Penn (7-3) remains 17th in the top 25 poll with 185 points. The program has now been ranked in the top 25 for 18 straight polls (including preseason) and has received votes in 22 straight polls, dating back to the 2006-2007 preseason ranking. The Statesmen were as high as second in the nation on January 30, 2008.

Defending national champion Oregon Tech (10-0) continues to lead the poll with 374 points and all 14 first-place votes. Bethel (Ind.) is closely behind in second, while Northwood (Fla.) is third, Cedarville (Ohio) is fourth, and Eastern Oregon is fifth.

Penn is the second-highest Iowa institution in the ranking as Morningside leads the state in tenth (up from 25th). Fellow Midwest Collegiate Conference program Grand View enters the top 25 for the first time this year at #23.

Three other Iowa programs are also receiving votes in the first ranking, including Dordt who is in 27th place (72 votes) and St. Ambrose and Briar Cliff, who are both tied for 37th place with one vote each.

The Statesmen open their MCC slate Wednesday by hosting Iowa Wesleyan at 7:30 p.m. Penn then travels to Des Moines for a big conference matchup with #23 Grand View Saturday at 3 p.m.

NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Preseason Rating - December 1, 2008
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
(Iowa Institutions bolded)
1. Oregon Tech (14)
2. Bethel (Ind.)
3. Northwood (Fla.)
4. Cedarville (Ohio)
5. Eastern Oregon
6. Oklahoma Wesleyan
7. Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio)
8. Indiana Tech
9. Bellevue (Neb.)
10. Morningside
11. Black Hills State (N.D.)
12. Indiana Wesleyan
13. Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.)
14. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical (Fla.)
15. Warner Pacific (Ore.)
16. College of the Ozarks (Mo.)
17. William Penn
18. Rio Grande (Ohio)
19. King (Tenn.)
20. Evergreen State (Wash.)
21. Walsh (Ohio)
22. Indiana-Southeast
23. Grand View
24. Ottawa (Kan.)
25. Minot State (N.D.)

Others Receiving Votes: Savannah College of Art and Design (Ga.) 73; Dordt 72; Huntington (Ind.) 51; Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) 45; Bluefield (Va.) 23; St. Francis (Ind.) 12; Davenport (Mich.) 12; Southwestern (Kan.) 11; Daemen (N.Y.) 10; Dominican (Calif.) 8; Edward Waters (Fla.) 3; McPherson (Kan.) 1; Warner (Fla.) 1; Notre Dame (Ohio) 1; Valley City State (N.D.) 1; Concordia (Neb.) 1; Fisher (Mass.) 1; Alice Lloyd (Ky.) 1; St. Ambrose 1; Briar Cliff 1.