Fort Lewis Voted Favorite in the 2017-18 #RMACmbb Preseason Coaches Poll on Monday
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Fort Lewis is selected as the favorite in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) 2017-18 Preseason Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll.
The preseason poll was voted on by the 15 RMAC Men’s Basketball coaches. 14 points are awarded for a first-place votes, 13 for a second-place vote, continuing in descending order. Coaches cannot vote for their own team.
Fort Lewis earned six first-place votes on their way to 183 points in the preseason poll. Last season’s RMAC Tournament runner-up finished the season 18-4 in conference play, while going 26-7 overall. The Skyhawks lost to Colorado School of Mines in the RMAC Tournament finals but made it to NCAA South Central Region Tournament, where they again lost to the Orediggers.
Colorado School of Mines claimed the No. 2 spot in the poll with 178 points and five first-place votes. Last year’s RMAC Tournament champions made it to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Bellarmine. The Orediggers were the first RMAC team since 2014 to make it past the regional round. They finished last season with an RMAC record of 19-3, going 30-5 overall.
Regis garnered three first-place votes, landing third in the preseason poll with 177 points. The Rangers come off last season finishing with a 14-8 record in conference games and 20-9 overall.
Westminster, who is in their third year of transition to NCAA Division II this season, took fourth place with 147 points. They finished last season with a 16-6 RMAC record and a 16-8 overall record.
MSU Denver received the last first-place vote, taking the fifth spot with 146 points. The Roadrunners finished with a 12-10 record in conference matchups and 17-13 overall.
CSU-Pueblo is in sixth place with 136 points. They were 19-9 overall last season, going 17-5 against conference opponents.
UCCS claimed seventh, earning 127 points. The Mountain Lions finished the 2016-17 season 11-11 in RMAC games and 12-16 overall.
Colorado Mesa tallied 87 points, landing them in eighth place. The Mavericks’ RMAC record last season was 7-15, finishing 8-20 overall.
New Mexico Highlands is in ninth place with 86 points. The Cowboys finished 8-14 in RMAC games last season and 10-17 overall.
Adams State totaled 77 points, securing 10th place. The Grizzlies were 10-12 against conference teams and 13-16 overall last season.
Black Hills State takes 11
th place with a total of 59 points. Last season, the Yellow Jackets went 6-16 in RMAC games and 9-19 overall.
Western is in 12th place with 50 points. The Mountaineers went 5-17 in RMAC games and 6-20 overall in the 2016-17 season.
CCU, last year’s National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Tournament Champion, garnered a 13
th place spot with 44 points. The Cougars were 11-11 in RMAC matchups and 19-16 overall after last season.
Tied for 14
th place are Chadron State and South Dakota Mines, each with 39 points.
The Eagles went 3-19 last season against conference opponents and 3-23 overall.
The Hardrockers went 8-14 in RMAC games and 12-16 overall.
2017-18 Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll (first-place votes)
1. Fort Lewis (6) - 183 points
2. Colorado School of Mines (5) - 178 points
3. Regis (3) - 177 points
4. Westminster - 147 points
5. MSU Denver (1) - 146 points
6. CSU-Pueblo - 136 points
7. UCCS - 127 points
8. Colorado Mesa - 87 points
9. New Mexico Highlands - 86 points
10. Adams State - 77 points
11. Black Hills State - 59 points
12. Western - 50 points
13. Colorado Christian - 44 points
T-14. Chadron State - 39 points
T-14. South Dakota Mines - 39 points
About the RMAC:
The RMAC is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15-member schools, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 2018-19 Dixie State University will join the RMAC as the 16th member institution. The RMAC sponsors 23 varsity NCAA sports and has produced 59 NCAA Division II national champions and 48 national runners-up since 1992.