KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For the first time in four seasons, Carson-Newman men's basketball is nationally ranked.
The Eagles clock in in 20th in the D2SIDA Media Poll and 23rd in the NABC Coaches Poll.
This is the first time that Carson-Newman has ever been ranked in the D2SIDA Media Poll, which was started in 2014-15.
Carson-Newman makes its first appearance in the coaches poll since Nov. 19, 2013 when the Eagles debuted at 16th following a 3-0 start in the poll's second iteration.
This is the eighth week overall that Carson-Newman has been featured in the NABC poll. The Eagles were in the top 10 for three weeks in January in 1964-65, peaking at seven.
The 2001-02 Sweet 16 team debuted at 23rd on Feb. 18 before finishing the year ranked 18th.
A year later, Carson-Newman was ranked 11th on Dec. 11 before falling out of the poll.
The Eagles boast the country's most efficient offense so far this year. Carson-Newman (6-0) has shot at least 60 percent from the field on three occasions. The Eagles are hitting shots at a 56.6 percent clip this year.
Carson-Newman is one of three South Atlantic Conference schools featured in the rankings. Lincoln Memorial (5-0) is second in the D2SIDA Poll and fourth in the NABC Poll. Queens ranked second in the NABC poll and fifth in the media poll.
UNCP is the only other Southeast Region team ranked. The Braves are 25th in the media poll.
The Eagles take on Mars Hill Wednesday night at 8 p.m. inside Holt Fieldhouse to close out a four-game homestand. Pregame coverage begins at 7:45 on the Eagle Sports Network with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
D2SIDA Poll
RANK |
SCHOOL |
RECORD |
POINTS |
PREVIOUS |
1 |
Northwest Missouri St. (16) |
6-0 |
400 |
1 |
2 |
Lincoln Memorial |
5-0 |
467 |
2 |
3 |
Ferris St. |
8-0 |
362 |
3 |
4 |
Bellarmine |
6-0 |
349 |
7 |
5 |
Queens (N.C.) |
5-0 |
343 |
4 |
6 |
Wheeling Jesuit |
5-0 |
314 |
8 |
7 |
Arkansas-Fort Smith |
7-0 |
291 |
9 |
8 |
Christian Brothers |
5-0 |
270 |
10 |
9 |
West Texas A&M |
7-0 |
250 |
11 |
10 |
Western Oregon |
5-0 |
241 |
13 |
11 |
Colorado School of Mines |
6-0 |
232 |
12 |
12 |
Barry |
6-0 |
221 |
5 |
13 |
Virginia State |
6-0 |
194 |
16 |
14 |
California Baptist |
4-1 |
185 |
6 |
15 |
West Liberty |
5-0 |
176 |
14 |
16 |
Valdosta State |
6-0 |
150 |
18 |
17 |
Southern New Hampshire |
6-0 |
145 |
NR |
18 |
Chico State |
4-1 |
103 |
20 |
19 |
West Florida |
7-0 |
101 |
NR |
20 |
Carson-Newman |
6-0 |
98 |
NR |
21 |
Northern State (S.D.) |
5-1 |
81 |
NR |
22 |
Le Moyne |
6-1 |
77 |
15 |
23 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
7-0 |
53 |
NR |
24 |
Lake Superior State |
5-1 |
41 |
NR |
25 |
UNC Pembroke |
3-1 |
29 |
22 |
Others Receiving Votes: Central Missouri 21, Texas-Permian Basin 20, Chaminade 20, Dallas Baptist 16, Nova Southeastern 12, Indianapolis 12, Ashland 9, Minot State 6, Francis Marion 5, Edinboro 3, Findlay 3, Benedict 2, Saint Martin's 2.
NABC Poll
RANK |
SCHOOL |
RECORD |
POINTS |
PREVIOUS |
1 |
Northwest Missouri State (14) |
6-0 |
398 |
1 |
2 |
Queens (N.C.) (1) |
5-0 |
376 |
2 |
3 |
Bellarmine (1) |
6-0 |
370 |
3 |
4 |
Lincoln Memorial |
5-0 |
354 |
4 |
5 |
Ferris State |
8-0 |
338 |
5 |
6 |
Colorado School of Mines |
6-0 |
302 |
6 |
7 |
West Liberty |
5-0 |
282 |
9 |
8 |
West Texas A&M |
6-0 |
277 |
10 |
9 |
Wheeling Jesuit |
5-0 |
252 |
11 |
10 |
Christian Brothers |
5-0 |
239 |
12 |
11 |
Barry |
4-1 |
230 |
8 |
12 |
Benedict |
7-0 |
222 |
14 |
13 |
Western Oregon |
6-0 |
216 |
15 |
14 |
California Baptist |
6-1 |
187 |
7 |
15 |
Valdosta State |
6-0 |
170 |
20 |
16 |
Chico State |
4-1 |
162 |
16 |
17 |
Le Moyne |
6-1 |
107 |
13 |
18 |
UT-Permian Basin |
4-1 |
106 |
21 |
19 |
Fort Lewis |
3-1 |
85 |
23 |
20 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
7-0 |
83 |
NR |
21 |
Northern State |
6-1 |
80 |
25 |
22 |
Arkansas-Fort Smith |
7-0 |
53 |
NR |
23 |
Carson-Newman |
6-0 |
38 |
NR |
24 |
Bloomfield |
4-1 |
33 |
17 |
25 |
Dallas Baptist |
6-0 |
29 |
NR |
Others receiving votes: Findlay (Ohio) 27, Bridgeport (Conn.) 19, Southern New Hampshire 19, Arkansas-Monticello 15, Lake Superior State (Mich.) 14, Virginia State 11, Regis (Colo.) 10, Shippensburg (Pa.) 10, Fairmont State (W.Va.) 8, Saint Martin's (Wash.) 8, Cal State San Marcos 7, Indianapolis (Ind.) 7, St. Thomas Aquinas (N.Y.) 7, Alabama Huntsville 5, Central Missouri 5, Ashland (Ohio) 4, Clark Atlanta (Ga.) 4, Chaminade (Hawaii) 3, Northwestern Oklahoma State 2, Angelo State (Texas) 1, Francis Marion (S.C.) 1, Georgia Southwestern 1, Minot State (N.D.) 1, William Jewell (Mo.) 1.
Dropped out: Findlay (18), Shippensburg (19), St. Thomas Aquinas (22), Merrimack (24).