INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA released its first regional rankings Wednesday afternoon that showed Carson-Newman in the No. 9 slot in the Southeast Region with a 15-8 overall record against Division II competition.
The selection committee uses these rankings as a guideline to make up the NCAA Tournament field. The top eight teams in the region make the NCAA Tournament with three automatic bids going to the winners of the conference tournaments from the South Atlantic Conference, Conference Carolinas and the Peachbelt Conference.
According to the strength of schedule, Carson-Newman has played the most difficult slate of any team in the region rankings. Only 1-20 Flagler has a tougher schedule at .571 to C-N's .563. Among 316 Division II programs, the Lady Eagles have played the ninth most challenging docket on the year with the winning percentage of previous foes at .584.
Coach Mike Mincey's team has played seven games against teams currently ranked in the top-10 in the Southeast including four of those contests on the road or at neutral sites. Carson-Newman is 8-2 in its last 10 games. Only top-ranked Columbus State (10-0), fourth-ranked Limestone (10-0), fifth-ranked Wingate (9-1) and sixth-ranked Lander (9-1) have been better in the last 10.
Lincoln Memorial, the top team in the South Atlantic Conference, is second in the poll and Clayton State checks into the third slot. Just above Carson-Newman is North Georgia and King (Tenn.) at seven and eight respectively. The Lady Eagles top win this season is King who they pummeled 107-71 on Nov. 16, 2016.
Mount Olive claims the 10th spot in the opening round of voting. There are four teams from the Peach Belt, three from the SAC and three from Conference Carolinas.
Carson-Newman is 1-6 against the top 10 in the poll but gets an opportunity to upend Wingate on the road on Saturday at 2 p.m. looking for another key resume builder.
There will be two more regional polls prior to the selection show as they will be released in the afternoon on Feb. 22 and March 1.
|
Rank |
School |
Overall Record |
In-Region Record |
|
1 |
Columbus State |
22-1 |
22-1 |
|
2 |
Lincoln Memorial |
20-2 |
20-2 |
|
3 |
Clayton State |
20-5 |
20-5 |
|
4 |
Limestone |
21-3 |
21-3 |
|
5 |
Wingate |
19-4 |
19-4 |
|
6 |
Lander |
17-5 |
17-5 |
|
7 |
North Georgia |
17-6 |
17-6 |
|
8 |
King (Tenn.) |
18-6 |
18-6 |
|
9 |
Carson-Newman |
15-8 |
15-8 |
|
10 |
Mount Olive |
18-5 |
18-5 |
