Great Falls, Mont. – Both University of Providence basketball teams were named one of the top 25 teams in the nation when the NAIA Division I Basketball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Polls came out Wednesday morning.
The men's basketball team is ranked 12th, while the women's team is ranked 17th.

The men, who were previously voted as the preseason #1 team in the Frontier Conference, play their first games this weekend when they take on the University of Lethbridge and the University of Calgary.

"We realize it's a preseason poll," head coach Steve Keller said. "Everyone says they don't matter, but they do because if you're in the top 25 in the last poll, you're going to the national tournament. We wanted to turn this program around. We think that our program is getting a little respect from the national raters. Now we have to show up and prove that we're worthy of that ranking."

Sitting at the 12 spot, the Argos are the highest ranked Frontier Conference team in the poll. Montana State Northern is ranked #19 in the poll while Lewis and Clark State is 23rd. Carroll College received votes, but wasn't ranked.

"If this poll was used as the last poll, the conference would have four teams going to Kansas City," Keller said. "We're real happy with that. The more teams that we get in the tournament the better. We know how good these teams are. Our league is going to be tough."

The women's team is coming off a 103-60 blowout win over Mount Royal on Friday. Though the game had no impact on the raters, the team was still expecting a decent ranking. 

 "I was pleased with where we came out," head coach Bill Himmelberg said. "With what we have returning and how we did last year, it was about where I was expecting."

The women's team is ranked 17th, one spot higher than fellow Frontier Conference member Rocky Mountain. Both teams trail Carroll College, who was voted 7th. Both Lewis and Clark State and Montana Western received votes, but weren't ranked.

 "Five teams getting votes, three ranked. It's kind of what's expected," Himmelberg said. "Overall our conference gets a lot of respect around the country. It's earned because of all the wins we've gotten over the last few years."

Despite the ranking, the team's mindset remains unchanged.

"It doesn't really affect anything that we're doing," he said. "The recognition is nice for the fans and coaches to look at, but it doesn't mean anything at all. We have to go out and win games and take care of business."