<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605039216761.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy of&nbsp; The MIAA" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy of&nbsp; The MIAA</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (November 10, 2020) - The MIAA announced its preseason coaches poll for the 2020-2021 men's basketball season during the 2020 MIAA Basketball Virtual Media Day Presented By Seigfreid Bingham.Northwest Missouri, the defending MIAA regular-season and tournament champion, was picked first in the preseason coaches poll with 169 points and 13 first-place votes. The Bearcats have won seven consecutive MIAA regular-season titles, the longest streak in Association History&nbsp; The Bearcats are slated to open up the 2020-2021 season Nov. 19 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, against Northeastern State University. Northwest is 71-5 in MIAA play over the previous four seasons. Northwest has won 39 of its last 40 MIAA matchups. The Bearcats begin the 2020-2021 season riding a 23-game win streak and have posted a mark of 69-1 over the previous two seasons. The Bearcats also possess a record of 131-6 over the past four seasons – the most wins for an NCAA Division II program over a four-year stretch in the history of college basketball.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Bearcats are slated to open up the 2020-2021 season Nov. 19 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, against Northeastern State University. Northwest is 71-5 in MIAA play over the previous four seasons. Northwest has won 39 of its last 40 MIAA matchups.The Bearcats begin the 2020-2021 season riding a 23-game win streak and have posted a mark of 69-1 over the previous two seasons. The Bearcats also possess a record of 131-6 over the past four seasons – the most wins for an NCAA Division II program over a four-year stretch in the history of college basketball.Missouri Southern was tabbed second by the coaches with 147 points and the remaining first-place vote. In third-place was Washburn with 140 points followed by Rogers State with 123 points. RSU held the spot by a single point over Missouri Western as the Griffons rounded out the top five with 122 points.Missouri Western will be under new head coach Will Martin, following the departure of Sundance Wicks.&nbsp; The Griffons ended last season 18-14 and falling in the second round of the MIAA Championships to Northwest.&nbsp; They will open up on the road on Claremore, OK against Rogers State.The MIAA tips off the regular-season on Thursday, November 19. Not only is the Association the first to get its season underway in NCAA Division II but one of the first to start in any of the three NCAA Divisions.

To see the complete schedule of MIAA Basketball games,&nbsp;<a href="https://themiaa.com/calendar.aspx?path=mbball">click here</a>.&nbsp; 2020-2021 MIAA Men's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll 1. Northwest Missouri (13) - 169 points 2. Missouri Southern (1) - 147 points 3. Washburn - 140 points 4. Rogers State - 123 points 5. Missouri Western - 122 points 6. Central Oklahoma - 106 points T7. Fort Hays State - 75 points T7. Pittsburg State - 75 points 9. Lincoln - 67 points 10. Nebraska Kearney - 64 points 11. Central Missouri - 60 points 12. Emporia State - 56 points 13. Northeastern State - 55 points 14. Newman - 17 points *Coaches Cannot Vote For Their Own Team&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Northwest men projected to win MIAA; Missouri Western ranked #5 in preseason poll