Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's Basketball Ranked 6th in Mid-Major Poll, Receives Votes in National Preseason Polls
11/7/2006 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 7, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell men's basketball team finished the 2005-06 season nationally ranked for the first time in school history, and the Bison are also receiving mention in the preseason polls as the 2006-07 college basketball season gets underway this week.
Bucknell, coming off a record-setting 27-5 season, is ranked sixth in the collegeinsider.com Mid-Major Poll, and the Bison are also receiving votes in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Polls.
The Bison garnered six voting points in the AP Poll, which is 16th among "others receiving votes." In the ESPN/USA Today Poll, Bucknell earned one vote. Florida, North Carolina and Kansas are ranked 1-2-3 in both major polls.
In the Mid-Major Poll, Bucknell received 565 points, behind only Creighton (741), Gonzaga (729), Hofstra (681), Southern Illinois (629) and Wichita State (610). Dec. 3 opponent George Mason is one spot behind Bucknell at No. 7. Marist, a possible opponent at the Pepsi Marist Classic on Dec. 30, is ranked 17th, while opening-night foe Albany is ranked 25th.
In February 2006 Bucknell was ranked 24th in both the AP and ESPN/USA Today Polls, marking the first national ranking in school and league history. The Bison dropped out of the top-25 after a tough double-overtime loss at Northern Iowa, but they did not lose again until the second round of the NCAA Tournament, and when the final coaches' poll was announced, Bucknell was listed at No. 25.
Also last season, the Bison were ranked in the top eight of the Mid-Major Poll all year long. They peaked at No. 2 for seven weeks, and Bucknell was ranked No. 4 in the final poll.
Bucknell received at least one vote in both national polls every week last season, and it has kept the streak alive at the start of 2006-07. The Bison tip-off with Albany on Saturday evening at 7 p.m., followed by the home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 14 against Wake Forest.
