By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Men’s Basketball was picked third in both the MIAA Coaches and Media Preseason Polls, released on Tuesday (Oct. 11) at MIAA Basketball Media Day. The Tigers finished third in the MIAA regular season standings last year, only a game back of co-champions Northwest Missouri State and Central Oklahoma.
Northwest Missouri State and Central Oklahoma are picked first and second in each poll respectively. Northwest Missouri State is coming off a third-straight national title, finishing the year with 11 straight wins. Both NWMSU and UCO received all of the first-place votes in each poll.
The top five teams are the same in each poll, with Fort Hays State, Washburn, and Emporia State in order behind NWMSU and UCO. The top five of the polls reflect the regular season standings of 2021-22.
The Tigers are coming off a 23-6 record in 2021-22. If you take away losses against Northwest Missouri State and Central Oklahoma, the Tigers were 23-1. The Tigers return three starters from last year’s team in Kaleb Hammeke, Bjarni Jonsson, and Gabe Pieschl. However, they lost All-MIAA selections Jared Vitztum and Nyjee Wright to graduation. Hammeke earned All-MIAA Second Team honors and averaged 14.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. Jonsson was an MIAA All-Defensive Team selection and offensively contributed 4.6 points per game. Pieschl was also a strong defender for the Tigers and averaged 4.5 points per game. Both Jonsson and Pieschl averaged more than three rebounds per game.
The Tigers have four returners that contributed in 22 or more contests last year, which includes Elijah Nnanabu, Geoff Hamperian, Traejon Davis, and Gilbert Peters. Haggan Hilgendorf and Devin Walker also return after seeing limited action and Lucas Hammeke looks for his first action on the floor after redshirting the 2021-22 season. Newcomers looking to make their mark on this year’s team include transfers Iyen Enaruna, Jaheim Holden, and Nathan Hawk, while Kyle Grill is the lone freshman newcomer.
The Tigers open their 2022-23 season in Weatherford, Oklahoma, November 11-12, against Southwestern Oklahoma and Arkansas Tech.
Below are the MIAA Preseason Polls for the 2022-23 season.
Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Northwest Missouri [11] – 167 Point
2. Central Oklahoma [3] – 158 Points
3. Fort Hays State – 137 Points
4. Washburn – 131 Points
5. Emporia State – 125 Points
6. Northeastern State – 100 Points
7. Missouri Western – 93 Points
8. Missouri Southern – 85 Points
9. Central Missouri – 73 Points
T10. Pittsburg State – 63 Points
T10. Rogers State – 63 Points
12. Nebraska Kearney – 36 Points
13. Lincoln – 26 Points
14. Newman – 17 Points
Preseason Media Poll
1. Northwest Missouri [14] – 261 Points
2. Central Oklahoma [4] – 243 Points
3. Fort Hays State – 216 Points
4. Washburn – 209 Points
5. Emporia State – 181 Points
6. Missouri Western – 163 Points
7. Missouri Southern – 146 Points
8. Northeastern State – 135 Points
9. Central Missouri – 112 Points
10. Pittsburg State – 106 Points
11. Rogers State – 92 Points
12. Nebraska Kearney – 67 Points
13. Newman – 33 Points
14. Lincoln – 31 Points