The Lincoln men's basketball team received some good news Wednesday.
If the season ended right then and there, the Blue Tigers would be in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
Lincoln (16-9) was tabbed with the No. 8 ranking in the Central Region, the first regional rankings announced since early December.
The top eight teams in each of the eight regions qualify for the NCAA Tournament, which begins March 16. The winner of each region advances to the national quarterfinals, which will be held this season at Evansville, Ind.
Northwest Missouri (25-0), the top-ranked team in Division II, holds the No. 1 spot in the Central Region, followed by second-seeded Washburn (19-5), another Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association team.
Northern State (20-6), St. Cloud State (19-7) and Missouri Southern (21-5) round out the top five in the region. Southern Nazarene (22-4) is sixth, followed by Minnesota State Mankato (17-9) at No. 7. Wayne State (Neb.) (18-8) is No. 9 behind Lincoln and Southern Arkansas (18-6) rounds out the top 10.
Only the top eight teams from each region make the national tournament. The final regional rankings will be announced following the conclusion of the conference postseason tournaments.
Lincoln last made the NCAA Tournament in 1981.
The Blue Tigers, who have lost their last four games, will host Washburn at 3 p.m. Saturday at Jason Gym. In their previous meeting Jan. 31 in Topeka, Kan., Lincoln won 75-73.