It may be summer but college basketball programs never truly hit an offseason. There's almost always some kind of action for each of the 24 D2 men’s basketball conferences, and something to discuss, including a 2015-16 review, BennettRank and how each program performed versus the preseason polls. In some cases, there have been coaching changes, plus some key losses, not to mention returning players to watch.
Keeping in the Central Region, we focus on the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
2015-2016 MIAA Standings | BennettRank (BR) Recap
|
COLLEGE |
PRESEASON BR |
POLL |
OVERALL RECORD |
CONF. RECORD |
FINISH |
FINAL BR |
|
12 |
1 |
27-6 |
19-3 |
1 |
9 |
|
|
75 |
3 |
20-12 |
13-8 |
2 |
70 |
|
|
53 |
4 |
18-12 |
14-8 |
3 |
88 |
|
|
88 |
6 |
20-11 |
13-9 |
4 |
112 |
|
|
54 |
8 |
16-14 |
11-11 |
5 |
123 |
|
|
93 |
9 |
15-13 |
11-11 |
6 |
136 |
|
|
270 |
14 |
16-14 |
11-11 |
7 |
149 |
|
|
42 |
5 |
16-13 |
11-11 |
8 |
115 |
|
|
101 |
7 |
16-14 |
11-11 |
9 |
101 |
|
|
151 |
11 |
13-16 |
10-12 |
10 |
122 |
|
|
166 |
9 |
12-18 |
9-13 |
11 |
172 |
|
|
36 |
2 |
14-15 |
8-14 |
12 |
144 |
|
|
225 |
13 |
8-18 |
7-15 |
13 |
151 |
|
|
152 |
12 |
10-17 |
5-16 |
14 |
229 |
[divider]
NCAA Tournament Recap
CENTRAL REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS (First Round)
Northwest Missouri 78, Ouachita Baptist 63
Nebraska-Kearney 79, Fort Hays State 67
CENTRAL REGIONAL SEMIFINALS (Second Round)
Augustana 77, Nebraska-Kearney 67
Northwest Missouri 82, Minnesota State-Mankato 60
CENTRAL REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (Third Round)
Augustana 80, Northwest Missouri 78
[divider]
All-MIAA Performers
Key Losses
Terrence Moore, G, Emporia State: 16.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.0 spg (Second Team, All-Defensive Team)
Craig Nicholson, G, Fort Hays State: 13.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg (Third Team)
Dom Samac, F, Fort Hays State: 11.8 ppg, 4.5 apg (Third Team)
Cory Arentsen, G/F, Lindenwood: 24.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg (First Team)
Stanislas Heili, C, Lindenwood: 8.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.5 bpg (All-Defensive Team)
Taevaunn Prince, G/F, Missouri Southern: 26.4 ppg, 10.1 rpg (First Team)
Connor Beranek, F, Nebraska-Kearney: 25.0 ppg, 8.6 rpg (First Team)
Ethan Brozek, C, Nebraska-Kearney: 12.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg (Second Team, All-Defensive Team)
Conner Crooker, G, Northwest Missouri: 12.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.4 apg (Second Team)
Javis Flynn, G, Pittsburg State: 7.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.1 spg (All-Defensive Team)
Key Returnees
Rob Davis, Sr. G, Fort Hays State: 16.7 ppg (First Team)
Justin Pitts, Jr. G, Northwest Missouri: 21.7 ppg, 5.0 apg (First Team)
Anthony Virdure, Sr. G, Lincoln (Mo.): 21.5 ppg (Second Team)
Josiah Gustafson, Sr. G, Pittsburg State: 15.4 ppg (Second Team)
Charlie Brown, Jr. G, Missouri Southern: 14.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg (Third Team)
Trey Lansman, Jr. F, Nebraska-Kearney: 15.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg (Third Team)
Zach Schneider, Sr. F, Northwest Missouri: 9.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg (Third Team)
Brady Skeens, Jr. F, Washburn: 10.4 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 2.2 bpg (All-Defensive Team)
[divider]
Circle the Date
Jan. 5, Missouri Southern at Northwest Missouri: A potential MIAA championship preview as the two teams square off in Maryville for the first of two meetings with the rematch set for Feb. 18 in Joplin.
