After being listed among the receiving votes list of the NABC Top 25 Poll six times this season, Fort Hays State Men's Basketball jumped into the Top 25 for the first time this season on Tuesday. The Tigers are No. 22 this week, their first appearance in the NABC Top 25 since the 2013-14 season.
Fort Hays State's last appearance in the NABC Top 25 occurred on February 4, 2014. The Tigers fell out of the Top 25 in the February 11 poll that season and make their first appearance in the Top 25 of the NABC poll in just over eight years. The NABC Top 25 Poll is nothing foreign to the FHSU Men's Basketball program, a poll it has been a part of 104 times throughout its NCAA Division II history. The Tigers reached the No. 1 ranking in this poll during the 1995-96, 1996-97, and 2005-06 seasons.
The Tigers picked up two more wins last week, reflected in the latest poll that includes games through Sunday (Feb. 13). With FHSU joining the mix, the MIAA now has three teams inside the Top 25 as FHSU joins Northwest Missouri State and Central Oklahoma. The Bearcats (23-3) are No. 7 this week, while the Bronchos (20-4) are No. 18.
The Central Region representation in the Top 25 Poll is stacked with three teams from the NSIC also inside the Top 25. Augustana is No. 5 this week, Minnesota Duluth is No. 13, and Upper Iowa is No. 15.
Fort Hays State, now 19-4 overall after a win over Lincoln University on Monday night, goes on the road for a pair of games this week in Missouri. The Tigers will play Lincoln for the second game in a row in Jefferson City on Thursday night before wrapping up the trip at Central Missouri in Warrensburg on Saturday.
The Tigers are among the receiving votes list in the latest D2SIDA Top 25 Poll. They are fifth-highest among the schools receiving votes outside the Top 25. The Tigers have already been inside the D2SIDA Top 25 this year, reaching as high as No. 22 in that poll.
Below are the Top 25 Polls for February 15, 2022.
NABC Top 25 Poll - February 15, 2022
1. Nova Southeastern (Fla.) 22-0
2. West Liberty (W.Va.) 22-2
3. Indiana (Pa.) 22-2
4. Lubbock Christian (Texas) 22-2
5. Augustana (S.D.) 21-2
6. Cal State San Bernardino 18-2
7. Northwest Missouri State 23-3
8. Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.) 21-3
9. UNC Pembroke 21-2
10. Queens (N.C.) 22-3
11. Chico State (Calif.) 15-3
12. Augusta (Ga.) 21-3
13. Minnesota Duluth 21-4
14. Cal State San Marcos 14-3
15. Upper Iowa 22-4
16. Fairmont State (W.Va.) 19-4
17. Bentley (Mass.) 17-3
18. Central Oklahoma 20-4
19. Mercyhurst (Pa.) 20-4
20. Ferris State (Mich.) 18-4
21. Flagler (Fla.) 19-4
22. Fort Hays State (Kan.) 18-4
23. West Alabama 20-4
24. Daemen (N.Y.) 17-6
25. Barry (Fla.) 16-5
Others receiving votes: Miles (Ala.) 18, Union (Tenn.) 17, West Texas A&M 17, Biola (Calif.) 16, St. Thomas Aquinas (N.Y.) 10, Michigan Tech 7, Dominican (N.Y.) 4, Regis (Colo.) 4, Southwest Baptist (Mo.) 4, Adelphi (N.Y.) 1, Georgia College 1.
D2SIDA Top 25 Poll - February 15, 2022
1. Nova Southeastern (15) 22-0
2. Indiana (Pa.) 22-2
3. West Liberty 22-2
4. Northwest Missouri State (1) 23-3
5. Lubbock Christian 22-2
6. CSU San Bernardino 18-2
7. Queens (N.C.) 22-3
8. Augustana 21-2
9. UNC Pembroke 21-2
10. Chico State 15-3
11. Lincoln Memorial 21-3
12. Bentley 17-3
13. Upper Iowa 22-4
14. CSU San Marcos 14-3
15. Augusta 21-3
16. Fairmont State 19-4
T17. West Texas A&M 21-6
T17. Minnesota Duluth 21-4
19. Ferris State 18-5
20. Truman State 17-6
21. St. Thomas Aquinas 20-4
22. Flagler 19-4
23. Mercyhurst 20-4
24. Central Oklahoma 20-4
25. West Alabama 20-4
Others Receiving Votes (on more than one ballot):
Embry-Riddle – 37; Southwest Baptist – 27; Biola – 23; Texas A&M-Commerce – 9; Fort Hays State – 8; Pitt-Johnstown – 7; Daemen – 5