There’s exactly one week until the MIAA basketball tournament kicks off and both the women’s and men’s teams have gained tournament berth. Let’s take a look a the chances for the Tigers in the tournament.
The MIAA tournament has the top 12 men’s and women’s teams in the MIAA competing for the tournament title where the top 4 seeds go straight to the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, MO. The 5-8 seeds host the 9-12 seeds at their respective campus sites on Monday, February 27th for the men, and Tuesday, February 28th for the women, and the winners of those games head to KC on Thursday, March 2nd, with the Semifinals on Saturday, March 4th and the Final on Sunday, March 5th.
The women are currently sitting as the 6th seed in the MIAA meaning that if the season ended today, the women would host the opening games of the MIAA tournament at Gross Memorial Coliseum next Tuesday, February 28th. With a win in that game, the women will head to Kansas City. A possible matchup to Tuesday, Lindenwood, who beat the Tigers in Hays on January 28, 70-76.
With last night’s loss to Nebraska-Kearney, the men are currently sitting as the 6th seed in the MIAA, meaning they would host a game at Gross Memorial on Monday, February 27th. A possible matchup, the team they play on Thursday, Southwest Baptist, who are sitting as the 11th seed for the Men’s bracket.
The Tigers split their last two road games, losing to Northeastern State University 60-66 but beating the University of Central Oklahoma in a nail-biter 67-66. The women split last weekend’s games on the road as well, easily beating the Riverhawks in Tahlequah, OK., 64-44, but coming out underneath the No. 18 Bronchos in a close game in Edmond, OK., 72-76.
FHSU will also travel to Bolivar, MO on Thursday to play the Southwest Baptist Bearcats. Both Tiger squads are above the Bearcats in MIAA standings and both teams will look to finish out the season strong on the road as they prepare for the MIAA tournament.
For TMN, I’m Jordan Hester.