Augusta State Men's Basketball Ranked #1 in the Nation

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The Augusta State men’s basketball program ascended to the top of the national rankings Tuesday in the seventh NABC/Coaches Poll of the 2009-10 season, according to a release from the NABC national office in Kansas City, Mo.

The ranking -- the highest in ASU history for any of the Jaguars’ 11 varsity sports -- marks the first time in the Peach Belt Conference’s 20-year history that a men’s basketball team has been ranked No. 1 in the nation.

“First and foremost, all the credit for this tremendous accomplishment goes straight to our players,” said sixth-year ASU head coach Dip Metress. “Without the caliber of players and students we’ve been able to attract to our program, this wouldn’t be possible. It’s quite an honor and a heck of a feather in our cap, but we have to stay focused. We’ve got a long way to go and a lot more that we want to accomplish.”

The Jaguars, who debuted at No. 6 in the first regular-season poll and gained one spot in each of the next three polls, are off to a 13-0 start following an 89-62 win over Francis Marion on Saturday, Jan. 9. The 13 consecutive wins mark the best start in the 45-year history of the program.

The ranking is the highest for any PBC team since USC Aiken was tied at #1 with Findaly in the 08-09 preseason poll.  The Pacers were then ranked #2 in the first three regular-season polls of that year.  Clayton State reached #2 in 2006-07 after opening that season 17-0.  Kennesaw State won the 2004 national championship, but was not ranked #1 in any of the regular-season polls.  The NABC does not issue polls once postseason play begins.  Kennesaw State did reach #2 on Feb. 22, 2005, but were never ranked #1.

With the ranking, ASU has now appeared in the top 25 for a school-record 43 consecutive weeks, dating back to the 2006-07 campaign. The Jaguars have been ranked among the nation’s top 10 in 22 of the last 23 polls, and reached the top five for the 13th time under head coach Dip Metress.

ASU is one of two Peach Belt Conference members ranked among the top 20. League newcomer Montevallo is ranked No. 13, an improvement of two spots from the Falcons’ No. 15 ranking on Jan. 5.

See the complete poll here.