OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County women's basketball team is ranked No. 8 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Preseason Division II Top-20, which was announced this week.
Johnson County appears in the NJCAA D-II preseason poll for the 20th consecutive season, more than any other program in the Kansas Jayhawk Conference. This is the 12th straight appearance under two-time National Coach of the Year Ben Conrad, and 11th time in the Top-10.
Three other KJCCC teams appear in the preseason poll. Defending national champion Kansas City Kansas sit on top at No. 1. Labette was picked 11th and Highland is one back at No. 12.
The Lady Cavaliers are coming off a 27-5 record in 2018-19 in which they held the No. 1 for the first seven regular season polls. Conrad returns three players from that squad, led by all-conference forward KK Jackson-Morris.
Johnson County opens its 2019-20 regular season on Friday, November 1 when it hosts Southwestern Community College. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m., and will streamed live through the JCCC Athletics YouTube page.
The Lady Cavaliers will play nine games against five team appearing in the preseason poll. They have home-and-home dates with Kansas City Kansas (No. 1), Labette (No. 11), Highland (No. 12) and Metropolitan (No 16), and have a neutral site contest in Quincy, Ill., against Lincoln Land (No. 10).
2019-20 NJCAA Women's D-II Preseason Poll
1. Kansas City Kansas
2. Kirkwood
3. Pima
4. Cape Fear
5. Illinois Central
6. Union County
7. Lackawanna
8. Johnson County
9. North Iowa Area
10. Lincoln Land
11. Labette
12. Highland
13. Moraine Valley
14. Lake Michigan
15. Niagara County
16 Metropolitan
17. North Arkansas
18. South Suburban
19. Sinclair
20. Edison State