The Chico State men's basketball program's last five voyages through California Collegiate Athletic Association play have been a thrill ride. Buckle up. It's that time of year again.
 
The Wildcats open CCAA play this weekend at Cal State Dominguez Hills Friday and Cal State L.A. Saturday. Both games are scheduled to tip at 7:30 and can be heard locally on AM 1290 KPAY or online at ChicoWildcats.com, where links to livestats and streaming video are also available.
 
Chico State, 3-2 in non-conference play, was picked to finish fourth in the conference in its annual preseason coaches poll. The Wildcats are coming off five consecutive seasons of finishing among the conference's top six, including their 2011-12 CCAA title.
 
The top six teams at the end of a grueling 22-game conference schedule will be awarded with berths in the CCAA Championship Tournament March 5-7 at the Stockton Arena.
 
The Wildcats have finished third in the conference in each of the past two seasons.
 
Cal State Dominguez Hills is 3-3 overall and 0-1 in the CCAA following a 70-59 loss against Cal State L.A. Saturday night. Cal State L.A. is 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the CCAA.
 
Cal State L.A. was picked to finish 6^th in the preseason poll and Cal State Dominguez Hills 12^th.
 
The Wildcats will play at Cal State Stanislaus on Dec. 13 before their first home conference affair Dec. 20 against Cal State Stanislaus.