Cascade Conference release

LA GRANDE – Southern Oregon is expected to remain in the mix for a Cascade Conference men's basketball title in 2014-15, sitting second behind defending champion College of Idaho in the preseason coaches' poll that was released Tuesday.

College of Idaho is the unanimous pick to repeat thanks to the return of an entire backcourt that helped the Coyotes go 28-6 overall and 16-2 in the CCC last season. The Raiders went 22-9 and 11-7, tying for second with Concordia, which is in the poll's third spot three points behind SOU's 73.

Oregon Tech, Northwest Christian, Northwest and Warner Pacific fill the next four slots. The latter three teams all went 10-8 in 2013-14, and Oregon Tech finished seventh at 9-9.

SOU will be attempting to build on the winningest three-year stretch in school history, which consisted of 64 wins. The Raiders peaked at No. 2 in the NAIA rankings last season, but two road losses in the final weekend of conference play dropped them all the way from 14^th to out of the poll.

Despite the loss of three starters, the Raiders still have All-American forward Eric Thompson (Roseburg, Ore./Roseburg), third-year starter Tim Weber (Roseburg, Ore./Roseburg), and 10 others who were on the roster last season.

They'll open the season at home with the Flagship Inn Tournament on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 with 7:30 p.m. games against New Hope Christian and Menlo College.

Cascade Conference Preseason Poll
1. College of Idaho, 100 points (28-6 overall, 16-2 CCC last season)
2. SOU, 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 Pacific, 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)