MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State University men’s basketball team was ranked eighth in the 2016-17 Division II Bulletin’s top-25 preseason poll. The Bearcats were the MIAA’s only representative on the poll. Nebraska-Kearney was listed as a team to watch. Junior Justin Pitts was named a Central Region Super 16 Selection by the publication.

On Wednesday, Northwest was ranked first in the MIAA preseason coaches poll. The Bearcats begin the 2016-17 season on Friday, Nov. 11, against Upper Iowa in St. Joseph, Mo., at 3 p.m. The first home action for Northwest will be on Thursday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m., against defending national champion Augustana University.

Northwest returns four starters off last year’s team that went 27-6 overall and 19-3 in MIAA play. The Bearcats captured both the regular season and conference tournament titles, advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 round for the third consecutive year. Pitts is the reigning MIAA Player of the Year and coach Ben McCollum was named MIAA Coach of the Year. Senior Zach Schneider earned All-MIAA third team honors while Chris-Ebou Ndow was an honorable mention performer.

— Northwest Athletics —