HCC Sports Information

Thursday, October 23, 2008

The Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball team opens the 2008-09 season ranked No. 20 in the NJCAA’s preseason Division I men’s basketball poll, which was released on Thursday.

The Blue Dragons start the season in the preseason poll for the third-straight season.

Last season, HCC started the year ranked 14th. Hutch was 26th in the 2006-07 preseason poll.

The Blue Dragons return only two players from last season’s 23-9 team finished second in the Jayhawk West and advanced to the Region VI quarterfinals.

Earlier this month, the Blue Dragons were picked to win the Jayhawk West.

Three other Jayhawk Conference teams were listed in the 2008-09 preseason poll. Jayhawk East favorite Cowley was picked to finish fifth. Coffeyville was picked 29th and Jayhawk West rival Cloud County received votes.

Three-time national champion Indian Hills was the preseason No. 1 pick. Chipola College was picked second and 2006 national champion Midland College was third.

The Blue Dragons open the 2008-09 season on Halloween weekend with the annual season-opening Quarterback Classic. HCC will open the Classic with the St. Mary’s College Junior Varsity on Friday, Oct. 31 and will play Labette on Saturday, Nov. 1. Both games will tip off at 7:30 p.m.

 

2008-09 NJCAA MEN’S DIVISION I BASKETBALL

PRESEASON POLL

                                                                2007-08 record

1. Indian Hills, Iowa                                    28-10

2. Chipola College, Fla.                             35-2

3. Midland College, Texas                         28-4

4. Walters State, Tenn.                               32-3

5. Cowley College                                       31-3

6. Arkansas-Fort Smith                              28-4

7. San Jacinto, Texas                                 23-9

8. College of Southern Idaho                    30-2

9. Georgia Perimeter College                 23-12

10. Mineral Area College, Mo.                 19-12

11. Salt Lake CC, Utah                              32-4

12. Itawamba, Miss.                                   30-4

13. Southeastern Illinois                           28-7

14. Shelton State, Ala.                              25-12

15. Northeastern JC, Colo.                       30-4

16. Paris Junior College, Texas              30-7

17. Vincennes University, Ind.                 28-6

18. South Plains College, Texas            30-5

19. Northwest Florida State                     27-4

20. Hutchinson                                          23-9

21. Aiken Technical, S.C.                         28-6

22. Iowa Western                                      28-5

23. Wallace State, Ala.                              32-1

24. Southwestern Illinois                         21-9

25. Arizona Western                                  26-4

26. Seminole State, Okla.                         21-9

27. Monroe College, N.Y.                         24-8

28. Kennedy-King, Ill.                                27-5

29. Coffeyville                                             24-9

30. North Dakota SCS                               25-6

Others receiving votes: Brunswick, N.C. (28-5); Casper College, Wyo. (20-12); Cloud County (21-12); Hagerstown, Md. (22-8); Harcum College (26-3); Howard College, Texas (25-8); John A. Logan, Ill. (18-14); Miami-Dade, Fla. (18-9); Mississippi Gulf Coast (15-12); Northern Oklahoma-Enid (19-14); Odessa College, Texas (27-5); Pearl River, Fla. (16-11); Santa Fe College, Fla. (21-7); Snead State, Ala. (24-7); South Georgia Technical College (20-12); Three Rivers, Mo. (29-8); Truett-McConnell, Ga. (21-11); Tyler JC, Texas (25-4); Western Nebraska (16-15).