From the MIAA
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – At the end of the 2011-12 season three teams shared the top spot in the MIAA regular season, and those three teams find themselves at the top of this year’s preseason poll.
Washburn, who won last season’s conference tournament, has been picked by both the media and coaches to finish first again this year. The Ichabods represented the MIAA in the NCAA Tournament along with Northwest Missouri and Missouri Southern. Central Missouri, who finished tied for the conference regular season crown, has been picked second in both polls picking up three first place votes from the coaches. Northwest Missouri, who also took home a piece of the regular season crown, has been picked to finish third this season in both polls, picking up a first place vote from the coaches.
The coaches poll picked Fort Hays State and Pittsburg State in a tie for the fourth spot while the media picked PSU #5 and FHSU tied for #6. Missouri Southern picked up one first place vote in the media poll where they sit #4 and are #6 in the coaches poll. Lindenwood is tied for #6 in the media poll and #8 in the coaches poll. Central Oklahoma is projected to finish #7 by the coaches and #9 by the media.
In the #8 spot in the media poll is Southwest Baptist who earned the #9 slot in the coaches poll. Emporia State normalizes things once again by getting picked #10 and are followed by #11 Nebraska-Kearney in both polls. Missouri Western occupies the #12 spot in the coaches poll and sits in the #13 spot for the media. Truman flip-flops with the Griffons sitting at #12 in the media poll and #13 for the coaches.
The poll normalizes once again at the bottom as Northeastern State is picked to finish #14 and Licoln is picked to finish #15 this season by both the coaches and the media.
Many MIAA teams will tip-off on Nov. 9 and MIAA play is set to get underway on Dec. 5 around the league.
2012-13 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Washburn (11) 188
2. Central Missouri (3) 180
3. Northwest Missouri (1) 170
T4. Fort Hays State 137
T4. Pittsburg State 137
6. Missouri Southern 131
7. Central Oklahoma 119
8. Lindenwood 107
9. Southwest Baptist 89
10. Emporia State 73
11. Nebraska-Kearney 70
12. Missouri Western 65
13. Truman 54
14. Northeastern State 39
15. Lincoln 16
2012-13 MIAA Preseason Media Poll
1. Washburn (17) 267
2. Central Missouri 243
3. Northwest Missouri 236
4. Missouri Southern (1) 204
5. Pittsburg State 173
T6. Fort Hays State 171
T6. Lindenwood 171
8. Southwest Baptist 146
9. Central Oklahoma 132
10. Emporia State 96
11. Nebraska-Kearney 94
12. Truman 89
13. Missouri Western 74
14. Northeastern State 43
15. Lincoln 21
Josh Slaughter is the Director of Communications for the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.