HutchCC Sports Information
For the first time in four seasons, the Hutchinson Community College Women’s Basketball team starts a season ranked in the Top 10 in the preseason NJCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Rankings, which were released on Monday.
The defending Jayhawk Conference and Region VI champion Blue Dragons open the season at No. 9. The Blue Dragons, which were picked as the favorite to win the 2022-23 Jayhawk West title on Friday, are the highest-ranked of two KJCCC teams.
The Blue Dragons started a season ranked in the preseason national rankings for the 14th-straight season.
Head coach John Ontjes begins his 17th season with the Blue Dragons. Only once since 2010 have the Blue Dragons not been picked either first or second in the KJCCC preseason rankings. That was a third-place pick in 2013. The Blue Dragons have never been picked lower than fourth in a preseason poll under Ontjes.
The Blue Dragons return two starters and six overall letter winners from a 29-6 team last season that advanced all the way to the second round of the NJCAA Tournament.
Tyler is the preseason No. 1 pick in this year’s preseason rankings. Shelton State is No. 2, Trinity Valley No. 3, Northwest Florida State No. 4 and South Georgia Tech is No. 5.
The only other KJCCC team ranked is Barton at No. 22.
Hutchinson opens the season on Tuesday, November 1 against the Bethany College JV in a 5:30 p.m. tipoff at the Sports Arena.
2022-23 NJCAA DIV. I WOMEN'S BASKETBALL RANKINGS
Points
1. Tyler (10) 250
2. Shelton State 216
3. Trinity Valley 207
4. Northwest Florida State 198
5. South Georgia Tech 189
6. Blinn 180
7. Jones 171
8. South Plains 162
9. Hutchinson 153
10. College of Southern Idaho 144
11. Chipola 135
12. New Mexico 126
13. Casper 117
14. Walters State 108
15. Moberly Area 99
16. Gulf Coast State 90
17. Arizona Western 81
18. Salt Lake 72
19. McLennan 63
20. Eastern Florida State 54
21. Wabash 45
22. Barton 36
23. Murray State 27
24. Angelina 18
25. Monroe College 9