FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Oct. 28, 2009 - The North Central College men's basketball team has been picked to finish seventh in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin this season, according to the annual preseason poll of the CCIW's eight head coaches.

The CCIW released the results of the poll on Wednesday following a live online chat with the head coaches, the contents of which can be viewed at www.cciw.org/winter_bball_m/2009cciwcoacheschat.php.

Defending CCIW champion Wheaton College received four first-place votes and took the top spot in the poll with 46 total points. Augustana College received 39 points and two first-place votes, Carthage College received 37 points and one first-place vote, and Illinois Wesleyan University rounded out the top four with 36 points and one first-place vote.

Elmhurst College was voted fifth with 22 points, followed by Millikin University (17), North Central (15), and North Park University (12).

The Cardinals finished last season with a 16-10 overall record. North Central finished fourth in the CCIW standings with a record of 9-5 and qualified for the CCIW Tournament.

The Cardinals' 2009-2010 season begins on Nov. 20-21, when it hosts the Holiday Inn Select Tip-Off Tournament.