The Colorado College men's basketball team tips off its 2024-25 campaign on Friday, Nov. 8, at 7:30 p.m. against Pacific University at Reid Arena. The Tigers will return five of the top six scorers and three of the top five players with the most minutes from last season as CC looks to build upon their success of the previous winter.
 
Tigers Picked to Finish Third in SCAC
CC was picked to finish third in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference's preseason coaches poll after receiving 97 points, following Trinity (118) and St. Thomas (109).
 
The Tigers received six more votes than Centenary College, the reigning SCAC Tournament champion, who was picked to finish fourth with 91 points.
 
Unfinished Business
Last season, the Tigers made their third-ever SCAC Tournament Championship game appearance, the first since 2016, falling to Centenary 76-83. CC made it to the finals by defeating No.10 ranked and top-seeded Trinity in the semifinals of the SCAC tournament.
 
CC finished with a 16-12 record on the season and will return senior guard and 2024 SCAC Honorable Mention Scott Ruegg, who looks to lead returning Tigers in points (10.1 ppg) and steals (1.5 spg). Ruegg played and started in all 28 games last season, finishing second in the SCAC in three-pointers.
 
Senior guard Edgar Romero and Junior Asher Nofziger and 2024 SCAC Honorable Mentions returned to the Tigers. Romero finished second on the team in three-pointers, averaging 2.8 per game, and Nofziger returns after playing in all 28 games and finishing third on the team in points, rebounds and assists.
 
Defensive Dominance
The Tiger's defense proved one of the most difficult in the conference last season, as they finished first in the SCAC in field goal percentage. Their opponents only shot 39.8 percent from the floor.
 
On the board, CC showed its dominance by averaging 43.3 offensive boards per game, the most in the SCAC. Their rebounding margin was +7.7 and blocked shots averaged 4.8 per game, both the best in the conference.
 
Under Conarroe
Head coach Jeff Conarroe enters his fifth season at the helm. Last season, he led the Tigers to their best mark since the 2015-16 season, taking his team to the SCAC Championship for the third time in CC history.
 
Last year, Conarroe's team had four members receive All-SCAC Honors, including honorable mentions Scott Ruegg, Asher Nofziger, and Edgar Romero.
 
Conarroe is joined by assistant coach Matt Streich and two new staff members, Al Walker and Derrick Rodgers.
 
Walker returns to Colorado College, where he was the head coach from 1988 to 1993. During his tenure, he and CC made the program's second NCAA Tournament appearance and finished with a 22-5 record, the most wins ever in a single season in CC history.
 
Rodgers joins CC after a successful career at Division I University of Portland from 2010-13. He looks to bring valuable playing experience and energy, as he was known as the best perimeter defender for the Pilots during college. 
 
On the Horizon
CC kicks off the season against Pacific University on November 8, followed by Bethany Lutheran on November 9, both at Reid Arena. This will be the second meeting between CC and Pacific University after the Tigers defeated the Boxers 79-77 last season.
 
The Tigers will play their first road games in Lincoln, NE, when they take on Nebraska Wesleyan on Sunday, Nov. 24. Their first conference matchup will be against the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX, on Saturday, Dec. 14.