KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Following a season where it beat its first Division I opponent since 1980, Missouri Western men's basketball received 18 points in the MIAA Preseason Men's Basketball Coaches Poll.

MWSU was tabbed 14^th in the poll and trailed Northeastern State and Southwest Baptist by less than 24 points. Defending National Champion, Northwest Missouri State was picked first with 169 points. Central Missouri finished a vote ahead of Washburn for second place at 145 points; the Ichabods received the only other first place vote in the poll.

MIAA MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1.  Northwest Missouri (13) - 169 points
2.  Central Missouri - 145 points
3.  Washburn (1) - 144 points
4.  Nebraska Kearney - 124 points
5.  Central Oklahoma - 115 points
6.  Missouri Southern - 112 points
7.  Fort Hays State - 100 points
8.  Pittsburg State   - 87 points
9.  Lindenwood - 86 points
10. Emporia State - 48 points
11. Lincoln - 45 points
12. Northeastern State - 41 points
13. Southwest Baptist - 40 points
14. Missouri Western - 18 points
 
The Griffons return nine players from last season's squad that had wins over MIAA tournament semifinalist Missouri Southern and Nebraska Kearney. Missouri Western added five players to the roster for Brett Weiberg's fifth season.

Cole Clearman is the team's top returner after earning All-MIAA honors in 2016-17. Clearman led the Griffons and ranked 10^th in the conference with 14.6 points a game. MWSU also returns TJ Evans who averaged 12.4 points per game. He finished second in the MIAA with an 86.3 free-throw percentage.

Missouri Western begins the season with an exhibition game at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Friday, November 3 at 7 p.m. The Griffons host the Hillyard Classic in the MWSU Fieldhouse on Friday, Nov. 10 against Winona State at 3 p.m. and Upper Iowa on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m.