AU men’s basketball ranked third in NCAA DII preseason power 10 rankings

By Carlos Rodriguez | Sports editor

The NCAA released the Division II preseason Power 10 rankings on Tuesday, Oct. 18, ranking the Augusta University men’s basketball team No. 3 in the nation.

The Jaguars are coming off arguably their best season in school history last season where they reached the national championship for the second time in school history, won both regular season and tournament Peach Belt Conference titles and a Southeast Regional Championship. AU also won a program record 33 games.

Augusta lost in the national championship to Northwest Missouri State 67-58. The Bearcats come into the 2022-23 season as the top-ranked team. They’ve won four national titles since 2016-17.

The other team ranked ahead of the Jags is Indiana University of Pennsylvania. AU defeated the Crimson Hawks last year in the Final Four, 76-61.

Lincoln Memorial joins Augusta as the only two Southeast Regional teams ranked in the top 10 as the Railsplitters are listed at No. 8.

Other teams ranked in the Power 10 are Minnesota Duluth (No. 4), Nova Southeastern (No. 5), West Texas A&M (No. 6), Black Hills State (No. 7), West Liberty (No. 9) and Cal State San Bernardino (No. 10).

AU returns eight players from last year’s championship team, while adding a few new pieces. Despite losing a starter in Troy Cracknell, the Jaguars bring back their remaining four starters in Tyree Myers, Miguel Arnold, Ja’Queze Kirby and Tyshaun Crawford. Myers, Arnold and Crawford bring five years of college experience into this season and so does Darren Lucas-White, David Viti and Timmy Sellers.

This Jaguars team will be one of the most experienced groups that AU has seen throughout the program.

AU Coach Dip Metress was philosophical about the high ranking.

“There are programs that have no expectations, and there are programs that have high expectations,” said Metress. “Whenever you have a number in front of your name, teams will be coming for you.”

Fans can catch the team in action for the first time this year on Saturday, Nov. 5 as the Jaguars host Emory University for an exhibition game at Christenberry Fieldhouse at 6 p.m.

The Jaguars will travel to the University of Mount Olive on Friday, Nov. 11, and Saturday, Nov. 12, to take on Mount Olive and Barton College, respectively. They’ll return for their first official home game on Sunday, Nov. 20, against Fayetteville State.

Contact Carlos Rodriguez at CARRODRIGUEZ@augusta.edu.