EOU’s basketball teams rank top in the CCC during preseason polls
By Garrett Christensen on Friday, October 20th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE – The Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) continues to release preseason rankings for fall and winter sports. In a recent announcement covering the basketball rankings, Eastern Oregon University’s Women’s and Men’s teams were ranked number 1 and 2 in the CCC respectively. EOU issued their own releases for both teams further discussing the rankings and what to expect from the players this season. First up is the women’s team:
“The Cascade Collegiate Conference unveiled its 2023-24 CCC Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll this Wednesday, with Eastern Oregon University favored to retain its title. Eastern Oregon secured five first-place votes and amassed a total of 136 points, already building upon its impressive 2022-23 campaign.
Year No. 24 is on the horizon for Head Coach Anji Weissenfluh, aiming for another Cascade Collegiate Conference Title. Weissenfluh, who already holds the title of the winningest coach in program history, starts this season with an impressive record of 527-177 after a 30-3 run in the previous year.
Last season, the Mountaineers not only clinched the top spot in the CCC, finishing 21-1, but also secured the championship against LCSC with a convincing 75-59 victory that saw them advance to the NAIA National Tournament. This 2023-24 team will return a core of Beverly Slater, Brie Holecek, and Bayley Brennan, all starters on last year’s squad. The additions of transfers Graci Kolka and Delaney Pink add fresh energy to the team, indicating an exciting season ahead for the Mountaineers.”
And for the men’s team:
“Eastern Oregon University picked up 109 total points to sit second in this years Cascade Collegiate Conference Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll.
The Mountaineers enter their third season under the direction of Head Coach Chris Kemp Era in the 2023-24 campaign. The Mounties have continued to build under Coach Kemp, going 21-11 overall and 16-6 in conference last season. EOU finished second in the Cascade Collegiate Conference, going 12-2 at home and qualifying for their first NAIA National Tournament berth since 2017.
The new season brings with it a large group of new faces that includes four freshmen and five transfers. The Mounties will add graduate transfer Jonny Hillman this upcoming season, averaging 13.6 ppg and 3.5 apg last season at Carroll College. EOU also adds size in the form of 6’8″ Kamal Muhammad and 6’9″ Brennen Newsom, with perimeter shooting coming in the form of CSI transfer Garrett Hawkes. Those four along with several other key newcomers will look to join last year’s returners including All-CCC Honorable Mention Adam Orr among others.
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