#TCCBasketball: Eagle men earn preseason national ranking

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (October 24, 2016) – Tallahassee Community College’s men’s basketball team will open the 2016-17 season ranked No. 19 by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). 

The NJCAA released its preseason poll on Monday. 

This marks Tallahassee’s highest NJCAA preseason ranking since a No. 7 ranking to start the 2009-10 season when the Eagles’ roster featured the likes of future Dallas Mavericks center Bernard James. 

Tallahassee is one of four schools from Region 8 in the NJCAA preseason top 25. Panhandle Conference rival Northwest Florida State College opens the season as the No. 1 team in the country while Eastern Florida State College is No. 4 and Daytona State College, No. 12. 

Tallahassee eliminated both Eastern Florida State and Daytona State at last season’s NJCAA Region 8/FCSAA State Tournament before falling to Northwest Florida State, 81-76, in the championship game. 

The Eagles’ 2016-17 schedule will feature three match-ups with Northwest Florida State as well as a December 11 tilt with Daytona State at the Florida College’s Men’s Basketball Shootout in Ocala, Fla. 

In addition to its NJCAA ranking, Tallahassee has received a No. 23 preseason ranking by the Sporting News in its annual college basketball preview magazine. 

Tallahassee, under the direction of second-year head coach Mark White, will open the 2016-17 season at home on Tuesday, November 1 with a 7:30 p.m. tip against Faith (Ga.) Baptist Christian Academy. 

The NJCAA will release its preseason women’s poll on Tuesday, the same day the FCSAA will release its NJCAA Region 8 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Polls.