By Nicholas Huenefeld/OCCAC Sports Information
The Cincinnati State Technical and Community College men's basketball team has been picked by the conference's head coaches to win the OCCAC regular season championship.
In a little bit of a twist, though. Owens Community College has been picked to win the district championship.
Cincinnati State and Owens both tied for the regular season championship last year and then met in the district championship game, with Cincinnati State coming out on top by one point.
This year, Cincinnati State returns one player in James Kilpatrick, a 6'4" small forward from Cordova High School in Memphis, Tenn. He averaged eight points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.4 assists per game. He started 25 of 34 games for a team that finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the nation and 29-5 overall.
Owens, meanwhile, returns two starters among four returners. The two starters are Shaakir Lindsey, a point guard from Teaneck (N.J.) High School and John Murry, a guard from North Central (Ind.) High School. Also returning are forward/center Kenny Jones of South Bend Clay (Ind.) High School and Edmond Early Jr., a guard from Dayton (OH) Thurgood Marshall High School.
In conference play last year, Murry averaged 20.5 points to finish second in the league in scoring, while Lindsey's eight assists per game led the league. Owens finished 25-6 overall last year.
Behind Cincinnati State and Owens in predicted regular season conference finish are (in order): Lakeland Community College, Sinclair Community College, Cuyahoga Community College, Columbus State Community College, Lorain County Community College and Edison Community College.
This is the second annual preseason coaches poll. Last year's preseason pick was Owens. Lorain County is a new member to the league this year.
In district finish, Owens and Cincinnati State are 1-2, followed by Lakeland and Sinclair at 3-4.
Finally, the national poll was released today with Cincinnati State as the preseason No. 4 in the nation. Owens is also in the top 10 at No. 8. Lakeland is in the receiving votes category - just outside the top 20.