CCIW Announces Preseason Basketball Polls
10/28/2009 2:19:52 PM
ELMHURST, Ill. - The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) has released its preseason coaches' polls for both men's and women's basketball. Elmhurst ranks third in the women's basketball poll while ranking fifth in men's basketball.
Each coach votes for the seven other schools in the conference in order of predicted finish. Coaches may not vote for their own team.
Women's Basketball
After finishing the 2008-09 season with a 14-11 overall record, and a 7-7 mark in CCIW play, Elmhurst was picked to finish third in the preseason poll with 39 points.
Illinois Wesleyan University was picked to defend its 2009 conference championship, earning 48 points and six first-place votes. Carthage College, who finished 9-5 in league play a year ago, was tabbed for second with 42 points and the final first place votes. Elmhurst finished third with a comfortable 12-point cushion over fourth-place finisher Wheaton College (27 points). The Thunder narrowly edged out Millikin University for fourth place. The Big Blue finished fifth in the poll with 26 points.
North Central College (21 points) finished in sixth place while Augustana College and North Park University rounded out the poll with 13 and eight points, respectively.
Men's Basketball
After posting a 20-8 record and advancing to the NCAA Tournament in 2008-09, the Bluejays were tabbed to finish fifth in the preseason poll with 22 points.
Wheaton College was picked to win the league title, totaling 46 points and four first-place votes. Augustana College, Carthage College, and Illinois Wesleyan University were separated by just three points in the poll. Augustana secured second place in the poll with 39 points, including two first-place votes. Carthage narrowly squeaked past Illinois Wesleyan to finish third in the poll. The Red Men totaled 37 points and a first-place vote, while the Titans scored 36 points and earned the final first-place vote.
Elmhurst totaled 22 points to place fifth. Millikin University, North Central College, and North Park University rounded out the poll with 17, 15, and 12 points, respectively.