The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association tipped off the college basketball season during the MIAA basketball media day session Tuesday in Kansas City.
During the media day, the MIAA unveiled both the coaches and media polls for the men's and women's teams.
The Lincoln men were picked to finish 10th out of 14 teams by both the coaches and the media. The Lincoln women were picked to tie for 13th by the coaches and finish 14th by the media.
The Northwest Missouri men, the reigning NCAA Division II national champions, were the unanimous pick at No. 1 by the media. The Bearcats received 13 of the 14 first-place votes by the coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own team.
Washburn received the other first-place vote in the coaches poll. The Ichabods were picked to finish second by both the coaches and the media.
Central Oklahoma, Missouri Southern and Missouri Western round out the top five in the men's coaches poll, while Missouri Western, Missouri Southern and Central Oklahoma were Nos. 3-5 in the media poll.
Four teams received at least one first-place vote in the women's coaches poll.
Fort Hays State garnered six of the 14 first-place votes and was picked No. 1. Central Missouri, which reached the Final Four last season, was No. 2 with three first-place votes, while Nebraska-Kearney also had three first-place votes at No. 3. Emporia State took the remaining two first-place votes at No. 4.
In the women's media poll, Central Missouri and Fort Hays State tied for first place with 118 points. The Jennies had five first-place votes and the Tigers had the remaining four first-place votes.
Nebraska-Kearney, Emporia State and Central Oklahoma round out the top five in the media poll.
Here are the complete MIAA coaches and media polls, as well as the News Tribune's ballots:
Men's MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
First-place votes in parentheses. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
Rank, team Points
1. Northwest Missouri (13) 169
2. Washburn (1) 157
3. Central Oklahoma 141
4. Missouri Southern 125
5. Missouri Western 115
6. Fort Hays State 112
7. Rogers State 88
8. Pittsburg State 86
9. Emporia State 78
10. Lincoln 60
11. Central Missouri 59
12. Nebraska-Kearney 39
13. Northeastern State 31
14. Newman 14
Men's MIAA Preseason Media Poll
First-place votes in parentheses.
Rank, team Points
1. Northwest Missouri (9) 126
2. Washburn 116
3. Missouri Western 99
4. Missouri Southern 90
5. Central Oklahoma 86
6. Fort Hays State 74
7. Emporia State 73
8. Rogers State 63
9. Pittsburg State 61
10. Lincoln 60
11. Central Missouri 38
12. Nebraska-Kearney 28
13. Northeastern State 16
14. Newman 15
News Tribune's Ballot
1. Northwest Missouri, 2. Missouri Western, 3. Washburn, 4. Missouri Southern, 5. Central Oklahoma.
6. Fort Hays State, 7. Lincoln, 8. Pittsburg State, 9. Emporia State, 10. Rogers State.
11. Central Missouri, 12. Nebraska-Kearney, 13. Northeastern State, 14. Newman.
Women's MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
First-place votes in parentheses. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
Rank, team Points
1. Fort Hays State (6) 159
2. Central Missouri (3) 154
3. Nebraska-Kearney (3) 153
4. Emporia State (2) 136
5. Central Oklahoma 121
6. Washburn 106
7. Pittsburg State 94
8. Missouri Western 78
9. (tie) Missouri Southern 71
9. (tie) Northwest Missouri 71
11. Northeastern State 49
12. Rogers State 34
13. (tie) Lincoln 24
13. (tie) Newman 24
Women's MIAA Preseason Media Poll
First-place votes in parentheses.
Rank, team Points
1. (tie) Central Missouri (5) 118
1. (tie) Fort Hays State (4) 118
3. Nebraska-Kearney 112
4. Emporia State 98
5. Central Oklahoma 87
6. Washburn 72
7. Pittsburg State 70
8. Missouri Western 65
9. Northwest Missouri 62
10. Missouri Southern 49
11. (tie) Northeastern State 32
11. (tie) Rogers State 32
13. Newman 18
14. Lincoln 12
News Tribune's Ballot
1. Central Missouri, 2. Fort Hays State, 3. Nebraska-Kearney, 4. Emporia State, 5. Central Oklahoma.
6. Washburn, 7. Pittsburg State, 8. Missouri Southern, 9. Missouri Western, 10. Rogers State.
11. Northeastern State, 12. Northwest Missouri, 13. Lincoln, 14. Newman.