Nova Southeastern tops the DII men's basketball Power 10 rankings

The 2024 DII men's basketball season is just about a month into play. With Nova Southeastern looking unbeatable early on, it is time to dive into the first DII men's basketball Power 10 rankings of the regular season. 

Defending national champion Minnesota State has had a tough go to start its title defense. Having played three ranked teams in its first four games, the Mavericks quickly fell to 1-3 and are now trying to climb out of the hole. That said, they are no longer in the Power 10, opening the door for preseason No. 2 Nova Southeastern to grab the top spot. 

DII MEN’S BASKETBALL CENTRAL

• Preseason Power 10
• 5 early predictions for the DII men's basketball season
• Wayne Cavadi's takeaways from the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic
• DII men's basketball programs with the most NCAA DII national championships
• News, stats, rankings and insights

Remember, the Power 10 rankings are mine. There is no voting body or anything other than some notes from head and assistant coaches, spreadsheets full of stats and selection committee metrics, and what I am actually seeing in-game action. With much of the schedules still non-conference and a lot of out-of-region play, strength of schedule in particular looms large in how the rankings fall.

The first Power 10 of the regular season 

(games through Sunday, Nov. 24)

No. 1 Nova Southeastern | Previous: 2. 

The Sharks are in midseason form, scoring 111 points per game and allowing just 83.7. They are also in the top 5 in steals and assists. The entire starting five scores in double digits and as a team they are shooting 54.1 percent from the floor because they work so quick they consistently find good, smart shots. The Sharks already have a few signature wins over Gannon, Alabama-Huntsville and Walsh, having played one of the tougher schedules so far this season. This team is rolling and looks unstoppable. 

No. 2 West Texas A&M | Previous: 4.

The Buffs opened with two resume-building wins over Ferris State and UNC Pembroke and have been a scoring machine ever since. They have found themselves in some close games, most notably a 99-95 overtime win over Eastern New Mexico this past Saturday, but they find ways to win. Ahamed Mohammed is off to a strong start averaging 22.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, but there are five guys that can score seemingly at will on a Buffs' team averaging more than 93 points per game. 

No. 3 West Liberty | Previous:  8. 

The Hilltoppers are perfect to start the year and have already scored more than 110 points in a game twice on the young season. This is another team with a ton of scoring depth as all five starters average at least 11 points and 4.0 rebounds. West Liberty has played a schedule with a 0.786 SoS, so thus far, it has been tested. MEC play opens next week where some true challenges await.

No. 4 Cal State San Bernardino | Previous: 3. 

The Coyotes lost to Saint Martin's on opening night but have been on a roll lately with wins over nationally ranked Central Washington and a big win against Power-10 Point Loma. The 'Yotes have the best scoring defense in the CCAA and have a depth of scoring, led by Giordan Williams and Andrew Henderson, who combine for 32 points per game. 

No. 5 Point Loma | Previous: Not ranked. 

Yes, the Sea Lions lost to No. 4 Cal State San Bernadino, but this team already has nationally ranked wins against Fort Lewis, Florida Southern, and most recently, St. Martin's. This team has a lot of fight and Luke Haupt is still not in midseason form — which is scary when you think about how well he is playing. The Sea Lions are tough, and the West is going to be a fun race to watch unfold at the top.

No. 6 Minnesota Duluth | Previous: 6. 

I'm still very high on the Bulldogs, and they have shown little reason not to be just yet. They have one of the best scoring defenses in DII men's basketball allowing just 62.6 points per night against a pretty stout schedule (0.571 SoS). Charlie Katona is a star, averaging nearly a double-double with 15.6 points and 9.4 rebounds while chipping in more than two steals per game. The experience on this starting five is deep and showing early on in 2024. 

No. 7 Saint Martin's | Previous: Not ranked. 

Right out of the gate, the Saints looked like a top-10 team, taking down nationally ranked Cal State San Bernardino and DBU on back-to-back nights at the CCA Canadian Tip-Off Classic. This is another team with a lot of scoring depth, and they pound the glass with seven players averaging at least 4.6 rebounds per game. The Saints tested themselves early and now have a ton of momentum as GNAC play nears.

No. 8 DBU | Previous: 10. 

The Patriots picked up an early season loss to St. Martin's but has been rolling since. I should say stream rolling — DBU beat then-nationally ranked Colorado Mesa by 23 and nationally ranked Arkansas Tech by 17. The Patriots have a tough scoring defense and a deep starting five that should have them hang around with West Texas A&M all season in the LSC.

No. 9 Washburn | Previous: Not ranked. 

This is a lot more feel than metrics. The Ichabods have the lowest SoS in the Power 10 (.0.538), but they are undefeated at 5-0 in DII play. This is another team that has all five starters averaging double digits, and Andrew Orr and Michael Keegan are shooting the lights out, shooting 70 percent and 66.7 percent from the floor, respectively. I'm curious to see how the 'Bods respond when MIAA play opens Dec. 5. 

No. 10 Cal (PA) | Previous: 5. 

I had the Vulcans as high as No. 4 until a Saturday loss to Shepherd. Still there is something about this team that says top 10 to me. They can definitely put the ball in the net, scoring 90 points per game and Donald Whitehead Jr. and Keith Palek III are playing at an elite level thus far: Whitehead Jr. leads the team in points and assists while Palek III adds 18.8 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds per night. A huge matchup against Daemen awaits that will either bump the Vulcans up or send them out of the top 10.

First five out (in alphabetical order):

• Carson-Newman/Florida Southern. I have these two at what would be No. 15 if I ranked them. The Eagles have all that experience and four players averaging more than 17 points per game. Florida Southern has Jadin Booth and Alex Steen — who has been a double-double machine — and the two will keep the Mocs in a lot more games than not. 
• Daemen. The Wildcats are 4-0 and have played a tough schedule (0.667 SoS) that only gets tougher this week against Cal (PA). This is the No. 2 scoring defense in DII, allowing just under 56 points per game.
• Lake Superior State. The Lakers were one of the most impressive teams at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic and despite dropping a stunner to Lake Erie right after that showcase, this is still a tough, gritty team. Tyson Edmondson is a big-time scorer.
• MSU Moorhead. Despite its recent loss, the Dragons — still a respectable 5-1 — are a very good ball team. We'll see how the respond to the loss when they return for NSIC play on Dec. 5.
• North Georgia. When this defense can get in front of you and control the tempo, the game is all but over as it is smothering. The Nighthawks should have the offense to power it to plenty of wins with Cayden Charles and AJ White off to hot starts.

Just missed: Alabama-Huntsville, Colorado School of Mines, Lincoln Memorial, USC Aiken