INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Daemen University sits at No. 1 in the official
NCAA Division II Men's Basketball East Region rankings released Wednesday afternoon, putting themselves in prime position for a potential bid to the 2026 NCAA Division II Championship. The NCAA announces 10-team rankings for each of the eight regions across the country for three successive weeks leading up to the NCAA Championship selection announcement, which will be made on Sunday, March 8.
Under the guidance of veteran head coach
Mike MacDonald, Daemen sports a 27-1 overall record this season, including a 23-1 mark against regional opponents. The Wildcats have posted an impressive 9-0 record against teams included in the East Region rankings this week, with wins over No. 2 Felician, No. 4 Saint Anselm, No. 5 Assumption, No. 6 Adelphi, No. 7 Saint Michael's, No. 8 St. Thomas Aquinas (twice) and No. 9 Staten Island (twice).
The East Region of NCAA Division II is comprised of teams from the East Coast Conference, the Northeast-10 Conference and the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. The eight-team NCAA East Regional —one of eight regional tournaments that comprise the 64-team NCAA Championship—will consist of three automatic berths and five at-large selections, and it takes place March 14-17 at a site that is yet to be determined. Daemen is bidding to host the East Regional for a second consecutive season.
The Wildcats also own wins over several other regionally-ranked squads this season: Fairmont State (Atlantic No. 3), California (Pa.) (Atlantic No. 6), Charleston (W.Va.) (Atlantic No. 9), Lenoir-Rhyne (Southeast No. 2) and Alaska Anchorage (West No. 5). Daemen has been ranked in the top five of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II poll for the entire season, rising as high as No. 2 in the nation (currently ranked No. 4). The Wildcats have also already wrapped up their second straight ECC regular season championship, earning hosting rights to next month's ECC Championship (March 7-8).
Daemen is back in action Wednesday evening, closing the regular season against Roberts Wesleyan (8 p.m. tip-off) as they bid for a second consecutive unbeaten conference season.
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, Facebook and Instagram at @DaemenMBB.
