Virginia Union University's men's basketball team is ranked 32nd in the nation in the first National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) poll of the pre-season, the NABC announced on Tuesday, October 31.
The Panthers garnered 23 votes and are the only CIAA team listed in the ranking.
"Anytime you can receive votes nationally in the pre-season is great for our program," said VUU Head Men's Coach
Jay Butler. "I'm excited about this year's team and looking forward to another successful season."
The poll is headed by Northwest Missouri State University, who received 15 of 16 first-place votes.
The Panthers begin the 2017-18 season with an exhibition contest against Virginia Commonwealth University at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 4, in the Siegel Center in Richmond, Va.
NABC/Division II Rankings
(Oct. 31, 2016 – Pre-Season Poll)
                                     Record  Points Last
1. Northwest Missouri St. (15)Â Â Â Â Â Â 35-1Â Â Â 399 Â Â Â Â 1
2. Queens, N.C. (1) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 30-4 Â Â Â Â 374 Â Â Â Â 6
3. Bellarmine, Ky. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 32-4 Â Â Â Â 351 Â Â Â Â 2
4. Lincoln Memorial, Tenn. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 30-6 Â Â Â Â 324 Â Â Â Â 15
5. St. Thomas Aquinas, N.Y. Â Â Â Â Â Â 28-6 Â Â Â Â 308 Â Â Â Â NR
6. Indiana, Pa. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 28-4 Â Â Â Â 304 Â Â Â Â 8
7. Chico State, Calif. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 26-8 Â Â Â Â 297 Â Â Â Â NR
8. Shippensburg, Pa. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 27-4 Â Â Â Â 254 Â Â Â Â 9
9. Colorado School of Mines             30-5     236     11
10. Ferris State, Mich. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 28-5 Â Â Â Â 230 Â Â Â Â 14
11. UT-Permian Basin                    26-6     216     17
12. Barry, Fla. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 23-7 Â Â Â Â 210 Â Â Â Â NR
13. Rollins, Fla. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 24-11 Â Â Â 194 Â Â Â Â NR
14. California Baptist                  26-5     180     13
15. Southwest Minnesota State           28-6     159     18
16. Fort Lewis, Colo. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 26-7 Â Â Â Â 134 Â Â Â Â 23
17. West Liberty, W.Va. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 28-4 Â Â Â Â 117 Â Â Â Â 7
18. Merrimack, Mass. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 19-12 Â Â Â Â 88 Â Â Â Â NR
19. Wheeling Jesuit, W.Va. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 25-8 Â Â Â 83 Â Â Â Â NR
20. Findlay, Ohio                       25-7    72     25
21. West Texas A&M Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 26-9 Â Â Â 67 Â Â Â Â NR
22. Western Washington                25-6    63     12
23. Arkansas-Monticello                 23-7    51     NR
24. Kentucky Wesleyan                 28-3    46     5
25. Delta State, Miss. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 23-9 Â Â Â 45 Â Â Â Â NR
Others receiving votes: Fairmont State (W.Va.) 44,
Indianapolis (Ind.) 40, Christian Brothers (Tenn.) 39, Le
Moyne (N.Y.) 39, UNC Pembroke 31, UC San Diego 24,
Virginia Union 23, Central Missouri 21, Augusta (Ga.) 16,
Dixie State (Utah) 16, Benedict (S.C.) 14, Columbus State
(Ga.) 13, Northern State (S.D.) 12, Tarleton State (Texas) 10,
Bloomfield (N.J.) 8, MSU Moorhead (Minn.) 8, Jefferson (Pa.)
6, Barton (N.C.) 5, Valdosta State (Ga.) 4, Washburn (Kan.) 3,
Kutztown (Pa.) 2, Western Oregon 2, Cal State San Marcos 1,
San Francisco State (Calif.) 1.
