FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Oct. 13, 2017) - The Northern Arizona men's basketball team is ranked No. 10 in the Big Sky Men's Basketball Media Preseason Poll, which was announced by conference officials on Friday.

The Lumberjacks earned a total of 59 points from the media vote, 17 behind No. 9 Portland State.

NAU was slotted No. 11 in the Big Sky Coaches' Preseason rankings while earning 23 points, just two behind No. 10 Idaho State.

The 'Jacks will feature a fresh roster in 2017-18 that features a total of eight newcomers combined with a total of nine returning players.  Two of the newcomers are a pair of senior NCAA Division I transfers in Malcolm Allen, a 6-3 guard who previously competed at Stanford and Gino Littles a 6-1 guard who arrives in Flagstaff after a stint at University of Texas San Antonio.

NAU is currently wrapping up its second week of preseason practice in preparation for the season opener on Friday, Nov. 10 at Arizona, in the first game of a challenging non-conference schedule.

The Lumberjacks follow the trip to Tucson with games at Arizona State (Nov. 17), Kansas State (Nov. 20) and Santa Clara (Nov. 30).

Northern Arizona will open the home portion of the 2017-18 schedule on Nov. 13 vs. Embry-Riddle.  The 'Jacks begin Big Sky Conference play on Thursday, Dec. 14 when they host South Dakota in a 6:30 p.m. MST tip.

Idaho was voted as the favorite in both the Big Sky media and coaches' preseason rankings.  The Vandals received 117 points (10 first-place votes) in the coaches' poll and 211 (12 first-place votes) from the media.
 

COACHES' POLL
Team                                               Points 
1. Idaho                                           117 (10)
2. Weber State                                103 (1)
3. Montana                                      101
T-4. Northern Colorado                    83 (1)
T-4. Montana State                          83
6. North Dakota                               71
7. Eastern Washington                    65
8. Portland State                             55
9. Sacramento State                       48
10. Idaho State                               25
11. Northern Arizona                    23
12. Southern Utah                          19
First place votes in parenthesis

MEDIA POLL
Team                                         Points 
1. Idaho                                     211 (12)
2. Weber State                          195 (3)
3. Montana                                188 (3)
4. Montana State                       180
5. North Dakota                         146 (1)
5. Eastern Washington              144
7. Northern Colorado                106
8. Sacramento State                  87
9. Portland State                        76
10. Northern Arizona               59
11. Idaho State                          52
12. Southern Utah                     38
First place votes in parenthesis