Warriors up to 4th in the Nation

Ottumwa -- The bulls-eye on the uniforms of Barret Peery's Indian Hills Warriors just got a little bit larger with the Warriors moving up to fourth in the latest NJCAA basketball poll.

Indian Hills was rated 9th in the preseason poll and, thanks to a 6-0 start to their season, moved up five places in the first regular-season poll.

Coach Peery had said of the preseason ranking, "I’m excited to know that people recognize the hard work that we have put in to build this team so quickly. There will be pressure on us from Day 1 with a bulls-eye on our chest.”

Monroe College from New York is the No. 1 team in the latest poll, ascending to the top spot from their No. 2 preseason rating after downing preseason-No.1 College of Southern Idaho in the first weekend of the regular season.

Coffeyville (KS) CC is second and Palm Beach State College is third. Another Florida school, Northwest Florida State, is ranked right behind the Warriors at No. 5.

The next IHCC opponent, Three Rivers CC, slipped from 10th to 19th in the latest poll. The Warriors and Raiders will battle on Friday in the opening game of the Bob Sechrest Memorial Classic at Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Missouri. Indian Hills will take on Mineral Area on Saturday night. This weekend's contests mark the start of a stretch of four straight games on the road for the Warriors. Five of their first six wins have come on their home court.

Two future opponents of Indian Hills are in this week's Top 20. Howard (TX) College is No. 10. The Warriors will host Howard in the PCS Classic on Dec. 10. Vincennes University of Indiana, whom the Warriors will play at home on Jan. 3 and in Indiana on Feb. 7, is rated 14th.

Missouri State-West Plains, another future home-and-home foe of the Warriors, and conference rival Southeastern CC both received votes, but not enough to make it into the Top 20.