South Dakota men ranked third in North Central poll

The NCAA has released the first edition of the 2007-08 men's basketball region rankings. The University of South Dakota men's basketball team is ranked third in the North Central Region, and are one of four NCC teams in the ranking.

Winona State and Northern State are the two teams that are currently ahead of the Coyotes (17-1, 2-1 NCC) in the region ranking. Winona State owns an unblemished record against North Central Region opponents and against NCAA Division II competition. Their only loss of the season was to St. Thomas (Minn.), who is an NCAA Division III school. Games against teams that are not Division II do not count in the region ranking.

The three other NCC schools that join USD in the ranking include Minnesota State (4th), Augustana (5th) and Nebraska-Omaha (7th). The NSIC and RMAC each have three teams in the ranking.

The Coyotes, who are ranked fourth in the nation, will host Minnesota State 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, in the DakotaDome.