For the first time in close to five years, the Wayland Baptist Pioneers are in the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25…sort of.
The Pioneers received three votes in the first regular-season poll of the season, making them the equivalent of 34
th in the nation. Wayland is tied with Westminster (Utah) and Southern Wesleyan (S.C.) with three points each.
"We're headed in the right direction," head coach
Matt Garnett, starting his third season with the Pioneers, said.
The last time the Pioneers actually appeared in the Top 25 was 2007-08 when, as the No. 22 team, they advanced to the second round of the NAIA National Tournament. Wayland finished that season 20-13, which was the team's last winning record.
At 5-1, this year's team is off to the program's best start since the 2008-09 team won its first seven games, ultimately finishing 15-16.
Wayland, which next plays Monday against Dallas Christian at McMurry University in Abilene, is one of five Sooner Athletic Conference teams mentioned in the poll. Conference newcomer Southwestern Assemblies of God, the defending national runner-up, is tied for third while John Brown University is No. 7 and St. Gregory's is No. 19. Mid-America Christian is the equivalent of 30
th. It's the first ranking for St. Greg's in 13 years.
A pair of teams with a history in the Top 25 had their long ranking streak snapped: Oklahoma Baptist (former No. 2 - tie) and Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (former No. 10 - tie). The Bison (4-4) had been ranked consecutively since March, 5, 2008 – a streak of 64 polls, which was No. 1 on the active list. Before this poll, Lindsey Wilson held a Top 25 position for 26 straight weeks.
Columbia (Mo.), unbeaten at 8-0, is the new No. 1 team in the first regular-season edition of the Top 25. Preseason No. 1 Georgetown (Ky.), the defending national champion, fell one spot to No. 2 this week after a 119-109 loss at then-No. 23 Life (Ga.) on Dec. 2.
All 10 conferences and independents are represented in the poll. Six conferences, including the SAC, land three teams apiece, which is the highest number. The Mid-South Conference – Georgetown and No. 3 Pikeville – and the SAC – SAGU and John Brown – are the only leagues with a pair of clubs in the top 10.
The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conference and unaffiliated groups. The second regular-season Top 25 Poll will be announced on Jan. 7.
NAIA Div. I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll – Dec. 10
|
RANK |
LAST WEEK^ |
SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES) |
2013 RECORD |
TOTAL POINTS |
|
1 |
4 |
Columbia (Mo.) (8) |
8-0 |
249 |
|
2 |
1 |
Georgetown (Ky.) (1) |
9-1 |
235 |
|
T3 |
7 |
Pikeville (Ky.) (1) |
7-1 |
233 |
|
T3 |
5 |
SAGU (Texas) |
5-1 |
233 |
|
5 |
9 |
Evangel (Mo.) |
9-1 |
219 |
|
6 |
16 |
Arizona Christian |
8-0 |
205 |
|
7 |
14 |
John Brown (Ark.) |
10-0 |
202 |
|
8 |
12 |
Cal State San Marcos |
9-1 |
193 |
|
9 |
T10 |
William Carey (Miss.) |
4-1 |
188 |
|
10 |
17 |
Rocky Mountain (Mont.) |
9-2 |
176 |
|
11 |
NR |
Talladega (Ala.) |
13-2 |
165 |
|
12 |
6 |
Concordia (Calif.) |
8-2 |
157 |
|
13 |
25 |
Benedictine (Kan.) |
8-1 |
153 |
|
14 |
NR |
Philander Smith (Ark.) |
7-2 |
131 |
|
15 |
NR |
Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) |
6-0 |
126 |
|
16 |
T24 |
Montana State-Northern |
10-2 |
114 |
|
17 |
13 |
Faulkner (Ala.) |
7-3 |
113 |
|
18 |
18 |
Culver-Stockton (Mo.) |
8-1 |
110 |
|
19 |
NR |
St. Gregory's (Okla.) |
8-1 |
103 |
|
T20 |
23 |
Life (Ga.) |
8-5 |
102 |
|
T20 |
NR |
Wiley (Texas) |
6-1 |
102 |
|
22 |
NR |
Hope International (Calif.) |
7-1 |
94 |
|
23 |
NR |
Cumberland (Tenn.) |
7-0 |
92 |
|
24 |
22 |
Martin Methodist (Tenn.) |
7-3 |
59 |
|
25 |
19 |
Xavier (La.) |
7-3 |
54 |
Others receiving votes: Emmanuel (Ga.) 36; Montana Western 34; St. Catharine (Ky.) 29; MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) 28; Mid-America Christian (Okla.) 23; Southern-New Orleans (La.) 10; Graceland (Iowa) 7; Vanguard (Calif.) 4; Westminster (Utah) 3; Southern Wesleyan (S.C.) 3;
Wayland Baptist (Texas) 3.
^ Ranking from 2013 - 14 Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll (Oct. 29)
NAIA Div. I Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll–Dec. 10
|
RANK |
LAST TIME^ |
SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES) |
2013-14 RECORD |
TOTAL POINTS |
|
1 |
1 |
Vanguard (Calif.) |
6-0 |
250 |
|
2 |
2 |
Oklahoma City |
3-0 |
241 |
|
3 |
6 |
Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) |
7-0 |
235 |
|
4 |
5 |
Westminster (Utah) |
5-1 |
224 |
|
5 |
4 |
Georgetown (Ky.) |
4-1 |
220 |
|
6 |
8 |
MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) |
8-1 |
209 |
|
7 |
9 |
Campbellsville (Ky.) |
7-0 |
203 |
|
8 |
3 |
Westmont (Calif.) |
3-3 |
185 |
|
9 |
23 |
Oklahoma Baptist |
7-1 |
184 |
|
10 |
16 |
Bethel (Tenn.) |
7-2 |
179 |
|
11 |
17 |
Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) |
5-0 |
165 |
|
12 |
10 |
The Master's (Calif.) |
6-3 |
160 |
|
13 |
RV |
Talladega (Ala.) |
10-0 |
157 |
|
14 |
RV |
Coastal Georgia |
12-0 |
142 |
|
15 |
12 |
Benedictine (Kan.) |
7-3 |
132 |
|
16 |
18 |
Carroll (Mont.) |
6-3 |
121 |
|
17 |
RV |
John Brown (Ark.) |
7-1 |
119 |
|
18 |
22 |
Wiley (Texas) |
8-1 |
114 |
|
19 |
RV |
Central Methodist (Mo.) |
8-1 |
101 |
|
20 |
21 |
Cumberlands (Ky.) |
2-3 |
99 |
|
21 |
13 |
Columbia (Mo.) |
4-3 |
80 |
|
22 |
7 |
Cumberland (Tenn.) |
3-4 |
74 |
|
23 |
NR |
Emmanuel (Ga.) |
7-2 |
70 |
|
24 |
NR |
Montana State-Northern |
9-0 |
62 |
|
25 |
19 |
William Woods (Mo.) |
5-2 |
59 |
Others Receiving Votes: Hope International (Calif.) 50; LSU Shreveport (La.) 47; Mid-America Christian (Okla.) 25; Xavier (La.) 22; Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) 19; Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 16; Martin Methodist (Tenn.) 10; San Diego Christian (Calif.) 6; Southern Poly (Ga.) 6; Lyon (Ark.) 5.
