After earning wins at Northwest Nazarene and Seattle Pacific, the Seattle University men’s basketball team moved into ninth in this week’s regional rankings, while the women’s team stayed in the top ten despite two road losses last weekend, as the latest regional rankings were released Wednesday by the NCAA national office.
Both teams still have work to do, as the top eight teams, as long as the GNAC and CCAA champions are among them, qualify for the West Regional of the NCAA Division II Basketball Tournament. With seven games over four weekends remaining in the season, both teams have the opportunity to move into the top eight and earn postseason berths.
This week marks the first appearance for the SeattleU men’s team in the top ten of the regional rankings this season. Alaska Anchorage, the GNAC leader and undefeated against Division II schools, lead the rankings, with CCAA leader Cal State San Bernardino second, Seattle Pacific third, and PacWest leader Chaminade fourth. Northwest Nazarene remains fifth, followed by CCAA schools UC San Diego, Humboldt State, and Cal State Dominguez Hills. SeattleU is 4-3 against the other ranked teams with a matchup at Alaska Anchorage on the horizon.
The SeattleU women’s team fell from ninth to tenth after losing to Central Washington and Western Washington, with the Wildcats now in ninth position. Unbeaten Seattle Pacific remains at the top of the rankings, followed by Chico State, Cal State San Bernardino, Alaska Anchorage, UC San Diego, Sonoma State, Northwest Nazarene, and Saint Martin’s. Seattle University still has games remaining against Seattle Pacific, Northwest Nazarene, and Alaska Anchorage at the Connolly Center, plus a trip to face Saint Martin’s later this season.
The Seattle University men return home after a 3-1 road swing, hosting Saint Martin’s, Thursday, Feb. 14, and Western Oregon Saturday, Feb. 16, both beginning at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, the women head east to face Montana State Billings Saturday beginning at 5 p.m. local time.