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KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Saginaw Valley State University men's basketball team is ranked No. 4 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) NCAA Division II Men's Basketball preseason rankings as we near the start of the 2016-17 season.
The Cardinals appear in the fourth slot behind No. 3 Bellarmine University (Ky.) while a pair of 2015-16 national semifinalists in West Liberty (W.Va.) and Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.) hold down the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, respectively.
Saginaw Valley will face Bellarmine in the season opener on Friday, November 11 at Northwood University in the GLIAC / GLVC Challenge. Tip-off for that game is set for 8:00 p.m. in NU's Riepma Arena.
This is the third top-10 preseason ranking for SVSU for the upcoming 2016-17 season. The Cardinals were listed at no. 5 in the Division II Bulletin rankings and at no. 8 in the Sporting News preseason edition.
Saginaw Valley was also tabbed as the preseason favorite in the GLIAC North Division in the league's preseason coaches poll after claiming last year's regular season crown. Both C.J. Turnage and Garrett Hall were named to the preseason all-league team and Turnage was tabbed as the preseason player of the year.
SV begins its 2016-17 season with an exhibition game Wednesday, Nov. 2 at Michigan State University in a 7:00 p.m. matchup. The Spartans are ranked No. 12 in the AP Top 25 Preseason Division I Rankings.
NABC/Division II Rankings (Nov. 1, 2016 – Pre-Season Poll) Record Points Last
1. West Liberty, W.Va. (11) 31-4 394 5
2. Lincoln Memorial, Tenn. 34-3 368 1
3. Bellarmine, Ky. (4) 23-7 357 15
4. Saginaw Valley State, Mich. 25-8 282 25
5. Alabama-Huntsville 25-8 276 NR
6. Northwest Missouri State 27-6 270 11
7. Wheeling Jesuit, W.Va. 28-4 257 6
8. St. Thomas Aquinas, N.Y. 27-5 242 NR
9. California Baptist 28-7 210 14
10. Tarleton State, Texas 24-9 201 NR
11. Chico State, Calif. 22-7 195 20
12. Alaska Anchorage 21-11 189 NR
13. Southern Connecticut State 22-8 185 NR
14. Kutztown, Pa. 23-7 156 NR
15. Fort Lewis, Colo. 28-4 127 4
16. Barry, Fla. 26-7 115 19
17. Minnesota State 22-10 109 NR
18. Augustana, S.D. 34-2 105 2
19. Angelo State, Texas 25-7 98 16
20. Midwestern State, Texas 24-6 92 7
21. Colorado School of Mines 24-8 91 NR
22. Drury, Mo. 19-8 81 NR
23. UAFS 23-9 76 NR
24. Indiana, Pa. 21-8 66 NR
25. Fairmont State, W.Va. (1) 25-5 62 8
Others receiving votes: Queens (N.C.) 55, Western Oregon 44, Indianapolis (Ind.) 42, Delta State (Miss.) 41, Montevallo (Ala.) 32, West Texas A&M 32, Kentucky Wesleyan 31, Lander (S.C.) 31, West Georgia 31, Southern New Hampshire 28, Azusa Pacific (Calif.) 24, MSU Moorhead (Minn.) 17, Eckerd (Fla.) 16, Philadelphia (Pa.) 16, Quincy (Ill.) 15, Seattle Pacific (Wash.) 15, Stonehill (Mass.) 13, Lewis (Ill.) 12, East Stroudsburg (Pa.) 11, Wisconsin-Parkside 11, Barton (N.C.) 9, Western Washington 9, Wingate (N.C.) 9, Washburn (Kan.) 8, Benedict (S.C.) 7, Ashland (Ohio) 6, Virginia State 6, Virginia Union 6, Dixie State (Utah) 5, East Central (Okla.) 4, Dallas Baptist (Texas) 3, UC San Diego 3, Point Loma (Calif.) 2, MSU Denver (Colo.) 1, West Florida 1. Records are final from 2015-16 season. Last ranking was from the final 2015-16 poll
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