Men's Basketball Slotted Fifth in Region I in Second Set of NCAA Regional Rankings

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's basketball team was slotted fifth in Region I in the second set of regional rankings that were released Tuesday evening by the NCAA Regional Advisory Committee. The second set of regional rankings are in ranked order and include results against other regionally-ranked teams around the country.

NCAA REGIONAL RANKINGS

The top four teams in the region feature teams from the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), as local foes Trinity College (23-1, 9-1 NESCAC) sit atop the rankings. Tufts University (18-6, 8-2 NESCAC) and Williams College (19-5, 9-1 NESCAC) were pegged second and third, respectively, followed by Connecticut College (18-6, 8-2 NESCAC) in fourth. The Blue Jays (20-4, 13-0 GNAC) rank ahead of Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) rivals Albertus Magnus College (20-4, 12-1 GNAC) who sit sixth. SUNY Morrisville (20-4, 11-1 NAC) of the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) round out the Region I rankings. Region I is comprised of teams from the GNAC, the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC), the NESCAC, and the NAC.

Saint Joseph has played five teams from across the country that appeared in the second iteration of the regional rankings. The Blue Jays are 3-2 against those opponents, featuring victories over Albertus Magnus, Region II's Nichols, and Regions IX's Bethany Lutheran. Nichols was picked second in Region II, while Bethany Lutheran was picked sixth in Region IX.

Regional rankings are separate from national polls and are used to advise the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship Committee when determining at-large berths to the NCAA Tournament, as well as potential hosting opportunities.

The Blue Jays conclude the 2023-24 regular season Saturday afternoon, when they return to the hardwood for a GNAC contest at home against Colby-Sawyer College for Senior Day. Tipoff between the Blue Jays and Chargers is slated for approximately 3:00 p.m. inside James A. Calhoun Gymnasium in West Hartford, Conn.