AMHERST, N.Y. – For the first time since 1961, a Division I, II or III men's basketball team in Western New York was ranked No. 2 in a national poll as the Daemen University men's basketball team was tabbed No. 2 in the most recent and National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) National Poll. In the latest Division II College Sports Communicators (D2CSC) National Poll, the Wildcats held their No. 4 ranking for the second consecutive week as well. Daemen garnered 378 points and first place vote within the NABC poll and 286 points in the D2CSC Poll.
Daemen is the first Division I, II or III men's basketball team in Western New York to be ranked No. 2 in any national poll since St. Bonaventure was tabbed No. 2 in the AP Poll released on Feb. 27, 1961. The 'Cats are not the only East Region team ranked within the top 10 of the polls as Pace University (NE-10) landed in seventh in the latest NABC poll and ninth within the D2CSC poll.
One of two teams still undefeated this season, the Wildcats moved up one spot to the No. 2 overall ranking this week in the most recent NABC national rankings. Washburn (MIAA), the only other undefeated Division II school across the country, topped the poll with 398 points and 14 first place votes. Nova Southeastern (Sunshine State) rounded out the top three with 365 points and notched remaining first place vote.
Within the D2CSC national rankings, the Blue and White held their No. 4 ranking for the second consecutive week. Washburn topped the poll with 322 points and 10 first place votes while Nova Southeastern (305 points) and Ferris State (293) of the GLIAC rounded out the top three. Daemen has been ranked within the top 10 of ever D2CSC poll dating back to Dec. 3.
This season, Daemen has won by an average of 24.5 points per game, which ranks second nationally, while holding opponents to 60.6 ppg and lead the nation in field goal defense at .355. Their 60.6 ppg for opponents currently ranks fifth across the nation for scoring defense as well. The 'Cats have also found support off the bench as their 40.5 bench points per game lead the ECC and rank fifth nationally. The 'Cats have also dominated on the glass as their 9.9 rebounding margin leads the conference and ranks sixth across the country. Individually, redshirt sophomore center
Benjamin Bill (Hamburg, N.Y.) leads the ECC and ranks third in the nation for field goal percentage at .708 while sophomore guard
Zach Philipkoski (New Hartford, N.Y.) is the conference leader and currently is 30
th nationally for assist/turnover ratio at 2.71.
Daemen will return home for the first time in 2025 to face longtime crosstown rival D'Youville on Jan. 16. Tip-off from Amherst, N.Y., is set for 7 p.m.
Daemen University features the premier 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.
Follow the Daemen University men's basketball program on Twitter and Facebook at @DaemenMBB.
