The Chico State men's basketball team – picked to repeat as California Collegiate Athletic Association champions in the conference coaches' poll released Wednesday afternoon – will open the 2015-16 season at the University of Arizona in a nationally-televised exhibition game on the Pac-12 Network this Sunday at 5 p.m., Pacific.
According to the Pac-12 network website, the Pac-12 Network can be found in the Chico area on DISH Channel 409 and on Xfinity/Comcast channel 434.
Robert Duncan, the leading scorer on last season's team, is back for
his junior season.Visit the
Pac-12 Network website to find the station in your area:
Expectations are high for the Wildcats following four consecutive trips to the NCAA Championship Tournament. They finished 22-8 overall last season and won their second CCAA title in the past four seasons by going 18-4 in conference play.
The 2014 NCAA West Region Champions open the season ranked No. 17 in the nation.
The CCAA coaches made the Wildcats heavy favorites to win the CCAA with eight of 12* choosing Chico State to claim the title. Cal Poly Pomona is picked to finish second, UC San Diego third, Cal State San Bernardino fourth, and newcomer Cal State San Marcos fifth.
Head Coach Greg Clink's squad boasts three returning starters – Tanner Giddings, Drew Kitchens and Robert Duncan – and nine letterwinners.
Giddings, Kitchens and Christopher Magalotti are the only three seniors on the youthful team. Duncan and Trevor Priest the only two juniors.
2015 CCAA Men's Basketball Coaches' PollTeam-poll pts (first-place votes)1. Chico State-137 (8)2. Cal Poly Pomona-124 (1)
3. UC San Diego-121 (2)
4. Cal State San Bernardino-116 (2)
5. Cal State San Marcos-81
6. San Francisco State-80
7. Humboldt State-74
8. Cal State LA-73
9. Cal State Monterey Bay-63
10. Stanislaus State-48
11. Cal State East Bay-44
12. Sonoma State-34
13. Cal State Dominguez Hills-19
*All 13 coaches vote, but are not allowed to vote for their own team.
