SALEM, Ore. – In many ways, last year's 2021 Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Spring Championship run by the Corban University men's basketball team felt like a teaser of the program's new look, offering just a short glimpse into the exciting brand of basketball featured by the talented roster under new head coach Taylor Kelly. Now, with the 2021-22 schedule set to begin tomorrow afternoon for the Navy and Gold, Warrior fans are eager to see the squad return to a full schedule this winter.

CLICK HERE to view the team's complete schedule.

"Our guys are hungry to compete," said Kelly, entering his second season at the helm. "They have been putting the time and energy into being their best. I can't wait to see that on display as we kick this season off!"

Adding further motivation for the squad, the CCC preseason coaches' poll picked the Warriors to finish fourth in the conference this season, despite last spring's title, adding fuel to the fire for the Navy and Gold as it looks to once again exceed outsider expectations.

Corban will begin its regimen this weekend at the Taco Bell Shootout—hosted by College of Idaho—where they will meet up with Park University (Ariz.) and Rocky Mountain College in Caldwell, Idaho.

Fans can follow along with live stats for this weekend's games HERE, and watch a livestream of the action HERE.

After that, the Navy and Gold will make its unofficial home debut on November 4 in an exhibition battle for capital-city bragging rights against Willamette University, before returning to the road for the Clearwater River Casino and Lodge Classic—hosted by No. 20 Lewis-Clark State College—on November 12-13.

The Warriors will wrap up their non-conference road slate with matchups against Pacific Union and Carroll College down in Eugene, Ore. on November 19-20, leading up to a five-game homestand.

Corban will host Bushnell University on November 23 in its CCC opener, renewing its rivalry with the Beacons. The program will then host the Corban Classic on November 26-27, welcoming a trio of squads—No. 20 LCSC, (RV) Ottawa University (Ariz.), and Portland Bible College—for a tournament on Tim Hills Court.

With the exception of a December 11 exhibition against Western Oregon, the remainder of the team's schedule will consist of conference battles, with the winner of the CCC regular season earning the conference's first automatic berth to the NAIA National Tournament.

Meanwhile, the second automatic bid will go to the winner of the CCC Tournament (or tournament runner-up, if the regular-season champion wins the tournament, as well), which will take place on February 23-March 1.

The CCC remains one of the toughest groupings in the entire NAIA, with three representatives—No. 13 Oregon Tech, No. 20 LCSC, and No. 24 College of Idaho—in the NAIA Top-25 Coaches' Poll.

Fortunately for the Warriors, the team has returned virtually its entire starting lineup from last season, while also adding a quartet of dynamic additions to the fold.

CLICK HERE to view the 2021-22 Corban men's basketball roster.

The Warriors' 2021 leading scorer and CCC Freshman of the Spring Kendall Moore (14 PPG/3.3 RPG/3.1 APG in 2021) will be back this winter, joined by 2021 First-Team All-Conference honoree Jordan Newt (11.3 PPG/2.7 APG/3.1 RPG) to form one of the conference's most dangerous back court duos.

Moore's ability to do damage from the perimeter and his uncanny ability to get to the cup help make him an elite offensive talent, while Newt's sharpshooting from beyond the arc (47.2 3PT%) wreaked havoc on opposing defenses last season.

Taylor Anderson (10.1 PPG/3 APG) had a breakout year last spring, Mateo Escheik (9.5 PPG) got better and better as the season went along, and incoming transfers Talin Lewis (University of Southern California) and Psalm Maduakor (Chadron State College) further bolster the team's core of guards.

Veteran forwards Mauricio Smith (10.2 PPG/7 RPG) and Denis Kirichenko (9.4 PPG/5.9 PPG) provide talent, experience, and leadership for the Navy and Gold, while NCAA Division I transfer Darius Henderson (University of Montana) should also be a key presence in the paint for the Navy and Gold.

With last spring's success, a strong returning core, and one of the most talented recruiting classes in the past decade, there is plenty of excitement for the Warriors' return to the hardwood. The squad feels capable of making a run all the way to the NAIA's biggest stage—the NAIA National Tournament—something it last accomplished in 2017.