Oregon Tech Favored to Capture 2011-12 CCC Men’s Basketball Crown Hustlin’ Owls Look to Extend CCC Championship Streak to 4 Straight; EOU 2nd, C of I 3rd
10.19.2011
PORTLAND, Ore. – Three-time defending champion Oregon Tech is favored to hold on to its Cascade Collegiate Conference crown in men’s basketball, according to a preseason poll of the league’s 10 head coaches.
Tech received seven first-place votes and 97 points total in earning the favorites’ tag for the 2011-12 season. Eastern Oregon picked up two first place votes and 88 points to place second. College of Idaho, which earned one first-place vote, totaled 77 points and placed third.
The Yotes were followed by Concordia (55 points), Corban (51), Northwest (51), Southern Oregon (50), Warner Pacific (50), Evergreen (20) and Northwest Christian (11).
Oregon Tech, under the direction of veteran coach Danny Miles, is coming off a 30-5 campaign last season, when it captured CCC regular season and postseason tournament titles on its way to a seventh consecutive NAIA tournament berth. The Hustlin’ Owls return three starters and six letterwinners from last year’s club, including first team All-CCC forward Kyle Gomez, senior guard Bryant Sentman, and junior guard David Clarke.
Eastern Oregon, which has finished in the top two of the CCC regular season standings each of the last four years, will feature nine new players on its roster. Key returnees for the Mountaineers, who are led by third-year coach Isaac Williams, include first team All-CCC wing Jamar Johnson (12.7 ppg), senior forward Jason Mumm (10.1 ppg) and senior wing Travares Peterson (8.9 ppg). EOU has reached the NAIA tournament each of the last four seasons.
College of Idaho returns three starters and 10 lettermen from last year’s club, which went 10-8 in conference play. The Yotes, who are guided by second-year coach Rod Jensen, are expected to be led by senior guard Matt Ballenger. An NAIA honorable mention All-American a season ago, Ballenger averaged 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and made 74 3-point field goals in 2010-11.
Concordia returns four players who scored in double figures a season ago: senior forward Jourdan Sweeney (15.0 ppg), sophomore forward Adam Herman (14.1), senior wing Kevan West (12.7), and senior point guard Gage Aker (10.3). Herman led the NAIA in field goal percentage (.641).
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.
2011-12 CCC Preseason Coaches’ Poll
2010-11 Records
Pts Overall CCC
1. 1. Oregon Tech (7)...................... 97 30-5 16-2
2. 2. Eastern Oregon (2).................. 88 26-7 14-4
3. 3. College of Idaho (1)................. 77 13-17 10-8
4. 4. Concordia................................ 55 12-18 6-12
5. 5. Corban.................................... 51 18-14 7-11
6. Northwest.............................. 51 21-9 12-6
7. 7. Southern Oregon.................... 50 14-16 6-12
8. Warner Pacific......................... 50 20-11 12-6
9. 9. Evergreen............................... 20 8-20 5-13
10.Northwest Christian................ 11 8-22 2-16
First place votes in parentheses
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