2001-02 PRESEASON MEN'S BASKETBALL POLL

ROCK ISLAND, Illinois - One year ago the Carthage Redmen were a huge favorite to repeat as the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin men's basketball champions. The Redmen had a great year, finishing 24-5 overall and 11-3 in the league but were foiled in a bid to win a second straight league title by Elmhurst. The Bluejays, picked sixth in the pre-season last year, won its first ever CCIW championship with a 12-2 record and were 22-5 overall. Illinois Wesleyan, which placed third in the league a year ago, enjoyed a great postseason run and ended up placing third in the 2001 NCAA Division III Final Four.

It is against that backdrop that the 2001-02 CCIW men's basketball race unveils itself. The eight coaches in the league conducted a pre-season poll and the Redmen are the favorites to regain the title they won in 1999-2000. Carthage received 48 points and six first place votes while Illinois Wesleyan picked up 43 points and two first place votes. Augustana was third with 37 points while Wheaton was fourth with 30. North Park received 25 points in fifth and Elmhurst was in sixth with 20 points. Millikin's 14 points placed the Big Blue seventh and North Central was eighth with seven points.

First place votes in brackets

2000-01 FINAL CCIW

MEN'S BASKETBALL STANDINGS