The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association released its preseason coaches polls for men’s and women’s basketball Tuesday (Oct. 27) during the annual Preseason Basketball Luncheon at the Basie Ballroom of the Kansas City Marriott Hotel.

The Southwest Baptist Bearcats were selected as the team to beat on the men’s side, while Washburn was the top choice on the women’s side.

The conference champions will be decided in Kansas City as Municipal Auditorium will once again serve as host site for the 2009 MIAA Postseason Tournament March 5-8. The tournament winners earn automatic berths to the regional tournament.

The men will open tournament play on Thursday, with the women’s first round games on Friday. The men’s semifinals will be Saturday afternoon, with the women’s round of four that evening. The men’s title game leads off championship round action on Sunday.

The regional tournament winners advance to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. The men’s will be played in Springfield, Mass., while the women’s will be at San Antonio, Texas.

Leading the returning cast for head coach Jeff Guiot at SBU is junior C Matt Rogers (14.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 4.5 bspg), who was a unanimous first-team All-MIAA selection and conference Defensive Player of the Year last season.

Senior G D’Ante Harris (15.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.3 apg) is the Bearcats top returning scorer and a second-team All-MIAA choice. Senior F/G Nick Kovacevich (11.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.2 apg) will be asked to provide leadership in 2008-09 as he did during last year’s regional, where he averaged 20.5 points in his two tournament games.

The Lady Blues return three starters from a team which reached the NCAA Division II Elite Eight and picked up a share of the MIAA regular season championship — their fifth conference crown under Ron McHenry, who is entering his ninth season at WU.

The MIAA’s Defensive MVP in senior G Jessica Mainz (6.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.8 spg) will join the team after her soccer season ends. The other returning starters for the Lady Blues are senior G Janice Bright (10.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and junior G/F Hope Gregory (4.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg).

2008-09 MIAA Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll

    
 
1. Southwest Baptist (8)          
 2. Central Missouri (1)           
 3. Nebraska-Omaha (2)             
 4. Fort Hays State                
 5. Northwest Missouri State       
 6. Washburn                       
 7. Missouri Southern              
 8. Emporia State                  
 9. Pittsburg State                
10. Missouri Western               
11. Truman                         
   
2008-09 MIAA Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll

    
 
1. Washburn (7)                   
 2. Emporia State (4)              
 3. Northwest Missouri State       
 4. Central Missouri               
 5. Missouri Southern              
 6. Missouri Western               
 7. Nebraska-Omaha                 
     Pittsburg State                
 9. Southwest Baptist              
10. Truman                         
11. Fort Hays State