KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Northeastern State men's basketball is picked to finish 11th out of 14 possible teams, according to the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll released Tuesday.

The RiverHawks earned 44 points in the poll, finishing the 2023-24 season with an 11-17 overall mark and 12th in the MIAA standings at 6-16.  

Washburn earned eight first-place votes in the coaches poll with 161 points to edge Fort Hays State with 156 and three first-place nods.  Pittsburg State came in third with 149 points and a pair of top votes Northwest Missouri claimed the remaining first-place vote and 125 points.  Central Oklahoma rounded out the top five with 120 points. 

Missouri Western was sixth, followed by Central Missouri, Rogers State, Emporia State, and  Missouri Southern.  Behind NSU in the poll are Nebraska-Kearney, Arkansas Fort Smith, and Newman. 

The media poll looked largely different. Fort Hays State was picked to win with nine first-place votes and 247 points. Pittsburg State, Northwest Missouri, Washburn, and Central Oklahoma comprised the top five.  

Rogers State was sixth followed by Missouri Western, Emporia State, Missouri Southern, and Central Missouri.  Arkansas Fort Smith was picked ahead of NSU in the poll which had them at 12th overall.  Nebraska-Kearney and Newman closed out the remaining two teams.

The RiverHawks open their season on Nov. 4, facing Tulsa at 7 p.m. for an exhibition game.  The contest will be the season opener for the Golden Hurricane as both teams will honor Ken Hayes who coached both programs at one point in his career. 

2024-25 MIAA MEN'S PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Washburn [8] – 161 points 
2. Fort Hays State [3] – 156 points
3. Pittsburg State [2] – 149 points
4. Northwest Missouri [1] – 125 points
5. Central Oklahoma – 120 points
6. Missouri Western – 105 points
7. Central Missouri – 96 points
8. Rogers State – 88 points
9. Emporia State – 79 points
10. Missouri Southern – 66 points
11. Northeastern State – 44 points
12. Nebraska Kearney – 39 points
13. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 24 points
14. Newman – 22 points
[#] - Number of First-Place Votes

2024-25 MIAA MEN'S PRESEASON MEDIA POLL
1. Fort Hays State [9] – 247 points
2. Pittsburg State [3] – 229 points
3. Northwest Missouri [5] – 217 points
4. Washburn [1] – 212 points
5. Central Oklahoma [1] – 174 points
6. Rogers State – 165 points
7. Missouri Western – 163 points
8. Emporia State – 134 points
9. Missouri Southern – 130 points
10. Central Missouri – 106 points
11. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 74 points
12. Northeastern State – 65 points
13. Nebraska Kearney – 42 points
14. Newman – 36 points 
[#] - Number of First-Place Votes