Men's Basketball 10/15/2026 6:00:00 PM Clayton Messerle, Assistant Athletic Director

Warrior Men’s Basketball Picked Fifth in 2026-27 CCC Coaches’ Preseason Poll

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) office announced the 2026-27 Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll on Wednesday morning, with the Corban University men's basketball program selected fifth overall by the league's head coaches. The Warriors garnered 75 total points and received one first-place vote in the annual preseason rankings.

To view the conference's release on the 2026-27 CCC Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll, click HERE.

"Preseason polls are based on opinions, and championships are earned on the court," began second-year head coach Wayne Mendezona. "We respect the coaches in our conference and understand that last year's success doesn't guarantee anything this season. Our focus is on becoming the best version of ourselves every day, embracing the challenges ahead, and continuing to build a championship culture. We're excited about this group and look forward to competing. Go Warriors!"

The fifth-place preseason selection comes on the heels of one of the program's most memorable postseason runs in school history. Despite entering the 2025-26 CCC Tournament as the No. 7 seed, Corban authored three consecutive road victories on its way to capturing the CCC Tournament Championship and earning an automatic berth to the NAIA National Tournament. The Warriors completed the season with a 17-15 overall record and a 10-10 conference mark before catching fire in postseason play, culminating in an 87-84 overtime victory over Lewis-Clark State College in the conference championship game. The tournament crown marked Corban's third CCC Tournament Championship in the last ten seasons and the program's first since 2021.

Corban returns to the hardwood in 2026-27 seeking to build upon the momentum generated during Mendezona's first season at the helm. Last year's squad demonstrated resilience throughout the early spring, defeating conference rivals Eastern Oregon University, Bushnell, and Lewis-Clark State on the road during its championship run. The Warriors will look to carry that postseason experience into a new campaign that figures to feature another demanding CCC schedule filled with nationally competitive opponents.

The preseason poll is topped by The College of Idaho, which collected 111 points and three first-place votes. Eastern Oregon sits second with 105 points and four first-place votes, while LC State claimed third with 103 points and two first-place votes. Oregon Tech earned the No. 4 position ahead of Corban, while Southern Oregon University, Bushnell, Northwest University, Warner Pacific University, The Evergreen State College, and Walla Walla University rounded out the poll. Based on the coaches' vote, just 36 points separate fourth-place Oregon Tech and sixth-place Southern Oregon, highlighting what is expected to be another tightly contested race in the conference standings for a "host" responsibility in the quarterfinals of the 2027 CCC Tournament.

2026-27 CCC Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll Results

Rank Team Points (First-Place Votes)

1. College of Idaho 111 [3]

2. Eastern Oregon 105 [4]

3. Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) 103 [2]

4. Oregon Tech 88 [1]

5. Corban (Ore.) 75 [1]

6. Southern Oregon 69

7. Bushnell (Ore.) 58

8. Northwest (Wash.) 46

9. Warner Pacific (Ore.) 31

10. Evergreen (Wash.) 24