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IRVINE, Calif. \u2013 The Concordia University Irvine men’s basketball team enters a new campaign this November flush with new faces and a handful of eager returners excited to show what they can do.<\/p>\n
The Golden Eagles were predicted to finish sixth out of 13 programs in this year’s PacWest Conference Preseason Poll which came out on Friday. Every October, the head coaches from every school vote on how they think things will shake out across the league.<\/p>\n
Point Loma was picked to repeat and garnered 12 of the 13 first-place votes, while Hawaii Hilo and Fresno Pacific tied for second place in the voting. The Sunbirds received the one other first-place vote. Chaminade, Biola and CUI round out the predicted Top 6 order.\u00a0\u00a0CLICK HERE for the full PacWest Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll<\/a><\/p>\n On the home front, Concordia is coming off a 16-12 season and an appearance in the PacWest Conference Tournament. Head Coach Ken Ammann<\/a> is in his 25th season at Concordia and is among a small handful of coaches in the country who have amassed more than 500 career victories since taking the reins in 2001.<\/p>\n CUI returns senior wing Jackson Tucker<\/a> as well as junior forward Kaden Minter<\/a> who have starting experience. Minter was the team’s second leading scorer a year ago (12.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg) while Tucker has excelled in multiple roles since jumping right in as a true freshman (11.2 ppg in 2022-23). Tucker has played in over 75 games during his Concordia career and Minter scored in double figures on 16 occasions last season.<\/p>\n Sophomore point guard Kevin Haupt<\/a> as well as forward Logan Cremonesi<\/a> are back from last year’s rotation as well as redshirt freshman guard Roman Rose<\/a> who will look to provide some additional outside shooting.<\/p>\n Joining the mix are eight transfers with a wide variety of skills and playing experience. James Freeman<\/a> (G\/F, Jr.) averaged 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game for Mt. San Jacinto last year while shooting 58 percent from the floor. Nick Corbett<\/a> (F\/C, So., Skyline College) and Akeem Akeredolu<\/a> (F\/C, Jr., West Valley College) will provide optionality in the paint on offense when they are not crashing the boards.<\/p>\n Blake Ballard<\/a> (G\/F, Jr., Citrus College), Ben Krystkowiak<\/a> (G, R-Jr., Corban University) and Marcellus Edwards<\/a> (G, Jr., Chabot College) are all threats to knock down open treys and spread the floor. Plus, junior guard MaCarhy Morris<\/a> is a former All-Conference selection from NAIA school Lewis-Clark State and Radek Homer<\/a> (G, R-So., Northern Colorado) shot 53 percent his senior year at Mountain Vista High School while averaging 13.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game.<\/p>\n