Thunder reigns in first '09 poll

Wheaton (Ill.) became the third No. 1 men's team in as many polls as the Thunder climbed into the top spot in this week's D3hoops.com Top 25.

The Thunder, who finished their non-conference schedule 11-0, including a 130-109 win at Grinnell in Saturday's action, received 16 first-place votes. Wheaton's path to No. 1 was opened when the previous top men's team, UW-Platteville, lost by a bucket at St. Norbert.

Wheaton hosts Illinois Wesleyan on Wednesday and travels to North Park on Saturday, beginning its CCIW schedule. The full D3hoops.com Top 25.

&&g-boxr&&St. Thomas came in at No. 2, receiving four No. 1 votes. Defending champion Washington U. was third with a pair of No. 1 nods, while UW-Platteville followed and had the remaining three. Amherst rounds out the top five.

Rochester remains No. 1 in the women's poll, splitting the first-place votes with No. 2 Illinois Wesleyan, 13-10. No. 3 UW-Eau Claire has the other two No. 1 women's votes.

The D3hoops.com Top 25 polls are voted on by panels of 25 coaches, Sports Information Directors and media members from across the country, and are published weekly.