KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The MIAA announced its schedule for the 2020-21 men's and women's basketball schedules, Thursday afternoon. All 2020-2021 schedules were approved by the Association's CEO Council on Jun. 15, and the Institutional Representative Council (IRC) on Jun. 9.
In response to the NCAA Division II requirement of 22 maximum allowable contests for the 2020-21 basketball seasons, MIAA members will play a 22-game conference only schedule next season. Dates are subject to change pending approval by both institutions and the MIAA.
Both Griffon teams will open the 2020-21 seasons on the road in Oklahoma. MWSU will make the trip to Claremore, Oklahoma, on Nov. 19 to open the season at Rogers State before playing at Northeastern State the following Saturday. The Griffons will try to extend last year's domination inside the MWSU Fieldhouse on Dec. 3 when they begin a three-game stretch on Tom Smith Court to open the home portion of their schedules. The first three home opponents will be Lincoln, Central Missouri and Northwest Missouri State. MWSU will close out the 2020-21 season at home with games against Fort Hays State and Nebraska Kearney.
The MIAA CEO Council also approved changes to all MIAA Championships for the 2020-21 academic year. In basketball, the top eight teams in the conference standings will advance to the postseason tournament at Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium. The two team reduction in the tournament will also eliminate one day of competition.
Both Griffon basketball teams are coming off memorable seasons. Candi Whitaker will guide the women's program for a second season after posting a 21-8 record in year-one that included a tie for fourth place in the MIAA standings. Will Martin will take the reins of the men's program after two seasons as assistant coach. Martin will lead a team that had its best season in a decade, going 18-14 and finishing fourth in the MIAA while advancing to the MIAA Championship semifinals.
2020-21 MWSU BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
11/19 at Rogers State
11/21 at Northeastern State
12/3 LINCOLN
12/5 CENTRAL MISSOURI
12/12 NORTHWEST MISSOURI ST.
12/17 at Pittsburg State
12/19 at Missouri Southern
1/7 EMPORIA STATE
1/9 WASHBURN
1/14 at Nebraska Kearney
1/16 at Fort Hays State
1/21 NEWMAN
1/23 CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
1/28 at Central Missouri
1/30 at Lincoln
2/6 at Northwest Missouri St.
2/11 MISSOURI SOUTHERN
2/13 PITTSBURG STATE
2/18 at Washburn
2/20 at Emporia State
2/25 FORT HAYS STATE
2/27 NEBRASKA KEARNEY
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