NIACC men ranked 6th in preseason poll

MASON CITY - The NIACC men's basketball team is ranked sixth in the preseason NJCAA Division II poll released Monday.

Defending national champion Kirkwood is ranked first in the initial poll of the season. DMACC is tied for 16th with DCTC.

NIACC first entered the 2018-19 poll at No. 19 in the Dec. 11 poll. The Trojans were ranked as high as third in the Feb. 26 poll.

NIACC was 25-5 overall a year aga and advanced to the NJCAA Region XI title game for the first time since the 1994-95 season before falling to eventual national champion Kirkwood.

NIACC returns six key players from last year's squad, including first-team all-region selections Deundra Roberson and Quentin Hardrict and second-team all-region players James Harris and Wendell Matthews.

NJCAA Division II poll (Oct. 21, 2019) - Kirkwood, Johnson County, South Suburban, Pima, Highland (Kan.), NIACC, Parkland, Erie (N.Y.), Milwaukee Area Tech, Potomac State, Beaver County, Mott, Schoolcraft, John Wood, Cecil, DCTC, DMACC, Ancilla, St. Clair County, Sullivan County.

IN THE POLLS

(NIACC's recent history in the NJCAA Division II polls)

2012-13

Nov. 13 - 11th

Nov. 20 - 5th

Nov. 27 - 3rd

Dec. 4 - 3rd

2013-14

Dec. 3 - 16th

2018-19

Dec. 11 - 19th

Dec. 18 - 14th

Jan. 8 - 14th

Jan. 15 - 15th

Jan. 23 - 17th

Jan. 29 - 14th

Feb. 5 - 12th

Feb. 12 - 8th

Feb. 20 - 7th

Feb. 26 - 3rd

March 5 - 7th

2019-20

Oct. 21 - 6th