Bearkats earn votes in both college basketball polls

For the fourth straight week, the Sam Houston State men's basketball team is receiving votes in the polls, this week in both the AP and the ESPN/USA Today poll.

After receiving one vote for the last three weeks, the Kats have earned two more. Also this week, the Kats have broken into the ESPN/USA Today poll for the first time in school history with four votes.

They have also moved up to No. 6 in the Collegeinsider.com Mid-Major top 25.

The Kats are off to their best start since moving up to the Division-I level with a 10-0 record. They will take their undefeated mark on the road this week as the Kats will make a tough road trip out to California.

Friday the Bearkats will face their toughest test of the season when they take on San Diego State. Like the Bearkats, the Aztecs are off to one of the best starts in school history. They are 9-3 on the season, coming off a road loss to Arizona.

Kyle Spain leads San Diego State in scoring averaging 14 points a game, including 20 points in his last outing against Arizona. He is one of four players averaging in double-figures scoring for the Aztecs who are outscoring their opponents by an average of seven points a game.

Two days later the Bearkats will travel to take on Loyola Marymount. The Lions are 3-10 on the season, including a 78-56 loss to San Diego State. The Lions have posted an 0-5 record this season at home. The trip to Los Angeles is a return trip for the Bearkats who played Loyola Marymount at home last season.

In the only other meeting between the two schools, the Kats won 92-77. In that game, six players scored in double figures for SHSU with Shamir McDaniel leading the way with 18.

These two games will be the last nonconference road games for the Bearkats. They will play once more at home on Jan. 5 against Central Florida before opening Southland Conference play five days later.

AP Top 25

1. North Carolina (47) 11-0 1,774

2. Memphis (24) 10-0 1,740

3. Kansas (1) 12-0 1,668

4. Washington State 11-0 1,481

5. UCLA 11-1 1,452

6. Pittsburgh 11-0 1,408

7. Michigan State 11-1 1,396

8. Georgetown 8-1 1,245

9. Texas 11-1 1,241

10. Duke 10-1 1,158

11. Tennessee 11-1 1,086

12. Marquette 9-1 1,076

13. Indiana 10-1 940

14. Texas A&M 11-1 898

15. Vanderbilt 11-0 675

16. Butler 11-1 634

17. Arizona 9-2 575

18. Villanova 9-1 507

19. Miami (FL) 12-0 443

20. Brigham Young 10-2 383

21. Clemson 10-1 331

22. Mississippi 11-0 241

23. West Virginia 10-1 240

24. USC 8-3 181

25. Rhode Island 11-1 133

Others Receiving Votes

Stanford 132, Gonzaga 120, Dayton 84, Saint Mary's 51, Wisconsin 23, Xavier 14, Florida 13, Oregon 12, Virginia 9, Baylor 8, Massachusetts 6, Arizona State 5, Creighton 4, Houston 4, Drake 3, Sam Houston State 3, Louisville 2, American University 1.

Dropped From Rankings: Gonzaga 18, Oregon 23.

ESPN/USA Today Poll

1. North Carolina (23) 11-0 762

2. Memphis (6) 10-0 747

3. Kansas (2) 12-0 720

4. Washington State 11-0 659

5. UCLA 11-1 625

6. Pittsburgh 11-0 623

7. Michigan State 11-1 571

8. Georgetown 8-1 523

9. Texas 11-1 510

10. Duke 10-1 491

11. Texas A&M 11-1 459

12. Tennessee 11-1 457

13. Marquette 9-1 416

14. Indiana 10-1 391

15. Vanderbilt 11-0 304

16. Villanova 9-1 303

17. Butler 11-1 277

18. Arizona 9-2 248

19. Miami (FL) 12-0 188

20. Clemson 10-1 161

21. Brigham Young 10-2 130

22. Stanford 10-1 111

23. West Virginia 10-1 97

24. Mississippi 11-0 80

25. Rhode Island 11-1 60

Others Receiving Votes

Gonzaga 54, Saint Mary's 22, Louisville 18, USC 17, Arkansas 11, Florida 9, Dayton 7, Oregon 6, Xavier 4, Sam Houston State 4, Creighton 3, North Carolina State 2, Stephen F. Austin 1, Wisconsin 1, California 1, Minnesota 1, Houston 1.

Dropped From Rankings: Gonzaga 20, Oregon 21, Xavier 24.

Bearkats earn votes in both college basketball polls

Players Mentioned

Shamir McDaniel

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Bearkats earn votes in both college basketball polls

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Players Mentioned

Shamir McDaniel

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