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Jennies, Mules Basketball ranked in preseason top 25

Published 10:24 pm Thursday, October 29, 2026

By Joe Andrews

Left: Central Missouri’s Neely Schaaf navigates the ball against Nebraska-Kearney on Dec. 6, at the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center. Right: Central Missouri’s Trinell Parker drives the ball against Emporia State on Jan. 1, at the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center.

Both University of Central Missouri basketball teams will begin their 2026-27 seasons ranked in the top 25.

Preseason WBCA and NABC NCAA Division II Coaches Polls were released Tuesday, Oct. 27. The WBCA lists the Jennies at No. 14 while the NABC lists the Mules at No. 19.

Neither team was ranked at the end of last season.

The reigning MIAA Champion Jennies are coming off a 26-7 season that included a run to the NCAA Division II regional semifinals, where they lost to regional champion Minnesota Duluth.

The Jennies are the lone ranked MIAA program. Fort Hays State and Missouri Southern received votes.

Though they lose Reese Schaaf to graduation, they bring back Neely Schaaf, Taylor Weishaar, Mackenzie Farmer, Rylee Vierthaler, Jayla Griffith and Hayden Heim.

The Jennies begin their season with three games this weekend, including a top-25 matchup against No. 1 Grand Valley State at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. They play Northern Michigan at 11:15 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30, and Lake Superior State at 9 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1.

The Mules enter their winter coming off a 24-10 slate that included their first NCAA Division II postseason win since the 2014-15 season. They fell to eventual regional champion Oklahoma Baptist in the regional semifinals.

Reigning MIAA Champion Washburn, which saw its season end in the first round of regionals last year, is the only other conference opponent ranked, sitting at No. 2. Missouri Western, Missouri Southern and Fort Hays State all received votes.

The Mules lose three starters from last season in Kyran Tilley (Louisiana Tech), Jevon Hill (San Diego) and Lazerek Houston (Washington State). They still bring back key pieces in Trinell Parker, Jake Fritz, Carter Kaifes, AJ Lux, Kyree Polk and Noah Martin.

The Mules begin their season with a pair of top-25 matches during the Small Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Lakeland, Florida, taking on No. 3 Gannon at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, and No. 8 Cal State East Bay at 12:15 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8.

Joe Andrews can be reached at 660-747-8123.

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