With three wins in six days to remain perfect on the season, the Butler men moved up four spots to seventh in this week's NJCAA Top 25 Basketball Poll, which was released Tuesday.
Butler (12-0) received 268 votes, just eight behind fifth-ranked Harcum, Pa., and seven votes back of Indian Hills, Iowa. The Grizzlies were the only new addition to the top 10, replacing Gillette, Wyo., who fell from ninth to 18th.
Vincennes, Ind., retained the top spot in the poll, receiving 347 votes and 13 first-place votes. Southern Idaho stayed at No. 2 with 333 votes and one first-place vote, while Northwest Florida State also held steady in third with 326 votes and two first-place votes. Ranked fourth was Salt Lake, Utah, followed by Harcum, Indian Hills and Butler. Rounding out the top 10 was Hill, Texas, Trinity Valley, Texas, and Southwest Tennessee.
For the second straight week, the Grizzlies were also the highest-ranked Jayhawk Conference team. Coffeyville, Hutchinson and Cloud County all remained in the poll as the three teams were ranked consecutively at 12, 13 and 14. All three teams have one loss on the season, as Butler is the last remaining undefeated KJCCC team.
Next up for Butler will be two games at the Cowley Classic this weekend in Arkansas City, beginning with a 5 p.m. Friday matchup against Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa (9-4). The Grizzlies will also play host Cowley at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Butler defeated Cowley 102-66 on Saturday. The two Classic games will be Butler's final two games before winter break.
| NJCAA TOP 25 MEN'S BASKETBALL POLL | ||||
| Dec. 9, 2014 | ||||
| Rank | Team | Record | Points | Prev. |
| 1. | Vincennes, IN (13) | 11-0 | 347 | 1 |
| 2. | Southern Idaho (1) | 13-0 | 333 | 2 |
| 3. | Northwest Florida State (2) | 12-0 | 326 | 3 |
| 4. | Salt Lake, UT | 10-0 | 294 | 5 |
| 5. | Harcum, PA | 11-0 | 276 | 6 |
| 6. | Indian Hills, IA | 10-1 | 275 | 7 |
| 7. | Butler | 12-0 | 268 | 11 |
| 8. | Hill, TX | 12-1 | 234 | 8 |
| 9. | Trinity Valley, TX | 13-2 | 221 | 4 |
| 10. | Southwest Tennessee | 10-1 | 207 | 10 |
| 11. | Tallahassee, FL | 11-1 | 188 | 14 |
| 12. | Coffeyville | 13-1 | 170 | 16 |
| 13. | Hutchinson | 11-1 | 151 | 15 |
| 14. | Cloud County | 12-1 | 148 | 13 |
| 15. | Connors State, OK | 13-1 | 147 | 17 |
| 16. | Cochise, AZ | 10-0 | 134 | 25 |
| 17. | Odessa, TX | 12-1 | 110 | 22 |
| 18. | Gillette, WY | 12-2 | 99 | 9 |
| 19. | Three Rivers, MO | 12-2 | 88 | 12 |
| 20. | Shelton State, AL | 10-1 | 79 | 20 |
| 21. | North Idaho | 12-1 | 73 | 21 |
| 22. | Motlow State, TN | 11-1 | 69 | RV |
| 23. | Southeastern, IA | 14-1 | 59 | RV |
| 24. | Eastern Florida State | 11-1 | 42 | RV |
| 25. | Pearl River, MS | 8-0 | 34 | RV |
Other schools receiving votes: Jones County, MS (7-0, 22); Columbia State, TN (11-3, 13); South Plains (8-3, 13); Spartanburg Methodist, SC (11-1, 13); Mineral Area, MO (13-1, 11); Howard, TX (10-3, 5); Navarro, TX (10-2, 2); Tyler, TX (11-1, 2).
Dropped from rankings: Columbia State, TN (18); Central Arizona (19); Georgia Highlands (23); New Mexico (24).
