(BY STEVE CARPENTER)
(HUTCHINSON CC SPORTS INFORMATION)

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Three impressive victories last week have propelled the Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball team into the Top 5 of the NJCAA Rankings.

Double-digit victories over NEO, Monroe College and Iowa Western moved the Blue Dragons to 7-0 and up three spots to No. 4 in Monday’s latest rankings.

Former No. 1 Vincennes University lost over the weekend and dropped to No. 6. The new Top 5 as Ranger, Florida SouthWestern State, Indian Hills, Hutchinson and Chipola. Ranger received 15 of the 16 first-place votes. The Blue Dragons picked up the other vote.

This is the first time the Blue Dragons have been ranked in the Top 5 since their preseason No. 1 ranking before the 2017-18 season.

Hutchinson defeated NEO (85-65), unbeaten Monroe College (114-91) and Iowa Western (91-70) in the last rankings period. The Dragons shot better than 50 percent in 2 of the 3 games and were dominant in the second half.

Hutchinson and Coffeyville continue to be the only two Jayhawk Conference schools ranked in the Top 25. Coffeyville moved up four spots this season to No. 19. Cowley, Seward County and Independence are all in the receiving votes list.

The Blue Dragons will play host to Hesston College at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in the Sports Arena.

 

NJCAA MEN’S DIVISION I RANKINGS

Record      Points       Last Week

1. Ranger (15)                                           7-0              399             2

2. Florida SouthWestern State             7-0              382               3

3. Indian Hills                                         6-0              367           4

4. Hutchinson (1)                                    7-0              339              7

5. Chipola                                                  4-0              336            5

6. Vincennes                                             6-1              304             1

7. Tallahassee                                           5-0              297             8

8. USC Salkehatchie                                6-0              284           11

9. South Plains                                          5-1              265             6

10. Pearl River                                           3-0              253           10

11. Western Texas                                     9-0              234             16

12. Otero                                                     8-0              218           17

13. Panola                                                   6-1              177             13

14. Casper                                                   5-1              167             9

15. Mineral Area                                       7-0              131             RV

16. Southeastern                                     6-1              118             14

17. Northern Oklahoma Tonkawa      8-0              102             RV

18. Northwest Florida State                 4-1              86               22

19. Coffeyville                                           6-2              81             23

20. Shelton State                                      5-1              70             19

21. Clarendon                                            7-1              59             RV

22. Harcum                                                 5-1              52            25

23. New Mexico                                        4-1              45             18

24. Moberly Area                                     4-2              41             12

25. Tyler                                                    5-0              32           RV

Others Receiving Votes: Cowley (6-1, 28.0); Gulf Coast State (4-0, 27.0); Caldwell Tech (6-0, 26.0); Polk State (5-0, 25.0); Seward County (4-1, 25.0); Salt Lake (4-2, 23.0); Olney Central (5-0, 22.0); Triton (4-1, 20.0); LSU Eunice (5-0, 19.0); Connors State (6-0, 16.0); Western Wyoming (4-0, 16.0); Jones (4-1, 11.0); Daytona State (4-3, 10.0); East Mississippi (3-0, 9.0); Lincoln Trail (5-0, 9.0); South Georgia State (5-0, 9.0); Collin County (5-0, 8.0); Eastern Arizona (7-0, 7.0); Independence (6-1, 7.0); John A. Logan (3-3, 6.0); Kilgore (5-1, 6.0); Miami Dade (5-1, 5.0); Wallace-Selma (7-0, 3.0); Blinn (6-1, 1.0); Highland (3-2, 1.0); Northeastern JC (4-0, 1.0); Williston State (6-1, 1.0).