NAIA MEN’S BASKETBALL TOP 25 RANKINGS
The University of Antelope Valley Men’s Basketball team has been on a roll this season, with a record of 25 wins and only 1 loss, and they are currently ranked #20 in the 2022-23 NAIA Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 Final Poll. While this is a great accomplishment, it is surprising that there is only one other team with one loss in the top 25 standings, and they are ranked #1 in the country. The top-ranked team in the NAIA standings is the College of Idaho, with a record of 29-1. However, the College of Idaho has only played one team in the country in the top 25, and they lost that game. This brings up the question: why is the University of Antelope Valley being underrated in the national rankings?
2022-23 NAIA Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 Final Poll (February 22, 2023)
| RANK | LAST WEEK | SCHOOL [1st Place Votes] | RECORD | FINAL POINTS |
| 1 | 1 | College of Idaho [20] | 27-1 | 560 |
| 2 | 2 | Arizona Christian | 24-4 | 529 |
| 3 | 3 | Union (Ky.) | 26-1 | 515 |
| 4 | 4 | Grace (Ind.) | 25-3 | 513 |
| 5 | 5 | Langston (Okla.) | 26-2 | 491 |
| 6 | 6 | Indiana Tech | 25-3 | 474 |
| 7 | 8 | Oklahoma Wesleyan | 25-3 | 452 |
| 8 | 7 | William Penn (Iowa) | 25-3 | 422 |
| 8 | 10 | Georgetown (Ky.) | 24-4 | 422 |
| 10 | 11 | Montana Tech | 24-4 | 384 |
| 11 | 9 | Jamestown (N.D.) | 23-5 | 366 |
| 12 | 12 | Kansas Wesleyan | 25-3 | 365 |
| 13 | 17 | Faulkner (Ala.) | 24-4 | 328 |
| 14 | 14 | Florida College | 24-4 | 300 |
| 15 | 18 | Huntington (Ind.) | 22-6 | 289 |
| 16 | 13 | Indiana Wesleyan | 20-8 | 281 |
| 17 | 19 | LSU Shreveport (La.) | 22-6 | 239 |
| 18 | 25 | Morningside (Iowa) | 21-6 | 237 |
| 19 | 14 | Loyola (La.) | 21-6 | 231 |
| 20 | 21 | Antelope Valley (Calif.) | 25-1 | 223 |
| 21 | 22 | Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) | 20-8 | 179 |
| 22 | 20 | Southwestern (Kan.) | 22-6 | 162 |
| 23 | 23 | Iowa Wesleyan | 24-2 | 132 |
| 24 | 16 | Thomas More (Ky.) | 21-7 | 126 |
| 25 | RV | The Master’s (Calif.) | 21-7 | 88 |
NAIA CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS
With NAIA Conference Tournament’s underway, the National Rankings are even more critical due to a team’s placement for the national tournament. If the top-ranked teams win, it should solidify their positioning for the National Championship tournament. Upsets are bound to happen, but for a team like College of Idaho, a loss in the conference Championship game would drop them only a few spots and still leave them in the top 5. However, a program like the University of the Antelope Valley losing in the Conference tournament could drop them out of the top 25, how is that possible or fair for teams that have a similar ranked schedule?
NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
On March 13, 2023, the first of 15 games will tip off at 1:00 p.m. CST, marking the beginning of a historic event at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. According to Austin Bennett, the NAIA Championship Tournament Director, they are delighted to host this tournament again in Kansas City at Municipal Arena.
WHO IS THE STRONGEST CONTENDER AT THE UPCOMING NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP?
Arizona Christian is poised to be among the strongest contenders in the upcoming NAIA National Championship. With an impressive 24-4 record, they’re currently ranked #2 in the NAIA standings and have shown consistency throughout the season. Led by a talented squad of players and experienced coaching staff, Arizona Christian has the depth and skill to compete against any team in the tournament. As they look to secure their first-ever NAIA National Championship title, Arizona Christian will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with.
WHO IS THE BIGGEST SLEEPER AT THE UPCOMING NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP?
The University of Antelope Valley! Plain and simple. Coach Jordan Mast leads the University of Antelope Valley Men’s Basketball team. Coach Mast’s impressive coaching skills have earned him national recognition as HoopDirt.com’s Week 11 National Coach of the Week. His hard work and dedication have now culminated in him being named the Cal Pac Coach of the Year, cementing his status as a strong and accomplished head coach at UAV.a force to be reckoned with this season. UAV has dominated its opponents with its strong defense and explosive offense, and they have only suffered one loss all season. With such an impressive record, it is surprising that they are not ranked higher in the national standings. The University of Antelope Valley Men’s Basketball team is being underrated in the national rankings. Despite having a record of 25-1, they are only ranked #20 in the country. It is clear that this team deserves more recognition for its outstanding performance this season.
WHO IS THE MOST OVERRATED AT THE UPCOMING NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP?
Overrated is tough to say, but College of Idaho doesn’t have the strength of schedule to back its #1 ranking. Despite being the top-ranked team in the NAIA standings, the College of Idaho Men’s basketball team may face some challenges in the upcoming NAIA National Championship. While they have an impressive record of 27-1, they have only played one team ranked in the top 25 and lost that game. Additionally, they may face intense competition from other highly-ranked teams with more experience in the tournament. Furthermore, the pressure of being the top-ranked team can be daunting, and any misstep could result in an early exit from the tournament.
HOW TO WATCH THE NAIA MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP?
The NAIA Men’s National Championship will be shown on ESPN3 Saturday, March 18th at 7 PM. However, you can catch all the games online at StretchInternet.
