From HCC Sports Information

For the third-consecutive week, the Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball team is No. 1 in the NJCAA Division I rankings, which were released on Tuesday afternoon.

The Blue Dragons remained undefeated at the mid-point of the 2015-16 season after Saturday’s 66-58 home Jayhawk Conference victory over Independence at the Sports Arena. That improved HCC to 4-0 in conference play and are 15-0 overall.

The Dragons are one of five remaining undefeated teams in Division I.

HCC is now off until Jan. 2 when the Blue Dragons travel to Pratt for a 4 p.m. contest.

When Hutchinson took over the top spot in the NJCAA poll two weeks ago, its point lead over No. 2 Trinity Valley was 10 points. That lead shrunk to one point last week, but grew to six in Tuesday’s poll. The Dragons garnered 12 of 16 first-place votes, one more first-place vote than last week.

Trinity Valley (14-1) remains No. 2 and received three first-place votes. Palm Beach State, which received the other first-place vote was third, followed by Georgia Highlands and Hill College.

The Blue Dragons have appeared in 47 of the last 48 national polls released. The only interruption was the final regular season poll of 2014.

Seward County is the only other Jayhawk Conference team to be recognized in the rankings. After dropping a home contest to Pratt on Saturday, the Saints slipped four spots to No. 19.
Blue Dragon coach Steve Eck, who moved into sole possession of fourth place on the HCC coaching wins list with 179, has taken Hutchinson to No. 1 three times in his tenure. The Dragons were No. 1 for two weeks in the 2010-11 season and for four weeks in the 2012-13 season.

Eck is the only coach in NJCAA history to take four different programs to No. 1 in the polls.

The next NJCAA poll will be Jan. 5.