OIT, Northwest, EOU Earn Top 25 Rankings
PORTLAND, Ore. – Making its 64th consecutive appearance in the national rankings, Oregon Tech’s men’s basketball squad leads a contingent of Cascade Collegiate Conference teams listed in the NAIA Division II men’s basketball preseason Top 25, the national office announced Monday.
The Hustlin’ Owls, under the guidance of 40th-year coach Danny Miles, are rated ninth. OIT has appeared in every poll since mid-January 2005. OIT claimed national titles in 2004 and 2008.
CCC members joining Tech in the preseason listing are No. 16 Northwest University (Wash.) and No. 18 Eastern Oregon. College of Idaho and Warner Pacific (Ore.) received votes but did not break into the Top 25.
Last week, Oregon Tech was voted the preseason favorite to repeat as CCC champion in a poll of the conference’s head coaches. Northwest and Eastern Oregon were picked to finish second.
OIT is aiming for its 12th appearance in the national tournament. Eastern Oregon has advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in each of the last three seasons, and Northwest advanced to the national semifinals in its only previous appearance (2007).
Defending national champion St. Francis (Ill.) is ranked No. 1.