KANSAS CITY, Mo. – University of Central Missouri Mules basketball was voted second in the 2026-27 MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll and third in the Media Poll, the conference office announced Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the annual MIAA Basketball Media Day inside the College Basketball Experience in downtown Kansas City, Mo.
 
The Mules received 154 points in the coaches' poll, including one first-place vote, while garnering 322 points in the media poll.
 
The Washburn Ichabods earned the top spot in each poll, collecting 392 points, including all 30 possible first-place votes according to the media poll, while garnering 168 points in the coaches' poll, highlighted by 12 first-place votes.
 
In the coaches' poll, Missouri Western (123 points), Missouri Southern (120 points, one first-place vote), and Arkansas-Fort Smith (114 points) round out the top five.
 
Rogers State finished in a spot ahead of the Mules in the media poll, earning 326 points, while Missouri Western (293 points) and Fort Hays State (253 points) completed the top five of the media poll.
 
The Mules return seven players from last season's squad that made the program's 24^th appearance in the NCAA tournament, advancing to the Central Regional Semifinals, while adding six transfers (Jack Reddick, Kye Dickson, Dodge Davis, CJ Evans, Max Rieger, and Clayton Jackson) and one player from the Class of 2026 (BJ Bradford).
 
Central Missouri opens the 2026-27 campaign on Saturday, Nov. 7, as they take on the Gannon Golden Knights at 10:00 a.m. (CST), in the opening game of the 2026 Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic, inside Jenkins Fieldhouse, on the campus of Florida Southern University, in Lakeland, Fla.


KANSAS CITY, Mo. – University of Central Missouri Mules basketball was voted second in the 2026-27 MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll and third in the Media Poll, the conference office announced Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the annual MIAA Basketball Media Day inside the College Basketball Experience in downtown Kansas City, Mo.
 
The Mules received 154 points in the coaches' poll, including one first-place vote, while garnering 322 points in the media poll.
 
The Washburn Ichabods earned the top spot in each poll, collecting 392 points, including all 30 possible first-place votes according to the media poll, while garnering 168 points in the coaches' poll, highlighted by 12 first-place votes.
 
In the coaches' poll, Missouri Western (123 points), Missouri Southern (120 points, one first-place vote), and Arkansas-Fort Smith (114 points) round out the top five.
 
Rogers State finished in spot ahead of the Mules in the media poll, earning 326 points, while Missouri Western (293 points) and Fort Hays State (253 points) complete the top-five of the media poll.
 
The Mules return seven players from last season's squad that made the program's 24^th appearance in the NCAA tournament, advancing to the Central Regional Semifinals, while adding six transfers (Jack Reddick, Kye Dickson, Dodge Davis, CJ Evans, Max Rieger, and Clayton Jackson) and one player from the Class of 2026 (BJ Bradford).
 
Central Missouri opens the 2026-27 campaign on Saturday, Nov. 7, as they take on the Gannon Golden Knights at 10:00 a.m. (CST), in the opening game of the 2026 Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic, inside Jenkins Fieldhouse, on the campus of Florida Southern University, in Lakeland, Fla.
 

MEN'S PRESEASON COACHES POLL:
1. Washburn [12] – 168 points
2. Central Missouri [1] – 154 points
3. Missouri Western – 123 points
4. Missouri Southern [1] – 120 points
5. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 114 points
6. Rogers State – 111 points
7. Pittsburg State – 104 points
8. Fort Hays State – 103 points
9. Central Oklahoma – 90 points
10. Northwest Missouri – 59 points
11. Nebraska Kearney – 43 points
12. Emporia State – 36 points
13. Northeastern State – 35 points
14. Newman – 14 points
[#] - First Place Votes
 
MEN'S PRESEASON MEDIA POLL:
1. Washburn [30] – 392 points
2. Rogers State – 326 points
3. Central Missouri – 322 points
4. Missouri Western – 293 points
5. Fort Hays State – 253 points
6. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 252 points
7. Missouri Southern – 241 points
8. Pittsburg State – 206 points
9. Central Oklahoma – 193 points
10. Northwest Missouri – 155 points
11. Nebraska Kearney – 101 points
12. Emporia State – 79 points
13. Northeastern State – 86 points
14. Newman – 41 points
[#] - First Place Votes