Bucknell University Athletics
MORE HISTORY ON THE HARDWOOD: BUCKNELL MEN'S BASKETBALL NATIONALLY RANKED FOR FIRST TIME IN PROGRAM HISTORY
2/13/2006 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 13, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa. - For the first time in program history, the Bucknell men's basketball team has achieved a national ranking in one of the major national polls. The Bison, who have won 11 straight games and own a 20-3 record, were ranked 24th in Monday's Associated Press and ESPN/USA TODAY top-25 polls.
Bucknell garnered 133 points in the AP poll, which is voted on by a media panel. Last week the Bison received 81 points and were listed third among "others receiving votes," but they picked up an additional 52 points this week after defeating American and Holy Cross to improve to 11-0 in Patriot League play. LSU, with 68 points, is one spot behind Bucknell in the No. 25 spot this week.
One of the teams that dropped out of the top 25 this week was Northern Iowa, which Bucknell will play on Saturday on ESPN2 in the "BracketBusters presented by eBay" event. Like Bucknell, the Panthers were also ranked for the first time in school history and spent two weeks in the top 25.
In the ESPN/USA Today Poll, which is conducted by a panel of 31 Division I head coaches, Bucknell received 50 points this week, up from 29 last Monday. LSU is also 25th in that poll with 42 points.
"To be ranked in the top 25 is very special because it shows the respect that others have for our program," said head coach Pat Flannery. "Our players have worked very hard and have earned all the accolades that have come along, so I am especially happy for them and all the fans who have supported us so tremendously all year."
Connecticut, Duke, Memphis, Villanova and Gonzaga earned the top five spots in both polls this week.
Bucknell has received votes in every poll this season, previously topping out in the first spot among "others receiving votes" in early December, just before its loss to No. 4 Villanova. After making national news last season with wins over Saint Joseph's, Pittsburgh and Kansas, the Bison this season have added major-conference wins over Syracuse and DePaul.
The Bison, who are also the first team in Patriot League history to be nationally ranked, now have yet another milestone to add to a growing list of firsts. Their 20-3 record matches the best 23-game start in school history (the 1983-84 team was also 20-3). The current 11-game winning streak equals the team's longest since 1919. The current six-game road winning streak is the longest since 1974-75. The 11-0 Patriot League start ties Fordham's record set in 1990-91. The Bison have already secured the eighth 20-win season in school history and have won 15 straight games over Patriot League foes dating back to last season.
Bucknell will play its first game as a ranked team on Wednesday at Lafayette at 6 p.m. The game will be televised live on College Sports Television (CSTV).
