ASHLAND – With an All-Cascade Conference core and 10 total returners in place, the Southern Oregon men's basketball team will need to prove itself within a deep CCC after being picked to finish sixth in Thursday's preseason coaches' poll.

College of Idaho was anointed the favorite, though defending co-champion Eastern Oregon received a plurality of first-place votes in the No. 2 spot. Lewis-Clark State (Idaho), the other defending co-champion, was picked third, followed by Oregon Tech and reigning CCC Tournament champ Corban.

Each of the top-six teams in the poll returns at least three starters.

SOU was the only one of the bunch that didn't advance to last season's NAIA Tournament, but the Raiders tied for third place a season removed from an appearance in the national quarterfinal round. They went 17-12 overall and 14-6 in the conference.

Among those the Raiders brought back are senior forward Bryce Dyer, the 2025-26 CCC Defensive Player of the Year, and All-CCC junior Gio Evanson, a 6-foot-6 guard who was one of the circuit's best offensive players at 16.3 points per game on 50% shooting in conference play. Fifth-year coach Matt Zosel brought in six newcomers, including Sacramento State transfer guard Isaiah Bronson.

The Raiders have finished sixth place or lower just once in their last 15 seasons.

They open Oct. 22 at Simpson (Calif.). A complete season preview will be published next week.
 

2026-27 CCC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll

Team (1st-place votes)	Points
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 State	24
11. Walla Walla	16