Cardinals Climb Up D3Hoops.com National Poll
The St. John Fisher College men's basketball program was the biggest mover in this week's
D3hoops.com national poll. The Cardinals jumped seven spots from No. 24 to No. 17 in this week's poll after posting an 82-66 win over Elmira College on Friday, February 6. It is the second consecutive week that Fisher (18-2 overall, 11-0 Empire 8) has been ranked since the final week of the 2009-10 season.
Winners of 16 consecutive games – the fourth-longest winning streak in the program's 52-year history – the Cardinals rank among the national leaders in numerous categories, including: field goal percentage (second/51.6%); scoring margin (fourth/18.1 points per game); scoring offense (29th/79.3 points per game) and scoring defense (26th/61.3 points per game).
With a roster featuring 11 returning players, including six seniors, Fisher has used a balanced attack throughout the year. The Cardinals have had four or more players record double-digit points in all but three contests, while six players are averaging 9.0 points or more for the year.
Sophomore
Keegan Ryan continues to lead the way, averaging 16.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Ryan, shooting 61.2% from the floor, ranks 13th among the national leaders in that category.
Chaz Lott also ranks 13th nationally with 5.9 assists per game (99 on the year).
Fisher, in its final weekend of regular-season home contests, takes on Houghton College at 8 p.m. Friday and East Avenue rival Nazareth College at 4 p.m. Saturday. If Fisher wins both games, it will clinch the Empire 8 regular-season title and wouldl host the Empire 8 Conference Championship on February 27-28 with the winner of the four-team tournament earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship.