BOISE, Idaho — Colby Blaine and the defending national champions will tip-off the 2023-2024 campaign with sky-high expectations. College of Idaho on Wednesday was voted No. 1 in the preseason NAIA Men's Basketball Top 25 Coaches' Poll.
Including last season, the Yotes have been the top-ranked team in the last five polls and have earned a spot in the top 25 in 17-straight polls – the fifth-longest active streak in the NAIA. Wednesday's poll marks the first time C of I has been the preseason No. 1 since 1991-1992, when the Yotes competed in Division II.
The NAIA preseason poll was voted on by a panel of head coaches representing all conferences and independents. The Yotes received all 21 first-place votes and 570 total points, ahead of Grace (534 points) and Arizona Christian (519 points).
After losing its season opener last year at Arizona Christian, College of Idaho rattled off 36-straight wins and captured its first national title since 1996. The Yotes went 20-0 inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
Earlier this month, C of I was also picked to win the Cascade Collegiate Conference championship for the third consecutive year. The defending conference winners received all 12 first-place votes and 144 total points, ahead of Eastern Oregon with 109 total points.
The Yotes return a handful of standouts from last year's squad, including the likes of Samaje Morgan, Straton Rogers, Tyler Robinett, Johnny Radford, Jake O'Neil and Drew Wyman, who was named NAIA Second Team All-American last year.
Additionally, Blaine was named NAIA Men's Basketball Coach of the Year, and Charles Elzie, Morgan and Robinette were named to the All-Tournament Team. Elzie in April announced he was transferring to DII Hawaii-Hilo for his additional year of eligibility.
C of I tips off its season on the road against Providence on Saturday, Nov. 4, before hosting rival Northwest Nazarene on Thursday, Nov. 9, at 7:05 p.m. The Yotes then host the Domino's Classic and Taco Bell Shootout in Caldwell the second half of November.
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