MIAA Announces Preseason Polls at Media Day

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - MIAA Basketball Media Day was held Tuesday morning at the Downtown Marriott, where the preseason men's and women's basketball coaches and media polls were unveiled. Emporia State was voted No. 1 in both women's basketball polls, while Southwest Baptist and Central Missouri split the top spot in the men's basketball polls.

It came down to the wire between Southwest Baptist and Central Missouri in the men's polls, with SBU being named preseason No. 1 in the coaches poll and Central getting the nod in the media poll. Southwest Baptist received seven first-place votes and 97 points in the coaches poll, followed by UCM with four first-place votes and 92 total points. In the media poll, Central Missouri had 12 first-place votes and 272 total points to edge Southwest Baptist, which received 14 first-place votes and 268 total points.

Emporia State and Washburn had a similarly close race in both women's polls, with ESU taking preseason No. 1 honors in both polls. In the coaches poll, Emporia State received seven first-place votes and 96 points, while Washburn had one first-place vote and 90 total points. Pittsburg State also received three first-place votes, coming in third at 86 points. In the media poll, ESU had 15 first-place votes and 291 points while WU followed with 12 first-place votes and 286 points. Pittsburg State received the other first-place vote, finishing at No. 3 in the media poll as well with 236 points.

MIAA Basketball teams officially begin action Nov. 15, but the first exhibition games will take place Oct. 30 for the men and Nov. 1 for the women.

2009-10 MIAA MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
(First place votes in parentheses)

1. Southwest Baptist (7) -- 97 pts.
2. Central Missouri (4) -- 92 pts.
3. Emporia State -- 76 pts.
4. Fort Hays State -- 71 pts.
5. Missouri Western -- 59 pts.
6. Nebraska-Omaha -- 54 pts.
7. Missouri Southern -- 53 pts.
8. Washburn -- 39 pts.
9. Pittsburg State -- 28 pts.
10. Northwest Missouri -- 23 pts.
11. Truman -- 13 pts.

2009-10 MIAA MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON MEDIA POLL
(First place votes in parentheses)

1. Central Missouri (12) -- 272 pts.
2. Southwest Baptist (14) -- 268 pts.
3. Fort Hays State -- 195 pts.
4. Emporia State -- 193 pts.
5. Washburn -- 156 pts.
6. Nebraska-Omaha -- 151 pts.
7. Missouri Southern -- 146 pts.
8. Missouri Western -- 143 pts.
9. Northwest Missouri -- 79 pts.
10. Pittsburg State -- 78 pts.
11. Truman -- 35 pts.

2009-10 MIAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
(First place votes in parentheses)

1. Emporia State (7) -- 96 pts.
2. Washburn (1) -- 90 pts.
3. Pittsburg State (3) -- 86 pts.
4. Central Missouri -- 68 pts.
5. Fort Hays State -- 64 pts.
6. Missouri Southern -- 51 pts.
7. Nebraska-Omaha -- 47 pts.
8. Southwest Baptist -- 34 pts.
9. Northwest Missouri -- 31 pts.
10. Missouri Western -- 21 pts.
11. Truman -- 18 pts.

2009-10 MIAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON MEDIA POLL
(First place votes in parentheses)

1. Emporia State (15) -- 291 pts.
2. Washburn (12) -- 286 pts.
3. Pittsburg State (1) -- 236 pts.
4. Central Missouri -- 226 pts.
5. Missouri Southern -- 160 pts.
6. Fort Hays State -- 158 pts.
7. Nebraska-Omaha -- 138 pts.
8. Northwest Missouri -- 108 pts.
9. Southwest Baptist -- 100 pts.
10. Missouri Western -- 77 pts.
11. Truman -- 68 pts.