At 16-6 overall and 14-6 in-region games, the A&M-Commerce men's basketball team finds itself ranked seventh in the South Central Region in the first NCAA Regional Rankings as released by the NCAA Wednesday.
The Lions, who have played the eighth toughest schedule in the NCAA and the toughest schedule in the South Central region, are fourth in the Lone Star Conference standings at 6-4. All three LSC opponents higher in the conference standings are ranked higher in the South Central region.
Tarleton State is atop the regional rankings at 18-2 overall and 15-2 in-region games. Metro State, out of the RMAC, is second at 20-3 overall and 19-2 in in-region games, while Colorado Mines, also out of the RMAC, is third at 19-3 overall and in-region. LSC leader, Angelo State, is fourth at 19-2 in both categories, while LS foe Midwestern State follows in fifth at 16-6 overall and 14-5 in in-region games. UC-Colorado Springs, out of the RMAC, is one spot ahead of A&M-Commerce in sixth at 17-4 in both categories, while Colorado State Pueblo, also out of the RMAC, follows in eighth place at 17-7 in both categories. RMAC member Fort Lewis, 15-7 in both categories, and Heartland Conference member St. Edward's, round out the rankings in ninth and tenth respectively.
Each conference member that makes up the South Central region – LSC, RMAC and Heartland – receives an automatic qualifying bid into the eight-team regional tournament. If a conference's AQ school is not ranked in the top eight of the regional rankings that school assumes the eighth spot and bumps the eighth team out. The highest seed in the South Central Region will host the NCAA Regional with the winner advances onto the Elite Eight in Evansville, Ind. on March 25 through March 28.