Regional Rankings Analysis--Men

EDITOR'S NOTE: Our "Countdown To March Madness" continues with an analysis of the NCAA Division II men's basketball regional rankings. Teams in conferences covered by D-II South Sports are marked in BOLD type.

South

1. Claflin

2. Florida Southern

3. Benedict

4. Christian Brothers

5. Delta State

6. Arkansas-Monticello

7. Rollins

8. Alabama-Huntsville

9. North Alabama

10. Valdosta State

Analysis: D-II South Nation rules the roost in this week's South Region rankings, as six of the eight teams ranked in the poll either are from the Gulf South Conference or the SIAC. As expected, first-year SIAC newcomer Claflin took over the top spot in this week's rankings after Benedict's upset loss to Miles last week. In the GSC, Delta State (19-5 overall) just might be one of the nation's hottest teams at this moment, as the Statesment won their eighth straight game after demolishing Southern Arkansas, 93-66, on Thursday night. Three teams (UAH, UNA, and VSU) could find themselves not only battling for the GSC East title, but also maybe the eighth and final spot in the NCAA tournament.

Southeast

1. Augusta State

2. USC Aiken

3. Armstrong Atlantic State

4. Georgia College & State University

5. Barton

6. Tusculum

7. Newberry

8. Catawba

9. Mount Olive

10. Lenoir-Rhyne

Analysis: The race for the top four seeds in the Southeast bracket is almost a mirror image of the Peach Belt Conference, as teams from that league currently hold all of them. The Feb. 28 meeting between GC&SU and USCA at Aiken, S.C. could at least shed some light as to not only how the standings in the PBC will turn out, but also which of those four squads could finish as one of the top four seeds for the NCAA tournament, if at all.