"COUNTDOWN TO MARCH MADNESS"--WEEK ENDING 02/05/2005

Each week for the remainder of the basketball season, until the conference tournaments in March, D-II South Sports will take a brief look at the NCAA Division II regional rankings for both the South and South Atlantic regions. The women will be profiled on Thursday, followed by the men on Friday. All rankings courtesy of www.ncaasports.com.

NOTE: Teams in conferences covered by D-II South Sports marked in BOLD type.

SOUTH REGION

1. Valdosta State--The Lady Blazers still hold top spot despite upset loss at West Florida last weekend.

2. Henderson State--The Lady Reddies have established themselves as one of the teams to beat in the Gulf South Conference West Division.

3. Central Arkansas--But the Sugar Bears may give HSU a run for their money before all is said and done.

4. West Florida--Lady Argonauts look to position themselves for a Gulf South Conference tournament run after VSU win.

5. Paine--Lions are one of top teams in SIAC heading into February.

6.Tuskegee--Have a solid in-region record (7-2 as of last week) despite mediocre overall record (9-8).

7. Tampa--Spartans (16-5) currently tied for second in a mediocre Sunshine State Conference with Nova Southeastern (12-9, 7-3).

8. Florida Gulf Coast--In their first full season of NCAA Division II eligibility, the Eagles are a team to be reckoned with.
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9. Albany State (Georgia)--The Lady Rams continue to establish themselves as a perennial SIAC contender under head coach Robert Skinner.

10. Christian Brothers--Bucs face uphill battle after struggling through first half of GSC West play.

SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION


1. Shaw--Lady Bears once again the team to beat in CIAA.

2. Johnson C. Smith--Golden Bulls have been the CIAA's pleasant surprise.

3. Carson-Newman--Eagles currently share first in the South Atlantic Conference with Wingate (13-7, 6-1).

4. Clayton State--Lakers have been superb under first-year head coach Dennis Cox.

5. Armstrong Atlantic State--Lady Pirates have had an up-and-down performance in Peach Belt Conference. Loss at Kennesaw State Wednesday could jeopardize postseason chances.

6. GC&SU--Lady Bobcats have struggled to a 4-4 mark in PBC play.

7. Columbus State--Back-to-back losses to North Florida and Augusta State have hurt Lady Cougars, but they bounced back Wednesday with a road win at Clayton State.

8. USC Aiken--Lady Pacers 15-7 overall record one win better than last season (14-14).

9. Wingate--The Bulldogs look to battle Carson-Newman for SAC regular season.

10. Newberry--Lady Indians hope to stay in upper division of SAC standings.