INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Both the Valdosta State men's and women's basketball teams are under consideration in the initial NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Basketball South Region Rankings, announced Wednesday by the NCAA. 
 
The first regional poll lists teams that are under-consideration in alphabetical order.  In subsequent weeks, the teams will be ranked with the second ranking scheduled for Feb. 22 and the third on Mar. 1, prior to the NCAA Selection Show announcement on Mar. 5.
 
The top eight teams in the South Region will take part in the Regional Tournament, Mar. 10-13 (women's) and Mar. 11-14 (men's) at the top overall seed per gender.  The winners of the three conference tournaments (Gulf South, Sunshine State, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) will receive an automatic berth in the postseason with the remaining five spots per gender being filled by at-large selections.
 
The official announcements of the 64-team NCAA Division II Championship men's and women's fields will be made known in the evening of Mar. 5 on NCAA.com.  The 2023 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Elite Eight will take place in Evansville, Ind., Mar. 21-25.  For the women, the 2023 NCAA Division II Elite Eight and semifinal rounds will take place in St. Joseph, Mo., with the national championship game on Apr. 1 in Dallas, Texas, as part of the NCAA Division I Women's Final Four.  
 
In the initial rankings on the men's side, Alabama Huntsville, Embry-Riddle, Florida Southern, Florida Tech, Lee, Nova Southeastern, Tuskegee, Valdosta State, West Alabama and West Georgia.  On the women's side, Eckerd, Lee, Lynn, Nova Southeastern, Savannah State, Tampa, Tuskegee, Union, Valdosta State and West Florida are being considered.  
 
The Blazers and the Lady Blazers host Montevallo Thursday evening at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at The Complex and then are scheduled to close the 2022-23 home slate on Saturday at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. in a doubleheader with Auburn Montgomery for Senior Day.