The College of Idaho Unanimous Pick to Win CCC Men's Basketball Title
SOU picked 2nd, CU 3rd
LA GRANDE, Ore. – The College of Idaho 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.
COI received all 10 first-place votes and a perfect 100 total points in earning the favorites’ tag for the 2014-15 season. Southern Oregon received 73 points to place second. Concordia totaled 70 points placing third. Oregon Tech is picked fourth with 61 points.
The Hustlin’ Owls were followed by Northwest Christian (57), Northwest (55), Warner Pacific (51), Eastern Oregon (48), Corban (25), and Evergreen (10).
COI, under the direction of second-year coach Scott Garson, is coming off a 28-6 campaign last season, winning both the regular season and CCC tournament title.
The defending champ’s key returners include four seniors in guards Demetrius Perkins, Sydney Donaldson, Josh Wilson and 7’1 center Joe Vaz.
Southern Oregon led by veteran coach Brian McDermott, returns 1
st team all-conference forward Eric Thompson and standout guard Tim Weber. The Raiders finished in a tie for 2
nd place in the CCC regular season standings with Concordia in 2013-14.
Concordia enters the 2014-15 campaign picked 3
rd. The Cavaliers, under the direction of coach Brad Barbarick, finished in a tie for 2
nd place last year at 11-7 in the CCC. Gone is Player of the Year Adam Herman and CU welcomes eight new players to the roster.
Oregon Tech, under legendary coach Danny Miles, are picked 4
th. The Hustlin’ Owls finished at 9-9 in CCC play last year and upset Concordia in the quarterfinals. Top returners include senior point guard Brandon Bautista and senior forward Kyle Waits.
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.
2014-15 CCC Preseason Coaches’ Poll
|
Place |
Institution |
Points |
2013-14 Overall |
2013-14 CCC |
|
1. |
College of Idaho (10) |
100 |
28-6 |
16-2 |
|
2. |
Southern Oregon |
73 |
22-9 |
11-7 |
|
3. |
Concordia |
70 |
22-10 |
11-7 |
|
4. |
Oregon Tech |
61 |
17-15 |
9-9 |
|
5. |
Northwest Christian |
57 |
18-14 |
10-8 |
|
6. |
Northwest |
55 |
20-11 |
10-8 |
|
7. |
Warner Pacifc |
51 |
16-15 |
10-8 |
|
8. |
Eastern Oregon |
48 |
16-13 |
7-11 |
|
9. |
Corban |
25 |
8-20 |
3-15 |
|
10. |
Evergreen |
10 |
4-21 |
3-15 |
First place votes in parentheses