Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's Basketball Reaches New Heights in National Polls
11/28/2005 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 28, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell men's basketball team has gained fame for its ability to knock off top-25 ranked teams. With another few victories, the Bison may soon be joining that elite company.
Receiving votes at an unprecedented rate in school history in both the Associated Press Poll and the ESPN/USA TODAY Coaches' Poll, Bucknell this week is listed just outside the top 25 in both rankings. In the AP media poll, the Bison received 73 votes, which puts them 29th overall. No. 25 LSU received 196 points, and only the Tigers, Syracuse (175), West Virginia (138) and Wisconsin (76) separate Bucknell from the top 25.
The Bison are ranked ahead of such storied programs as Ohio State, Stanford, defending national champion North Carolina, Oklahoma State, Michigan and Kansas.
In the Coaches' Poll, which has only about half as many voters as the AP Poll, Bucknell collected 22 points, good for 32nd overall. LSU is again ranked 25th with 79 points, followed by West Virginia (72), Wisconsin (72), Nevada (71), Stanford (36), Ohio State (24), North Carolina (23) and Bucknell.
Bucknell is off to a 3-0 start, including a 74-69 victory over then No. 17/19 Syracuse at the Carrier Dome last Tuesday. The Bison have defeated three top-20 teams since January. They toppled No. 7/10 Pittsburgh 69-66 at the Petersen Events Center on Jan. 2, 2005, then defeated No. 10/12 Kansas 64-63 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Mar. 18, 2005.
Not only does this represent the most votes ever received by a Bucknell team, but it is also the most for any Patriot League team in the league's 15-year history.
Bucknell is moving up in the collegeinsider.com Mid-Major Poll, as well. Ranked eighth in that poll in the preseason, the Bison have moved up to No. 5 this week, also a high-water mark in program history. Gonzaga received all 31 first-place votes in that poll and remain No. 1, followed by Old Dominion, Northern Iowa, Creighton and Bucknell.
Bucknell faces a very difficult three-game stretch coming up to close out the first semester. The Bison visit defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champion Niagara on Wednesday, then they travel to Chicago for a Saturday afternoon tilt against Big East newcomer DePaul. On Dec. 6, Bucknell hosts No. 4 Villanova at sold-out Sojka Pavilion.
