Men’s Basketball Preview: C of I Looks to Repeat as Conference Play Begins
LA GRANDE, Ore. – College of Idaho looks to defend its title as Cascade Collegiate Conference men’s basketball champions as teams prepare for the opening weekend of conference play beginning Friday, Dec. 5.
C of I (11-1) began the year as preseason favorites to repeat as CCC champions receiving all 10 first place votes. After starting the season with 11 straight victories, including four wins against nationally ranked opponents, the Yotes jumped in the NAIA Division II Top 25 poll to No. 3.
Concordia (8-1) and Southern Oregon (9-1) are the only other Cascade Conference teams ranked in the Top 25 poll with the Cavaliers at No. 10 and the Raiders at No.15. Northwest (8-2) received votes but could not break into the rankings.
The Cavaliers, picked to finish third in the conference, have jumped out to an early start with the help of senior guard Tyler Valesquez (18 points a game) and senior forward Esvan Middleton who’s averaging a conference high 12 rebounds a game.
Voted as the preseason conference Player of the Year, Southern Oregon’s Eric Thompson has lived up to the hype to this point, averaging a league high 25.6 points a game along with an average of 8.6 boards. Senior guard Tim Weber will head into conference play as the assists leader averaging 6.5 per game.
Concordia begins the regular season at home as it hosts Southern Oregon on Friday.
Landing at the fourth spot on the CCC preseason poll, the Owls of Oregon Tech are coming off a 6-3 mark in the preseason led by junior guard Lavar Moore (22.7) and senior forward Kyle Waits (14.7)
Finishing off the conference preseason poll are Northwest Christian (5-2) at fifth, Northwest (8-2) at sixth, Warner Pacific (7-2) at seventh, Eastern Oregon (6-2) at eighth, Corban (5-2) at ninth and The Evergreen State College (2-3) at tenth.
After a 2-2 start, Northwest ended the preseason with a six-game winning streak with the help of sophomore guard Dak Shagren with a team high average of 17.2 points per game. The Eagles start CCC play on the road as they prepare to face C of I.
Northwest Christian starts its regular season at home against a high scoring Corban team averaging a conference best 89.3 points per game. The Warriors also lead the CCC in field goal percentage, hitting 51.8 percent from the field.
Warner Pacific, conference leader in points allowed with 64.6 per game, will take on Oregon Tech at home while Evergreen hits the road to face off against Eastern Oregon.