NABC Top-25 Poll (Week 4)
INDIANAPOLIS – The fourth edition of the National Association of Basketball Coaches Poll had Great Midwest Athletic Conference representation from Findlay and Hillsdale for the second week in a row.
The league-leading and undefeated Oilers (5-0) are now ranked sixth nationally in Division II, climbing four spots after reaching the top 10. The Chargers (3-1) moved from 23rd to 25th after being handed their first defeat of 2020-21.
Walsh staked claim to a handful of votes as well after recently getting its season underway early in the new calendar year.
Findlay has been ranked in all four regular-season NABC Polls to date after also receiving votes during the preseason. The Oilers matched the program’s highest ranking since joining the Great Midwest, also ranking sixth for back-to-back weeks in 2018-19.
Findlay’s last top 5 ranking was during the 2010-11 season when the Oilers were ranked No. 1 and spent most of the season in the top five in the NABC Poll with a 24-4 record.
The top five NABC programs, Northwest Missouri State, Lincoln Memorial, West Texas A&M, Colorado School of Mines and Washburn, remained idle in Tuesday’s release; Findlay was the biggest mover this past week with 304 points in the voting and jumping over previous No. 6 West Liberty, No. 7 Truman State, No. 8 Northern State and No. 9 St. Edward’s.
The Oilers beat Hillsdale on a half court buzzer beater during an exciting slate of men’s basketball contests around the league on Saturday. Also winning in the final moments was Walsh (2-0) as the Cavaliers nipped Kentucky Wesleyan in their regular season opener.
The heroics for Walsh were provided by Kaleb Martin and senior guard Darryl Straughter was already in midseason form with 29 points. The Cavaliers defeated Trevecca Nazarene to start a new week yesterday.
Fans are also seeing the early-season emergence of Luke Howes (12.5 ppg) and Garrison Keeslar while All-Defensive Team standout Caleb Canter is back at it as Jeff Young’s program has its sights set on three consecutive conference tournament victories. Through two games, Walsh has only given up 55 points per game, tops in the league.
Anthony Masterlasco has taken over the lead for scoring for Findlay, ranking 13th among all players at 14.6 ppg. Week 1 Conference Player of the Week Austen Yarian (16.2 ppg) remains a top-10 scorer for Hillsdale and teammate Patrick Cartier (15.4) is right behind him among league leaders.