CHARLOTTESVILLE–The Charlottesville Cardinals are ranked 14th in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Top-Twenty poll released today.
Repeat defending champion the Dallas Movin’ Mavericks retained their #1 ranking with the Milwaukee Wheelchair Bucks and the New York Rollin’ Knicks respectively taking the #2 and #3 slots in the Championship Division poll (see below).
The 14th-ranked Cardinals moved up slightly in the poll from their 15th-place ranking at the end of the 2013 season. Charlottesville is currently 11-9 overall and 4-7 in Championship Division play. The Cardinals are 0-5 against the 3rd-ranked New York Rollin’ Knicks this season.
“Maybe if we play the Knicks a little less our record will improve,” laughed coach Tom Vandever.
The Cardinals enter the holiday season after a very busy fall. In addition to playing 20 games and traveling to Houston, Atlanta, Edinboro (near Erie, PA), and Philadelphia, the Cardinals have performed demonstration games and halftime exhibitions at Virginia State University, the University of Virginia, Piedmont Community College, and a number of local public schools.
The Cardinals will next travel to Birmingham, Alabama the weekend of January 10th-12th for the Pioneer Classic tournament.
NWBA Top Twenty Rankings, December 20, 2013
1) Dallas Wheelchair Mavericks
2) Milwaukee Wheelchair Bucks
3) New York Rollin Knicks
4) Austin (TX) Rec’ers
5) University of Arizona Wildcats-Men
6) Golden State (CA) Road Warriors
7) Utah Wheelin’ Jazz
8) Shepherd (Atlanta) Stealers
9) San Diego Sabres
10) Orlando Magic Wheels
11) Albuquerque Kings
12) RIC (Chicago) Hornets
13) Phoenix Banner Wheelchair Suns
14) Charlottesville (VA) Cardinals
15) Grand Rapids (MN) Pacers
16) Las Vegas Silver Bandits
17) Keystone (PA) Royals
18) Chicago Wheelchair Bulls
19) Oklahoma City Thunder
20) Minnesota Timberwolves