Oct 25, 2012 2 min read

According to the preseason polls, coaches across the PSAC believe this will be a difficult season for the men’s and women’s basketball teams at California University. The California men were picked to finish fifth in the West Division, according to the preseason poll that was released Thursday. The Cal women were picked to finish fourth in the West. The Cal men are coming off a 17-12 season and return three players who made at least 10 starts last year, but the Vulcans must replace a pair of All-PSAC West players. IUP, which has won three consecutive division titles, is the preseason favorite, garnering three first-place votes. Slippery Rock was picked second and also received three first-place votes.third followed by Edinboro. Defending PSAC champion East Stroudsburg is a runaway favorite in the East Division with seven first-place votes. The Cal women were 17-10 last season and three starters, but the Vulcans have to replace PSAC West Athlete of the Year Amy Johns. Two-time defending PSAC champion Edinboro is the favorite in the West with six first-place votes. Gannon received one first-place vote and was picked second, followed by IUP, Cal and Clarion. In the East, Bloomsburg was picked to finish first as the Huskies received seven first-place votes after winning two-straight divisional titles.