The Peacock men's basketball team has risen to No. 13 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches NCAA Division II Top 25 and No. 16 in the D2SIDA Division II Media Poll. In the last edition of each poll, Upper Iowa was ranked No. 24 in the NABC poll and was receiving votes in the D2SIDA poll.

Prior to the holiday break, Upper Iowa posted a great 3-0 week that included wins over Maryville University, No. 23 Augustana University and Wayne State College. The three victories pushed the Peacocks' record to 12-1 overall and 6-1 in the Northern Sun Conference; UIU stands in first place in the NSIC South Division heading into the holiday break.
 
The ranking this week marks the third time that UIU has been in the top 25 for the NABC poll including No. 24 from Dec. 14-27 and No. 19 from Nov. 30-6 after the Peacocks defeated No. 2 Truman State University on Nov. 27.
 
The Bulldogs of the University of Minnesota Duluth, a fellow NSIC-member, joins Upper Iowa in the rankings at No. 9 in the NABC poll and No. 6 in the D2SIDA poll. Augustana dropped out of the top 25, but are still receiving votes earning 17 points in both the NABC and D2SIDA polls.

D2SIDA also releases a Division II Media Top 25 Poll and regional polls. UIU is ranked third in the Central Region after moving from fifth two weeks ago.

Upper Iowa will reopen their schedule in the New Year with a road game at Winona State University on Jan. 2 at 1:30 p.m. The Peacocks will stay on the road for games at the University of Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State University on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 7-8 before returning home to Dorman Memorial Gymansium. UIU will host St. Cloud State University and the No. 9/6 University of Minnesota Duluth on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 14-15.