The Chico State men’s basketball team was chosen to finish seventh in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll in October. All of those coaches know a little better now. With only home games against Cal State Monterey Bay Thursday and Cal State East Bay Friday remaining on the Wildcats’ regular season schedule, they’re tied atop the conference standings with Cal Poly Pomona.

The Wildcats have already clinched their first home playoff game since 1994, can clinch their best ever CCAA finish with one win this weekend, and would be able to raise the conference championship banner by winning two.

Both games are scheduled to tip off at 7:30 (following the women’s games) and will be broadcast locally on AM-1290 KPAY and online via the Wildcat webcast link at www.chicowildcats.com.

Cal Poly Pomona hosts Cal State L.A. tonight and Cal State East Bay Friday.

The Wildcats will also be attempting to position themselves well for a berth in the NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional. The Wildcats moved up four spots to No. 4 in this week’s rankings (click here for the complete rankings). Eight teams from the West will receive bids. The champions of the CCAA and Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championship Tournaments and the regular season champion of the Pacific West Conference will receive automatic berths. The five highest-ranked teams remaining will also be invited.

Seniors Josh Jackson and Jay Flores were making sure the Wildcats were motivated even before the preseason coach’s poll came out. But it certainly didn’t quench the fire of the Wildcats, who were coming off back-to-back winning seasons and CCAA Championship Tournament berths.

They started hot, winning five straight to start the season but stumbled to three losses during a stretch of seven straight road games that followed. Three straight inspiring road wins followed, however, and it was clear the Wildcats believed that they were for real this season, regardless if anyone else did.

That started a stretch of 13 wins in the last 16 games, giving the Wildcats their first 20-win season since 1993 andjust the 13th in the program’s 96-year history.

Jackson is the linchpin of a defensethat ranks fifth in the nation in points allowed per game at 58.8. No ChicoState team has allowed fewer than 60 points per game over the course of a season in 60 years.

Flores is the team’s leader in nearly every respect. Statistically, he leads the Wildcats in assists and steals. And he’s been the team’s hottest shooter, hitting a blistering 46 percent of his 3-point tries over the past 12 games.

Jackson and Flores will be honored in a special senior ceremony prior to Friday night’s game. However, thanks in large part to their contributions this season, it will not be the Wildcats’ final home game of the year.

Jackson and Flores will certainly enjoy the spotlight Friday. It’s much deserved. But they’re hoping that story pales in comparison to a much bigger one – the Wildcats’ first ever CCAA title and their first conference title since 1994.