Coaches rank Bellarmine No. 2 in the nation
Losses by a pair of teams previously ranked in the top five paved the way for the Bellarmine men's basketball team's movement up to No. 2 in the nation this week.
The Knights received a pair of first-place votes — No. 1 West Liberty got the other 14 — in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II poll released Tuesday.
Rounding out the top-five are Florida Southern Central Missouri and Colo.-Colorado Springs — all of which, like Bellarmine, are undefeated.
The Knights (6-0) were idle last week, but they already knocked off No. 20 Christian Brothers, handing the Memphis-based college that beat Division I Memphis in an exhibition game its only loss.
After hosting Ohio Valley University at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Bellarmine turns around for a 7:30 p.m. Saturday home game against No. 3 Florida Southern.
The Knights are No. 3 in this week's Division II media poll, with Florida Southern second.
Four of Bellarmine's starters are averaging in double figures, led by senior forward Jake Thelen at 14.7 points per game. Coming off the bench to score 13 points per game as well is Josh Sewell, a Division I transfer and Trinity High School product finishing his eligibility out at home.
NABC/Division II Rankings (Dec. 9, 2014 - Poll #3) | ||||
Record | Points | Last | ||
1. | West Liberty, W.Va. (14) | 7-0 | 396 | 1 |
2. | Bellarmine, Ky. (2) | 6-0 | 383 | 3 |
3. | Florida Southern | 6-0 | 369 | 4 |
4. | Central Missouri | 8-0 | 343 | 6 |
5. | Colo.-Colorado Springs | 8-0 | 316 | 8 |
6. | Tarleton State, Texas | 7-0 | 310 | 7 |
7. | Metropolitan State, Colo. | 6-1 | 294 | 9 |
8. | Lincoln Memorial, Tenn. | 8-0 | 278 | 10 |
9. | Barry, Fla. | 6-0 | 254 | 12 |
10. | Southern Connecticut State | 7-1 | 233 | 2 |
11. | Minnesota State | 7-1 | 223 | 13 |
12. | Indianapolis, Ind. | 7-0 | 221 | 16 |
13. | Drury, Mo. | 6-1 | 196 | 14 |
14. | Minnesota State-Moorhead | 10-0 | 195 | 19 |
15. | Mount Olive, N.C. | 9-0 | 166 | 18 |
16. | BYU-Hawaii | 6-0 | 141 | 23 |
17. | California Baptist | 6-1 | 129 | 17 |
18. | Augustana, S.D. | 8-1 | 108 | 11 |
19. | Colorado School of Mines | 6-0 | 96 | NR |
20. | Christian Brothers, Tenn. | 4-1 | 84 | 24 |
21. | Newberry, S.C. | 8-0 | 72 | NR |
22. | Alabama-Huntsville | 7-1 | 58 | 15 |
23. | Indiana, Pa. | 7-2 | 47 | 5 |
24. | Azuza Pacific, Calif. | 8-1 | 45 | NR |
25. | GRU Augusta | 7-1 | 34 | NR |
Others receiving votes:St. Edward's (Texas) 32, Angelo State (Texas) 28, Lewis (Ill.) 27, Southern Indiana 19, LeMoyne (N.Y.) 17, Sonoma State (Calif.) 11, Wisconsin-Parkside 10, Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) 9, West Georgia 7, Winston-Salem State (N.C.) 6, Alderson-Broaddus (W.Va.) 5, Lake Superior State (Mich.) 5, Findlay (Ohio) 4, Texas A&M-Commerce 3, Central Oklahoma 2, Lander (S.C.) 2, UC San Diego 2, Cal Poly Pomona 1, Fort Lewis (Colo.) 1, Northwest Missouri State 1, Saint Anselm (N.H.) 1, Western Oregon 1. Dropped out:Michigan Tech (20), Findlay (21), Point Loma Nazarene (22), Florida Tech (25). Records are through games of Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014. | ||||