Last season the MIAA got only two teams in the South Central Regional — Central Missouri and Southwest Baptist — and both those teams are loaded, should finish atop the MIAA and are almost locks to make the Regional again.
After UCM and SBU, much like last year, it will be a fight for the next few spots in the league and the final few spots to the MIAA tournament, which takes only the top eight league teams.
Emporia State and Fort Hays State tied for third last year and are the favorites to finish below the top two once again, but there is plenty of competition as always in the MIAA.
The conference schedule begins today. Here’s Emporia State beat writer C.J. Moore’s preview of each team and prediction of how they will finish.
1. Central Missouri
Record: 4-0
Preseason MIAA ranking: Picked 2nd by coaches, 1st by media
Central Missouri has an impressive resume from last season to build on. The Mules tied Southwest Baptist for the MIAA regular season title, won the MIAA tournament, won the South Central Regional and made the Final Four.
Right away this season, the Mules showed they are capable of big things again. They opened the year with an exhibition 81-68 win against Division I Austin Peay, a team that’s picked to finish third in the Ohio Valley and was one win away from the NCAA tournament last year.
The Mules are led by three seniors who all played a big role in last season’s success. All-MIAA forward Sanijay Watts leads the team with 21.3 points per game and 8.5 rebounds.
Senior guard Alex Moosmann, who transferred to UCM from Miami (Ohio) before last season, is one of the best point guards in the league. Moosman averages 14.5 points per game and rarely makes a mistake.
Senior forward Tremaine Luellen is the team’s third-leading scorer (9.3 points per game) and second-leading rebounder (6.0 per game).
The only question mark for the Mules is on the wing, where they lost some of the top playmakers in the league to graduation.
“We lost four really good guards,” UCM coach Kim Anderson said. “We had the luxury and the depth to bring guys in. That’s what we’re trying to build again. We’ve got four guys I think can do that.”
If Anderson is right, the Mules should be primed to win the MIAA and make another trip to the Final Four.
2. Southwest Baptist
Record: 7-1
Preseason MIAA ranking: Picked 1st by coaches, 2nd by media
Matt Rogers is unquestionably the best player in the MIAA. Rogers would most likely start at any school in the country — Division Is included — and is probably the best player in Division II. There were scouts from the Charlotte Bobcats to watch Rogers last season and he has a legitimate chance to play in the NBA.
Rogers, who was the MIAA player of the year last season, is off to a strong start in his senior season, leading the league in scoring (24.3 points per game) and blocks (3.8 per game). He also averages 7.4 rebounds and is making 56 percent of his 3-pointers.
“He’s gotten stronger. He’s improved in several different areas,” SBU coach Jeff Guiot said. “Matt is as hungry as ever and worked more in the summer on his game than ever before.”
If the Bearcats suited up four scrubs and Rogers, they would probably still finish near the top of the MIAA. But Guiot went out and signed a player who will be one of the best players in the league to play alongside Rogers.
Thinjin Moses is a 6-foot-8 forward who, like Rogers, is a matchup nightmare because of his ability to shoot the three. Thinjin is averaging 18.5 points per game and has made 27-of-56 3-pointers.
The Bearcats also return one of the most solid point guards in the league in senior Tomas Brock. Brock has the best assist to turnover ratio in the league. He has 50 assists and only 15 turnovers.
The Bearcats are not as talented and experienced on the wing, but they still have two good players in Kurtis Koenig and Tristan Steele, who both average just better than nine points per game.
3. Fort Hays State
Record: 4-0
Preseason MIAA ranking: Picked 4th by coaches, 3rd by media
Fort Hays State is the one team that has a frontcourt that rivals Central Missouri and Southwest Baptist.
The Tigers returned their top two post players, seniors Tim Peintner and Ryan Herrman, and also added Ken Bowman, an athletic 6-foot-9 power forward who was at one time a Maryland commitment.
Bowman allows the Tigers to play big, moving the 6-foot-6 Peintner over to play small forward. Peintner leads the Tigers in scoring at 15.5 points per game, and Bowman is averaging 10 points a game.
The Tigers are definitely improved up front, but their backcourt is not as strong this season. Tyrone Evans and Terry Jeffries were one of the best backcourts last season and the team’s leading and third-leading scorers, respectively, but both graduated.
“The big question is going to be our backcourt,” coach Mark Johnson said. “I don’t know that we can fill the void left by Tyrone and Terry with one guy. I do feel like (there’s) more depth in our guard play.”
Transfer guards Dominique Jones and Orrin Greer have eased the impact of the loss of Evans and Jeffries. Jones is second on the team in scoring at 11 points per game and Greer is averaging 10.5.
4. Emporia State
Record: 3-2
Preseason MIAA ranking: Picked 3rd by coaches, 4th by media
The Hornets would probably be in the third spot if they had everyone healthy, but that has not been the case since practice started.
Last year’s second-leading scorer, Robert Moores, has yet to play because of a stress fracture in his leg and Jarvis Nichols tore his ACL on the first day of practice. Nichols might have been the Hornets’ best player this season.
Adding to the injured list recently has been Lamar Wilbern and Jeremiah Box, who both sprained their ankles and are slowly recovering.
Still, the Hornets have managed to get off to a good start thanks to improvements made by Tim Niles, the MIAA’s second-leading scorer, and several key reserves, including Matt Boswell and Jordan Stout.
Freshman guard Taylor Euler has also impressed, especially last weekend when he scored 29 points in two games at the SBU Classic. Once the Hornets do get Wilbern, Box and Moores back, they could be even better than last season; however, there is not much falloff from the teams above them.
If the injury bug doesn’t cost them early in the conference season — they start with two tough games on the road and a home game against Central Missouri — they could once again challenge Fort Hays for third place and maybe sneak into the Regional this year.
5. Missouri Western
Record: 4-1
Preseason MIAA ranking: Picked 5th by coaches, 8th by media
Missouri Western finished eighth in the conference last year and then made a surprise run to the MIAA championship.
The Griffons could build off that strong finish with an experienced team — six seniors — and several of their top players back this year.
“We’re hoping history repeats itself and as Emporia did the year before, made that run and got to the finals and then came back and finished third in the league,” Western coach Tom Smith said. “I hope we can do the same thing.”
The Griffons are off to a good start that includes a win over Central Oklahoma, a team that beat Emporia State twice.
They are one of the most athletic teams in the league once again this year and are led by two athletic wings, 6-foot-6 small forward Dominique Thuston and senior guard Marcus Rhodes. Rhodes leads the team at 19.6 points per game, and Thuston is scoring 16 points per game.
6. Nebraska-Omaha
Record: 5-0
Preseason MIAA ranking: Picked 6th by both coaches and media
Unlike most of the teams below them, Nebraska-Omaha has actually played a legitimate nonconference schedule with four games against Division II opponents.
The Mavericks are once again led by two perimeter players. Last season’s leading scorers were Michael Jenkins, who graduated, and Mitch Albers, who transferred to the University of Nebraska.
Junior guard Tyler Bullock, a transfer by way of the University of Denver and Nebraska-Kearney, is leading the Mavs at 19 points per game. Junior guard Jeff Martin had his season end five games in last year because of a leg injury, and he’s bounced back this year to average 13.8 points per game.
The Mavs are also getting good production from power forward Dion Curry, who averaging 13.2 points per game.
“Overall I don’t think we’ll shoot it as well as we did in the past,” UNO coach Derrin Hansen said. “That being said, we shot it exceptionally well the last three years. I think our athleticism will be better and our post-up game will be better. I think we’ll have different options and ways of trying to play uptempo.”
7. Missouri Southern
Record: 5-0
Preseason MIAA ranking: Picked 7th by both coaches and media
Missouri Southern will once again be one of the more difficult teams to play in the league because of its full-court press and uptempo style.
The Lions are forcing 26 turnovers per game and have several athletes that fit well in the press, none more so than 6-foot-5 sophomore swingman Jason Adams. Adams came on strong at the end of last season and was named the MIAA Freshman of the Year. This year he leads the team with 16.8 points per game and 5.4 rebounds.
“He’s got the talent,” MSU assistant coach Ronnie Ressel. “It’s just a matter if he keeps himself focused day in and day out at practice, he’s got a chance to be a very good player for us.”
The Lions returned nine players and four starters, so they have the depth to play their pressing style and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them finish much higher than they were picked in the preseason. They have played only one Division II team — Missouri S&T — so it’s tough to say whether they have improved.
8. NW Missouri
Record: 4-0
Preseason MIAA ranking: Picked 10th by coaches, 9th by media
If Northwest Missouri can qualify for the MIAA tournament, it would have to be considered a successful first year for former ESU assistant Ben McCollum.
McCollum has a different-looking roster, with seven new players and without big man Hunter Henry. Junior forward Elijah Allen is the team’s top returning player and has been the best player so far. Allen is averaging a team-best 18.8 points and 5.5 rebounds.
Senior guard Girod Adams, a transfer from Stephen F. Austin, is the best addition McCollum made. Adams started 15 games for Stephen F. Austin last year and has made an immediate impact, averaging 17.3 points per game.
The Bearcats are the top-scoring team in the MIAA at 96.8 points per game; however, they have yet to play a Division II opponent.
McCollum’s transition into the league should be made easier from the four years he spent at Emporia State and his time as a player for Northwest Missouri under his predecessor, Steve Tappmeyer.
“Defensively, it’ll be like Coach Tappmeyer, a little bit more pressure,” McCollum said of his coaching style. “Offensively, we’ll be a little bit more running-oriented like Moe with a little bit less freedom. I take a little bit of both. X’s and O’s-wise I learned more than I ever had when I was with Coach Moe, so I take a lot of that from him. Just building a program, I take a lot from Coach Tappmeyer.”
9. Washburn
Record: 5-0
Preseason MIAA ranking: Picked 8th by coaches, 5th by media
Washburn has 10 new players and had an easy nonconference schedule to build the confidence of such a new team.
The Ichabods played only one Division II team — Peru State — and beat up on four NAIA teams.
Washburn relied mostly on athletic wings and frontcourt players last year and coach Bob Chipman tried to bring in more guards this year.
“We have better guard play and we finally got some guards,” Chipman said. “We moved James Williams, a 3-man, to the point last year. We’re excited about that. We got some perimeter guys.”
The Ichabods are led by junior forward De’Andre Washington, one of two transfers from Pensacola Junior College. Washington is averaging a team-best 17 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
Logan Stutz, a 6-foot-9 junior forward, is the team’s best returning player. He’s averaging 13 points per game.
10. Pittsburg State
Record: 5-1
Preseason MIAA ranking: Picked 9th by coaches, 10th by media
Pittsburg State’s record looks impressive so far; however, the Gorillas have only one win against a Division II team — Missouri S&T.
The Gorillas should be similar to last year’s team, which was capable of pulling off an upset at home but one of the bottom teams in the league.
Pitt State is lead by senior guard Spencer Magna, who is averaging 16.5 points per game. Senior forward Rodney Grace is averaging 14.2 points per game.
The Gorillas could be the sentimental pick to do well this season with Gene Iba coaching his final season. Iba doesn’t plan on coaching any differently.
“I’ll transition into the first win,” he said. “We’ll do things exactly the same. The next guy is not going to want to transition from me until it’s time to transition, and that’ll be when the season is over.”
11. Truman State
Record: 1-3
Preseason MIAA ranking: Picked 11th by both coaches and media
MIAA coaches like to say that you can’t take a night off in the MIAA, because there isn’t an easy team to beat.
Truman might be the one exception.
The Bulldogs did not make many improvements to their roster after finishing in last place last season, and they are relying on many of the same players to produce this year.
Vesko Filchev, a 6-foot-10, 280-pound sophomore, could be a matchup problem for some teams. Filchev is leading Truman in scoring (13.3 points per game) and rebounding (8.0 per game), but he often struggled to play extended minutes and get up and down the court last season.
The Bulldogs other two double-digit scorers are sophomore forward Mark Misiewicz, averaging 11.3 points per game, and junior guard Alex Henderson, averaging 10 points per game.
“I don’t think we have what you call a go-to person,” TSU coach Jack Schrader said. “We’ll just have to contribute by committee.”
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