D2SS: The Weekend

Conference races (and regional rankings) are starting to heat up on the hardwood, baseball and softball teams are ready to hit the diamonds all over D-II South Nation, and another hoops team is playing a rare regular season game against a major NCAA Division I opponent. All of this and more in this edition of D2SS: The Weekend.

Regional rankings: D-II South Nation is well represented in the women's, as well as the men's rankings this week. On the women's side, the Peach Belt Conference led the way in the Southeast with five teams ranked (No. 1 Lander, No. 3 Clayton State, No. 5 Francis Marion, No. 6 Georgia College & State University, and No. 9 Columbus State). In the South, the No. 7 (WBCA) Arkansas Tech Golden Suns were tops in that region, followed by Delta State at No. 2, current SIAC leader Fort Valley State at No. 3, Valdosta State at No. 6, Benedict at No. 7, and Christian Brothers at No. 8.

As for the men, the nation's No. 1 team is also the top team in the South Region, as Arkansas Tech was still undefeated going into this weekend's action. But Clark-Atlanta, whose Panthers have been the surprise team in the SIAC all season long, managed to make a splash at No. 2. Valdosta State is at No. 3, followed by Delta State at No. 5, Tuskegee at No. 7, defending regional champion Christian Brothers at No. 9, and Alabama-Huntsville at No. 10.

In the Southeast Region, Augusta State--as expected--topped the rankings there. The Jaguars are one of three PBC teams ranked in the top three, as Francis Marion came in at No. 2, followed by GC&SU at No. 3. North Georgia is No. 7 in this week's rankings, followed by Montevallo at No. 8.

Baseball, softball seasons get underway: It might be hard to believe, but the spring sports are gearing up for what hopefully will be another banner year. On the baseball diamond, Southern Arkansas is the preseason favorite to win the Gulf South Conference, while USC Aiken is the team to beat in the Peach Belt Conference.

Both conferences also have solid representation in the preseason D-II Collegiate Baseball poll, as the Muleriders are the ranked GSC team at No. 4, while the Pacers are the highest ranked PBC squad at No. 6. Other teams from D-II South Nation in the preseason rankings are as follows: Francis Marion (No. 12), West Alabama (No. 19), Delta State (No. 23), North Georgia (No. 24), Valdosta State (No. 26), GC&SU (No. 27), and UNC Pembroke (tie-No. 40).

In softball, Alabama-Huntsville begins the season as the nation's No. 1 NCAA Division II team, while fellow Gulf South Conference rival Valdosta State starts off at No. 6. That's according to the National Fastpitch Coaches Associaton. North Georgia is the highest ranked PBC team at No. 2, while USC Aiken starts the 2010 season at No. 13.

Finally, before we get to the biggest games in basketball this weekend, the SIAC's Kentucky State Thorobreds play a rare, yes-rare, regular season, non-conference game against a major NCAA Division I opponent. The Thorobreds travel to Atlanta Saturday to face Georgia Tech out of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. EST.

The big games

Francis Marion (15-2, 7-1) at Georgia College & State University (13-4, 6-1)--(Women)--Friday 5:30 p.m. EST

Francis Marion (15-2, 7-1) at GC&SU (14-2, 7-0)--(Men)--Friday 7:30 p.m. EST

East meets West in this huge Peach Belt Conference twin bill from Milledgeville (Georgia, that is). Both GC&SU squads will try to maintain sole possession of first place in the PBC West Division, while both FMU teams look to keep themselves in second place in the East. Both games should be fun to watch.