(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)
The Missouri Southern men's basketball team has been picked to finish second in the MIAA as the league announced its preseason polls today as part of MIAA Basketball Media Day held at the College Basketball Experience in downtown Kansas City.
The Lions return all five starters from last year's team that went 25-8 and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16, bowing to eventual National Champion Northwest Missouri. Southern had four players named All-MIAA last year and all return this year. First-Team selection Cam Martin, along with third-team selection Elyjah Clark return, as does honorable mention selections Elyjah Clark and Braelon Walker. Point guard Reggie Tharp returns to complete the starting five from last year's team.
Martin was named an All-Region and All-American selection last season as he averaged 22.5 points and 9.7 rebounds in 2018-19, while shooting 61 percent from the field, 35 percent from the three-point line and 82 percent from the free throw line. He led the MIAA in scoring, defensive rebounds, double-double's, free throw percentage, free throw's made and attempted, total field goals made and total rebounds, while ranking second in rebounds per game. He became the second Lion ever to score 700 or more points in a single-season after scoring 720 last season. Martin ranked third nationally in free throws made and double-double's, while ranking fourth in free throw attempts, 10th in field goal percentage and total points, 12th in total rebounds, 15th in scoring and 22nd in rebounds per game. He has been named a preseason National Player of the Year candidate.
Southern returns nine letter winners altogether from a team that averaged 86.7 points per game and shot 48 percent from the field.
Northwest Missouri was picked to win the league in both polls and received 13 of the possible 13 first-place votes in the coaches poll (coaches can't vote for their own team). The Lions were second in both polls, receiving the other first-place vote in the coaches poll. Washburn was picked third by the coaches, followed by Fort Hays State, Northeastern State, Central Missouri, Lincoln, Pittsburg State, Rogers State, Emporia State, Newman, Missouri Western, Central Oklahoma and Nebraska-Kearney to round out the coaches poll.
The media had the same top four teams with Pittsburg State coming in at five. Lincoln was sixth followed by Central Missouri, Emporia State, Missouri Western, Newman, Rogers State, Northeasatern State, Nebraska-Kearney and Central Oklahoma to round out the poll.
The Lions open up the season in Kansas City as they will take on Winona State and Minnesota State inside Municipal Auditorium on November 8th and 9th.
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