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October 25, 2012

North Central unanimous CCIW favorite

Senior Brandon Kunz and his Viking teammates have been tabbed for fourth place in the CCIW according to this year's pre-season coaches' poll.

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - North Central, which won the CCIW regular season and tournament titles last year, is a unanimous pick to win the conference in 2012-13 according to a poll of the league's men's basketball coaches. Coach Grey Giovanine's Augustana Vikings were tabbed for fourth.

North Central (22-8 overall and 12-2 in the CCIW in 2011-12) received seven first-place votes and 49 points in the poll. Those are the highest totals possible because coaches are prohibited from voting for their own teams. Illinois Wesleyan (23-8; 10-4) received the other first-place vote and was second with 39 points. Carthage (12-13; 6-8) was third with 36 points.

Augustana, which finished 19-7 overall and 9-5 in the conference last year, was picked for fourth with 31 points. The Vikings must replace four starters and eight letter winners from last year's squad. Wheaton (23-7; 11-3), which also suffered significant losses, including conference Player of the Year Tim McCrary, was tabbed for fifth with 29 points.

Elmhurst (12-13; 6-8), with 19 points, North Park (6-19; 2-12) with 11 and Millikin (1-24; 0-14) with 10, filled spots six through eight in the poll.

2012-13 CCIW Pre-season Coaches' Poll