MIAC Release

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's University basketball was picked to win the MIAC title in the 2019-20 preseason coaches' poll - for the third consecutive year - released Monday, Nov. 4.

SJU received six first-place votes and 96 points to gain the poll's top spot. St. Thomas received the other five first-place votes for a total of 93 points, which was good for second. Augsburg (84) and Bethel (71) followed in third and fourth, respectively.

The Johnnies were ranked No. 12 in the D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 poll posted Oct. 29.

SJU (23-5, 17-3 MIAC) won its sixth MIAC Playoff championship in program history (first since 2001) and made its second consecutive national tournament appearance in 2018-19, ending the season ranked No. 23 nationally. The Johnnies ended the 2018-19 season as the Division III statistical leader in shooting percentage (.536), second in rebound margin (+12.6 rpg.), third in scoring margin (+18.0 ppg.) and eighth in three-point percentage (.407).

The Johnnies open the 2019-20 season against No. 8 Nebraska Wesleyan - the first of two non-conference games this weekend (Nov. 8-9) in Superior, Wis. - which went 27-2 last season and 30-3 en route to the 2018 NCAA Division III title. The Johnnies will play either Marian (Wis.) or host Wisconsin-Superior the following day.

2019-20 MIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll
Coaches voted for every team in the conference except their own team. Points were assigned for each vote (10 for first, nine for second, etc.). Teams are ranked in order of highest point total to lowest with first-place votes shown in parentheses.

1. Saint John's (6), 96
2. St. Thomas (5), 93
3. Augsburg, 84
4. Bethel, 71
5. St. Olaf, 63
6. Gustavus, 57
7. Saint Mary's, 44
8. Concordia, 33
9. Hamline, 31
10. Carleton, 19
11. Macalester, 14