However, that's not to say the Eagles can't improve upon that standing. Carson-Newman plays the first and second ranked teams in the region in the next two weeks. Lenoir-Rhyne opened the region rankings in first; Newberry sits in the spot behind the Bears.
UNC Pembroke, Tuskegee and North Alabama round out the top six. The Eagles are in front of Delta State, Valdosta State and Wingate.
Of the top seven teams. Carson-Newman has the worst strength of schedule amongst past competition. The Eagles' SOS ranks 151st in the nation. With the exception of North Alabama, every team in the top six has a SOS in the top 50 in the nation. North Alabama's SOS is 92nd.
However, Carson-Newman has the ninth most difficult schedule remaining among teams in the region. The Eagles have the ninth toughest final three games nationally.
Carson-Newman's strength of schedule for past and future competition will bring the Eagles up to 68, which would move the Eagles past West Alabama, who's cumulative SOS is 73. UNCP has the toughest cumulative SOS in the region with the toughest schedule in the nation.
The Eagles take on the number one team in the region, Lenoir-Rhyne Saturday in Hickory, N.C. Kickoff for what The Sporting News ranked as the best game in the SAC in its preseason publication is slated for 2 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 1 with the Tailgate Show on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM), 106.3 ESPN Radio the Zone (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
NCAA D-II SUPER REGION 2 RANKINGS |
|||
Rk |
School |
Division II |
Overall |
1 |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
6-1 |
7-1 |
2 |
Newberry |
7-1 |
7-1 |
3 |
UNC Pembroke |
5-1 |
6-1 |
4 |
West Alabama |
5-1 |
6-2 |
5 |
Tuskegee |
6-1 |
7-1 |
6 |
North Alabama |
5-1 |
5-2 |
7 |
Carson-Newman |
7-1 |
7-1 |
8 |
Delta State |
4-2 |
5-2 |
9 |
Valdosta State |
5-2 |
5-2 |
10 |
Wingate |
4-3 |
4-3 |
REMAINING GAMES |
|||
Team |
November 2 |
November 9 |
November 16 |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
Carson-Newman |
Alderson-Broaddus |
at Catawba |
Newberry |
Brevard |
at Carson-Newman |
North Greenville |
UNC Pembroke |
Tusculum |
at Valdosta State (11/7) |
Virginia-Lynchburg |
West Alabama |
at North Alabama |
Shorter |
Central State |
Tuskegee |
Central State |
Miles |
Bye |
North Alabama |
West Alabama |
at Florida Tech |
at Tarleton State |
Carson-Newman |
at Lenoir-Rhyne |
Newberry |
at Wingate |
Delta State |
Valdosta State |
Concordia (Ala.) |
West Georgia |
Valdosta State |
at Delta State |
UNC Pembroke (11/7) |
at Texas A&M-Kingsville |
Wingate |
North Greenville |
at Mars Hill |
Carson-Newman |
Credit to UNC Pembroke Sports Information Director Todd Anderson for the above charts