CHARLOTTE, N.C.- A post-holiday loss to #3 Chipola cost the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers two spots in the first NJCAA Top 25 Poll of 2020 as FSW checked in at #15 with 77 points from the seven person committee.
The Bucs sit at 13-5 overall on the season and 1-0 in Suncoast Conference action after a win over St. Petersburg on Saturday. FSW has played one of the tougher schedules in the country thus far with their 18 opponents making up a #9 strength of schedule nationally according to the most recent Massey Ratings. Of FSW's five losses, two have come to unanimous #1 Gulf Coast, one to #3 Chipola, one to #7 Trinity Valley, and one to #12 Midland.
For the first time in nearly a month, there was some shakeup in the week eight poll, but it wasn't on top where Gulf Coast and South Plains continued to run strong at #1 and #2 with Chipola, Hutchinson, and Tyler all jumping up three spots to make up this week's top five. Coming off of wins against #7 Trinity Valley and #8 Northwest Florida, New Mexico was the biggest riser this week as they bolted up six spots to #6 while Central Arizona's two losses over the break sent them tumbling from the top five to #14.
FSW is back in action on Wednesday when they will hit the road for the first time in Suncoast Conference play to take on Hillsborough in Tampa at 5:30. They return home Saturday to take on Daytona State in a 2 PM matinee affair.