INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Both basketball teams at the University of Arkansas at Monticello remained at the No. 5 slot in this week’s release of the NCAA South Region Rankings.
 
The Cotton Blossoms (15-4 Overall, 14-4 D2, 12-4 In-Region, 7-1 GSC) remain at No. 5 after only one game played over the past week, which was an 81-72 win over Christian Brothers on the road last Thursday.
 
Above the Blossoms, in order, are Rollins (18-3 D2, 16-3 In-Region), Delta State (15-6 D2, 15-4 In-Region), West Georgia (15-4 D2, 15-4 In-Region) and Fort Valley State (18-4 D2, 18-4 In-Region).
 
Rounding out the top eight are Florida Southern (14-6 D2, 13-5 In-Region), Tampa (15-5 D2, 13-5 In-Region) and Clark Atlanta (16-2 D2, 16-2 In-Region).
 
The Boll Weevils (16-5 Overall, 11-5 D2, 10-5 In-Region, 5-3 GSC) remained fifth despite a 51-43 setback to Christian Brothers, which moved up to No. 3 in this week’s rankings.
 
Above the Weevils, in order, are Benedict (18-2 D2, 18-2 In-Region), Claflin (17-2 D2, 17-2 In-Region), CBU (14-2 D2, 14-2 In-Region) and Florida Southern (19-4 D2, 16-3 In-Region).
 
Rounding out the top eight are Delta State (12-5 D2, 12-4 In-Region), Rollins (13-6 D2, 12-5 In-Region) and North Alabama (11-7 D2, 10-6 In-Region).
 
At the end of the season, the top eight teams on both sides advance to the NCAA Regional Tournament, usually hosted by either the No. 1 or No. 2 seed of each region.
 
Both teams take on Delta State tomorrow at home in GSC double-header. Both games have regional implications, while the Blossoms look to take sole possession of first place in the GSC-West, while the Weevils look to move back into second place and snap a two-game losing skid. The women’s game tips off at 5:30 p.m. at Steelman Fieldhouse with the men’s game to follow.