KANSAS CITY, MO.- The MIAA has released its preseason rankings for the upcoming men's basketball season, with Washburn taking the top spot in both the coaches and media polls. The Jets were selected 11th in the coaches poll and 12th in the media poll.
 
2025-26 MIAA MEN'S PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Washburn [13] – 169 points
2. Rogers State [1] – 141 points
3. Central Oklahoma – 137 points
4. Fort Hays State – 134 points
5. Pittsburg State – 127 points
6. Nebraska Kearney – 106 points
7. Central Missouri – 102 points
8. Missouri Western – 79 points
9. Northeastern State – 62 points
10. Emporia State – 59 points
11. Newman – 52 points
12. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 41 points
13. Missouri Southern – 35 points
14. Northwest Missouri – 30 points
[#] - First Place Votes
 
2025-26 MIAA MEN'S BASKETBALL MEDIA POLL
1. Washburn [23] – 346 points
2. Fort Hays State [1] – 297 points
3. Rogers State [1] – 286 points
4. Pittsburg State – 280 points
5. Central Oklahoma – 229 points
6. Nebraska Kearney – 211 points
7. Central Missouri – 186 points
8. Missouri Western – 169 points
9. Emporia State – 159 points
10. Northeastern State – 132 points
11. Northwest Missouri – 108 points
12. Newman – 93 points
13. Missouri Southern – 69 points
14. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 59 points
[#] - First Place Votes



RJ Allen returns for his ninth season at the helm of the Newman Jets, leading a squad that blends experience with fresh talent. The Jets return 10 players from last year's roster while adding several new faces during the offseason. Key returners include leading scorer Aaron Murphy, who averaged 12.5 points per game, along with Sam Somerhalder and Jordan Glenn-Hawkins, who each averaged 10.0 points per game. Somerhalder also returns as a four-year contributor for the Jets.

The Jets will kick off their season with an exhibition game in Manhattan against Kansas State on October 31st. The regular season begins at the MIAA/GAC Challenge in Joplin, where Newman will face Southwestern Oklahoma State and Oklahoma Baptist. After the opening weekend, the Jets return home for three games against Barclay College, Wayne State, and Manhattan Christian. A quick road trip to Oklahoma Baptist will wrap up November before Newman opens MIAA play at home against Northeastern State and Arkansas-Fort Smith in early December. The Jets host three more non-conference contests to close out the calendar year, then dive into the full MIAA schedule starting the new year at home against Rogers State and Central Oklahoma. Newman will hit the road for its first conference road tests against Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern before returning home the following week to host Central Missouri and Washburn . The Jets then embark on a four-game road swing, taking on Arkansas-Fort Smith, Northeastern State, Central Oklahoma, and Rogers State. Newman will welcome Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State back to Fugate Gymnasium to open up February.  Regular season play concludes on February 28th versus Missouri Western, with the MIAA Conference Tournament tipping off March 4th.