In the world of NCAA Division II basketball, earning a national ranking is fun and it grabs a lot of attention. But regional rankings are serious business.
That’s because regional rankings determine which teams qualify for the NCAA Division II Tournament, and how they are seeded once they make it in.
The first NCAA Division II South Region rankings of the 2009-10 season were released by the NCAA office in Indianapolis on Wednesday, and Arkansas Tech sits atop the poll in both men’s and women’s basketball.
Head coach Mark Downey (photographed, top right) and the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (18-0 overall, 5-0 Gulf South Conference) are ranked No. 1 in the region thanks to their best start to a season since 1952-53.
Tech qualified for the NCAA Division II Tournament in men’s basketball for the first time ever last season. The Wonder Boys defeated Benedict College in the first round before falling to South Regional host Florida Southern in overtime in round two.
Head coach Dave Wilbers (photographed, bottom right) and the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns (18-0, 5-0) find themselves in the No. 1 spot in the South Region on the strength of their best start to a season ever.
Tech’s women have made eight NCAA Division II Tournament appearances (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007 and 2008) since becoming full members of the NCAA before the 1997-98 season. The Suns were NCAA South Region champions in 1998 and 1999 and NCAA Division II national runners-up in 1999.
Tech is one of just two undefeated men’s basketball teams in all of NCAA Division II men’s basketball. There are four undefeated women’s teams in NCAA Division II.
Arkansas Tech is the only school at any level of NCAA basketball to be undefeated in both.
Click here to view the complete men’s NCAA Division II rankings for Jan. 27, 2010.
Click here to view the complete women’s NCAA Division II rankings for Jan. 27, 2010.
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