MIAA releases preseason polls

Amariontez Ivory of Lincoln drives toward the basket during a game against Nebraska-Kearney last season at Jason Gym.
Amariontez Ivory of Lincoln drives toward the basket during a game against Nebraska-Kearney last season at Jason Gym.

The pick to win the women's basketball title in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association is a consensus, while the selection to win the men's title is a split decision.

The coaches and the media each picked Central Missouri, the reigning NCAA Division II Tournament champion, to win the women's championship in the 2018-19 MIAA preseason polls, which were announced Tuesday at the MIAA Media Day in Kansas City.

In the men's preseason polls, the coaches tabbed Missouri Southern to win the MIAA, while the media picked Northwest Missouri at No. 1.

The Lincoln men's basketball team was voted No. 9 in the coaches poll and No. 10 in the media poll. The Lincoln women's basketball team was picked to finish last in both the coaches and media polls.

In the men's coaches poll, Missouri Southern received 157 points and six first-place votes, while Northwest Missouri was second with 155 points and seven first-place votes. Washburn, No. 3 with 132 points, received the remaining first-place vote.

The top two spots were flipped in the media poll, as Northwest Missouri had six first-place votes and 262 points. Missouri Southern had the most first-place votes with 10 but was one point behind the Bearcats at No. 2.

Washburn was third with 237 points and three first-place votes, followed by Central Missouri at No. 4 with 225 points. No. 5 Pittsburg State and No. 6 Fort Hays State each received a first-place vote.

In the women's coaches poll, Central Missouri received the maximum number of points at 169 and had 13 of the 14 first-place votes. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team in the poll.

Fort Hays State received the other first-place vote and was second with 154 points.

Central Missouri claimed 20 of the 21 first-place votes in the media poll, garnering 291 points. Fort Hays State was second with 265 points and the remaining first-place vote.

Emporia State, Washburn and Central Oklahoma rounded out the top five in the women's coaches poll. Washburn was third in the women's media poll, followed by Emporia State and Pittsburg State.

Last season, Northwest Missouri won the MIAA men's regular-season and tournament championships. Central Missouri won the women's regular-season title and Lindenwood won the conference tournament.

The Lincoln men's basketball team opens the 2018-19 season Nov. 9 against East Central in the SBU Classic at Bolivar. The women's team plays an exhibition game Nov. 4 at Missouri State before opening the regular season Nov. 9 against Southern Arkansas in the GAC/MIAA Challenge at Magnolia, Ark.

Both Lincoln teams open MIAA play Dec. 6 at Northwest Missouri.