COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – 18 days from the tip-off of the 2024-25 season, the expectations have for the Colorado School of Mines men's basketball team have been announced as Monday the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's Preseason Coaches Poll saw the Orediggers voted the favorites to win the league.
 
Mines, who went 24-9 overall and 17-5 in RMAC play last season to finish third, earned 11 of the 15 first-place votes and compiled 191 points in the poll. MSU Denver, under the direction of third-year head coach Dan Ficke, earned two first place ballots and 176 points to claim second. Regis earned a single first place vote on their way to 160 points, with Black Hills State and defending champions Colorado Mesa rounded out the top five with the Mavericks earning the final first place vote.
 
CSU Pueblo, UCCS, New Mexico Highlands, Fort Lewis and South Dakota Mines comprised the sixth through 10th with Western Colorado, Westminster, Adams State, Colorado Christian and Chadron State bringing up the bottom third of the 15-team league.
 
The Orediggers return four of five starters from last year's club that advanced the First Round of the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship, led by returning First Team All-RMAC selection Majok Deng, Freshman of the Year Alex Romack and Honorable Mention selection Cade Mankle. Another former Freshman of the Year, Adam Krasovec, returns as well as fifth-year players Grant Pressly and Riley Schroeder, the latter of whom enjoyed the best season of his career in 2023-24.
 
Juani Dassie, the program's new single-season three-point percentage record holder, is also back along with Markus Pastorcic-Straun and Reagan Koch who are both expected to take on more of a role this season with the departure of point guard Sam Beskind. With the addition of several newcomers along with returning redshirt players such as Derek Lamb and Silas McCurnin, one of the most prolific three-point shooter in Colorado prep history, the Orediggers possess as depth this season that rivals any in recent memory.
 
Mines begins the 2024-25 season with regional crossover action against two very familiar early season opponents from the Lone Star Conference in Lubbock Christian and St. Mary's (TX) November 8 and 9 at Lockridge Arena.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines men's basketball on X and Instagram at @minesmbb. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, X and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.