EMU Joins R-MC, GC and VWC in Rankings 

SALEM, Va. --- Randolph-Macon College took over the No.1 ranking in the D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll on Monday evening, climbing three spots from its previous perch as the nation's fourth-rated squad.  The Yellow Jackets are the first ODAC squad to hold the No. 1 billing since Virginia Wesleyan College in the first week of the 2006-07 season.

R-MC wasn't the only squad making noise in the poll as Eastern Mennonite University made its debut amongst the nation's best in the 24th slot.  Guilford College maintained the No. 6 ranking for the third consecutive week, and Virginia Wesleyan continued its climb up the chart by jumping six spots to No. 12 in the nation.

Randolph-Macon (11-0, 2-0 ODAC) and first year head coach, Nathan Davis, have run the table through 11 games this season with several feature victories.  The Jackets routed D3hoops.com Preseason No. 7 DeSales University by 24 points in November, dismantling a unit that stood one win away from a trip to Salem, Virginia, and the national championship series in 2009.  R-MC has also taken down perennial NCAC power and preseason No. 9 the College of Wooster, as well as current 11th-ranked squad Williams College (then No. 10).  Other victories of note came against Lebanon Valley College, ODAC foes Emory & Henry College and Randolph College, and a preseason triumph over NCAA Division I American University.

Production has come from throughout the roster for R-MC with Danny Jones leading the way at 12.6 points per game, but it is defense that makes the Yellow Jackets tick.  Randolph-Macon surrenders an ODAC-low 60.5 points per game following Monday's win at Bridgewater College.  Teams are shooting just 36.5-percent from the field against R-MC, with the Jackets out-rebounding their opponents by 10.5 caroms per contest.

With still more than half a season ahead of them, the Yellow Jackets have plenty of work to do to remain on top of the D-III rankings.  Aside from having to hold off the likes of back-to-back national champion Washington University-St. Louis, R-MC has 12 games remaining against always tough and very deep ODAC opponents.  Two dates with Virginia Wesleyan await, as well as one apiece against Guilford and Eastern Mennonite.  The Jackets also have a pair of what are sure to be heated contests against rival Hampden-Sydney College, with the first showdown set for Wednesday, January 6, at Hampden-Sydney.

Guilford (10-1, 1-1) ran off wins in its first four games before hitting a road block in Virginia Wesleyan.  The Quakers have been streaking since, winning each of their past six matchups with big man and D3hoops.com Preseason All-American, Tyler Sanborn, leading the charge.  Sanborn leads the ODAC with nine doubles, including a two-bagger in each of the past six games to garner the latest ODAC Player of the Week award.  Over that stretch, the Marietta College Shrine Tournament MVP has averaged 21.5 points, 13.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocked shots per game while scoring at least 20 points in each of his past five outings.

Virginia Wesleyan (11-1, 2-1) also came out of the gates with four straight wins before dropping a tough affair with EMU.  Since then, it's been seven straight wins for the Marlins with senior guard Stephen Fields heading a young but talent crop that includes athletic forward Donald Vaughn.  A threat to score from anywhere, Fields has notched at least 21 points in five of the past six contests, including a 29-point effort in Monday's win over Salisbury University.  He currently leads the ODAC in scoring at 21.3 points per game while averaging 22.7 points over VWC's seven-game run.

Eastern Mennonite (9-1, 3-0) sits atop the ODAC standings with wins over Virginia Wesleyan, Lynchburg College and most recently, Hampden-Sydney, to date.  After sprinting to an 8-0 start, head coach Kirby Dean's "Runnin' Royals" stubbed their toes against NAIA Southern Virginia University.  The ODAC's leader in scoring offense at 89.2 points per game, EMU features four players that average better than 13 points per game.  Todd Phillips (19.0 ppg), George Johnson (14.9), Eli Crawford (13.4) and D.J. Hinson (13.1) have taken their turns leading the Royals since their Midnight Madness season-opener on November 15.

For more information on men's basketball and other ODAC sports, visit the NEW ODAC home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.