Regional Rankings Analysis--Men's Basketball

EDITOR'S NOTE: D-II South Sports look at the analysis of the NCAA Division II basketball regional rankings continues with an installment on this week's polls in the men's game. Teams in conferences covered by D-II South Sports are marked in BOLD type.

South

1. Benedict

2. Claflin

3. Christian Brothers

4. Florida Southern

5. Arkansas-Monticello

6. Delta State

7. Rollins

8. North Alabama

9. Arkansas Tech

10. Harding

Analysis: While the SIAC has the top two teams ranked in this week's poll, the balance of power in the South Region is solidly in the Gulf South Conference, as six teams from that league cracked this week's rankings. Of those squads, five are from the ultra-competitive GSC West Division. That includes NABC No. 8 Christian Brothers, whose Buccaneers are ranked third in the regional poll. But Claflin could be in line take over the top spot in the South after Miles upset Benedict 83-81 in overtime earlier this week.

Southeast

1. Georgia College & State University

2. Augusta State

3. USC Aiken

4. Armstrtong Atlantic State

5. Tusculum

6. Catawba

7. Barton

8. Newberry

9. Mount Olive

10. Mars Hill

Analysis: The Peach Belt Conference may have the top four teams in this week's Southeast Regional rankings. But this is also a league where any team is capable of knocking off the other on any given night. That was proven on Wednesday, when No. 4 (Southeast) Armstrong Atlantic State traveled to Milledgeville, Ga., and pulled off the upset over No.1 (and NABC No. 14) GC&SU, 68-60, while just last weekend, North Georgia knocked off current NABC No. 15 (and Southeast No. 3) USC Aiken, 77-67, at home. The outcomes of those games themselves should make for an interesting race down the stretch for the PBC men's regular season title.