Hovpensports.com - Hutch men move to No. 2

January 8, 2013

Steve Carpenter, HCC-SID
Special to Hovpensports.com

BLUE DRAGONS NOW RANKED NO. 2 IN NJCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL POLL

Off to the fourth-best start in team history, the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team has climbed to No. 2 in the first NJCAA Men's Division I basketball poll of 2013.

After completing the non-conference season undefeated, the Blue Dragons have won their first two Jayhawk West games to move to 16-0. HCC is one of six remaining undefeated teams in the nation.

The reason for the jump was that former No. 1 South Plains lost twice and No. 2 Howard dropped a game over the Christmas break.

Chipola College becomes the new No. 1-ranked team in the NJCAA with 13 first-place votes. Hutchinson is second with the Blue Dragons picking up one first-place vote. HCC trails Chipola by 15 points (380-395).

Palm Beach State is No. 3, followed by Vincennes University and Iowa Western. The Reivers netted two first-place votes.

This is the second time in three seasons that the Blue Dragons have been as high as No. 2 under head coach Steve Eck. Two seasons ago, the Blue Dragons got off to a 17-0 start and reached No. 1 in the poll.

Hutchinson's 16-0 start is tied for the fourth-best start in team history.

HCC has now been ranked in nine consecutive NJCAA polls, dating back to last season.

The Blue Dragons will travel to Butler on Wednesday in a 7:30 p.m. contest at El Dorado's Power Plant. Butler, at 13-2, is 1-0 in the Jayhawk West. The Grizzlies are receiving votes in this week's poll.

The Jayhawk Conference has three teams ranked in the Top 10 of the NJCAA Poll. Barton, despite suffering its first loss of the season over the break, is No. 9. Jayhawk East favorite Coffeyville is No. 10.

The Blue Dragons are off until opening Jayhawk West play on Jan. 5 at Dodge City and Jan. 7 at the Sports Arena against Garden City.

NJCAA DIVISION I MEN'S BASKETBALL POLL

Record Points Last week

1. Chipola College (13) 18-0 395 3

2. Hutchinson CC (1) 16-0 380 4

3. Palm Beach State College 18-0 358 6

4. Vincennes University 14-0 351 5

5. Iowa Western CC (2) 17-0 345 7

6. Spartanburg Methodist College 15-0 322 8

7. Northwest Florida State College 15-1 290 10

8. Howard College 13-2 278 2

9. Barton CC 15-1 249 9

10. Coffeyville CC 12-1 248 12

11. South Plains College 12-2 240 1

12. Connors State College 12-1 217 16

13. Indian Hills CC 16-2 195 11

14. Middle Georgia College 11-1 160 19

15. New Mexico Junior College 12-2 138 17

16. San Jacinto College 11-2 124 15

17. Chattahoochee Technical College 14-1 109 RV

18. North Idaho College 16-3 97 13

19. Mississippi Gulf Coast CC 11-1 86 RV

20. Jones County Junior College 10-1 80 21

21. Hagerstown CC 15-2 76 22

22. Cochise College 14-2 62 25

23. Kilgore College 14-2 59 RV

24. Salt City CC 15-2 56 NR

25. Marshalltown CC 13-2 46 24

Other schools receiving votes: Midland College (10-2); Central Arizona College (13-3); Gadsden State CC (11-3); Motlow State CC (9-2); Butler CC (13-2); College of Central Florida (16-2); East Georgia State College (13-1); Southeastern CC (16-2); Mineral Area College (16-3); Snow College (13-4).

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