KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Coming off its seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament under head coach Mark Johnson, Fort Hays State Men’s Basketball has been picked third in the MIAA Preseason Poll. The poll is voted on by MIAA coaches.
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Northwest Missouri State, the three-time defending conference champion, is picked No. 1 in the poll receiving all first-place votes possible for a total of 169. Coaches exclude their own team from their selections, so the first place vote from NWMSU went to Washburn.
Washburn is picked second in the poll with 147 points. Fort Hays State is third with 127 and Lincoln was close behind with 123.
Fort Hays State, Northwest Missouri State, and Nebraska-Kearney represented the MIAA in the NCAA Tournament last year. Nebraska-Kearney is picked sixth after finishing second last year. FHSU finished fourth in the regular season standings last year.
The Tigers have All-MIAA First Team selection Rob Davis returning for his senior year after averaging 16.7 points per game last year. He is the only regular starter returning from last year’s squad, but FHSU has several others returning that saw plenty of time as reserves. Hadley Gillum, Kyler Kinnamon, Trey O’Neil and Drew Kite all played in at least 28 games last season.
Below is the 2016-17 MIAA Preseason Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll.
2016-17 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Northwest Missouri (13) 169
2. Washburn (1) 147
3. Fort Hays State 129
4. Lincoln 123
5. Missouri Southern 111
6. Nebraska-Kearney 104
7. Central Oklahoma 94
8. Pittsburg State 93
9. Central Missouri 92
10. Lindenwood 72
11. Emporia State 55
12. Missouri Western 45
13. Northeastern State 22
14. Southwest Baptist 18