COLLEGE HOOPS APPROACHING

MIAA readies for basketball season with release of coaches polls Both Washburn squads picked as teams to beat in 2004-05 KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association released its preseason coaches polls for men`s and women`s basketball Friday (Oct. 29) during the annual Preseason Basketball Luncheon at the Colonial Ballroom of the Kansas City Marriott Muehlebach Tower. Central Missouri State head men`s basketball coach Kim Anderson speaks to KMBC-TV`s Karen Kornacki during the MIAA Preseason Basketball Luncheon Friday (Oct. 29) in Kansas City. Kornacki was the master of ceremonies for the event. (Photo by Matt Newbery) Both the men`s and women`s squads from Washburn University earned the No. 1 rankings in their respective surveys. The Ichabods had six first-place votes and 76 points to lead the men`s list, while the Lady Blues had five first-place votes and 77 points in the women`s poll. The conference champions will be decided in Kansas City as Municipal Auditorium will once again serve as host site for the 2005 MIAA Championships March 3-6. The tournament winners earn automatic berths to the regional tournament. The regional tournament winners advance to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. The men`s will be played in Grand Forks, N.D., while the women`s will be at Hot Springs, Ark. The Washburn men have two backcourt starters returning in senior G Karlton Mims (9.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and junior G Jerad Head (8.7 ppg, 3.3 apg), along with a Street & Smith`s preseason Division II All-America in senior F Travis Robbins (13.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg), who came off the Ichabods bench last season. The Lady Blues have all five starters and nine players who averaged at least 16 minutes of playing time per game last season. Second-team All-MIAA choices in senior F Carla Sintra (10.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and senior G Lora Westling (9.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg) lead the group returning for WU. One school has a new coach on the men`s side, as Southwest Baptist brought former Pittsburg State star Jeff Guiot over from Bemidji (Minn.) State. SBU was picked seventh, receiving one first-place vote. Two schools have new mentors on the women`s side. David Slifer moved from Missouri Western to Central Missouri State. His former assistant, Josh Keister, moves over one spot on the bench to become the Griffons` new coach. 2004-05 MIAA Men`s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll School Pts. 1. Washburn (6) 76 2. Northwest Missouri State (1) 69 3. Pittsburg State (2) 58 4. Central Missouri State 57 5. Missouri Western 47 6. Emporia State 46 7. Southwest Baptist (1) 36 8. Missouri Southern 32 9. Missouri-Rolla 16 10. Truman 13 Points awarded on a 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. Coaches could not vote for their own school. 2004-05 MIAA Women`s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll School Pts. 1. Washburn (5) 77 2. Emporia State (3) 73 3. Missouri Western (1) 61 4. Central Missouri State (1) 58 5. Missouri Southern 47 6. Southwest Baptist 38 7. Northwest Missouri State 37 8. Pittsburg State 27 9. Truman 21 10. Missouri-Rolla 11 Points awarded on a 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. Coaches could not vote for their own school. -- MIAA --