After a tough win against the University of Rochester this past Sunday to bring their winning streak to 32, the Yeshiva University Maccabees came in ranked as the #6 Division III basketball program in the nation, in the D3Hoops.com poll released on Monday, February 22nd. This is the highest-ever ranking in program history for Yeshiva.
“We just try to win every day”, said Coach Elliot Steinmetz. “Rankings are nice but they’re just numbers. We are after letters. W’s. It’s nice to be recognized and our guys deserve it, but it’s their focus on the team wins that get them there.”
Indeed, it has been the wins that have gotten the Macs to where they are. About 13 months ago, Yeshiva achieved their first-ever D3Hoops.com ranking, placing #24 after starting the season 14-1. As the season progressed, and the Macs continued to add to their historic winning streak, the team slowly rose in the rankings, climbing all the way to #13 before the NCAA Tournament started. Following the two tournament wins (and the subsequent canceling of the tournament), the Maccabees were awarded their then-highest ever ranking as the #8 team in the nation in the D3Hoops.com end-of-season rankings, finishing the campaign with a 29-1 record.
Last week, after starting the season with two wins against Manhattanville College, the Macs were again ranked by D3Hoops.com as the #8 team in the country.
“It’s nice to be recognized, but it doesn’t mean much. It’s just a number. It’s a poll with coaches’ opinions”, Captain Gabe Leifer stated. “We believe we can be the number 1 ranked team...we believe we can beat any team on any night. We believe given the opportunity we should end number 1.”