LOUISVILLE, Ky.—After remaining just one of six NCAA Division II teams still unbeaten with a win on Sunday, Bellarmine rose to No. 1 in both national polls this week. Already No. 1 in the National Media Poll conducted by the Division II Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA), the Knights moved up one spot to No. 1 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II Rankings this week.
Losses by three previously undefeated teams shuffled the top 10 rather dramatically in the NABC poll. Nova Southeastern lost to Rollins on Saturday resulting in a drop from No. 1 to No. 5. West Texas A&M also suffered a mild upset to St. Edward's causing the Buffaloes to slide from No. 3 to No. 7. The win by St. Edwards moved the Hilltoppers into the top 10 at No. 9. The third top 10 loss was Alabama-Huntsville falling to Valdosta State, dropping the Chargers from sixth to No. 12.
Bellarmine claimed 15 of the 16 first place votes in the NABC rankings with defending national champion Northwest Missouri State garnering the other as the Bearcats moved into the No. 2 position. Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) takes over the No. 3 spot with Lincoln Memorial moving up to No. 4.
The National Media Poll also saw its share of volatility thanks to the number of top-ranked teams being upset. Bellarmine is the only team in the top 10 to retain its position with Northwest Missouri State and IUP checking in at No. 2 and 3 with UC-San Diego and Dixie State rounding out the top five.
Bellarmine, which is 7-0 on the season, plays its final game of calendar year 2019 on Wednesday night, when the Knights take on Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee.
| WEEKLY RANKINGS |
| NABC DIVISION II COACHES POLL--Dec. 17, 2019 |
| Rank |
School |
Rec. |
Pts. |
LW |
| 1. |
Bellarmine (Ky.) |
7-0 |
398 |
2 |
| 2. |
Northwest Missouri State |
8-1 |
379 |
4 |
| 3. |
Indiana (Pa.) |
8-0 |
365 |
5 |
| 4. |
Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.) |
10-1 |
332 |
7 |
| 5. |
Nova Southeastern (Fla.) |
6-1 |
313 |
1 |
| 6. |
Dixie State (Utah) |
10-0 |
305 |
9 |
| 7. |
West Texas A&M |
10-1 |
288 |
3 |
| 8. |
UC San Diego |
8-1 |
285 |
10 |
| 9. |
St. Edward's (Texas) |
9-1 |
269 |
12 |
| 10. |
Dallas Baptist (Texas) |
9-0 |
244 |
13 |
| 11. |
Missouri Southern |
7-1 |
235 |
11 |
| 12. |
Alabama Huntsville |
8-1 |
195 |
6 |
| 13. |
Ferris State (Mich.) |
13-1 |
191 |
17 |
| 14. |
West Chester (Pa.) |
9-0 |
179 |
18 |
| 15. |
Indianapolis (Ind.) |
7-1 |
162 |
15 |
| 16. |
Southern Indiana |
6-1 |
159 |
16 |
| 17. |
Florida Southern |
9-1 |
132 |
19 |
| 18. |
St. Thomas Aquinas (N.Y.) |
10-1 |
120 |
24 |
| 19. |
Daemen (N.Y.) |
11-2 |
109 |
8 |
| 20. |
Queens (N.C.) |
7-2 |
101 |
20 |
| 21. |
Southeastern Oklahoma State |
5-1 |
95 |
14 |
| 22. |
Valdosta State (Ga.) |
7-2 |
62 |
NR |
| 23. |
Dominican (N.Y.) |
8-1 |
58 |
25 |
| 24. |
Northeastern State (Okla.) |
9-1 |
39 |
NR |
| 25. |
Drury (Mo.) |
7-0 |
26 |
NR |
| First place votes – Bellarmine (15), Northwest Missouri State (1). |
|
| Others receiving votes: Grand Valley State (Mich.) 23, Cal Poly Pomona 21, Saint Anselm (N.H.) 20, West Liberty (W.Va.) 18, Ashland (Ohio) 11, Point Loma (Calif.) 10, Angelo State (Texas) 9, Alaska Anchorage 8, Benely (Mass.) 7, Belmont Abbey (N.C.) 6, Augustana (S.D.) 5, Jefferson (Pa.) 5, East Central (Okla.) 4, Minnesota Duluth 4, Southern Nazarene (Okla.) 4, Chico State (Calif.) 2, Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 2. |
| Dropped out: Augustana (21), West Liberty (22), Pace (23). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| D2SIDA National Media Poll---Dec. 17, 2019 |
|
| Rank |
School |
Pts. |
Record |
Prev. |
| 1. |
Bellarmine (15) |
399 |
7-0 |
1 |
| 2. |
Northwest Missouri State (1) |
376 |
8-1 |
4 |
| 3. |
Indiana (Pa.) |
368 |
8-0 |
5 |
| 4. |
UC San Diego |
329 |
8-1 |
7 |
| 5. |
Dixie State |
314 |
10-0 |
13 |
| 6. |
Lincoln Memorial |
307 |
9-1 |
9 |
| 7. |
West Chester |
280 |
9-0 |
10 |
| 8. |
Ferris State |
276 |
13-1 |
11 |
| 9. |
Nova Southeastern |
269 |
6-1 |
3 |
| 10. |
West Texas A&M |
245 |
10-1 |
2 |
| 11. |
St. Thomas Aquinas |
219 |
10-1 |
17 |
| 12. |
Embry-Riddle |
210 |
9-1 |
19 |
| 13. |
St. Edward's |
204 |
9-1 |
RV |
| 14. |
Indianapolis |
174 |
7-1 |
16 |
| 15. |
Daemen |
139 |
11-2 |
8 |
| 16. |
Florida Southern |
134 |
9-1 |
24 |
| 17. |
Dallas Baptist |
116 |
9-0 |
18 |
| 18. |
Missouri Southern State |
114 |
7-2 |
14 |
| 19. |
Alabama Huntsville |
96 |
8-1 |
6 |
| 20. |
Belmont Abbey |
90 |
8-2 |
25 |
| 21. |
Queens (N.C.) |
82 |
7-2 |
15 |
| 22. |
Southeastern Oklahoma State |
80 |
5-1 |
12 |
| 23. |
Southern Indiana |
73 |
6-1 |
23 |
| 24. |
Point Loma |
70 |
8-2 |
RV |
| 25. |
Shippensburg |
68 |
7-1 |
21 |
| ()-first place votes |
|
|
|
| Others Receiving Votes (on more than one ballot): |
|
|
| Grand Valley State – 63; Cal Poly Pomona – 35; Dominican (N.Y.) – 28; Fayetteville State – 11; Drury – 9; Northeastern State – 5; Minnesota Duluth – 4; 3 teams named on one ballot each |
