SIOUX FALLS – The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) has ranked the University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team 25th in its 2020-21 first regular season NCAA DII poll released today (Dec. 8).

It is the third national ranking in 2020-21 for USF which was ranked 19th earlier this fall by The Basketball Times, a monthly print publication which has covered college basketball for more than 40 years. In the NABC Preseason Poll, the Cougars were ranked 23^rd with 78 points. In the first poll of the regular season, USF, which will play its first game against U-Mary at home on Jan. 2, earned 54 points and dropped to 25^th. Northwest Missouri State received 16 first place votes and 400 points to earned the No. 1 ranking after opening the season 3-0. Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.), which is 2-0, was ranked second at 383 points.

Directed by NSIC Coach of the Year Chris Johnson (233-166 overall –  USF career wins leader with 217-151 mark), the Cougars finished 22-8 (best record at the DII level, since 2012) and won the NSIC South Division with a DII program best mark of 17-5 in 2019-20.

USF, which was seeded No. 2 in the conference tourney and reached as high as No. 8 in the regional rankings in 2019-20, returns five starters, which includes first team all-conference junior guard Chase Grinde and second team all-league redshirt senior forward Teathloach Pal. Sophomore guard Jack Thompson (10.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.7 spg) also returns after earning NSIC All-Freshman Team honors. USF also welcomes back 6-9 senior forward Austin Slater (9.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg) as well junior guard Troy Houghton (6.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg) and a group of talented newcomers.

The Cougars will feature significant experience with eight of the top nine players returning and a host of talented newcomers. USF led the NSIC in scoring defense at 66.2 ppg and was second in rebounding margin at 7.3 per game (35.7 to 28.4). The Cougars also blocked three shots per game and ranked fifth with 6.37 steals per game. Cougars advanced to the NSIC quarterfinals for the fifth straight year where they lost to Minnesota State, 60-59 and season ended. They were ranked as high as eighth in the central region rankings.
 
NABC Poll - Week 1 - Dec. 8, 2020
(School, 2019-20 record, poll points)
1. Northwest Missouri State (16), 3-0, 400, 1
2. Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.), 2-0, 383, 2
3. West Texas A&M, 0-0, 366, 3
4. Florida Southern, 0-0, 340, 5
5. Nova Southeastern (Fla.), 0-0, 325, 6
6. West Liberty (W.Va.), 0-0, 291, 7
7. Northern State (S.D.), 0-0, 285, 8
8. Colorado School of Mines, 2-0, 261,13
9. St. Thomas Aquinas (N.Y.), 0-0, 244, 12
10. Azusa Pacific (Calif.), 0-0, 231, 11
11. Alabama Huntsville, 0-0, 220,14
12. Ferris State (Mich.), 0-0, 212, 15
13. Augustana (S.D.), 0-0, 171, 17
14. Point Loma (Calif.), 0-0, 147, 16
15. St. Edward's (TX), 0-0, 143, 17
16. Valdosta State (Ga.), 0-0,138, 18
17. Washburn (Kan.), 4-0, 131, NR
18. Truman State (Mo.), 3-0,118, NR
19. Fairmont St. (W.Va.), 0-0, 101, 20
20. Queens (N.C.), 2-2, 95,10
21. Charleston (W.Va.), 0-0, 77, 22
22. Colorado Mesa, 2-0, 63, NR
23. Augusta (Ga.),1-0, 60, NR
24. Findlay (Ohio),1-0, 58, NR
25. Sioux Falls (S.D.), 0-0, 54, 23

Records through Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020.
Last ranking is from pre-season poll of Nov. 17, 2020.

Others receiving votes: Missouri-St. Louis 40, Missouri Western 37, Bridgeport (Conn.) 31, Saint Anselm (N.H.) 22, Seattle Pacific (Wash.) 18, Fort Lewis (Colo.) 17, Mercyhurst (Pa.) 17, Tusculum (Tenn.) 15, UNC Pembroke 13, Lindenwood (Mo.), McKendree (Ill.) 10, Flagler (Fla.) 9, Daemen (N.Y.) 8, Emporia State (Kan.) 7, DBU (Texas) 6, Missouri Southern 6, Westminster (Utah) 5, Lubbock Christian (Texas) 3, Union (Tenn.) 3, Wingate (N.C.) 3, Biola (Calif.) 2, Southern Indiana 2, Angelo State (Texas) 1, Minnesota State 1, Rockhurst (Mo.) 1, Stonehill (Mass.) 1.

Dropped out:  Indiana, Pa. (4), Missouri-St. Louis (9), Missouri Southern (21), Bridgeport (24), Southern Indiana (25).