This week's state JC team polls

From Robert Schmidt:

This week’s California Community Colleges Men’s Basketball Coaches Association Poll

College: City College of San Francisco
State Ranking: #1/Regional Ranking: #1
Record: 9-0 in conference/25-0 overall/1st in the Coast-North Conference
Where They Stand: San Francisco is one of four community college men’s basketball teams in the nation which are undefeated after Hutchinson, KS lost last week. The other undefeated teams are: Spartanburg Methodist, SC (24-0); Beaver County, PA (20-0); and Brookdale, NJ (23-0).
What’s Left: San Francisco currently holds a 2 ½ game lead in the race for the conference title. The Rams, who are trying to win its third men’s basketball title and its second in the last three years, play two of their final three games on the road. However, all three opponents set below .500 and reside in the bottom of the Coast-North standings. It is only a matter of days before the Rams celebrate yet another conference title and the north’s top seed in the regional playoffs.

College: Saddleback
State Ranking: #2/Regional Ranking: #1
Record: 9-0/22-4/1st in the Orange Empire Conference
Where They Stand: Saddleback stands at the doorstep of another Orange Empire Conference title and the south’s No. 1 seed. The Gauchos are riding a 12-game win streak, and while we can’t say they have dominated the competition we can say Saddleback will be tough to beat at home with the conference title on the line.
What’s Left: Only thing standing in the way is No. 6 Riverside. If things play out this week, Saddleback and Riverside will clash next Wednesday (February 20) in Mission Viejo for the conference title. Saddleback gets a break with just one game this week vs. Fullerton on the road. It gives head coach Andy Ground a week to prepare Saddleback for the title match.

College: Foothill
State Ranking: #3/Regional Ranking #2
Record: 6-2/19-4/2nd in the Coast-North Conference
Where They Stand: Foothill has lost only two games in its last 16 games. Both losses came to San Francisco (by 16 points and 15 points). The Owls are hoping for a regional seed that will keep them away from San Francisco until a possibly meeting in Sacramento during the state championship tournament.
What’s Left: Foothill has four conference games remaining, including Wednesday’s road contest against No. 7 Ohlone. Currently, Ohlone sits a half-game behind Foothill. An Ohlone win could cause a shake-up in the regional seedings.

College: Mt. San Antonio
State Ranking: #4/Regional Ranking #2
Record: 9-1/22-2/1st in the South Coast-North
Where They Stand: To everyone surprise the Mounties hold a two-game lead over Los Angeles Harbor in the race for the South Coast-North Division title. The surprise isn’t that Mt. San Antonio sits in first place; the surprise is that LA Harbor sits in second place. At 7-3, the Seahawks sit a game a head of East Los Angeles; the program many thought would push the Mounties for the conference title.
What’s Left: Mt. San Antonio has three games remaining, including one against El Camino-Compton Center, which pulled an 80-74 upset of East Lo Angeles last Friday (February 8). Little figures to stand in the way of the Mounties wrapping up the conference title this week and Mt. San Antonio figures to make a strong push for the region’s No. 1 seed since the Mounties’ only two loses are to two ranked teams – Fresno City and East Los Angeles. Don’t be surprised to see Mt. San Antonio jump Saddleback for the region’s top seed.

College: Santa Rosa
State Ranking: #5/Regional Ranking: #3
Record: 9-1/21-5/1st in Big 8 Conference
Where They Stand: Santa Rosa, the preseason favorite for the Big 8 title, is in for a fight down the stretch after suffering a 69-64 loss to San Joaquin Delta on January 25. The Bear Cubs currently hold a one-home game lead on the Mustangs(ranked #12 in Northern California) and two games on #10 Sierra.
What’s Left: The conference title figures to come down to the February 19 game against Delta in Santa Rosa, although Sierra could have a say in the matter with a road-win on Wednesday when Wolverines travel to Stockton to take on San Joaquin Delta in a game which could force a two-way tie for second with Delta and Sierra.

College: Riverside
State Ranking: #6/Regional Ranking #3
Record: 8-1/18-6/2nd in Orange Empire Conference
Where They Stand: (see above Saddleback). Riverside has a three-game lock on second-place in the Orange Empire and probably a top 8 seed in the regional playoffs. However, knowing head coach John Smith he wants more. And that more is a share of the conference title – which is still available. The Tigers have won 10 of their last 11, with their only blemish being a four-point loss at home to Saddleback.
What’s Left: On paper, Riverside has three games remaining, but we’re sure the Tigers are already looking toward next week’s showdown in Mission Viejo. Riverside hosts a playoff charging Santa Ana (4th place, half-game behind Irvine Valley) on Wednesday before preparing for Saddleback.

College: Ohlone
State Ranking: #7/Regional Ranking #4
Record: 6-3/18-7/3rd in Coast-North
Where They Stand: Unfortunately for Ohlone, the Renegades play in a conference with the north’s top two programs in San Francisco and Foothill. However, Ohlone has been holding its own as the Renegades begin the week in third place, a half game behind Foothill.
What’s Left: Ohlone came make a statement on Wednesday with a victory over visiting Foothill. A victory would definitely enhance Ohlone’s playoff position, while hurting Foothill’s chances of wrestling away the north’s No. 2 seed from possibly Santa Rosa or even a Fresno City team?

College: Fresno City
State Ranking: #8/Regional Ranking: #5
Record: 9-0/21-6/1st in Central Valley Conference
Where They Stand: Right where we figured they would, atop the Central Valley Conference standings. Fresno City can wrap up its 13th consecutive conference title with two more victories. Since losing three of four games to wrap up the preseason in December, the Rams have won nine straight and appears to have solved whatever issue caused them to suffer four of their six loses over a seven-game span in December.
What’s Left: Wrapping up the Central Valley Conference title and keeping their focus down the stretch. The Rams finish their season against 10-11 Reedley, 11-12 West Hills and 8-15 Columbia.

College: College of the Canyons
State Ranking: #9/Regional Ranking: #4
Record: 8-0/18-6/1st in Western State-South
Where They Stand: Atop the mountain. The Cougars have successfully clinched the Western State-South Championship. Canyons started slowly, losing four of its first nine games but since the Cougars have won 13 of their last 15 games, including nine straight.
What’s Left: Canyons will conclude its season this week with a road game at Glendale and a home game against Santa Monica, which currently is tied with Citrus for second place and in hunt for a post-season bid. The downside is Canyons finishes the season this week, causing the Cougars to sit for a week before the start of the regional playoffs.

College: Sierra
State Ranking: #10/Regional Ranking #6
Record: 7-3/16-7/3rd in Big 8 Conference
Where They Stand: Mathematically, Sierra sits within striking distance of the conference title (two back with three to play), but the Wolverines have had a roller-coast of a season, losing two of its last four which we think has taken them out of the race for the conference title. What is within grasp is a second-place finish, if the Wolverines can beat second-place San Joaquin Delta on Tuesday, February 12. A victory would give Sierra the tiebreaker over the Mustangs.
What’s Left: A showdown with San Joaquin Delta for what we figure will be a second-place finish and a top 8 seeding possibly.

College: Ventura
State Ranking: #11/Regional Ranking: #5
Record: 6-1/22-5/tied for 1st in Western State-North
Where They Stand: The Pirates find themselves in a dogfight for the conference title. Ventura enters the week tied with Allan Hancock for the conference lead. But they won’t be tied for long as Ventura and Allan Hancock will battle on Wednesday at 5 pm in Ventura for the conference lead (and title).
What’s Left: A showdown on Wednesday with the loser probably falling into a two-way tie for second place with Los Angeles Pierce. Allan Hancock concludes the season with a road game in Woodland Hills (LA Pierce). Might be the state’s best race down the stretch.

College: Yuba
State Ranking: #12/Regional Ranking: #7
Record: 11-1/17-7/1st in the Bay Valley Conference
Where They Stand: Yuba sits in first place with a two-game lead over second-place Merritt and 2 ½ lead over preseason favorite Contra Costa with four games remaining. We figured Yuba would have a say in the conference race, but Merritt has been a pleasant surprise as has Napa Valley (who upset Yuba last week) and currently sits in fourth place and within gaining a post-season bid.
What’s Left: Too much. This is one conference race that has too much play left in it. Mathematically four teams continue to have a shot at the conference title, but we think it is Yuba’s to lose (or win). The 49’ers’ schedule is favorable (so more to lose). Yuba closes the season with Mendocino, Los Medanos, Marin and Merritt (both key games). Whereas, Contra Costa faces games with Marin (at home) and Merritt (on the road), Merritt finishes with key games vs. Contra Costa and Yuba. It could be a great race for second, unless Yuba falters.

College: Antelope Valley
State Ranking: #13/Regional Ranking: #6
Record: 8-2/16-7/In a three-way tie for first in Foothill Conference
Where They Stand: As we expected the Foothill Conference has provided basketball fans with some great drama. There has only been one problem, it doesn’t involve the preseason favorite Mt. San Jacinto. Antelope Valley caused a three-way tie for first with its second victory over Chaffey last week.
What’s Left: Some great drama. The Marauders have an easy week with home games against last-place Victory Valley and sixth-place Rio Hondo. However, it ends there as Antelope Valley finishes the season at San Bernardino and at home against Mt. San Jacinto, which has crept back into the discussion for a post-season bid.

College: Chaffey
State Ranking: #14/Regional Ranking: #7
Record: 8-2/19-6/ In a three-way tie for first in Foothill Conference
Where They Stand: Chaffey has lost only two games in conference, unfortunately both have come at the hands of Antelope Valley, resulting in this – a race, which will be decided in the next four games. Fortunately, the schedule appears to favor Chaffey.
What’s Left: The Panthers take to the road this week for games against Desert (which has knocked off Mt. San Jacinto and Antelope Valley and yet lost to Rio Hondo) and Barstow. The Panthers host Mt. San Jacinto before closing out the regular season at Victor Valley. Side Note: San Bernardino faces the biggest challenge as the Wolverines close out the season with games against Mt. San Jacinto and Antelope Valley.

College: Sequoias
State Ranking: #15/Regional Ranking: #8
Record: 7-2/18-3/2nd in Central Valley Conference
Where They Stand: For the 13th straight year Sequoias will finish looking up at Fresno City. The Giants only losses in conference have come to Fresno City.
What’s Left: Three games, two at home, that will close out the regular season. With a strong finish, Sequoias could wrap up a top 10 regional seed.

College: Palomar
State Ranking: #16/Regional Ranking: #8
Record: 7-2/17-9/ In a three-way tie for first in Pacific Coast Conference
Where They Stand: Another great race, with Palomar in a fight with MiraCosta and a surprising unranked Grossmont (9-12) squad for the conference title.
What’s Left: We think the edge belongs to Palomar, however. The Comets finish the season with three consecutive home games in the Dome. Ironically, none of the final games will feature a showdown between any of the three teams tied for first place. Palomar finishes with Imperial Valley, San Diego City and Cuyamaca. Mira Costa finishes with San Diego Mesa, Southwestern and San Diego City, while Grossmont concludes with San Diego City, Southwestern and Miramar. The one key thread is San Diego City, the preseason favorite for the conference title, who will play each of the three teams in final two weeks. So, while the Knights may not win the conference title, they certainly will have a big hand in who doesn’t possibly. A sweep by San Diego City could be enough to force the playoff committee to take four teams from the Pacific Conference, too.

College: Contra Costa
State Ranking: #17/Regional Ranking: #9
Record: 9-3/18-6/3rd in Bay Valley Conference
Where They Stand: At the start of conference play we placed the favorite title on Contra Costa in the race for Bay Valley Conference title. However, it hasn’t played out that way as Yuba enters the final stretch of the season sitting atop the conference standings. The Comets, however, are percentage points out of second place with four games remaining.
What’s Left: Winning. If Contra Costa is to have a chance to win the conference title or more realistically finish second, the Comets need to close out the season on a roll.

College: Allan Hancock
State Ranking: #18/Regional Ranking: #9
Record: 6-1/19-7/In two-way tie for first in Western State-North
Where They Stand: We talked above about the race between Venture and Allan Hancock.
What’s Left: The Game – Wednesday, 5 pm in Ventura.

College: Lassen
State Ranking: #19/State Ranking: #10
Record: 6-2/20-8/Tied for first in Golden Valley Conference
Where They Stand: Lassen took it on the chin this week after losing two of it last three games and more importantly falling into a tie for first place. We thought Lassen was the clear-cut favorite. The Cougars (20-8) remain the only team with an overall record above .500, yet they find themselves locked in a battle with 9-11 Feather River for the conference title with two games remaining.
What’s Left: A showdown with Feather River on February 21 in Quincy. A Lassen victory and things will go as planned, but a victory by Feather River means the Golden Valley Conference will get two teams into the 18-team regional field – meaning a fourth place or even a third-place team could be left on the sidelines due to Feather River winning the conference title.

College: East Los Angeles
State Ranking: #10/Regional Ranking: #10
Record: 6-4/17-7/2nd in South Coast-North
Where They Stand: Well out of the race for the conference title. The Huskies are three games back of Mt. San Antonio with three games remaining and appear to be reeling after losing three of their last five games, including a 80-74 setback to Compton which cost East Los Angeles in this week’s poll.
What’s Left: While East Los Angeles can’t (realistically) win the conference title; the Huskies have three games to work out their issues prior to the start of the playoffs. They also get another shot at Mt. San Antonio on February 20th.

Regional Polls

Northern California

1.   San Francisco
2.   Foothill
3.   Santa Rosa
4.   Ohlone
5.   Fresno City
6.   Sierra
7.   Yuba
8.   Sequoias
9.   Contra Costa
10. Lassen
11. Cabrillo
12. San Joaquin Delta
13. Marin
14. Merritt
15. West Valley & San Jose City
Others: Chabot, Mendicino, Feather River, DeAnza