Starting Block: UNO and NKU See Marks Trending South in Division I Debuts
June 25th, 2012 - 22:06
What's in store for new Summit League member Nebraska-Omaha as the Mavericks brace for their inaugural season at the NCAA Division I level? Ditto for new Atlantic Sun member Northern Kentucky. Only five of the first 28 schools moving up to compete at DI in the 21st Century posted a winning record in their debut campaign. The average first-year mark for the last 28 newcomers is 9-19.
In 2008-09, South Dakota became the only school to reach the 20-win plateau in its first DI season since Stephen F. Austin achieved the feat in 1986-87. Eight of the nine best first-year seasons occurred in the 1970s when 40 of the 70 institutions elevating their programs to DI during the decade promptly posted winning records.
In 1971-72, Southwestern Louisiana, now known as Louisiana-Lafayette, became the only school ever to finish in the Top 10 of the final DI rankings the year after finishing in the Top 10 of the final Division II poll. But it wasn't long before USL was prohibited from fielding a formal team for two seasons (1973-74 and 1974-75) as part of an NCAA probation.
Alabama State (22-6 in 1982-83) is the only school since the 1970s to win more than three-fourths of its games in its DI debut campaign. Following is a first-year summary of schools moving up to the major-college ranks after the initial season of NCAA classification in 1947-48:
| School Moving Up to DI | Season | W. | L. | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland-Eastern Shore | 1973-74 | 27 | 2 | .931 |
| Oral Roberts (Okla.) | 1971-72 | 26 | 2 | .929 |
| Southwestern Louisiana | 1971-72 | 23 | 3 | .885 |
| Seattle | 1952-53 | 29 | 4 | .879 |
| Old Dominion (Va.) | 1976-77 | 25 | 4 | .862 |
| Long Beach State | 1969-70 | 24 | 5 | .828 |
| Hawaii | 1970-71 | 23 | 5 | .821 |
| Southern (La.) | 1977-78 | 23 | 5 | .821 |
| McNeese State (La.) | 1973-74 | 20 | 5 | .800 |
| Jackson State (Miss.) | 1977-78 | 19 | 5 | .792 |
| Alabama State | 1982-83 | 22 | 6 | .786 |
| Alcorn State (Miss.) | 1977-78 | 22 | 7 | .759 |
| Idaho State | 1958-59 | 21 | 7 | .750 |
| Memphis State | 1955-56 | 20 | 7 | .741 |
| Air Force | 1957-58 | 17 | 6 | .739 |
| Stephen F. Austin (Tex.) | 1986-87 | 22 | 8 | .733 |
| Georgia Southern | 1973-74 | 19 | 7 | .731 |
| Northeastern (Mass.) | 1972-73 | 19 | 7 | .731 |
| Virginia Commonwealth | 1973-74 | 17 | 7 | .708 |
| College of Charleston (S.C.) | 1991-92 | 19 | 8 | .704 |
| Miami (Fla.) | 1948-49 | 19 | 8 | .704 |
| New Orleans | 1975-76 | 18 | 8 | .692 |
| South Dakota | 2008-09 | 20 | 9 | .690 |
| George Mason (Va.) | 1978-79 | 17 | 8 | .680 |
| Weber State (Utah) | 1963-64 | 17 | 8 | .680 |
| American (D.C.) | 1966-67 | 16 | 8 | .667 |
| Fairfield (Conn.) | 1964-65 | 14 | 7 | .667 |
| Florida A&M | 1978-79 | 18 | 9 | .667 |
| Mercer (Ga.) | 1973-74 | 16 | 8 | .667 |
| Tennessee Tech | 1955-56 | 14 | 7 | .667 |
| Morehead State (Ky.) | 1955-56 | 19 | 10 | .655 |
| James Madison (Va.) | 1976-77 | 17 | 9 | .654 |
| Northwestern State (La.) | 1976-77 | 17 | 9 | .654 |
| UNLV | 1969-70 | 17 | 9 | .654 |
| Abilene Christian (Tex.) | 1970-71 | 15 | 9 | .625 |
| Arkansas State | 1970-71 | 15 | 9 | .625 |
| Drexel (Pa.) | 1973-74 | 15 | 9 | .625 |
| Lamar (Tex.) | 1969-70 | 15 | 9 | .625 |
| Massachusetts | 1961-62 | 15 | 9 | .625 |
| Northern Colorado | 1973-74 | 15 | 9 | .625 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 1963-64 | 18 | 11 | .621 |
| Delaware State | 1973-74 | 18 | 11 | .621 |
| Illinois State | 1971-72 | 16 | 10 | .615 |
| North Carolina A&T | 1973-74 | 16 | 10 | .615 |
| UNC-Wilmington | 1976-77 | 16 | 10 | .615 |
| Northeast Louisiana | 1973-74 | 16 | 10 | .615 |
| Texas Southern | 1977-78 | 16 | 10 | .615 |
| Austin Peay (Tenn.) | 1963-64 | 14 | 9 | .609 |
| Southern Mississippi | 1968-69 | 15 | 10 | .600 |
| Chattanooga | 1977-78 | 16 | 11 | .593 |
| Chicago State | 1984-85 | 16 | 11 | .593 |
| Wright State (Ohio) | 1987-88 | 16 | 11 | .593 |
| Loyola (La.) | 1951-52 | 20 | 14 | .588 |
| Los Angeles State | 1970-71 | 15 | 11 | .577 |
| UNC Asheville | 1986-87 | 15 | 11 | .577 |
| San Jose State | 1952-53 | 15 | 11 | .577 |
| UAB | 1978-79 | 15 | 11 | .577 |
| New Mexico State | 1950-51 | 19 | 14 | .576 |
| Kentucky Wesleyan | 1956-57 | 16 | 12 | .571 |
| North Dakota | 2008-09 | 16 | 12 | .571 |
| North Dakota State | 2005-06 | 16 | 12 | .571 |
| Radford (Va.) | 1984-85 | 16 | 12 | .571 |
| Sam Houston State (Tex.) | 1986-87 | 16 | 12 | .571 |
| Utah Valley | 2004-05 | 16 | 12 | .571 |
| East Tennessee State | 1958-59 | 13 | 10 | .565 |
| East Carolina | 1964-65 | 12 | 10 | .545 |
| Cal State Fullerton | 1974-75 | 13 | 11 | .542 |
| New Mexico | 1950-51 | 13 | 11 | .542 |
| Southern Illinois | 1967-68 | 13 | 11 | .542 |
| Boise State | 1971-72 | 14 | 12 | .538 |
| Central Michigan | 1973-74 | 14 | 12 | .538 |
| UNC Charlotte | 1972-73 | 14 | 12 | .538 |
| West Texas | 1950-51 | 14 | 12 | .538 |
| Wisconsin-Milwaukee | 1973-74 | 14 | 12 | .538 |
| Oklahoma City | 1950-51 | 16 | 14 | .533 |
| Iona (N.Y.) | 1953-54 | 11 | 10 | .524 |
| Corpus Christi (Tex.) | 1972-73 | 13 | 12 | .520 |
| Belmont (Tenn.) | 1998-99 | 14 | 13 | .519 |
| Eastern Illinois | 1981-82 | 14 | 13 | .519 |
| Illinois-Chicago | 1981-82 | 14 | 13 | .519 |
| Southeastern Louisiana | 1980-81 | 14 | 13 | .519 |
| Western Illinois | 1981-82 | 14 | 13 | .519 |
| Wisconsin-Green Bay | 1981-82 | 14 | 13 | .519 |
| Cal State Bakersfield | 2006-07 | 15 | 14 | .517 |
| Gonzaga (Wash.) | 1952-53 | 15 | 14 | .517 |
| Catholic (D.C.) | 1976-77 | 13 | 13 | .500 |
| Centenary (La.) | 1959-60 | 12 | 12 | .500 |
| Saint Peter's (N.J.) | 1964-65 | 10 | 10 | .500 |
| Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | 1999-2000 | 13 | 13 | .500 |
| Texas Tech | 1950-51 | 14 | 14 | .500 |
| Vermont | 1961-62 | 12 | 12 | .500 |
| Murray State (Ky.) | 1953-54 | 15 | 16 | .484 |
| Troy State (Ala.) | 1993-94 | 13 | 14 | .481 |
| Hofstra (N.Y.) | 1966-67 | 12 | 13 | .480 |
| Tennessee State | 1977-78 | 11 | 12 | .478 |
| Regis (Colo.) | 1961-62 | 10 | 11 | .476 |
| Bethune-Cookman (Fla.) | 1980-81 | 13 | 15 | .464 |
| Hardin-Simmons (Tex.) | 1950-51 | 13 | 15 | .464 |
| South Carolina State | 1973-74 | 13 | 15 | .464 |
| Southwest Missouri State | 1982-83 | 13 | 15 | .464 |
| Marist (N.Y.) | 1981-82 | 12 | 14 | .462 |
| San Diego State | 1970-71 | 12 | 14 | .462 |
| Maine | 1961-62 | 11 | 13 | .458 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson (N.J.) | 1967-68 | 10 | 12 | .455 |
| Mount St. Mary's (Md.) | 1988-89 | 12 | 15 | .444 |
| Oakland (Mich.) | 1998-99 | 12 | 15 | .444 |
| South Florida | 1973-74 | 11 | 14 | .440 |
| Coastal Carolina (S.C.) | 1986-87 | 12 | 16 | .429 |
| Maryland-Baltimore County | 1986-87 | 12 | 16 | .429 |
| Southeast Missouri State | 1991-92 | 12 | 16 | .429 |
| Howard (D.C.) | 1973-74 | 11 | 15 | .423 |
| West Chester (Pa.) | 1973-74 | 11 | 15 | .423 |
| Grambling (La.) | 1977-78 | 10 | 14 | .417 |
| Northern Illinois | 1967-68 | 10 | 14 | .417 |
| Saint Francis (Pa.) | 1955-56 | 10 | 14 | .417 |
| Kennesaw State (Ga.) | 2005-06 | 12 | 17 | .414 |
| Elon (N.C.) | 1998-99 | 11 | 16 | .407 |
| IUPUI (Ind.) | 1998-99 | 11 | 16 | .407 |
| Delaware | 1957-58 | 8 | 12 | .400 |
| Texas-El Paso | 1950-51 | 10 | 15 | .400 |
| Albany (N.Y.) | 1999-2000 | 11 | 17 | .393 |
| UC Davis | 2004-05 | 11 | 17 | .393 |
| Houston | 1950-51 | 11 | 17 | .393 |
| Cleveland State | 1972-73 | 9 | 14 | .391 |
| High Point (N.C.) | 1998-99 | 10 | 16 | .385 |
| Louisiana Tech | 1973-74 | 8 | 13 | .381 |
| Ball State (Ind.) | 1971-72 | 9 | 15 | .375 |
| Campbell (N.C.) | 1977-78 | 9 | 15 | .375 |
| Rider (N.J.) | 1967-68 | 9 | 15 | .375 |
| Alabama A&M | 1998-99 | 10 | 17 | .370 |
| Coppin State (Md.) | 1985-86 | 10 | 17 | .370 |
| Jacksonville State (Ala.) | 1995-96 | 10 | 17 | .370 |
| Liberty (Va.) | 1988-89 | 10 | 17 | .370 |
| Central Florida | 1984-85 | 10 | 18 | .357 |
| Southern Utah | 1988-89 | 10 | 18 | .357 |
| Florida State | 1956-57 | 9 | 17 | .346 |
| Fresno State | 1955-56 | 9 | 17 | .346 |
| Hampton (Va.) | 1995-96 | 9 | 17 | .346 |
| Loyola Marymount (Calif.) | 1949-50 | 9 | 17 | .346 |
| Middle Tennessee State | 1958-59 | 9 | 17 | .346 |
| Pacific (Calif.) | 1953-54 | 9 | 17 | .346 |
| Towson State (Md.) | 1979-80 | 9 | 17 | .346 |
| Central Arkansas | 2006-07 | 10 | 20 | .333 |
| Missouri-Kansas City | 1987-88 | 9 | 18 | .333 |
| Quinnipiac (Conn.) | 1998-99 | 9 | 18 | .333 |
| SIU-Edwardsville | 2008-09 | 10 | 20 | .333 |
| U.S. International (Calif.) | 1981-82 | 9 | 18 | .333 |
| Western Carolina | 1976-77 | 8 | 16 | .333 |
| Florida Gulf Coast | 2007-08 | 10 | 21 | .323 |
| Binghamton (N.Y.) | 2001-02 | 9 | 19 | .321 |
| Florida International | 1987-88 | 9 | 19 | .321 |
| Portland State | 1972-73 | 9 | 19 | .321 |
| UC Irvine | 1977-78 | 8 | 17 | .320 |
| UC Riverside | 2000-01 | 8 | 17 | .320 |
| Jacksonville (Fla.) | 1966-67 | 8 | 17 | .320 |
| Texas-Pan American | 1968-69 | 8 | 17 | .320 |
| Portland | 1953-54 | 6 | 13 | .316 |
| South Dakota State | 2005-06 | 9 | 20 | .310 |
| Eastern Michigan | 1973-74 | 8 | 18 | .308 |
| Texas-Arlington | 1968-69 | 8 | 18 | .308 |
| Arizona State | 1950-51 | 8 | 19 | .296 |
| Northern Arizona | 1950-51 | 8 | 19 | .296 |
| Northern Iowa | 1980-81 | 8 | 19 | .296 |
| Texas-San Antonio | 1981-82 | 8 | 19 | .296 |
| South Alabama | 1971-72 | 7 | 17 | .292 |
| Augusta (Ga.) | 1984-85 | 8 | 20 | .286 |
| Cal State Northridge | 1990-91 | 8 | 20 | .286 |
| Winthrop (S.C.) | 1986-87 | 8 | 20 | .286 |
| Central Connecticut State | 1986-87 | 8 | 21 | .276 |
| Bryant (R.I.) | 2001-02 | 7 | 19 | .269 |
| Providence | 1948-49 | 7 | 19 | .269 |
| Robert Morris (Pa.) | 1976-77 | 7 | 19 | .269 |
| Tennessee-Martin | 1992-93 | 7 | 19 | .269 |
| Evansville (Ind.)* | 1977-78 | 1 | 3 | .250 |
| Hartford (Conn.) | 1984-85 | 7 | 21 | .250 |
| IUPU-Fort Wayne (Ind.) | 2001-02 | 7 | 21 | .250 |
| UNC-Greensboro | 1991-92 | 7 | 21 | .250 |
| Houston Baptist | 1973-74 | 6 | 19 | .240 |
| Trinity (Tex.) | 1970-71 | 5 | 16 | .238 |
| South Carolina Upstate | 2007-08 | 7 | 23 | .233 |
| Arkansas-Little Rock | 1978-79 | 6 | 20 | .231 |
| Southwest Texas State | 1984-85 | 6 | 20 | .231 |
| Stetson (Fla.) | 1971-72 | 6 | 20 | .231 |
| Lipscomb (Tenn.) | 2001-02 | 6 | 21 | .222 |
| Monmouth (N.J.) | 1983-84 | 6 | 21 | .222 |
| Norfolk State (Va.) | 1997-98 | 6 | 21 | .222 |
| Armstrong State (Ga.) | 1986-87 | 6 | 22 | .214 |
| Nicholls State (La.) | 1980-81 | 6 | 22 | .214 |
| North Florida | 2005-06 | 6 | 22 | .214 |
| Stony Brook (N.Y.) | 1999-2000 | 6 | 23 | .207 |
| Appalachian State (N.C.) | 1973-74 | 5 | 20 | .200 |
| Baptist (S.C.) | 1974-75 | 4 | 16 | .200 |
| Buffalo | 1973-74 | 5 | 20 | .200 |
| Samford (Ala.) | 1972-73 | 5 | 20 | .200 |
| San Diego | 1979-80 | 5 | 20 | .200 |
| Longwood (Va.) | 2003-04 | 5 | 22 | .185 |
| New Jersey Institute of Tech | 2006-07 | 5 | 24 | .172 |
| Winston-Salem State (N.C.) | 2006-07 | 5 | 24 | .172 |
| Presbyterian (S.C.) | 2007-08 | 5 | 25 | .167 |
| Baltimore | 1978-79 | 4 | 21 | .160 |
| Savannah State (Ga.) | 2000-01 | 4 | 21 | .160 |
| Eastern Washington | 1983-84 | 4 | 22 | .154 |
| Utica (N.Y.) | 1981-82 | 4 | 22 | .154 |
| Wofford (S.C.) | 1995-96 | 4 | 22 | .154 |
| Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 1997-98 | 4 | 23 | .148 |
| Cal State Sacramento | 1991-92 | 4 | 24 | .143 |
| North Texas State | 1957-58 | 3 | 18 | .143 |
| North Carolina Central | 2007-08 | 4 | 26 | .133 |
| New Hampshire | 1961-62 | 3 | 20 | .130 |
| Wagner (N.Y.) | 1976-77 | 3 | 21 | .125 |
| Florida Atlantic | 1993-94 | 3 | 24 | .111 |
| Mississippi Valley State | 1979-80 | 3 | 24 | .111 |
| Morgan State (Md.) | 1984-85 | 3 | 25 | .107 |
| Sacred Heart (Conn.) | 1999-2000 | 3 | 25 | .107 |
| Prairie View A&M (Tex.) | 1980-81 | 2 | 22 | .083 |
| Pepperdine (Calif.) | 1955-56 | 2 | 24 | .077 |
| Northeastern Illinois | 1990-91 | 2 | 25 | .074 |
| Georgia State | 1973-74 | 1 | 25 | .038 |
| Cal Poly | 1994-95 | 1 | 26 | .037 |
*Evansville had an abbreviated schedule because of a plane crash.