Pikeville Cracks Top 10 in Latest NAIA Poll

1. Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)

FHU climbs to No. 1 in the nation after going 4-0 since the release of the fifth coaches' poll back on Jan. 28. Over that timeframe, the Lions have been outscoring opponents by an average of 22 points while shooting 50.4% from the floor and 45.8% from distance. Freed-Hardeman is forcing five more turnovers per game than they are coughing up. Leading the Lions over the four-game stretch in scoring is Blake Dean, averaging 16.5 points per game.

2. Grace (Ind.)

After suffering their first two losses of the season last week, the Lancers slid one spot to No. 2. Grace (Ind.) has gone 2-2 since the fifth coaches' poll, with their first loss of the season coming at the hands of Huntington (Ind.) back on Jan. 31 by a score of 72-65. The Lancers have still been playing solid basketball, even with a -0.8 scoring margin. Grace has been heavy on the boards in those four games, posting a +2.8 rebound margin.

3. Indiana Wesleyan

The Wildcats went 4-0 since Jan. 27 and have posted a +20 scoring margin. IWU has had the hot hand around the floor, shooting 55.4% from the floor, 46.6% from deep, and 72.7% at the charity stripe. The Wildcats' scoring has been fueled by Caedmon Bontrager's 21.5 points per game. IWU has also been great on the rounding, averaging 7.3 more boards per game than opponents, while they sit at only nine turnovers per game since Jan. 27; 2.5 less than opponents.

4. Ave Maria (Fla.)

Ave is the only team to hold the same position in the fifth coaches' poll, and their No. 4 ranking has been strong. Averaging nearly 100 points per game since Jan. 27 (99.7 points per game to be exact), the Gyrenes are playing great basketball as of late. Shooting 46.9% from the floor, 37.1% from deep, and 75.8% at the charity stripe, everyone is chipping in to get ahead in games and create separation. This comes from averaging 36.7 points per game inside the paint and 11.7 second-chance points per game.

5. Oklahoma Wesleyan

Going 3-1 since Jan. 27, OKWU has been on the right side of the margins, including scoring (+11), rebounds (+2), and turnovers (-4.8). Besides taking care of the rock offensively and pulling down critical rebounds in games, the Eagles are protecting the rim as well. OKWU has posted 13 total blocks over this time frame, averaging 3.3 per game. The rebounding and blocks have been led by the same student-athletes in Humberto Kentish Jr. and Ethan Williams at four and 3.8 boards per game, and 0.3 blocks per game.

6. Hope International (Calif.)

The Royals' stock is rising, and they are inside the top 10 for the first time this season after being at No. 14 in the fifth coaches' poll. While HIU is riding a four-game winning streak since Jan. 27, they are averaging just 10.5 more points per game than opponents in that time frame. The different makers in those four games, 23 more second-chance points, 16 more points in the paint, and 27 more points from the bench. 

6. Nelson (Texas)

Nelson sits tied for sixth in the sixth coaches' poll after going 4-1 since Jan. 27. The Lions have been in some close games since the release of the fifth coaches' poll, and have found a way to come out with a win in all but one. With a 2.8 scoring margin over the four games, Nelson has been nearly equal with their opponents in field goal percentage and three-point percentage, but they hold a small advantage in both. Turnover margin is where Nelson has been able to capitalize on a few extra possessions, forcing 1.8 more turnovers than they are giving up.

8. Langston (Okla.)

At 4-1 since Jan. 27, Langston (Okla.) has been shooting strong from deep at a clip of 40.8%. They are crashing the boards as well and protecting the ball, too, with a +11.6 rebound margin and a -3.4 turnover margin. Not to forget about the Lions' +14.4 scoring margin, allowing them to extend leads and get out of those close battles in the Sooner Athletic Conference. LU has received a lot more help from its bench over this time frame than its opponents. The Lions' bench is averaging 21.2 points per game, while the opposition is only averaging 17.2 points per game from its bench.

9. Keiser (Fla.)

Keiser has been soaring as well since Jan. 27 and is back in the top 10. Going 4-0 since the fifth coaches' poll, the Seahawks have found some rhythm, with a +25 scoring margin, +13.8 rebound margin, and a -5.5 turnover margin. KU is getting ahead, forcing turnovers, and cashing in on second-chance opportunities. Their presence in the paint has also been felt by opponents: the Seahawks are averaging 49 points per game from the lane, while holding opponents to just 19.

10. Pikeville (Ky.)

Watch out, the Bears are up inside the top 10 at 20-3 overall. UPike has been quietly climbing the top 25 as of late, thanks to averaging 88 points per game since Jan. 27. Pikeville has been taking care of the ball, carrying the lowest turnover per game number of any team inside the top 10 at just 7.7 per game since the release of the fifth coaches' poll. In the Bears' three games over the reporting period, three different players have led in scoring: LA Walker, Rylee Samons, and Bradley Bunch, showing that multiple players can threaten to put a game away down the stretch.