Wayland Baptist is ranked in the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 for the first time in almost five years. The Pioneers entered this week's Top 25, the third poll of the regular season, at No. 24.
According to the NAIA, "No. 24 Wayland Baptist is one of five newcomers and is making the biggest impression. Before this week, the Pioneers were last ranked on March 5, 2008, when they were No. 22. They have gone 8-1 in their last nine games and stand 12-2 on the season."
Enjoying one of its best seasons ever, Wayland is coming off an 81-79 win over then No. 18 Mid-America Christian, which slipped to No. 21. Other Sooner Athletic Conference teams ranked are Southwestern Assemblies of God at No. 2 and St. Gregory's at No. 11. John Brown University fell out of the poll after being ranked No. 22 last week, and Oklahoma Baptist, which Wayland defeated on Thursday, 81-68, started the season in a tie for the No. 2 position but has since slipped out of the poll.
Joining Wayland as newcomers in this week's poll are No. 16 (tie) Emmanuel (Ga.), No. 19 Westminster (Utah), No. 22 (tie) Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) and No. 25 Hope International (Calif.)
All 10 conferences and independents are represented in this week's poll. The Golden State Athletic Conference and Sooner Athletic Conference lead all leagues with four teams apiece. Three other conferences land a trio of teams in the Top 25.
On a nine-game win streak, Pikeville (Ky.) sticks at No. 1 for the second-straight week.
The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conference and unaffiliated groups. The fourth regular-season Top 25 Poll will be announced on Jan. 21.
NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll – Jan. 14
|
RANK |
LAST WEEK |
SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES) |
2013-14 RECORD |
TOTAL POINTS |
|
1 |
1 |
Pikeville (Ky.) (9) |
14-1 |
250 |
|
2 |
2 |
SAGU (Texas) |
12-1 |
242 |
|
3 |
4 |
Cal State San Marcos |
19-1 |
232 |
|
4 |
3 |
Columbia (Mo.) (1) |
15-1 |
226 |
|
5 |
6 |
Evangel (Mo.) |
14-3 |
210 |
|
6 |
11 |
Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) |
11-0 |
209 |
|
7 |
8 |
Arizona Christian |
14-1 |
203 |
|
8 |
7 |
Talladega (Ala.) |
16-2 |
201 |
|
9 |
9 |
William Carey (Miss.) |
9-2 |
185 |
|
10 |
5 |
Concordia (Calif.) |
13-3 |
175 |
|
11 |
12 |
St. Gregory's (Okla.) |
13-1 |
174 |
|
12 |
14 |
Wiley (Texas) |
11-1 |
163 |
|
13 |
19 |
Culver-Stockton (Mo.) |
12-3 |
151 |
|
14 |
23 |
St. Catharine (Ky.) |
10-5 |
136 |
|
15 |
15 |
Benedictine (Kan.) |
11-4 |
127 |
|
T16 |
RV |
Emmanuel (Ga.) |
13-2 |
123 |
|
T16 |
17 |
Philander Smith (Ark.) |
12-5 |
123 |
|
18 |
13 |
Georgetown (Ky.) |
12-4 |
113 |
|
19 |
RV |
Westminster (Utah) |
11-7 |
105 |
|
20 |
21 |
Vanguard (Calif.) |
13-2 |
102 |
|
21 |
18 |
Mid-America Christian (Okla.) |
8-4 |
93 |
|
T22 |
NR |
Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) |
16-4 |
77 |
|
T22 |
24 |
Xavier (La.) |
13-4 |
77 |
|
24 |
NR |
Wayland Baptist (Texas) |
12-2 |
64 |
|
25 |
RV |
Hope International (Calif.) |
12-3 |
52 |
Others receiving votes: Rocky Mountain (Mont.) 46; Bethel (Tenn.) 46; Rio Grande (Ohio) 34; Martin Methodist (Tenn.) 29; MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) 15; Montana State-Northern 15; LSU Shreveport (La.) 5; Cumberland (Tenn.) 3.
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