WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
DI
#4 Eastern Arizona – The Gila Monsters will open the season as the No. 4 team in the NJCAA DI Women’s Basketball poll. Eastern Arizona was one of two ACCAC teams to reach the NJCAA DI Women’s Basketball Championship last season, finishing the year 30-5, falling in the national semifinals to Hutchinson.
#16 Cochise – The defending Region I champion Apaches will open the season ranked No. 16 in the preseason poll. Cochise finished the season 26-8, beating Eastern Arizona in the Region I title game before falling to Hutchinson in the second round of the NJCAA DI Women’s Basketball Championship.
DII
#3 Mesa – The Thunderbirds will open the season as the third-ranked team in the nation after winning 28 games last season, going 28-7 and winning the Region I title. Mesa made a deep run at the NJCAA DII Women’s Basketball Championship, beating CCBC Essex in the third-place game.
#8 Pima – Pima won 27 games last season and will open this season as the No. 8 ranked team in NJCAA DII Women’s Basketball. The Aztecs were one of two ACCAC teams to reach the NJCAA DII Women’s Basketball Championship last season, beating Harcum in the 7th place game.
#16 Scottsdale – Scottsdale was last year’s Region I DII Runner-Up, falling to Mesa in the Region I title game after winning 18 games last season and posting a record of 18-12 and 13-10 in ACCAC play.
Men’s Basketball
DII
#10 Pima – The Aztecs will open the season in the top 10 after winning 29 games last season and going 29-6. Pima won the Region I DII tournament and qualified for the NJCAA DII Men’s Basketball Championship, falling in the 7th place semifinals to St. Clair County.
#17 Chandler-Gilbert– The Coyotes were last year’s Region I runner-up, falling in the Region I title game to Pima. Chandler-Gilbert went 27-5 before, winning the regular season ACCAC title.
