NABC/Division II men's basketball rankings (Jan. 31, 2012)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Bellarmine and West Liberty have retained the top two spots in the final NABC/Division II men's basketball rankings for the month of January, but losses by six of the top 10 teams in last week's poll have created a shakeup at the top end of the new rankings.

Bellarmine swept two games from teams ranked in the top 10 – both of whom stayed among that group despite the losses – while West Liberty captured three contests a week ago to stay at No. 2.  The shifting starts at No. 3, where Tarleton State moves into the spot after a pair of road losses by Metropolitan State.  Winona State also moved up from sixth to fourth this week, while Colorado School of Mines rose to its highest-ever ranking at No. 5.

Alabama-Huntsville also made a six-spot jump in the poll this week as it moved up to No. 6, while Kentucky Wesleyan and Southern Indiana – the teams that suffered the losses to Bellarmine – retained their places at seventh and eighth, respectively.  Lincoln Memorial fell four places to No. 9, while Christian Brothers rounds out the top 10 with its first appearance among that group this season.

Midwestern State, which lost a four-point decision Saturday to Tarleton State, dropped one spot to No. 11 and was followed by Metropolitan State, Indiana (Pa.), Shaw and Northern Kentucky.  The next five teams in the poll are Western Washington, Bowie State, Hillsdale, West Georgia and St. Cloud State.

The final five teams in this week's poll are Alaska-Anchorage, Northwest Missouri State, Missouri Southern, South Carolina Aiken and a tie at No. 25 with King and Winston-Salem State.

NABC/Division II Coaches Poll (Jan. 31, 2012)

1.        Bellarmine, Ky.  (8 first place votes)      
2.        West Liberty, W.Va.                 
3.        Tarleton State, Texas                                          
4.        Winona State, Minn.    
5.        Colorado School of Mines               
6.        Alabama-Huntsville            
7.        Kentucky Wesleyan                
8.        Southern Indiana      
9.        Lincoln Memorial, Tenn.       
10.       Christian Brothers, Tenn.                             
11.       Midwestern State, Texas                        
12.       Metropolitan State, Colo.                   
13.       Indiana, Pa.                                                   
14.       Shaw, N.C.                                                     
15.       Northern Kentucky                         
16.       Western Washington            
17.       Bowie State, Md.                  
18.       Hillsdale, Mich.                   
19.       West Georgia                  
20.       St. Cloud State, Minn.       
21.       Alaska-Anchorage                           
22.       Northwest Missouri State                       
23.       Missouri Southern               
24.       South Carolina Aiken                                       
25.       (tie) King, Tenn.                                     
25.       (tie) Winston-Salem State, N.C.              

Others receiving votes: Arkansas Tech 8, District of Columbia 8, Cal Poly Pomona 6, Central Missouri 6, Indianapolis (Ind.) 6, LIU-C.W. Post (N.Y.) 5, Seattle Pacific (Wash.) 5, Montevallo (Ala.) 3, Fort Hays State (Kan.) 2. Stonehill (Mass.) 2, Adelphi (N.Y.) 1.

Records and previous rankings are through games of Jan. 29, 2012.  The next poll will be released on Tuesday, Feb. 7.