessup (Calif.) 100, Thomas More (Ky.) 80, LSU Alexandria (La.) 66, Grace (Ind.) 58, IU South Bend (Ind.) 42, Xavier (La.) 42, Union (Ky.) 22, Ottawa (Kan.) 22, Concordia (Neb.) 22, Faulkner (Ala.) 13, Park (Mo.) 10, Florida College 5, Southeastern (Fla.) 5, Antelope Valley (Calif.) 3, Northwestern 3, Menlo (Calif.) 3.
