Wildcats On The Move In NABC Poll, Hold Steady In D2SIDA Poll

12/3/2019 5:16:00 PM

By: By Mike Miranto, Sr. Associate A.D. for External Operations & Communications

AMHERST, N.Y. - The Daemen College men's basketball team finds itself in the top-15 of both Division II national polls for a second consecutive week. The latest National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) top-25 poll and NCAA Division II Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA) national media poll were both released this afternoon. The Wildcats are up two spots to No. 11 in NABC poll, and they've held steady at No. 8 in the D2SIDA poll.

Daemen sits at 8-1 overall following an 83-57 win at University of the Sciences last Saturday (Nov. 30), their only action of Thanksgiving week. After dropping their season opener to defending national champion Northwest Missouri State University on November 1, head coach Mike MacDonald has guided the group on an eight-game winning streak. Six of those victories have featured second half comebacks. In succession last month, the Wildcats earned wins over defending Atlantic Region champion Mercyhurst University, nationally-ranked West Liberty University (preseason No. 4 NABC, No. 3 D2SIDA), regional rival Le Moyne College which has averaged 22 wins over the last three seasons, and Wilmington University in the program's first-ever game at KeyBank Center in downtown Buffalo.

NABC Poll
At. No. 11, Daemen sets a new benchmark for ascent up the ranks in the eyes of Division II coaches. The Wildcats garnered 221 points in the poll voting, edging out No. 12 Queens University of Charlotte (219 points). Daemen has now been ranked in 11 consecutive NABC polls dating back to last January.

Daemen is one of three teams from the East Region included in the poll, joining No. 20 St. Anselm College (5-1) and No. 21 Dominican College (7-0). Daemen plays at St. Anselm, the defending East Region champions, on New Year's Day. Dominican out of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference is appearing in the poll for the first time since the 2012-13 season.

There was no change among the first six teams in the poll. Northwest Missouri State, now winners of 45 straight games, remains at No. 1, followed by Nova Southeastern University, Bellarmine University, University of California at San Diego, West Texas A&M University and Indiana University (Pa.).

D2SIDA Poll
Daemen comes in at No. 8 for the second straight week, again marking their highest ascent ever in the D2SIDA poll. The Wildcats received 276 points in the poll voting, four back of No. 7 Lincoln Memorial University which leapfrogged from No. 9 last week. Daemen has now been ranked in four 13 of the last 14 D2SIDA polls dating back to last January.

Dominican and St. Anselm again join Daemen as representatives of the East Region. Dominican jumps from receiving votes last week to No. 18, while St. Anselm is up two spots to No. 20.

The same six teams occupy the top spots, albeit in a different order than the NABC poll. Northwest Missouri State tops the poll, followed by Nova Southeastern, Bellarmine, West Texas A&M, UC San Diego and Indiana.

Daemen puts several winning streaks on the line when they return to action Wednesday (Dec. 4) by hosting NCAA Division II independent Salem University. In addition to their overall winning streak, Daemen brings a 14-game home winning streak and a 15-game home non-conference winning streak into play. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.

Daemen College features the only NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

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