CHARLOTTE, N.C.- After going 2-0 against a pair of NJCAA powerhouses on opening weekend, the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers were the biggest risers in the first NJCAA National Rankings of the season, going from unranked all the way up to #17 in week one.
The Bucs opened the year with a dominating 69-43 win over Georgia Highlands who played in the 2022 NJCAA National Championship game. They backed that up with a 58-48 victory on Saturday against #2 Shelton State in another contest they led wire to wire. After two games, the Bucs defense ranks in the top 15 nationally among teams who have played more than one game, allowing just 45.5 points per game while holding their opponents to a 27% shooting mark.
As expected, the week one poll hardly resembled the NJCAA Preseason Rankings with only one team holding their spot. Trinity Valley, Northwest Florida, Blinn, South Plains, and Hutchinson make up the new Top 5 while the 17th ranked Bucs are one of four FCSAA squads in the Top 25, joined by #2 Northwest Florida, #9 Gulf Coast State, and #16 Eastern Florida State.
The Bucs will play at home for the first time this season on Friday when they host John A. Logan from Illinois in a 7:00 PM tip from Suncoast Credit Union Arena and will continue the FSW Classic on Saturday and Sunday with 5:00 and 12:00 contests on those two afternoons.