WEST PLAINS, Mo. – The Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzlies will open the 2018-19 basketball season as the No. 16 team in the nation. That’s the ranking officials with the NJCAA gave the defending Region 16 champion in this week’s preseason poll.
“It is a step for our program to get preseason recognition,” Head Coach Chris Popp said. “Last year, we were 14-1, having beaten top 25 teams and with our only loss at No. 1 Indian Hills, yet we had not cracked the top 25. Other programs simply had a different level of respect.
“I believe this says a lot for what our team did last year. It also helps that we have seven players back from that group. I am certain that has an impact on the committee’s voting. Retention, having legitimate returners, is not common among junior colleges. We have five back who started games for us, along with a talented group of newcomers,” he added.
Some familiar names join the Grizzlies on the list, including College of Southern Idaho, whom the Grizzlies will meet Dec. 1 at the Indian Hills Classic, at No. 3; Coffeyville Community College, whom the Grizzlies will face twice this season, at No. 4; Region 16 rival Moberly Area Community College at No. 11; Indian Hills Community College, whom the Grizzlies will play Jan. 5, at No. 12; and Trinity Valley Community College, whom the Grizzlies will play Nov. 4, at No. 15.
The Grizzlies tip off their season Thursday, Nov. 1, against Nation Wide Academy from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at 7 p.m. at the West Plains Civic Center Arena.
“It’s always great to get recognition from others,” Popp said. “I am happy for my guys, and I believe they deserve it.
“At the same time, we know that rankings don’t mean anything once the ball goes up. If anything, it only works to motivate our opposition,” he added.
“We knew there would be a bit of a target on us from the start. Personally, I like that. As competitors, I expect our team to embrace that. One thing we talk about daily is how everything we get, this team will have to earn,” he said.”
For more information about the Grizzly Basketball program, visit msuwpgrizzlies.com or call 417-255-7991.
To see the complete preseason poll, visit njcaa.org.