Get ready to disagree. This past week was a little tamer on the DII men's basketball Power 10 rankings and much of the upper echelon was able to hold court and — unlike last week's chaos. Despite remaining undefeated, Washburn actually slipped a spot this week as Nova Southeastern returned to the top of the rankings. Elsewhere, the bottom of the Power 10 saw a few more losses which led to one program making its Power 10 debut.
DII MEN’S BASKETBALL CENTRAL
- December all-stats starting five
- DII men's basketball programs with the most NCAA DII national championships
- News, stats, rankings and insights
Here's how the Power 10 rankings work. There is no voting body; just me, my spreadsheets, talking to coaches and people inside the game and a whole mess of stats. This leads to several differences in the national polls and is precisely why I started the Power 10 rankings more than half a decade ago.
I use in my rankings. Additionally, since the selection committee is using the for the DII Men's and Women's Elite Eight, I do consider it when teams are close; however, it is important to note that KPI uses overall record in determining its rankings and myself and Inkblot Sports only use records against DII opponents. This is important to note in DII basketball more than any other sport due to the number of out-of-division games before January.
The fifth Power 10 of the regular season
(games through Sunday, Jan. 26)
No. 1 Nova Southeastern | Previous: 2. I have no problem taking the heat for putting the Sharks back at No. 1, so hear me out. Let's start with the strength of schedule. The Sharks have played the second toughest schedule in all DII and have one three-point loss in arguably the toughest region in DII men's basketball this season. The only team to play a tougher SoS (UMSL) is 9-9; the only other team close to the Sharks in SoS (Northwest Missouri State) is 4-15. So, yes, in a year where teams are being stunned on a weekly basis, SoS matters... a lot.
Want more metrics the selection committee focuses on? They have the No. 1 KPI in the division, and although it has tougher to compare RPI across regions, their 0.644 RPI is better than any other team. They still lead DII in scoring (109.9 per game), scoring margin (26.6 per game), field-goal percentage (53.1), assist-to-turnover ratio (2.3) and steals (12.8 per game). Yes, Washburn is very good, but to make this team No. 2 because of a three-point loss to a nationally ranked team seems unwise. The fact that they are No. 3 in the national poll is mind-boggling.
No. 2 Washburn | Previous: 1. To be fair, the Ichabods are more of a 1B, than No. 2. Washburn entered the week as one of two undefeated teams remaining in the division, and it left the week the same way. With two more blowout wins, the Ichabods are now 19-0. This week will be the Bods' toughest game remaining on the slate, as their No. 1 MIAA offense (87 points per game) hosts Fort Hays State, which not only has the MIAA's top scoring defense, but the best in DII. The Ichabods are a very strong team, and have a very favorable schedule remaining after FHSU, so the Central Region may still very well run through Topeka.
No. 3 Daemen | Previous: 3. The Wildcats refuse to lose, now 17-0 overall on the season. They have the fourth-best scoring defense in DII and in my eyes, there isn't a team in the East that can beat them... although in this crazy season, that doesn't mean a team won't. I probably sound like a broken record, but Benjamin Bill and Justin Hemphill are the best duo in DII that no one talks about; their energy and talent are perfect for this team.
No. 4 UAH | Previous: 4. Speaking of broken records, guess who still hasn't lost since its opening night, one-point, overtime loss to the No. 1 team in DII? That's right the Chargers continue to roll and enter Monday's showdown with Valdosta State (more on the Blazers in a bit) winners of 17 straight. The Blazers are climbing the polls quickly, so this game is massive. That's why it is important to point out that the Chargers blew out the Blazers in their first matchup by 21 points at home. If it walks away with a win at Valdosta, UAH can very well run the table.
No. 5 Point Loma | Previous: 7. Yes, Point Loma wasn't even in the NABC top 25 last week. No, I don't care one bit. Just 13 schools in DII have played a SoS of .600 or better and the Sea Lions are one of them. They have the third-best KPI in DII and their 0.625 RPI is fifth-best in the division. They are 18-3 overall, 2-1 against nationally ranked teams, have won eight in a row, have a Bevo Francis Award candidate in Luke Haupt, and are the No. 1 team in the West Region by a reasonable margin. How is that not one of the best teams in DII?
No. 6 Missouri S&T | Previous: 9. The Miners are 16-1 overall and winners of nine straight. While forward Andrew Young (16.7 points per game) leads the way, I really like the depth of the starting five. Each player scores at least 9.1 points per game, and I think that is what really makes them difficult to defend. They shoot very well as their 51.4 percent field-goal percentage is a top 10 mark in DII. Mark your calendars for the Feb. 8 showdown with Upper Iowa as that may very well be the toughest game the Miners have remaining on their schedule.
No. 7 West Liberty | Previous: 10. I know. The national polls have the Hilltoppers MEC rival Fairmont State ranked six spots higher. May I take this moment to point out that West Liberty beat said Fairmont State, 103-87, a mere two weeks ago? When you further break down the metrics, West Liberty is the best team in the Atlantic Region. Now, metrics aren't everything, but having one of the best scoring offenses in DII (95.8 points per game) shows there is plenty of talent and depth to go along with the selection numbers.
No. 8 DBU | Previous: First five out. Let's welcome the Patriots back into the Power 10 after slipping out for the past couple of weeks. A Colorado School of Mines loss to Regis not only opened the door for their return to the top 10, but per Inkblot Sports put them back atop a tricky South Central Region this week. The Lone Star Conference has been interesting this year, but the Patriots are battling right at the top. A huge rematch with St. Mary's (TX) awaits on Feb. 8 that could very well decide the division.
No. 9 Southwest Minnesota State | Previous: First five out. The Mustangs make their first-ever Power 10 rankings in any sport. This team simply checks all the boxes. They are now 17-3 overall and trail only undefeated Washburn in the Central Region. They have an impressive .613 RPI, a top 10 mark in DII, and the ninth-best KPI in the division. The Mustangs have won eight in a row behind the NSIC's top scoring defense. I don't like that loss to Concordia-St. Paul on their record, but it looks like these two may very well meet again in the NSIC tournament.
No. 10 Lake Superior State | Previous: First five out. I get that this may be a big jump for the Lakers, but that was a big 10-point win against the very same Michigan Tech team that bumped Ferris State from the Power 10 a few days later. They have a big matchup against Ferris State this week and whoever wins that game will be right here in this spot in the next Power 10.
First five out (in alphabetical order):
- Colorado School of Mines. The Orediggers had a loss this week to a tricky Regis team that I feel they should have beaten. Still, it was only a three-point game and their first loss in three-and-a-half weeks, so they don't fall too far.
- Florida Southern. I know this is a four-loss team, but the Mocs still have some of the best selection metrics in all DII in the toughest region in basketball and are still 17-4 on a two-game winning streak.
- Lenoir-Rhyne. The Southeast is low-key one of the deepest regions this season. Lincoln Memorial lost this week, and the Bears have that win over the Railsplitters, which is what gives them the bump up this week.
- St. Martin's. The Saints rebounded from a brutal week in which they lost two games in a row by one basket to win a pair of games. I like that ability to bounce back.
- Valdosta State. This may be short-lived with its Monday matchup against UAH, but right now, the Blazers are playing very good basketball. They have won 10 in a row and the last five have been by double digits. They have the sixth-best scoring offense in DII and seem to be getting stronger each week.
Just missed: Ferris State, Gannon and Lincoln Memorial. I am very forgiving of losses in basketball, especially this season; however, Ferris State and Gannon have had two losses in their past four games and the Railsplitters' last two losses, simply put, they needed to win. They are right outside the top 15 and stringing together a couple wins in a row should get them right back into the conversation.
One more to watch:
Columbus State. The Cougars were 16-13 a year ago and are now 14-2 overall and per Inkblot Sports, the top team in the Southeast Region. I told you that region is sneaky deep. Guard Jarrett Adderton is having a breakout season, leading the way with 21.2 points per game to keep this team motoring along, with wins over North Georgia and USC Aiken in their last three games.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions.
