LA GRANDE, Ore. – Southern Oregon is favored to win the Cascade Collegiate Conference crown in men’s basketball, according to a preseason poll of the league’s 10 head coaches.
Southern received seven first-place votes and 97 total points in earning the favorites’ tag for the 2013-14 season. Warner Pacific picked up two first place votes and 74 points to place second. Oregon Tech totaled 69 points placing third.Northwest earned one first place vote and is picked fourth with 68 points.
The Eagles were followed by Eastern Oregon (60 points), College of Idaho (53), Concordia (49), Northwest Christian (42), Corban (22), and Evergreen (12).
Southern Oregon, under the direction of veteran coach Brian McDermott, is coming off a 25-10 campaign last season, advancing to the CCC tournament title game against eventually champion Warner Pacific.
The Raiders’ key returners include senior guards Jeff Bush and Kyle Tedder, senior center David Sturner and junior forward Eric Thompson.
Warner Pacific, which has made it to the NAIA D II national tournament eight straight years, will feature several new players on its roster. Key returnees for the Knights, who are led by third-year coach Jared Valentine, include junior guard Ryan Parks, junior forward Doug Thomas and senior guard William Sharp. Sharp returns after a red-shirt season due to injury.
Oregon Tech looks to rebound from a very uncharacteristic season. Under long time coach Danny Miles the Owls finished 16-15 overall and 7-11 in the CCC. Miles is approaching history and is on track to reach 1,000 career wins this season.
Northwest, Led by 14
th-year head coach John Van Dyke, return senior forward Michael Greene, junior forward Michael Russo and senior guard Ryan McIntosh. Four programs have new head coaches for the 2013-14 season including; Jared Barrett-EOU, Scott Garson-COI, Steve Matsen-CRB and Luke Jackson-NCU.
Conference action gets underway in early December. The top eight teams in the final regular season standings will advance to the CCC’s postseason tournament.
2013-14 CCC Preseason Coaches’ Poll
|
Place |
Institution |
Points |
2012-13 Overall |
2012-13 CCC |
|
1. |
Southern Oregon (7) |
97 |
25-10 |
13-5 |
|
2. |
Warner Pacific (2) |
74 |
27-7 |
15-3 |
|
3. |
Oregon Tech |
69 |
16-15 |
7-11 |
|
4. |
Northwest (1) |
68 |
22-11 |
11-7 |
|
5. |
Eastern Oregon |
60 |
28-5 |
15-3 |
|
6. |
College of Idaho |
53 |
15-14 |
11-7 |
|
7. |
Concordia |
49 |
15-14 |
9-9 |
|
8. |
Northwest Christian |
42 |
9-21 |
3-15 |
|
9. |
Corban |
22 |
9-19 |
3-15 |
|
10. |
Evergreen |
12 |
2-24 |
1-17 |
First place votes in parentheses