NCAA Division II Basketball Regional Rankings Release: Quick Reaction-Women

Editor's Note: This is the third of multiple posts regarding the release of the NCAA Division II basketball regional rankings, for both the men's and women's teams, from now on until conference tournament week for most conferences. So, what are we waiting for? Let's get started.

Click here for this week's rankings, courtesy of NCAA.com.

NOTE: Records listed are against NCAA Division II opponents only, including the in-region record. All records listed are limited to games played through February 23, 2020.

Atlantic: Not much change here, as Indiana (Pa.)-(23-2) remains in the No. 1 spot. As mentioned in the last post, the No. 1 seed still looks like it's IUP's to lose as it is. However, Glenville State, Virginia Union, Notre Dame (Ohio), and Bowie State, are still very much in the conversation going into the final weekend of the regular season.

Central: The top four seeds in this region remain the same, with Central Missouri, Minnesota-Duluth, Sioux Falls, and Emporia State staying in the top four spots, although UMD and USF have traded places as far as the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds. The Bulldogs moved up to No. 2, while the Cougars fell to No. 3 in this week's rankings.

East: Adelphi (25-2) is still No. 1 after winning back-to-back games last week. The Panthers enter the Northeast 10 Conference tournament early next week as the No. 1 seed in the Southwest Division. Don't be surprised if they're still at the top here by the time next week's poll is released.

Midwest: Drury and Ashland both carry undefeated 27-0 overall records into this weekend's action. Although both squads appear to be on a collision course to meet in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division II tournament, don't count out the likes of Grand Valley State (24-2), Walsh (23-2), and Kentucky Wesleyan (21-1) going down the stretch.

South Central: Despite suffering their first loss of the 2019-2020 season in a tough 58-55 upset loss to West Texas A&M (24-5) last Saturday, Texas A&M-Commerce (25-1) remains to beat here. No. 2 and defending national champion Lubbock Christian (22-3) and No. 4 Colorado Mesa (21-4) are also in the mix.

South: Lee (22-2) is still No. 1 in this region despite having their 13-game winning streak snapped with a 71-56 upset loss at fellow Gulf South Conference foe Union (Tenn.) on February 20. Tampa moved up into the No. 2 spot with convincing wins over Barry last week, although Florida Southern managed to pull off the upset over the Spartans on Wednesday night. 

Southeast: Hardly any change from last week's poll, as Lander, North Georgia, and Belmont Abbey hold steady in the top three spots. Don't be surprised if any one of these three teams finds themselves hosting this regional come the weekend of March 15. 

West: Going into the final weekend of the regular season, the road to the Elite Eight could very well go through either the nation's 49th state in No. 2 Alaska-Anchorage (25-2) or the 50th state in No. 1 Hawaii-Pacific (25-1). 

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NCAA Division II Basketball Regional Rankings Release: Quick Reaction-Men

Editor's Note: This is the second of multiple posts regarding the release of the NCAA Division II basketball regional rankings, for both the men's and women's teams, from now on until conference tournament week for most conferences. This time, we'll take a look at the men's perspective following this weekend's games.

Click here for this week's rankings, courtesy of NCAA.com.

NOTE: Records listed are against NCAA Division II opponents only, including the in-region record. All records listed are limited to games played through February 16, 2020.

Atlantic: Just like on the women's side, Indiana (Pa.)-(20-2) is the team to beat on the men's side. Every other team that's ranked has lost at least four games overall, including the likes of No.2 Shippensburg, No. 3 West Liberty, and No. 4 Fairmont State going into last weekend's games.

Central: There's no doubt as to whom the top team in this region is right now. That's other than defending national champion Northwest Missouri State. The Bearcats lone loss so far came at Central Missouri on December 7, 2019, but haven't lost since. In other words, Northwest Missouri State is the team to beat until someone else proves otherwise.

East: The University of Bridgeport Purple Knights have been the surprise team of this region, rising to the top in the first regional rankings. However, an upset loss to Molloy on the road on Saturday could open the door for either No. 2 St. Thomas Aquinas or No. 3 Thomas Jefferson move up to No. 1 in the next round of rankings.

Midwest: This is currently the region that has the most parity, as the top four teams: No. 1 UIndy, No. 2 Truman State, No. 3 Bellarmine, and No. 4 Ferris State have combined for 23 losses overall. As far as conference races are concerned, the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) is the one to watch, with the top eight teams standings winning at least 11 games in league play as this post is being posted.

South: Florida Southern is the obvious team to beat, with the Mocs winning 12 straight games dating back to January 8 at post time. While both No. 2 Nova Southeastern and No. 3 Lee both lost at least one game this past week, No. 4 Valdosta State continues to stay hot, as the Blazers have won 15 in a row dating back to December 17, 2019.

South Central: With just one loss against NCAA Division II opponents so far this season, West Texas A&M is tops in this part of the world. With No. 2 St. Edwards falling to Dallas Baptist on Thursday night, the Buffaloes can strengthen their hold on the No. 1 spot even further later this week.

Southeast: The favorite here is a no-brainer: Lincoln Memorial. The Railsplitters' only setback came to this aforementioned West Texas A&M in the season opener on November 1, 2019. LMU hasn't lost since then, winners of 27 straight games, with Catawba being the most recent victim this past Saturday. 

West: Like many of the No. 1 teams in the first round of regional rankings, UC San Diego has lost just once all season long, to Chico State on December 5. The Tritons have reeled off 18 straight wins since that night. Don't be surprised if UCSD finds itself hosting this regional come mid-March. 

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NCAA Division II Basketball Regional Rankings Release: Quick Reaction-Women

Editor's Note: This is the first of multiple posts regarding the release of the NCAA Division II basketball regional rankings, for both the men's and women's teams, from now on until conference tournament week for most conferences. So, what are we waiting for? Let's get started.

Click here for this week's rankings, courtesy of NCAA.com.

NOTE: Records listed are against NCAA Division II opponents only, including the in-region record. All records listed are limited to games played through February 16, 2020.

Atlantic: Indiana (Pa.)-(21-2) is the team to beat here, with the Crimson Hawks lone losses coming to current No. 2 Glenville State (19-4) as well as to current No. 8 California (Pa.)-(17-7). As this post is being typed, the No. 1 seed is IUP's to lose at this point.

Central: This is a wide-open region, with Central Missouri (18-4), Sioux Falls (21-5) Minnesota-Duluth (21-5), Sioux Falls (23-4), and Emporia State occupying the top four spots. Don't be surprised if the battle for the top spot comes down to the final results of the conference tournaments in early March.

East: Adelphi (23-2) has become one of the biggest surprises of the 2019-2020 season so far, rising to the top of the Northeast 10 Conference Southwest Division after struggling to a 15-13 overall mark in 2018-2019. The road to the Elite Eight in this region could very well go through Garden City, N.Y. as things stand at this moment.

Midwest: This is a very loaded region as of right now, as five teams: Drury, Ashland, Grand Valley State, Walsh, and Kentucky Wesleyan have combined for just five losses against D-II opponents, with Drury and Ashland going undefeated. It's too bad that only one of these teams can advance to the Elite Eight, though.

South Central: At 24-0 going into this week's action, Texas A&M-Commerce is the obvious favorite here. But defending national champion Lubbock Christian, as well as West Texas A&M, could give the Lady Buffs a serious run for their money before the dust settles at the end of the regionals.

South: Lee (22-1) has been the class of a traditionally solid Gulf South Conference, with the Lady Flames only loss coming to Valdosta State on December 17, 2019. Potential dark horses in this region are Union at No. 2, Tampa at No.3, Delta State at No. 4, and Benedict at No. 5, among other teams.

Southeast: Despite seeing their 16-game winning streak end at the hands of fellow Peach Belt Conference foe North Georgia (20-3) on February 15, Lander (20-4) still managed to land the No. 1 ranking here, for now. However, No. 3 Belmont Abbey, at 23-2, is a team to pay attention to going down the stretch.

West: Another strong region filled with intrigue, there are five teams with at least 20 wins going into this weekend action, led by No. 1 Hawai'i Pacific (23-1), No. 2 UC San Diego (20-4), No. 3 Alaska-Anchorage (23-2), No. 4 Cal State-San Marcos (20-4), and No. 6 Azusa Pacific (20-4).

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