INDIANAPOLIS – In a wave of five programs that shed the label of the ‘receiving votes’ category, Walsh represented the Great Midwest Athletic Conference in the new National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Top-25 Poll this week.
Both the Cavaliers’ programs are now in the men’s and women’s national polls, just weeks after appearing together on the Division II National Showcase games on ESPN3.
Walsh, with an overall record of 18-2, is ranked 21st. The Cavaliers are new to the NABC Top 25 along with No. 22 UIndy, No. 23 Point Loma, No. 24 Shippensburg and No. 25 Valdosta State.
The Walsh men have won 10 straight as the program looks to defend its conference tournament title and get back to the NCAA Championship Midwest Regional.
The Cavaliers are also pacing the conference point rating system standings with 4.50 in 10 league games played. Head coach Jeff Young’s squad is tops in the league in offense and defense, scoring almost 87 points per game and allowing just under 65.
Walsh gets it done on both ends of the floor with significant contributions from their star power, top 10 league scorers Darryl Straughter and JT Shumate. Together, the former Great Midwest Freshmen of the Year, average almost 33 points per game.
Guard Mark Mokros has gone from averaging 4.3 points per game in 2018-19 to almost 12 in his senior season. The sharpshooter is proficient at knocking down three-point shots and is currently third in the conference in triples made with 53.
He is also a member of the Cavaliers’ men’s golf program.
Straughter and Mokros give Walsh a Stephen Curry/Klay Thompson type of backcourt from beyond the arc. Straughter is fourth overall in Division II in three-point percentage while drilling 72 of his 146 attempts.
Mokros ranks 21st nationally in three-point percentage. He drained eight in a game vs. Kentucky Wesleyan and Straughter tied the conference record with 10 made vs. Maryville in the season opener.
Shumate is connecting on shots at almost 55 percent while scoring 20 or more points six times as a sophomore. RS freshman Christian Montague has also flourished in his first season as a starter averaging 11.6 points and showcased his ability to pass in the season opener with 11 assists.
Walsh turns around for a road date at Findlay in Croy Gymnasium to start the month of Februrary. The last time the Cavaliers visited, they cut down the nets as conference tournament champions.