NJCAA places Eagles men, women high in D-II preseason rankings
For years, Kirkwood Community College has been recognized for its elite men’s and women’s basketball programs, and for good reason. The men have finished in the top five at the NJCAA National Tournament eight of the last 10 seasons with three second place finishes. The women have been remarkable, winning four consecutive NJCAA National Championships and a total of six titles.
The 2010-2011 season starts off in familiar fashion, as the Men’s and Women’s basketball teams are ranked in the top five of the NJCAA Division II National Preseason Polls. The men’s team starts in fourth place, and the defending NJCAA Champion Women’s Basketball team ranks first for the second season in a row.
Both teams are no strangers to the preseason polls. The men have started in the top 10 two of three seasons, and the women started in the top five four out of the last five seasons, with three first place rankings.
Ending the regular season ranked 14th, the men proved they were better as they finished in third place at the NJCAA National Tournament after a double-overtime win over Lewis & Clark Community College last year. The men started last season ranked 19th and were ranked as high as ninth during the regular season polls. The season ended with a 28-8 record and a second place finish in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC).
Along with the NJCAA National Championship, the women ended their season leading the ICCAC with an undefeated record of 18-0. Throughout the season, the women were ranked first in seven of the 13 polls with their lowest ranking at third. The Eagle women have compiled an impressive 73-2 record over the past two seasons with no conference losses.
Both teams compete at home on November 2 with the women against Mount Mercy University at 4 p.m. and the men at 7 p.m. against Grand View University JV.