MIAA Roundup: January 19, 2012

We’ve reached the halfway point of the 2011-12 MIAA men’s and women’s basketball seasons, and there’s still a lot to be decided.

Four teams stand tied atop the men’s standings at 7-3 in conference play, while two others sit just one game behind at 6-4. On the women’s side, Washburn and Pittsburg State lead the way at 9-1, while Emporia State is just a game back at 8-2.

No team, men’s or women’s, has been eliminated from MIAA Tournament contention, and the seeds are up for grabs from 1 all the way through 8. If the first half of the season is any indication, MIAA fans are in for an exciting race down the stretch.

Missouri Southern, Northwest Missouri, Central Missouri and Washburn are the schools tied for first place in the men’s standings. Each team still has to play every league school again, but Southern and Washburn have gone 2-1 thus far against the other three tied teams, while Northwest and Central are both 1-2.

Fort Hays State and Pittsburg State are both 6-4 in MIAA play and right in the thick of the championship race. Emporia State and Southwest Baptist are both 4-6 in conference play, Lincoln and Truman are both 3-7, and Missouri Western is 1-9.

Behind Washburn, Pittsburg State and Emporia State in the women’s standings are Central Missouri and Fort Hays State, tied for fourth with identical 6-4 MIAA records. Lincoln and Truman are both 4-6 in league play. Missouri Western is 3-7, while Missouri Southern, Northwest Missouri and Southwest Baptist are each 2-8 in the conference.

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has released its indoor track & field preseason national team computer rankings, and the MIAA has six combined schools in the men’s and women’s top 25. The MIAA ranks second in both the men’s and women’s conference rankings.

Lincoln is the preseason No. 1 on the men’s side, followed by Central Missouri at No. 8. On the women’s side, Lincoln comes in at No. 2 while Central Missouri is No. 5, Missouri Southern is No. 16 and Emporia State is No. 23.

The next round of computer rankings will be released on Jan. 24. The 2012 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships will be held in Mankato, Minn., on March 9-10.

Two more football All-America teams were announced Thursday, and the MIAA was well represented on both.

Pittsburg State linebacker Nate Dreiling was voted the National Defensive Player of the Year by both Don Hansen and D2Football.com, and Pittsburg State head coach Tim Beck was named the National Coach of the Year by both as well.

Along with Dreiling, Washburn quarterback Dane Simoneau (runner-up for the Harlon Hill Trophy), Missouri Western defensive end David Bass, Missouri Southern defensive tackle Brandon Williams, Northwest Missouri linebacker Chad Kilgore, and Missouri Western kicker Greg Zuerlein were first team All-Americans on both the Don Hansen and D2Football.com teams.

Northwest Missouri offensive guard Cody Johnson was a first team honoree by Don Hansen, while Pittsburg State all-purpose player John Brown was voted first team by D2Football.com.

The full 2011 Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America Team can be found here, while the complete D2Football.com All-America team is here.