Mountaineer Hoops Already Impressing Voters

Eastern Oregon University basketball will enter the 2007-2008 season among the country's best. In the first national poll, the NAIA has the men ranked at number 18 and the women receiving votes.

The men who finished a school-best 23-8 last season, are among four schools from the Cascade Conference in the poll. 2007 Conference tournament champion, Warner Pacific, begins the season at number three; 2007-2007 Conference regular season champion, Oregon Tech is at number 11; and the College of Idaho is just out of the top 25, receiving 13 votes.

Eastern women will try to make another run at a national tournament berth, beginning the season receiving 54 votes, just three spots out of the top 25. The EOU women are the only Cascade Conference school in the poll.

The Mountaineer men debuted at number 23 in last season's preseason poll, before having their best year ever, and finishing receiving votes in the final poll. The EOU women began last season receiving 13 votes and finished at number 24, with a 25-7 record.

December 28th opponent and 2006-2007 final number one, Vanguard of California starts at number two in the NAIA division one poll on the women's side. Westminster of Utah is the only non-conference opponent the EOU men will face that was in the poll. The Griffins were one spot out of the top 25, receiving 63 votes.