Starting Block: What's Ahead For Newcomers Mercyhurst and West Georgia?
November 3rd, 2024 - 8:06
Five years ago, Merrimack (2019-20) joined South Dakota (2008-09) as the only NCAA Division I newcomers in the last 36 seasons to reach the 20-win plateau in its inaugural campaign. How will newbies Mercyhurst (Pa.) and West Georgia fare this campaign in their inaugural campaign at DI level?
Only 11 of the first 51 schools (including Queens NC two years ago) 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 previous 42 newcomers was 10-18. 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, subsequently known as Louisiana-Lafayette and University of Louisiana, became the only school ever to finish in Top 10 of final DI rankings the year after placing in Top 10 of final Division II poll. The Ragin' Cajuns were one of three schools from the Pelican State to win at least 80% of their games in inaugural campaign at DI level in the 1970s (joined by Southern and McNeese State). 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. Larry Fogle (transferred to Canisius), Fred Saunders (Syracuse) and Robert Wilson (Iowa State) - three of USL's top four rebounders in 1972-73 - were immediately eligible at other schools the next season, combining for 59.4 ppg and 32.6 rpg in 1973-74 when Fogle became the last sophomore to lead nation in scoring in the 20th Century (Griffs-record 33.4 ppg).
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 |
| Merrimack (Mass.) | 2019-20 | 20 | 11 | .645 |
| Bellarmine (Tenn.) | 2020-21 | 14 | 8 | .636 |
| 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 |
| Incarnate Word (Tex.) | 2014-15 | 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 New Orleans (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 |
| Queens (N.C.) | 2022-23 | 18 | 15 | .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 (Idaho) | 1971-72 | 14 | 12 | .538 |
| Central Michigan | 1973-74 | 14 | 12 | .538 |
| UNC Charlotte | 1972-73 | 14 | 12 | .538 |
| West Texas State | 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 |
| California Baptist | 2018-19 | 16 | 15 | .516 |
| Catholic (D.C.) | 1976-77 | 13 | 13 | .500 |
| Centenary (La.) | 1959-60 | 12 | 12 | .500 |
| Grand Canyon (Ariz.) | 2013-14 | 15 | 15 | .500 |
| Saint Peter's (N.J.) | 1964-65 | 10 | 10 | .500 |
| Tarleton State (Tex.) | 2020-21 | 10 | 10 | .500 |
| Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | 1999-00 | 13 | 13 | .500 |
| Texas Tech | 1950-51 | 14 | 14 | .500 |
| Vermont | 1961-62 | 12 | 12 | .500 |
| Southern Indiana | 2022-23 | 16 | 17 | .485 |
| 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 |
| Le Moyne (N.Y.) | 2023-24 | 15 | 17 | .469 |
| 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 |
| Stonehill (Mass.) | 2022-23 | 14 | 17 | .452 |
| 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 University (D.C.) | 1973-74 | 11 | 15 | .423 |
| West Chester State (Pa.) | 1973-74 | 11 | 15 | .423 |
| Grambling State (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 |
| UC San Diego | 2020-21 | 7 | 10 | .412 |
| Elon (N.C.) | 1998-99 | 11 | 16 | .407 |
| IUPUI (Ind.) | 1998-99 | 11 | 16 | .407 |
| Northern Kentucky | 2012-13 | 11 | 16 | .407 |
| Delaware | 1957-58 | 8 | 12 | .400 |
| Texas-El Paso | 1950-51 | 10 | 15 | .400 |
| Texas A&M-Commerce | 2022-23 | 13 | 20 | .394 |
| Albany (N.Y.) | 1999-00 | 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 |
| Dixie State/Utah Tech | 2020-21 | 8 | 13 | .381 |
| 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 |
| UMass Lowell | 2013-14 | 10 | 18 | .357 |
| Southern Utah | 1988-89 | 10 | 18 | .357 |
| Nebraska-Omaha | 2012-13 | 11 | 20 | .355 |
| 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 |
| Lindenwood (Mo.) | 2022-23 | 11 | 21 | .344 |
| 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 |
| St. Thomas (Minn.) | 2021-22 | 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 |
| North Alabama | 2018-19 | 10 | 22 | .312 |
| 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 |
| IU PU-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.) | 1999-00 | 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 |
| Gardner-Webb (N.C.) | 2002-03 | 5 | 24 | .172 |
| 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.) | 1999-00 | 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 tragic plane crash.