By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn Ichabod men's basketball team was picked as the team to beat in the 2024-2025 team by the MIAA Coaches at the MIAA Preseason Media Day held Tuesday at the College Basketball Experience in Kansas City, Mo.
Washburn men's basketball has been picked No. 1 by the MIAA coaches in the 2024-2025 preseason poll. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods will take the court on Oct. 29 when they will face the Kansas Jayhawks in an exhibition game in Allen Fieldhouse.
The Ichabods received eight first-place votes, tallying 161 total points, topping Fort Hays State, which had three first-place votes and 156 points.
Pittsburg State followed with two first-place votes and 149 points and Northwest Missouri had one first-place vote and 125 total points.
In the media poll, the Ichabods were picked fourth with one first-place vote and 212 points, trailing Fort Hays State with 247 points, Pittsburg State with 229 points and Northwest Missouri with 217 points.
The Ichabods return four players who started at least half of last season's 30 games that saw the Ichabods go 19-11 overall while reaching the MIAA Tournament semifinals. In all, eight players return who saw action last year for the Ichabods.
Andrew Orr was a second-team All-MIAA pick after averaging 13.3 points and 5.6 rebounds last season while Sam Ungashick received honorable mention selection after averaging 12.2 points and 3.8 rebounds.
Other returning starters include Brady Christiansen (7.9 points, 6.6 rebounds) and Michael Keegan (7.4 points, 5.3 rebounds). Former Washburn Rural standout Jack Bachelor started 11 games and averaged 11.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.
Overall the Ichabods return 85 percent of their scoring, 75.5 percent of the rebounds, 86 percent of their field goals and 90 percent of their 3-pointers from last season, including 85 percent of the minutes played last season.
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
