RMAC Tourney becomes do or die for Pack

Related: NCAA Division II Central Region Rankings (May 5, 2010)

DENVER - Wednesday, the ThunderWolves received some of the worst news of the season.

After being ranked in the NCAA Division II Central Region's top eight all season long, meaning it would likely be one of eight teams in the region to claim a national tournament berth, CSU-Pueblo found itself ranked not only outside the top eight, but outside the top ten in the last regional rankings to be released prior to Regional Tournament selections being announced May 10.

Last week, CSU-Pueblo was ranked eighth in the region, but lost five of their final seven games.  The ThunderWolves lost three of four to Western New Mexico, which handed the RMAC West Division title to the Mustangs on the final day of the regular season, as well as allowed Western New Mexico to leapfrog CSU-Pueblo in the regional rankings.  Western New Mexico is now eighth.

The development of the Pack's regional standing, therefore, puts CSU-Pueblo in the position of likely having to win the entire RMAC Tournament - thereby claiming the RMAC's automatic bid to the Regional Tournament.  CSU-Pueblo begins play in the RMAC Tournament Thursday morning when it faces Chadron State at 9:30 a.m. at Regis University.  The ThunderWolves are the three-seed in the eight-team tournament.