Oregon Tech's Justin Parnell (25) leads an Oregon Tech team which is ranked in the NAIA's Top 25 for the 52nd consecutive poll.
C of I, OIT Lead 4 CCC Teams in NAIA Top 25
PORTLAND, Ore. – Four Cascade Collegiate Conference men’s basketball programs, led by CCC favorite College of Idaho, are ranked among the top 25 in the
NAIA Division II men’s basketball preseason poll released Monday.
The Yotes, looking for their first CCC regular season title since the 2003-04 season, are rated eighth nationally. College of Idaho is expected to be led by 6-8 senior forward Craig McGee, an honorable mention NAIA All-American last season who averaged 16 points, 9.1 rebounds and shot better than 56 percent from the field. He is joined on the front line by 6-8 senior forward Jabari McIntosh, a member of the CCC’s All-Defensive Team who averaged 5.7 points and 3.8 rebounds in addition to blocking 48 shots in 2008-09. The other returning starter is senior guard Kelvin Potts, who averaged 10.2 points and 3.6 assists.
Oregon Tech, a two-time NAIA national champion, is rated 11th after going 29-6 and advancing to the Sweet 16 a year ago. Warner Pacific, which has made four consecutive appearances in the national tournament, is ranked 18th. Evergreen, which advanced to last year’s national tournament and is led by CCC Preseason Player of the Year and returning first team All-American Nate Menefee, is ranked 22nd.
Eastern Oregon, which has won or shared the last two CCC regular season crowns, polled 11 points but did not crack the Top 25.
The CCC’s 18th season of men’s basketball tips off Tuesday night when Eastern Oregon faces Walla Walla University.