NABC Top-25 Coaches Poll (Nov. 20)
INDIANAPOLIS – Fresh off a win over defending national champion Ferris State, Findlay skied 10 spots in the new National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Top-25 Poll that was released this week.
The Oilers are now ranked 13th in the country after a 4-0 start that has the Great Midwest Athletic Conference preseason favorites sitting favorably entering league play. UF was polled at No. 23 in the first week of the regular season.
All of UF’s wins have come against Midwest Region competition, including a season-opening victory against Truman State. The Oilers also beat Quincy and Saginaw Valley State before roaring to an impressive win in Croy over Ferris State.
Findlay is the defending Great Midwest regular-season champion and secured an at-large bid into the NCAA Championship bracket a year ago. The Oilers also advanced to the Midwest Region final, where their season ended at the hands of – Ferris State.
The team that is currently top ranked in the country, Bellarmine, is the school that Findlay defeated in the Midwest Reigon semifinals (2nd round) in 2018.
Findlay’s roster had quite a bit of overhaul in the offseason with four senior starters, including Great Midwest Player of the Year Taren Sullivan, first team all-conference guard Martyce Kimbrough, honorable mention all-conference guard Elijah Kahlig and Austin Gardner, all graduating.
But already under head coach Charlie Ernst, the Oilers haven’t skipped a beat, putting up almost 89 points per game against opponents. UF is dialed in from the field, shooting over 51 percent as a team and have set the bar high from beyond the arc at a 43.2 percent clip in the season.
Big men Aaron Overhiser and Alex White have shouldered most of the offensive burden as the team’s top two scorers so far. But sophomore guard Anthony Masterlasco has also stepped up with 13 ppg in 27.5 minutes and Trey Smith and Tommy Schmock have also elevated their play to a different level.
The Oilers have a final non-conference tune up against Northwood (Mich.) on Monday before opening Great Midwest action on the road at Tiffin.