CORVALLIS, Ore. – Coming off their third-straight trip to the NAIA National Tournament, Oregon Tech was picked fourth in the preseason Cascade Conference Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll, announced by the league office.
 
The Hustlin' Owls received 88 voter points from the 11 league coaches and one of the first-place votes. Tech finished last season with a 19-11 overall record but will need to replace their top-two scorers as Dakota Reber graduated and Jackson Cooper transferred to Division I Indiana State. Three starters – Jared Sucher, Owen Nathan and Gylan Payne are back, along with a talented recruiting class.
 
College of Idaho (111 points) earned the top spot after finishing fifth in the league standings last season, returning the All-CCC guard line of Utrillo Morris and Dougie Peoples. Eastern Oregon (105) was pegged second, with the Mounties returning All-CCC picks in Keilan Torkornoo and Eamon Monahan. Lewis-Clark State (103) was third, as the Warriors return three starters, including talented shooter, Dylan Skaife. Corban (75) rounded out the Top-5 after a surprise run to the CCC Tournament title, behind the play of post Tj Zimmerman.
 
Tech opens the schedule next Saturday night, hosting the Seattle Mountaineers in a 7:30 p.m. exhibition game, before the regular-season opener on Oct. 30 against OUAZ at the Embry-Riddle Halloween Classic.
 
CCC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. College of Idaho (3)              111
2. Eastern Oregon (4)               105
3. Lewis-Clark State (2)           103
4. Oregon Tech (1)                    88
5. Corban (1)                             75
6. Southern Oregon                   69
7. Bushnell                                 58
8. Northwest                               46         
9. Warner Pacific                        31
10. Evergreen                             24
11. Walla Walla                            16