CHARLOTTE, N.C.- Apparently March 'Madness' has hit the NJCAA level as after going a perfect 3-0 in three road games last week, the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers dropped, yes dropped, two spots to #15 in the NJCAA National Rankings released Monday afternoon.
The Bucs went 3-0, all on the road, last week, grinding out a win against Hillsborough Monday before blowing out Pasco-Hernando Wednesday and Palm Beach State on Saturday to improve to 16-2 on the year. Overall the Bucs have won five straight and 13 of 14 and haven't lost in regulation in nearly two months.
That wasn't enough for the Men's Basketball committee who dropped the Bucs two spots in the poll to #15. South Plains, Mineral Area, and Odessa held onto the top three spots with Coffeyville and Tallahassee jumping undefeated Shelton State to move into the Top 5. John A. Logan's loss to 9-7 Wabash Valley dropped them just two more spots than the Bucs 3-0 week dropped them as they move from #4 to #8. FSW is once again one of four FCSAA squads in the rankings this week with Tallahassee leading the bunch at #5 and Chipola checking in one spot ahead of the Bucs at #14, followed by FSW's Wednesday opponent Indian River at #22.
The Bucs return to the floor on Wednesday to take on #22 Indian River in a huge Southern Conference matchup in Suncoast Credit Union Arena. A win for FSW would clinch their fourth straight Conference Championship while a win for the Pioneers would bring them one step closer to their second straight conference crown. The Bucs and Pioneers will tip off at 7:30 PM.