Here it is, the latest NAIA Hoops Report Top 25. We decided to ad in The RPI’s, SOS and NETEFF Ratings for teams as well with this poll. While those numbers are more important in Tourney seedings and at-large selections, it is still fun to look at for teams!
1. College of Idaho 18-1 | RPI: 5 | SOS: 112 | Net Efficiency: .283 – 4th
College of Idaho is 3-0 since the last poll, where they took over the Number 1 spot. They have the 2nd longest winning streak in the NAIA right now and are cruising through the Cascade Collegiate Conference. They hold a 3-game lead in the CCC with 9 games remaining.
2. Oklahoma Wesleyan 19-1 | RPI: 2 | SOS: 79 | Net Efficiency: .226 – 9th
OKWU went 4-0 the past two weeks with a big road win over Southwestern (KS). They have a 2-game lead over Kansas Wesleyan in the KCAC and have already beat the Coyotes at KWU. They have a tough road game tonight, but the Eagles have looked like a team that may run the table in the KCAC.
3. Langston (OK) 18-1 | RPI: 32 | SOS: 209 | Net Efficiency: .298 – 2nd
Langston did lose their first game of the season since the last rankings. They still remain 2nd in NETEFF ratings and for us, they are a Top 3 team this week. They hold a 3-game lead in the Sooner Athletic Conference. They just started a stretch of games though that has them on the road for 5 of their next 6 games.
4. Union (KY) 19-1 | RPI: 43 | SOS: 219 | Net Efficiency: .153 – 31st
Death, Taxes and Union winning the Appalachian Athletic Conference. The Bulldogs have won the AAC in 8 straight seasons (outside of the Covid year). With a 4-game lead, the Bulldogs may end up being the 1st team to secure an auto-bid to the NAIA National Tournament. The Bulldogs make their biggest jump in our ratings behind the strong play of one of the best scoring trios in the NAIA in Markelle Turner, Markelo Sullivan and Terrin Hamilton!
5. Georgetown (KY) 18-3 | RPI: 15 | SOS: 98 | Net Efficiency: .222 – 11th
The Tigers continue to impress since getting Jake Ohmer back this semester with their only loss being on the road against a hot Pikeville team. Georgetown has moved to within a half of a game in the Mid-South Conference Standings and travel to Freed-Hardeman at the end of this week in what could be a game where the winner wins the Mid-South Conference Regular Season Title!
6. Arizona Christian 17-4 | RPI: 1 | SOS: 7 | Net Efficiency: .158 – 29th
It hasn’t always been pretty for ACU, but they are still without All-American Point Guard and GSAC Defensive POY, Angelo Johnson. ACU is a Top 10 team when fully healthy and they have, for the most part, found ways to win games despite not having their full roster for a single game this season. They sit a game up on OUAZ for the GSAC title, but this is a league that is going to come down to the wire!
7. William Penn (IA) 18-2 | RPI: 9 | SOS: 90 | Net Efficiency: .126 – 47th
William Penn keeps winning and they added a big win against Evangel since the last rankings were released. They hold a 2-game lead and the tiebreaker over Evangel. If they hold on it would be their 4th straight Heart of America Title and their 5th in the past 6 seasons. They have now won 14-straight games, but do have a couple tough road trips to end the season.
8. Indiana Wesleyan 16-5 | RPI: 4 | SOS: 10 | Net Efficiency: .169 – 23rd
The Wildcats had it back rolling again before losing this past weekend on the road to a tough Saint Francis (IN) team. Crossroads road games are never easy and the Wildcats fell victim. They now hit the road this week to a very good and very tough Huntington squad and end the week hosting Grace. They have the lead in the Crossroads League Standings at the moment, they could all but shut the door with two big wins this week, or they could find themselves in a dogfight the rest of the way with two more losses this week.
9. Grace (IN) 18-3 | RPI: 12 | SOS: 122 | Net Efficiency: .209 – 13th
Grace is talented and has all of the tools to make a National Championship run. They currently sit in 2nd place in the Crossroads League and are 2 games behind IWU. They have, maybe their biggest week of the season this week as they head on the road to face both Marian and IWU. Two wins could get them right back in the thick of a CL Title hunt, but if they lose two games, this is a team that could end up slipping to 4th place in the CL. BIG week ahead for Grace!
10. Jamestown (ND) 17-3 | RPI: 25 | SOS: 127 | Net Efficiency: .249 – 6th
Mason Walters is still arguably the best player in the NAIA. He is a double-double machine and has been tough for teams to stop his entire career. Jamestown does sit a game behind Morningside in the GPAC Standings, but they host Morningside at the end of the month and if the Jimmies can hold serve at home these next 3 games, they will be in 1st place in the GPAC!
11. Indiana Tech 17-3 | RPI: 8 | SOS: 48 | Net Efficiency: .146 – 34th
Since the last rankings, Tech went 3-1 with the loss coming at Lourdes. They sit 2-games up in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference and only have two games remining against teams in the Top half of the WHAC Standings. They should be on their way to another WHAC Regular Season Title.
12. Freed-Hardeman (TN) 16-5 | RPI: 13 | SOS: 76 | Net Efficiency: .142 – 38th
FHU is coming off of a tough week as they loss at Shawnee State and at Pikeville. They return home this week to face a very good Georgetown team and end the week against Cumberlands. The Brewer Sports Center is a tough place to play, so if the Lions can defend their home court, they will increase their half game lead in the Mid-South Conference Standings.
13. Kansas Wesleyan 15-1 | RPI: 11 | SOS: 157 | Net Efficiency: .121 – 49th
KWU went 3-1 since the last rankings were released with the loss coming on the road to Bethany. They are in the middle of a stretch of games that has them on the road for 6 out of 7 games. They need some help to win the KCAC Title, but this is a team who sits in good position for the 2-seed.
14. Evangel (MO) 17-3 | RPI: 16 | SOS: 86 | Net Efficiency: .125 – 48th
Their only loss since the last rankings was a tough road loss to William Penn. Evangel is really good and Josh Pritchett is the real deal. The Valor need some help to win a Heart of America Title, but this is a team that has competed all year long and is very capable of making a deep run at the National Tourney.
15. Montana Tech 18-3 | RPI: 18 | SOS: 149 | Net Efficiency: .212 – 12th
The Orediggers are coming off a tough road loss to rival Carroll. The loss now has them in a tie with Providence for a Frontier Conference title. This is a league that plays everyone 3-times, and as they move into those 3rd games against FC teams, the games get that much tougher. Caleb Bellach has been great for Tech and this is a team that won a FC Title last season and are still the favorites to win a title this year.
16. Southwestern (KS) 16-4 | RPI: 22 | SOS: 153 | Net Efficiency: .185 – 19th
Southwestern battled back from an early 18pt deficit to OKWU this past week. However, they weren’t able to get the final bucket to go and ended up with their third loss in the past four games. They will look to get back on track this week against Saint Mary before heading to a tough road trip to face Sterling.
17. Thomas More (KY) 15-5 | RPI: 6 | SOS: 16 | Net Efficiency: .103 – 59th
The Saints bounced back with a win this past weekend at Cumberlands after losing three straight games. This is still a good basketball team, led by Reid Jolly. They have a favorable schedule over the next few weeks and can really get some momentum headed into the MSC Tournament!
18. Marian (IN) 17-4 | RPI: 24 | SOS: 80 | Net Efficiency: .284 – 3rd
Another tough and talented team who has not been at full strength. They have won 3-straight games though and now face off this week against Grace. They sit 3 games out of 1st place in the Crossroads League, but a win against Grace this week would put them in a good spot to get the 2-seed.
19. Florida College 16-3 | RPI: 14 | SOS: 87 | Net Efficiency: .234 – 8th
The Continental Athletic Conference doesn’t have your normal regular season conference schedule. Florida College and Iowa Wesleyan, on February 2nd will most likely be battling it out for the 1-seed in the CAC Tourney. Matt Simpson has
20. Loyola (LA) 16-3 | RPI: 3 | SOS: 36 | Net Efficiency: .091 – 65th
Loyola’s 26-game Southern States Athletic Conference win streak came to an end this past week. The defending National Champions are still playing good basketball though and hold a 2-games lead in the SSAC Standings. They wont face off with Faulkner again until February 2nd, but the Wolfpack control their own destiny.
21. Faulkner (AL) 17-3 | RPI: 10 | SOS: 52 | Net Efficiency: .159 – 27th
CJ Hines and company have made back-to-back trips to Kansas City and have played good basketball again this year. They have won 6-straight games now and are starting to find their stride a bit. They host Blue Mountain Christian this week and then hit the road to face off against Brewton-Parker and then Loyola.
22. Morningside (IA) 16-3 | RPI: 7 | SOS: 28 | Net Efficiency: .140 – 41st
Morningside has quietly made their presence felt in the Great Plains Athletic Conference as they currently sit in 1st place. They have a big week ahead of them as the host Northwestern (IA) and then head to North Dakota to face off with Jamestown. These next five games are huge for the Mustangs as they follow up the two games this week with a road trip to Dordt then host the crosstown rivals Briar Cliff before hosting Jamestown for their 2nd meeting in 5 games.
23. Texas A&M Texarkana 16-4
| RPI: 35 | SOS: 167 | Net Efficiency: .158 – 28th
Texarkana and LSU Shreveport are the two front runners in the Red River Athletic Conference. Texarkana holds a half game lead over LSUS in the RRAC standings and are ahead of them in the ARC Standings as well. They also beat Shreveport already this season. Kobe Powell has put himself in the conversation for RRAC Player of the Year with Shreveport’s Jalen Brooks. The two teams will face off again in early February, a game that could decide the RRAC Regular Season Title.
24. Iowa Wesleyan 19-1 | RPI: 30 | SOS: 210 |Net Efficiency: .250 – 5th
The Tigers hold the longest winning streak in the NAIA at 19 games. While their SOS isn’t great, one of those 19 wins is against William Penn. The top of the CAC is going to be fun to watch in the CAC Tourney, but as we said above, the battle with Florida College on February 2nd will be a really good one!
25. Ottawa (AZ) 15-5 | RPI: 21 | SOS: 22 | Net Efficiency: .135 – 43rd
The GSAC is tough and we are seeing a lot of the teams beat on each other. OUAZ bounced back from a tough loss to Menlo by beating a good Westmont team and then destroying The Master’s who had just beat Arizona Christian. The Spirt sit in 2nd place now in the GSAC Standings and with their RPI and SOS deserve the Top 25 nod.
