And it will actually end in March!

And news from the Division II home page.

The NCAA announced its 64-team field for this year’s Division II Tournament Sunday night and the two teams that finished the season undefeated could hook up in a national quarterfinal match if they can both win regionals that they will be hosting this weekend.

Findlay, the top seed in the Midwest after finishing the year at 30-0, could square off with No. 2 LIU-C.W. Post (27-0) should the Pioneers win the East title. Findlay will open with defending regional champion Grand Valley State Saturday, while C.W. Post drew Philadelphia in the opening round.

No. 3 BYU-Hawaii and the other teams in the West Regional will start Friday at two sites. BYU-Hawaii hosts Humboldt State in the opener and the winner gets Cal State-Dominguez Hills or Central Washington. The other four teams will go to No. 23 Western Washington with the two sub-regional winners meeting up Tuesday at the home of the highest remaining seed.

The other regional hosts will be No. 4 Augusta State (Southeast), No. 5 Gannon (Atlantic), No. 6 Central Missouri (South Central) — the winner of three straight overtime games to take the MIAA Tournament — No. 12 Southwest Minnesota State (Central) and No. 11 Florida Southern (South). All regional play except for the West Regional begins on Satruday.

Six of the nine host schools are ranked at the top of the final NABC/Division II Coaches Poll that was released Tuesday.

ATLANTIC REGIONAL
March 14, 15 and 17 at Erie, Pa. (Host: Gannon)

Saturday, March 14
#3 Kutztown (26-4) vs. #6 West Virginia State (24-5), 12 p.m., EDT
#2 Virginia Union (21-6) vs. #7 Indiana, Pa. (21-7), 2:30 p.m., EDT
#1 Gannon (27-3) vs. #8 Pittsburgh-Johnstown (24-7), 6 p.m., EDT
#4 Johnson C. Smith (23-7) vs. #5 Alderson-Broaddus (26-5), 8:30 p.m., EDT

Sunday, March 15
Virginia Union/Indiana (Pa.) winner vs. Kutztown/West Virginia State winner, 5 p.m., EDT
Gannon/Pittsburgh-Johnstown winner vs. Johnson C. Smith/Alderson-Broaddus winner, 7:30 p.m., EDT

Tuesday, March 17
Championship game, 7 p.m, EDT

CENTRAL REGIONAL
March 14, 15 and 17 at Marshall, Minn. (Host: Southwest Minnesota State)

Saturday, March 14
#3 Metropolitan State (27-3) vs. #6 Winona State (23-8), 12 p.m., CDT
#2 St. Cloud State (22-8) vs. #7 Augustana (19-9), 2:30 p.m.
#1 Southwest Minnesota State (25-6) vs. #8 Northern State (19-10), 6 p.m., CDT
#4 Minnesota State (25-8) vs. #5 Fort Lewis (24-9), 8:30 p.m., CDT

Sunday, March 15
St. Cloud State/Augustana winner vs. Metropolitan State/Winona State winner, 5 p.m., CDT
Southwest Minnesota State/Northern State winner vs. Minnesota State/Fort Lewis winner, 7:30 p.m, CDT

Tuesday, March 17
Championship game, 7 p.m., CDT

EAST REGIONAL
March 14, 15 and 17 at Brookville, N.Y. (Host: LIU-C.W. Post)

Saturday, March 14
#3 Massachusetts-Lowell (21-7) vs. #6 Merrimack (20-8), 12 p.m., EDT
#2 Bentley (24-6) vs. #7 Bridgeport (22-8), 2:30 p.m., EDT
#1 LIU-C.W. Post (27-0) vs. #8 Philadelphia (25-5), 6 p.m., EDT
#4 Assumption (22-9) vs. #5 Stonehill (21-7), 8:30 p.m., EDT

Sunday, March 15
Bentley/Bridgeport winner vs. Massachusetts-Lowell/Merrimack winner, 5 p.m., EDT
LIU-C.W. Post/Philadelphia winner vs. Assumption/Stonehill winner, 7:30 p.m., EDT

Tuesday, March 17
Championship game, 7 p.m., EDT

MIDWEST REGIONAL
March 14, 15 and 17 at Findlay, Ohio (Host: Findlay)

Saturday, March 14
#3 Northern Kentucky (24-6) vs. Lake Superior State (21-8), 12 p.m., EDT
#2 Bellarmine (24-6) vs. #7 Kentucky Wesleyan (19-8), 2:30 p.m., EDT
#1 Findlay (30-0) vs. #8 Grand Valley State (21-9), 6 p.m., EDT
#4 Southern Indiana (26-6) vs. #5 Rockhurst (19-10), 8:30 p.m., EDT

Sunday, March 15
Bellarmine/Kentucky Wesleyan winner vs. Northern Kentucky/Lake Superior State winner, 5 p.m., EDT Findlay/Grand Valley State winner vs. Southern Indiana/Rockhurst winner, 7:30 p.m., EDT

Tuesday, March 17
Championship game, 7 p.m., EDT

SOUTH REGIONAL
March 14, 15 and 17 at Lakeland, Fla. (Host: Florida Southern)

Saturday, March 14
#2 Christian Brothers (22-6) vs. #7 Delta State (21-8), 12 p.m., EDT
#3 Claflin (24-3) vs. #6 Valdosta State (24-6), 2:30 p.m., EDT
#1 Florida Southern (27-6) vs. #8 LeMoyne-Owen (17-13), 6 p.m., EDT
#4 Arkansas Tech (22-8) vs. #5 Benedict (24-5), 8:30 p.m., EDT

Sunday, March 15
Christian Brothers/Delta State winner vs. Claflin/Valdosta State winner, 5 p.m., EDT
Florida Southern/LeMoyne-Owen winner vs. Arkansas Tech/Benedict winner, 7:30 p.m., EDT

Tuesday, March 17
Championship game, 7 p.m., EDT

SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL
March 14, 15 and 17 at Warrensburg, Mo. (Host: Central Missouri)

Saturday, March 14
#3 Central Oklahoma (24-5) vs. #6 Dallas Baptist (23-6), 12 p.m., CDT
#2 Southwest Baptist (24-4) vs. #7 Angelo State (20-8), 2:30 p.m., CDT
#1 Central Missouri (26-4) vs. #8 Texas A&M-Kingsville (19-10), 6 p.m., CDT
#4 Midwestern State (24-6) vs. #5 Incarnate Word (23-6), 8:30 p.m., CDT

Sunday, March 15
Southwest Baptist/Angelo State winner vs. Central Oklahoma/Dallas Baptist winner, 4 p.m., CDT
Central Missouri/Texas A&M-Kingsville winner vs. Midwestern State/Incarnate Word winner, 6:30 p.m., CDT

Tuesday, March 17
Championship game, 7 p.m., CDT

SOUTHEAST REGIONAL
March 14, 15 and 17 at Augusta, Ga. (Host: Augusta State)

Saturday, March 14
#3 Armstrong Atlantic State (23-6) vs. #6 Catawba (21-9), 12 p.m., EDT
#2 South Carolina Aiken (23-7) vs. #7 Lenoir-Rhyne (18-10), 2:30 p.m. EDT
#1 Augusta State (26-4) vs. #8 Tusculum (20-10), 6 p.m., EDT
#4 Georgia College & State (22-6) vs. #5 Barton (24-6), 8:30 p.m., EDT

Sunday, March 15
South Carolina Aiken/Lenoir-Rhyne winner vs. Armstrong Atlantic State/Catawba winner, 5 p.m., EDT
Augusta State/Tusculum winner vs. Georgia College & State/Barton winner, 7:30 p.m., EDT

Tuesday, March 17
Championship game, 7 p.m., EDT

WEST REGIONAL
March 13 & 14 at Laie, Hawaii (Host: BYU-Hawaii) & Bellingham, Wash. (Host: Western Washington)
March 17 at highest remaining seed

Friday, March 13 (at BYU-Hawaii)
#4 Cal State-Dominguez Hills (21-7) vs. #5 Central Washington (18-6), 5 p.m, HDT
#1 BYU-Hawaii (25-1) vs. #8 Humboldt State (20-11), 7:30 p.m., HDT

Friday, March 13 (at Western Washington)
#3 Cal Poly Pomona (20-7) vs. #6 Cal State-San Bernardino (20-9), 5 p.m., PDT
#2 Western Washington (21-5) vs. #7 Seattle Pacific (18-9), 7 p.m., PDT

Saturday, March 14 (at BYU-Hawaii)
BYU-Hawaii/Humboldt State winner vs. Cal State-Dominguez Hills/Central Washington winner, 7:30 p.m., HDT

Saturday, March 14 (at Western Washington)
Western Washington/Seattle Pacific winner vs. Cal Poly Pomona/Cal St.-San Bernardino winner, 7 p.m., PDT

Tuesday, March 17
Championship game, time TBA

ELITE EIGHT
March 25, 26 and 28 at MassMutual Center, Springfield, Mass. (Hosted by American International College & Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame)

Wednesday, March 25
Atlantic Regional winner vs. South Central Regional winner
West Regional winner vs. Central Regional winner
Southeast Regional winner vs. South Regional winner
East Regional winner vs. Midwest Regional winner

Thursday, March 26
Atlantic/South Central winner vs. West/Central winner
Southeast/South winner vs. East/Midwest winner

Saturday, March 28 (National championship game)
National championship game (Televised by CBS-TV)

Post from: EveryJoe

Division II Pairings

Oilers, Pioneers stay atop rankings

(Feb. 10): Findlay retains the top spot in the NABC/Division II Coaches Poll for this week after recording two home victories and LIU-C.W. Post remains second, but a slight shuffle took place after that after two of the top 10 teams suffered losses last week.

The Oilers (20-0) and Pioneers (18-0) stayed in their places atop the poll, but Central Oklahoma’s loss to Northeastern State dropped the Bronchos seven spots to tenth this week. As a result, a number of teams moved up a spot with BYU-Hawaii (16-1) moving up to third, Gannon (18-2) to fourth and Southwest Baptist (18-3) to No. 5.

Northern Kentucky and Alderson-Broaddus also moved up one spot apiece to sixth and seventh, respectively, while Christian Brothers moved up two spots after South Carolina Aiken’s loss Saturday. Augusta State moved back into the top 10 with that result to No. 9, just ahead of Central Oklahoma.

Central Missouri heads up the second ten, with Benedict, Southern Indiana, Georgia College & State and South Carolina Aiken filling the next four spots. Claflin came in at No. 16 this week, with Minnesota State, Bellarmine, Bentley and Armstrong Atlantic State ounding out the top 20.

The last five in this week’s Top 25 include three teams making their first appearance in the poll this season – No. 21 Virginia Union, No. 23 Metropolitan State and No. 25 Western Washington. Florida Southern dropped two spots to 22nd while Southwest Minnesota State returned to the rankings at No. 24.

The new NCAA Division II regional rankings have also been released, with the top four teams in the national poll holding the top spots in their respective regions. The new regional rankings can be found here.

CBS College Sports Game of the Week — Upcoming games:
Colorado Christian at Metropolitan State (Sat., Feb. 14, 3 p.m. EST)
Northwest Missouri State vs. Central Missouri (Sat., Feb. 21, Noon EST)
Wheeling Jesuit at West Liberty State (Sat., Feb. 28, 3 p.m., EST).

NABC Division II
Coaches Poll
(Feb. 10, 2009)
1. Findlay
2. LIU-C.W. Post
3. BYU-Hawaii
4. Gannon
5. Southwest Baptist
6. Northern Kentucky
7. Alderson-Broaddus
8. Christian Brothers
9. Augusta State
10. Central Oklahoma
11. Central Missouri
12. Benedict
13. Southern Indiana
14. Georgia College & St.
15. South Carolina Aiken
16. Claflin
17. Minnesota State
18. Bellarmine
19. Bentley
20. Armstrong Atlantic St.
21. Virginia Union
22. Florida Southern
23. Metropolitan State
24. Southwest Minn. St.
25. Western Washington

Post from: EveryJoe

Latest Division II Rankings

Southern Indiana makes the biggest leap from 18th to eighth. Bellarmine, Ky. is up from 13th to fifth.

South Carolina-Aiken takes the biggest nosedive falling from number two to 11. Arkansas-Monticello falls from fifth to 14th.

Findlay, Ohio hangs on to the number one spot.

Rank School (first place votes) Record Points Previous Rank
1 Findlay, Ohio (7) 10-0, 199, 1
2 Southwest Baptist, Mo. (1) 11-0, 193, 3
3 LIU-C.W. Post, N.Y. 9-0, 181, 6
4 Central Oklahoma 11-2, 159, 8
5 Bellarmine, Ky. 12-0, 155, 13
6 Minnesota State 13-2, 154, 9
7 Gannon, Pa. 9-1, 130, 4
8 Southern Indiana 14-2, 115, 18
9 BYU-Hawaii 6-1, 111, 12
10 Augusta State, Ga. 7-2, 110, 7
11 South Carolina-Aiken 7-2, 108, 2
12 Missouri Southern 14-1 100 10
13 St. Martin’s, Wash. 12-2, 99, 15
14 Arkansas-Monticello 10-2, 97, 5
15 Grand Valley State, Mich. 8-2, 73, 16
16 Clayton State, Ga. 9-0, 72, T25
17 Arkansas Tech 10-2, 64, 20
18 Valdosta State, Ga. 12-2, 63, T25
19 Northern Kentucky 9-3, 53, 17
20 Kentucky Wesleyan 9-2, 43, 11
21 Mercyhurst, Pa. 11-0, 34, NR
22 Northern State, S.D. 11-2, 33, 19
23 Catawba, N.C. 9-3, 30, 14
24 St. Cloud State, Minn. 10-2, 22, NR
25 Benedict, S.C. 5-1, 21, NR

Others receiving votes: Lynn (Fla.) 19, Central Missouri 18, Claflin (S.C.) 18, Angelo State (Texas) 17, Merrimack (Mass.) 15, Armstrong Atlantic State (Ga.) 13, Chrsitian Brothers (Tenn.) 12, Delta State (Miss.) 11, Edinboro (Pa.) 11, Central Washington 10, Dallas Baptist (Texas) 10, Alderson-Broaddus (W.Va.) 9, Augustana (S.D.) 4, Saint Anselm (N.H.) 4, Fort Lewis (Colo.) 3, Elizabeth City State (N.C.) 2, North Alabama 2, Ashland (Ohio) 1, Harding (Ark.) 1, Stonehill (Mass.) 1.

Records are through games of Jan. 4, 2009.

Post from: EveryJoe

Latest Division II Rankings

And please don’t tell me that these games don’t matter because they are in the “pre-season”.

They DO matter…

Last night, Division II school Findlay upset Ohio State 70-68. This is the same Ohio State squad that lost to Florida in last year’s NCAA title game. Yes, they lost Greg Oden, Mike Connelly Jr., and Daequan Cook from last year’s squad. But they were ranked just outside the top 25 and figured to contend for another Big 10 conference title.

Oops.

Last Saturday, another Division II school, Grand Valley State, beat Michigan State 85-82 in double overtime. The Spartans are ranked #8 in the ESPN/USA Today Top 25 rankings and were picked by many analysts as the favorite to win the Big 10 championship.

Double oops.

I don’t care that these games are considered “exhibitions”. To quote Herm Edwards, “You play to win the game”. Period.

The Buckeyes and Spartans had better turn things around quickly, or else they will get eaten alive in the Big 10 this year.

UPDATED: another stunner from college basketball Wednesday night as Gardner-Webb, who was picked to finish 8th in the Atlantic Sun Conference this year, went into Rupp Arena and smoked the Kentucky Wildcats 84-68.

Welcome to Lexington, Billy Gillespie. I hope you enjoy your stay in the Bluegrass State.  And it won’t be a very long stay if you let middle-of-the-pack Atlantic Sun teams come to town and take you out to the woodshed.

Somewhere in the Twin Cities, Tubby Smith is smiling…

Post from: EveryJoe

UPDATED: And this is why you play the games, take 3…