NABC Division II Week 16 Coaches Poll
 
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – With the regular season and conference tournament in the rear view, the Colorado School of Mines men's basketball team remained ranked in the final NABC Division II Coaches Poll of the season, posting up at #23 in the rankings ahead of their NCAA Tournament Opener Saturday in Canyon, Texas.
 
The Orediggers (24-8, 17-5) went 1-1 in the RMAC Tournament winning their final game of the season at Lockridge Arena in the quarterfinals against Regis 90-71 before being beaten by eventual tournament champions Fort Lewis in the semifinals in Grand Junction 87-73.
 
Sunshine State Conference champions Nova Southeastern (27-2) remained atop the polls this week, earning 15 of 16 first place votes for the second week running. Northern Sun champs Minnesota State (29-2) remained in second while Gannon (29-2) remained in third after hosting and sweeping their way to PASC Tournament crown. Northwest Missouri State (27-4) remained fourth, earning a first place vote again this week after winning the MIAA tournament with RMAC champs and runners-up swapping places with the Skyhawks (28-3) rounding out the top five and Colorado Mesa (27-4) dropping to sixth.
 
Other top 25 teams in this weekend's South Central Regional include the host #9 West Texas A&M and #12 Dallas Baptist, while Eastern New Mexico received votes this week along with Lubbock Christian.
 
Mines begins their 13th trip to the NCAA Tournament Saturday at the First United Bank Center in Canyon, Texas as the #5 seed and will take on the #4 seed DBU at 7:30 p.m. CT in the final game of the day on Saturday March 16.

Fans can keep up with Mines men's basketball on X and Instagram at @minesmbb. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, X and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.