NCAA Atlantic Regional page

EAST STROUDSBURG – East Stroudsburg University is ranked No. 2 in this week's NABC Division II Coaches Poll, earning a ranking in the organization's final poll of the season for the first time in program history.

ESU (28-1) hosts the NCAA DII Atlantic Regional this weekend at Koehler Fieldhouse. The Warriors welcome Livingstone in the third of four first-round games on Saturday at 6 p.m., with the winner advancing to the regional semifinals on Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

The Warriors won their second PSAC championship in three years, and third in school history, with a 92-80 win over West Chester on Sunday behind a career-high 27 points from sophomore guard Jamal Nwaniemeka, the Tournament MVP.

ESU is ranked No. 2 for the second straight week, the highest mark in program history.  ESU is the highest-ranked team from the PSAC since IUP was ranked No. 2 on March 9, 2010.

The Warriors are listed in the Top 10 for the 11th straight week and 13th time in school history, all in the last 56 weeks.

This marks ESU's 15th straight week in the national rankings after being ranked for 13 weeks in program history before this season.

The Warriors entered at 23rd on November 26 (the earliest date in program history), advanced to 17th on December 3, were ranked 12th on December 10 and 17, moved to 10th on December 31 and January 7, were ranked 8th on January 14, 6th on January 21 and 28, 3rd on February 4, 6th on February 11, 5th on February 18, 3rd on February 25 and 2nd last week.

Metropolitan State (Colo.) finishes the regular season with the No. 1 ranking for the second time in program history, also accomplishing that in 2003-04.

ESU (2nd), Southern Connecticut State (4th), South Carolina-Aiken (5th) and Lincoln Memorial (6th) all set or matched their highest finishes in program history.

Head coach Jeff Wilson, 211-128 in his 12th season, has led the Warriors to their fourth NCAA Division II Tournament in five years, going 110-38 for the third-best record in the Atlantic Region since 2009-10.

The Warriors' 70 wins in the last three years (20 in 2012, 22 in 2013 and 28 this year) are the most in program history.

ESU remains ranked in the top five in DII in three categories this week – 1st in turnover margin (+7.7), 3rd in steals per game (10.9) and 4th in scoring margin (+17.8).
 

NOTES
* This is the 13th week that ESU has been ranked in the Top 10 in program history – and the 11th consecutive.
* ESU was ranked No. 9 (Feb. 12) and No. 10 (Feb. 19) during the 2012-13 season.
* This year, ESU has been ranked No. 10 (Dec. 31 and Jan. 7), No. 8 (Jan. 14), No. 6 (Jan. 21 and 28), No. 3 (Feb. 4), No. 6 (Feb. 11), No. 5 (Feb. 18), No. 3 (Feb. 25), No. 2 (March 4) and No. 2 (March 11).

* ESU's No. 2 ranking is the PSAC's highest since IUP was ranked No. 2 on March 9, 2010. Kutztown was ranked No. 2 on Jan. 29, 2010.
* The last PSAC school to hold the NABC's No. 1 ranking was IUP on Dec. 18, 1995.

* This is the 28th week that ESU has been ranked in school history – 1 in 1991-92, 6 in 2009-10, 6 in 2012-13 and 15 this year.
* ESU has been ranked for 15 weeks this season – after being ranked 13 total weeks in school history prior to that point.
* Wilson was an assistant coach under Sal Mentesana on the 1991-92 team.

* ESU's 28 wins are a program record – the previous best was 24-6 in 2009-10.

* ESU's 20-0 start was the best in school history – the previous best was 13-0 in 2009-10.
* It was also the best start in the PSAC since 1994-95, when IUP opened 21-0.

* ESU was the final undefeated team in Division II this season at 20-0, before an 82-80 loss at Lock Haven on February 6. Tarleton State was 18-0 before falling to Midwestern State, 77-75 (OT), on February 5.

* ESU was 20-0 this season to reach the previous highest ranking in school history at No. 3.
* ESU was 19-2 last season before moving to the No. 9 ranking (from No. 13). The Warriors were 19-1 before achieving the No. 12 ranking in 2009-10.

* ESU is 110-38 (.743) since the start of the 2009-10 season.
* ESU is 70-20 since the start of the 2011-12 season, a school record for wins in a three-year stretch.

* The Warriors have advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament in four of the last five years – 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014.

* ESU won its 2nd PSAC championship 3 years, and 3rd in program history, on Sunday.
* The Warriors have played in 5 straight PSAC Final Four's, just the 3rd program to do that in the last 30 years.

* Head coach Jeff Wilson enters this week with a career record of 211-128. He ranks 2nd in school history in career wins and is 4 wins from the school record.


NABC Division II Coaches Poll (record, points, previous ranking)
1. Metropolitan State (Colo.) (16) – 28–1, 400 (1)
2. East Stroudsburg (Pa.) – 28–1, 380 (2)
3. Tarleton State (Texas) – 27–2, 369 (5)
4. Southern Connecticut State – 27–2, 341 (6)
5. South Carolina–Aiken – 29–3, 334 (7)
6. Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.) – 27–2, 300 (13)
7. West Liberty (W.V.) – 26–3, 297 (3)
8. Drury (Mo.) – 25–3, 287 (4)
9. Minnesota State – 29–4, 280 (14)
10. Florida Southern – 26–4, 247 (16)
11. Seattle Pacific – 26–5, 213, 18
12. Indianapolis (Ind.) – 23–4, 211, 8
13. Colorado School of Mines – 24–4, 196, 9
14. Southern Indiana – 25–5, 183, 20
15. Indiana (Pa.) – 23–4, 178, 10
16. Cal State–San Bernardino – 23–4, 165, 12
17. California Baptist – 24–3, 160, 11
18. Montevallo (Ala.) – 24–5, 123, 17
19. Missouri Southern – 24–5, 109, NR
20. Central Missouri – 24–5, 97, 15
21. Findlay (Ohio) – 24–5, 65, NR
22. Wisconsin–Parkside – 23–6, 45, 19
23. Midwestern State (Texas) – 22–7, 40, 24
24. Cal Poly Pomona – 21–6, 36, 22
25. Lake Superior State (Mich.) – 26–5, 34, 21

Dropped out: Lewis (23), Delta State (25)

Others receiving votes: Delta State (Miss.) 27, Philadelphia (Pa.) 16, Lewis (Ill.) 11, Charleston (W.V.) 8, Winona State (Minn.) 8, Chico State (Calif.) 7, Livingstone (N.C.) 7, Bellarmine (Ky.) 5, Dixie State (Utah) 4, Michigan Tech 4, Saint Leo (Fla.) 4, Arkansas–Fort Smith 3, North Alabama 3, Cal State–Stanislaus 2, Texas A&M International 1.