The DII college basketball seasons are creeping towards conference tournaments, while baseball and softball are entering conference play. Things are heating up, and that means there is plenty to keep tabs on each and every weekend.
📊 The latest DII women's basketball Power 10 rankings
It is nearly impossible to watch every game and match, especially during crossover season in the thick of a tournament race. Each week, we'll try to narrow it down and bring you some of the most important games to watch. Grab the popcorn, as this weekend has some good conference rivalries and top 25 showdowns.
What Wayne’s watching: Feb. 20-22
DII men’s lacrosse
Pace at Molloy, Feb. 21. This is a pair of nationally ranked teams and a rematch of last year’s DII men’s lacrosse championship first round thriller, which Molloy won 15-14. This will be the Setters' first game of the season, and they will be led by Will Danowski, Brian Brennan and Chris Butler, who each picked up preseason All-American honors. The Lions enter the rematch 0-1 after falling to Southern New Hampshire in their opener. They, too, are led by a trio of preseason All-Americans in Brian Greene, Rocco Hogan and Aiden Dinnigan. This should be a solid battle.
Florida Tech at North Greenville, Feb. 21. This is a big one for the Trailblazers. North Greenville was in both the preseason and Week 1 USILA polls but have since dropped out with stunning losses to Anderson (SC) and Montevallo. A win against these No. 9-ranked Panthers could get the momentum back and sneak the Blazers back into the rankings. It is also a must-win for Florida Tech. The Panthers are 2-1 and have played three ranked teams in a row to start the season. A big victory over North Greenville will give the Panthers plenty of momentum moving forward.
DII women’s lacrosse
Maryville (MO) at Regis, Feb. 20. This is the season opener for No. 14 Regis. The Rangers enter the season after making it to the second round of the tournament last year and will be led by preseason All-Americans, midfielder Shea Murphy and keeper Brigit Goetsch. Maryville is 2-0 and has outscored its opponents 40-10. Paige Murphy has scored 16 goals on 24 shots — including the second 10-goal game of her brilliant career — after back-to-back 100-goal seasons.
UIndy vs. Florida Southern, Feb. 21. The Greyhounds are the new No. 1 in DII women’s lacrosse, which makes this a tremendous top-5 showdown early in the season. UIndy captured the No. 1 spot after taking down then-No. 1 Tampa, 10-6. The six goals were the lowest output by the Spartans since 2024. The Mocs come in at 2-0 with wins over nationally ranked Wingate and Lynn, totaling 24 goals. The Greyhounds look to slay yet another SSC foe in Huntsville, Ala. on neutral turf.
DII men’s basketball
UVA Wise at Anderson (SC), Feb. 21. The Trojans are amid a historical season, sitting at 22-2 and currently No. 8 in DII. UVA Wise is an under-the-radar team, but don’t be fooled by the Cavaliers’ seven losses. This is very much a tournament-bound and ready team. UVA Wise has wins over Florida Southern, Lenoir-Rhyne, Lander, Catawba and these very Trojans. Yoro Diallo, all 6-foot-9 of him, and 7-foot Evan Ramsey make things uncomfortable in the paint. The Trojans counter with a pair of dynamic scorers and defenders in Osmar Garcia-Araujo and Rashawn Inglemon. With Anderson coming off its second loss of the season, this is a big game for both with tournament implications on the line.
DII women’s basketball
Northern Michigan at Ferris State, Feb 21. Two top 25 teams. Two teams that appear to be tournament bound. Two teams from one of the toughest conferences at the top in DII women’s basketball this season. Ferris State leads the GLIAC in scoring at 79.7 points per game. Northern Michigan has the second-best scoring defense in the conference, allowing just 61.8 points per game. The Bulldogs' Mia Riley leads the GLIAC in scoring at 16.7 points per game. No one hits more 3s per game in the GLIAC than Northern Michigan’s Jacy Weisbrod. These are two of the top programs in DII in a game where every win from here on out matters. It should be a great one.
Fort Hays State at Pittsburg State, Feb 21. These two MIAA rivals have been among the top 25 for several seasons. However, Pittsburg State has lost three of its last seven and is in must-win territory, especially losing the first round of this bout back in December, 88-70. Fort Hays State is 23-2 and clinging to a half-game lead over Central Missouri in the MIAA. This is a great opportunity to get eyes on the Tigers' Talexa Weeter in a high-pressure situation. Weeter, DII’s leading scorer, is averaging 27.9 points per game and 52.5 percent shooting. She dropped 32 on Pittsburg State last time, one of 10 30-point performances for the sharpshooter this season.
DII baseball
Florida Southern at Rollins, Feb. 20-21. It’s not too early to call this a must-win series for each program. Both were projected tournament teams for 2026, and neither have gotten off to electric starts. The Mocs, who have played a brutal schedule, are 4-8, while Rollins is 6-4. If Florida Southern loses this series, the road ahead doesn’t get easier with Northwood, Flagler and Barry on the schedule the next few weeks. Keep an eye on Rollins’ Collin Hughes. The catcher has six multi-hit games in a row and could be the difference maker.
Lander at North Georgia, Feb. 20-22. A battle for the Peach Belt. Lander has finished atop the PBC in each of the past two seasons, and last year, North Georgia was right there with them. Both of these teams have moved forward with each of their previous head coaches leaving, and the Nighthawks have not missed a beat, rolling to a 10-2 start. Lander is 8-3 behind an impressive sweep of Mount Olive and midweek win over Belmont Abbey, so both of these teams can play some ball. The Bearcats’ Zach Cowart is scorching hot, already with seven multi-hit games in 2026, while the Nighthawks’ Kyle Robitzsch has been hitting seemingly everything thrown his way with two three-hit and two four-hit games already this season.
Mount Olive at Belmont Abbey, Feb. 20-21. This is a big one for Mount Olive. The Trojans are off to a 3-5 start; however, in a loaded Southeast Region, they have already suffered series losses to Lander and UNC Pembroke, with a loss to Wingate as well. Those are three teams sure to be in the tournament conversation come May. They need some meaningful wins to stay in the tournament picture quickly. It will be tough against these Crusaders. Belmont Abbey is coming off a weekend series win against Shorter in which they scored 66 runs in three games. This is a big one for the Conference Carolinas standings later in the year.
DII softball
Oklahoma Christian at West Texas A&M, Feb. 20. Here’s a big Lone Star battle between a pair of top-15 teams. West Texas A&M is 12-2 behind a potent offense leading the LSC in hitting (.384), runs (113), slugging percentage (.605) and on-base percentage (.464). This is also a matchup of the two best pitching rotations in the LSC. West Texas A&M, led by Brooke Janning and Laci Pesky, lead the LSC with a 1.59 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 83.2 innings pitched. Oklahoma Christian, powered in the circle by Jill Dixon, is second with a 2.33 ERA and 73 strikeouts. The Buffs are one of the most well-balanced teams in the division (also leading the LSC in fielding percentage) so a doubleheader win from the Eagles would speak volumes.
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