ASU Garners Third National Ranking
Jaguars begin 2007-08 schedule in exhibition at College of Charleston
Web Posted 11/1/07

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Augusta State earned its third national ranking of the preseason when the NABC/Division II Coaches Poll was released late Monday from the NABC’s national headquarters in Kansas City, Mo.

The Jaguars, who tip off their 2007-08 schedule tonight with an exhibition contest at College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C., are the only Peach Belt Conference team to appear in the rankings. The Jags were also tabbed No. 6 in the nation by the Sporting News and No. 9 in the country by the Division II Bulletin.

Two regular-season opponents -- Virginia Union and Montevallo -- are ranked among the top 25, while Wingate, the squad that knocked ASU out of last season’s NCAA Tournament, is right behind the Jags at No. 8 in the poll.

Winona State, whose only loss last season came in the NCAA Tournament championship game at the buzzer to Barton, is ranked No. 1. The Warriors, who won the 2006 title, were a unanimous No. 1 selection.

Bentley, which entered the Elite Eight undefeated before losing to Winona State in the national quarterfinals, was second in the preseason poll and Grand Valley State, who also lost to Barton on a buzzer-beater in the Elite Eight quarterfinals, was picked No. 3. Northwest Missouri State, the preseason favorite in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and Findlay, who was picked atop the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s South Division, are ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.

Augusta State heads up the second five followed by South Dakota – in its last season as a member of Division II – Wingate, Humboldt State and Southern Indiana.

The first regular season poll will be released on Tuesday, Nov. 27.

NABC/Division II Preseason Coaches Poll (Oct. 31, 2007)
Rank Team Record Points Prvs*
1 Winona State (Minn) (8) 35-1 200 1
2 Bentley (Mass) 32-1 184 2
3 Grand Valley State (Mich) 29-5 181 7
4 Northwest Missouri State 24-7 148 17
5 Findlay (Ohio) 29-2 142 3
6 AUGUSTA STATE 24-7 138 18
7 South Dakota 23-7 137 24
8 Wingate (N.C.) 25-9 131 NR
9 Humboldt State (Calif.) 26-4 120 4
10 Southern Indiana 29-6 119 10
11 Virginia Union 23-6 115 16
12 Barton (N.C.) 31-5 110 15
13 Metropolitan State (Colo) 28-4 83 5
14 Alderson-Broaddus (W. Va.) 24-6 79 23
15 West Virginia State 26-7 77 NR
16 Alaska-Anchorage 19-9 70 NR
17 Rollins (Fla) 25-7 61 20
18 Montevallo (Ala) 28-6 57 13
19 Central Oklahoma 20-8 53 NR
20 Saint Rose (N.Y.) 22-10 47 NR
21 Christian Brothers (Tenn) 21-7 41 NR
22 Drury (Mo) 21-9 33 NR
23 Emporia State (Kan) 21-8 32 NR
24 Henderson State (Ark) 23-9 30 NR
25 BYU-Hawaii 20-8 24 NR
2 Bentley (Mass) 32-1 184 2

Others receiving votes: California (Pa.) 21, West Texas A&M 21, North Alabama 18, Seattle Pacific (Wash.) 18, Cal State-San Bernardino 17, Benedict (S.C.) 11, Cal Poly Pomona 11, Seattle (Wash.) 9, Wisconsin-Parkside 9, Pace (N.Y) 8, Northern Kentucky 6, Northern State (S.D.) 5, Philadelphia (Pa.) 5, Harding (Ark.) 4, Southwest Minnesota State 4, Armstrong Atlantic State (Ga.) 3, Clayton State (Ga.) 3, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) 3, St. Mary’s (Texas) 3, Eckerd (Fla.) 2, Millersville (Pa.) 2, Ashland (Ohio) 1, Grand Canyon (Ariz.) 1, St. Cloud State (Minn.) 1, Tarleton State (Texas) 1.

Records are from 2006-07 season
*Final ranking from last season