Men's Basketball

WARRIORS RANKED SECOND IN PRESEASON POLL

IHCCbasketballteam21-22_web.jpg
Posted: Oct 19, 2021

Ottumwa, IA – The Indian Hills Men's Basketball team is set for a big year after being named the No. 2 team in the nation to open up the 2021-22 season, announced Monday in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DI Men's Basketball Preseason Poll.

The NJCAA men's basketball committee selected the Warriors as the second-ranked team in the preseason poll with 216 points. Salt Lake Community College (UT) headlined the rankings at No. 1, collecting all nine first-place votes. Florida SouthWestern State College, South Plains College (TX), and Mineral Area College (MO) rounded out the top-five rankings.

"Obviously preseason polls are what they are," stated head coach Hank Plona. "However, I do think that we have a special group of people in our locker room that have a chance to have a special season, and this preseason recognition means some others think that too. We are looking forward to taking the court in two and a half weeks in front of our great fans at the Hellyer Center."

The Warriors wrapped up the 2020-21 campaign with a 21-3 overall record and ranked No. 6 in the final NJCAA DI Men's Basketball poll. The Warriors failed to receive an at-large bid to the national tournament despite winning 13 of the team's final 14 contests of the year.

The preseason schedule for the Warriors has included a pair of trips to premier events, including the Dallas Blowout Jamboree in Fort Worth, TX and the All-American Showcase in Orlando, FL. Five of the team's six opponents in the two events are ranked in the preseason poll, including top-ranked Salt Lake. The regular season schedule for the Warriors features five opponents ranked in the preseason poll including No. 6 John A. Logan College (IL), No. 16 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, No. 18 New Mexico Junior College, No. 19 Moberly Area College, and Vincennes University (IN) who is receiving votes.

The 2021-22 Indian Hills team features a pair of returners in Taj Anderson (Queens, NC/Quality Education) and Braxton Bayless (Ankeny, IA/Ankeny) who combined to score over 18 points per game. The Warriors also return Mouhamadou Mbow (Dakar, Senegal/Victory Rock Prep) who missed last season due to an injury but will factor in as an integral piece to coach Plona's team.

The Warriors' roster also includes eight NCAA Division I transfers as well as three incoming freshmen for the upcoming year.

Indian Hills opens its 2021-22 season with the annual Reed Overhead Doors Classic at the Hellyer Center on Nov. 5-6. The Warriors will take on Tyler Junior College (TX) at 7:00 PM Nov. 5 and Butler Community College (KS) at 7:00 PM Nov. 6.