BLUE DRAGON MEN PICKED 2ND IN KJCCC PRESEASON POLL

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Kyle Fisher era opens officially on Tuesday, November 5 against Hesston College at the Sports Arena.

Already the Blue Dragons are garnering attention from the rest of the Jayhawk Conference by being selected to finish second in the 2025 KJCCC Division I Men's Basketball Coaches Poll, which was released on Friday.

The Blue Dragons are picked second only behind defending NJCAA national champion Barton in the preseason rankings. Garden City was picked third, Cowley fourth and Coffeyville fifth. The Blue Dragons received 2 of 13 first-place votes in the preseason poll.

The last time the Blue Dragons were picked as high as No. 2 in the preseason rankings was the 2020/21 season when they were picked to win the conference.

The Blue Dragons were 29-7 last season and went 20-4 in the KJCCC to place third in the league. The Dragons reached the Region 6 Tournament championship game and earned an at-large bid for the 2024 NJCAA Tournament. Hutchinson advanced to the national tournament quarterfinals after wins against USC-Salkehatchie and Chipola before falling to Connors State.

Hutchinson has just one player returning from last year, guard Kobe Smith 6.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists last season.

Before the Blue Dragons officially open the season, they will play two games in the Coffeyville Jamboree on Sunday in Coffeyville and then play host to Newman University in a home scrimmage on Monday, October 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the Sports Arena.

KJCCC PRESEASON DIVISION 1 MEN'S BASKETBALL COACHES' POLL
1. Barton
2. Hutchinson
3. Garden City
4. Cowley
5. Coffeyville
6. Dodge City
7. Butler
8. Cloud County
9. Independence
10. Seward County
11. Pratt
12. Colby
13. Fort Hays Tech Northwest