Ashland tops WBCA NCAA Division II Preseason Top 25 Coaches’ Poll
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The defending DII national champion, Ashland University tops the WBCA Division II Preseason Coaches’ Poll released Oct. 31. Ashland finished 2016-17 undefeated at 37-0 and won the program’s second national championship. The team enters 2017-18 with the longest winning streak (37 games) of any basketball team, men or women, at any level of the NCAA.
The WBCA NCAA Division II Preseason Top 25 Coaches’ Poll with teams’ records from 2016-17, total points based on 25 points for first place through one point for 25th, first-place votes received and ranking in 2016-17 postseason poll:
| Rank | School | Points | First-place votes | 2016-17Final Rank |
| 1 | Ashland (37-0) | 599 | 23 | 1 |
| 2 | Virginia Union (28-5) | 566 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Harding (31-4) | 520 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | Alaska Anchorage (30-2) | 506 | 0 | 10 |
| 5 | Colorado State-Pueblo (28-4) | 438 | 0 | 11 |
| 6 | Bentley (26-6) | 424 | 0 | 19 |
| 7 | Drury (30-4) | 408 | 0 | 6 |
| 8 | Valdosta State (22-10) | 396 | 0 | NR |
| 9 | West Texas A&M (26-9) | 387 | 0 | 15 |
| 10 | California (PA) (30-4) | 379 | 0 | 9 |
| 11 | Emporia State (29-5) | 308 | 0 | 8 |
| 12 | Queens (NY) (27-5) | 290 | 0 | 7 |
| 13 | Central Missouri (24-7) | 287 | 0 | 22 |
| 14 | Wingate (26-6) | 272 | 0 | 24 |
| 15 | Lander (25-8) | 236 | 0 | NR |
| 16 | Azusa Pacific (16-14) | 206 | 0 | NR |
| 17 | Rollins (22-8) | 194 | 0 | NR |
| 18 | West Florida (28-7) | 162 | 0 | 12 |
| 19 | Minnesota State Moorhead (24-5) | 156 | 0 | 21 |
| 20 | Indiana (PA) (24-7) | 144 | 0 | NR |
| 21 | Michigan Tech (20-8) | 128 | 0 | NR |
| 22 | Fort Lewis (21-7) | 102 | 0 | NR |
| 23 | University of the Sciences (27-6) | 96 | 0 | NR |
| 24 | Lincoln Memorial (28-5) | 65 | 0 | 13 |
| 25 | Benedict (21-8) | 62 | 0 | NR |
Dropped out:Â No. 3 California Baptist (35-3), No. 5 Columbus State (31-2), No. 14 Adelphi (27-5), No. 16 Pittsburg State (25-6), No. 17 Eckerd (27-5), No. 18 Western Washington (26-6), No. 20 Angelo State (26-6), No. 23 Simon Fraser (26-8), No. 25 Central Oklahoma (25-8).
Others receiving votes:Â Pittsburg State (25-6) 54; Northern State (24-7) 46; Limestone (27-5) 43; Lubbock Christian (19-11) 36; Eckerd (27-5) 28; Cal State East Bay (22-9) 26; Johnson C Smith (22-8) 25; Seattle Pacific (19-11) 23; Adelphi (27-5) 22; Angelo State (26-6) 21; Lewis (23-9) 18; Central Oklahoma (25-8) 16; Southwestern Oklahoma State (20-10) 10; Glenville State (24-6) 9; Tampa (17-11) 8; Point Loma Nazarene (24-6) 4; American International (19-10) 3.
15 teams mentioned on only one ballot for a total of 77 combined points.
The WBCA NCAA Division II Coaches Poll Committee is composed of one head coach from each of the 24 NCAA Division II conferences. The committee for the 2017-18 season: Trisha Brown, Stonehill; Debbie Buff, Wheeling Jesuit; Bethann Burke, Goldey-Beacom; Jory Collins, Emporia State; Carmen Dolfo, Western Washington; Jason Flores, Fort Lewis; AnnMarie Gilbert, Virginia Union; Darin Grover, Southeastern Oklahoma; T.J. Hardeman, Azusa Pacific; Noel Johnson, Midwestern State; Chris Kielsmeier, Wayne State (NE); Carrie Lohr, Wayne State (MI); Jason Martens, St. Mary’s (TX); Mike Mincey, Carson-Newman; Kerri Nakamoto, Cal State Monterey; Bet Naumovski, Queens (NY); Kevin Pederson, Lander; John Reynolds, Florida Tech; James Rice, Benedict; Wendee Saintsing, Barton; Jess Strom, California (PA); Shannon Sword, Ursuline; Katie Vaughn, Missouri-St. Louis; and Stephanie Yelton, West Florida.
