The Pittsburg State University men’s basketball team was picked in a tie for seventh place in the 2020-21 Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) preseason coaches poll that was released on Tuesday as part of the MIAA’s Virtual Media Day.
“Obviously, as every coach is right now, we’re excited about the season,” Pittsburg State coach Kim Anderson said at Tuesday’s virtual press conference. “We’re also optimistic about the season. We have nine new players and seven returning players. We’re looking forward to the season. I think the league is going to be great as always. Every night when you go out to play you have to be ready.”
Pittsburg State received 75 points in the poll to finish tied for seventh with Fort Hays State. Northwest Missouri, the defending MIAA champion, was the unanimous No. 1 in the poll with 13 first-place votes and 169 points. Missouri Southern received one-first place vote and 147 points to land at No. 2. Washburn (140), Rogers State (123) and Missouri Western (122) rounded out the top five spots.
The Gorillas posted a 12-18 overall record in 2019-20, with a 7-12 mark in the MIAA.
Anderson has three players back who started 10 or more games in 2019-20—senior guard Dejon Waters Jr. (8.9 ppg), senior forward Antonio Givens II (8.2 ppg) and senior forward Xavier Womack (4.9 ppg).
Two other players—junior guard Ray Elliott (6.7 ppg) and redshirt sophomore guard R.J. Lawrence (9.3 ppg)—started five games apiece a year ago.
Anderson is set to begin his fourth year as the Gorillas head coach. He has a 46-44 mark leading the Pitt State program and a 347-206 career record.
“The game was taken away from these ladies and these guys over the past seven, eight, nine months,” Anderson said. “Our guys are excited to play.”
2020-21 MIAA Coaches Poll
- Northwest Missouri (13) 169
- Missouri Southern (1) 147
- Washburn 140
- Rogers State 123
- Missouri Western 122
- Central Oklahoma 106
7t. Fort Hays State 75
7t. Pittsburg State 75
- Lincoln 67
- Nebraska-Kearney 64
- Central Missouri 60
- Emporia State 56
- Northeastern State 55
- Newman 17
