Oredigger Men move up to #7 in latest NAIA coaches’ poll

The following is a release from the Montana Tech Athletic Department:

KANSAS CITY, Mo.- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has released the third Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll of the season, and the Montana Tech men have moved up one spot to No. 7 in the country.

Grace (Ind.) compiled all first-place votes for the second consecutive week to remain the top team in the third edition of the NAIA Coaches’ Poll. The Lancers are a perfect 10-0 on the year as they enter the end of 2023 in the driver’s seat. Langston (Okla.) continued its upward momentum to No. 2 this week, also with an unblemished record in tow. Georgetown (Ky.) and LSU Shreveport (La.) both moved up three spots as College of Idaho rounded-out the top five. Three teams advanced six spots since the poll two weeks ago as Cumberlands (Ky.), Lourdes (Ohio) and Rocky Mountain (Mont.) all made the most significant jumps of the week. Roosevelt (Ill.), Oregon Tech and Florida College all joined the poll this week.

Poll Methodology:

• The NAIA Men’s Basketball Poll is for publicity purposes only and has no weight or bearing in the selection process for national championship field consideration.
• The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and Continental Athletic Conference (Independents)
• The Top 25 is determined by a points system based on how each voter ranks the best teams. A team receives 30 points for each first-place vote, 29 for second place and so on through the list
• The highest and lowest ranking for each team (a non-rating is considered a low ratings) is removed
• Teams that receive only one point in the ballot are not considered “receiving votes”
• Frequency of polls occur bi-weekly
• Records listed are as of the end of the day on Monday of the poll week

Dropped: Ave Maria (Fla.), St. Thomas (Fla.), Columbia (Mo.)

Others Receiving Votes: Point Park (Pa.) 68, Graceland (Iowa) 58, Ave Maria (Fla.) 57, Vanguard (Calif.) 57, Tennessee Southern 53, Antelope Valley (Calif.) 52, St. Thomas (Fla.) 43, SAGU (Texas) 36, Bethel (Ind.) 26, Madonna (Mich.) 25, Mayville State (N.D.) 13, Hastings (Neb.) 13, Science & Arts (Okla.) 10, Rochester (Mich.) 8, Life (Ga.) 8, Union (Ky.) 7.

The Orediggers will be in California for three games, starting on Friday at 8:30 PM MST against (RV) Vanguard. On Sunday the Orediggers will play at Stanton University at 3:00 PM MST, and they will wrap up their west coast run at the (RV) University of Antelope Valley, Tuesday at 3:00 PM MST.