COUNTDOWN TO MARCH MADNESS--MEN--WEEK ENDING 02/12/2005

NOTE: Each week through the end of the conference tournaments, D-II South Sports will take at the top ten teams in both the South and South Atlantic regions of NCAA Division II basketball. Women's teams are featured on Thursday, followed by the men on Friday. Teams in conferences covered by D-II South Sports are listed in BOLD type.

SOUTH REGION

1. West Georgia--Braves still tops in region despite upset loss at Montevallo last weekend.

2. Arkansas-Monticello--Boll Weevils continue to show the way in the Gulf South Conference West Division.

3. Florida Gulf Coast--In just their third year of play, Eagles are poised to earn their first-ever NCAA tournament berth.

4. Lynn--Knights locked in tight Sunshine State Conference race.

5. Valdosta State--Upset loss to Alabama-Huntsville last weekend costs Blazers one spot in rankings.

6. Montevallo--Falcons have won five of last six games, including upset win over West Georgia last Saturday (02/05/2005).

7. Eckerd--Tritons currently have tenuous grip on first place in SSC (9-3).

8. Barry--Buccaneers are mediocre 6-5 in SSC play.

9. Harding--Bisons hope to stay in contention for GSC tournament berth.

10. Ouachita Baptist--Tigers struggle in 75-59 loss to Christian Brothers Thursday night.

SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION

1. Bowie State--Bulldogs ascend to #8 ranking in the nation.

2. Virginia Union--But the Panthers are ranked ahead of Bowie at #6.

3. USC Upstate--Three game slide is cause for concern in Spartanburg.

4. Kennesaw State--Fighting Owls are back on track after midseason mini-slump. Oh, and they're the third South Atlantic region in the national top 10, too, at #9.

5. Winston-Salem State--Nine-game win streak has Rams sitting atop the CIAA West Division.

6. Catawba--Indians also have won nine straight games, good for first place in the South Atlantic Conference.

7. Columbus State--71-53 triumph over Georgia College & State University Wednesday gives Herbert Greene his 450th win as Cougars head coach.

8. Clayton State--62-52 loss to Kennesaw State snaps five-game win streak for Lakers.

9. North Carolina Central--Eagles are on NCAA bubble with mediocre record.

10. Johnson C. Smith--Golden Bulls in must-win situation if they want reach the postseason, too.