Kansas City, Mo. - The Heart of America Athletic Conference announced this year's men's basketball coaches' preseason poll on Tuesday afternoon. The Eagles are selected to finish T-7 with Evangel.
William Penn is tabbed to take home the regular-season crown with 13 first-place votes. The Statesmen claimed both the regular season and conference tournament titles last season and ended the 2019-20 campaign ranked 5th in the nation with an overall record of 30-3 (21-3 Heart). Heart newcomer Park University landed in second place with one first-place vote.
CMU finished last year with a 12-18 overall record and an 11-13 mark in conference play. The Eagles lost seven letter winners including three starters, but welcome 10 newcomers including eight transfers and two freshmen. Highlighting the returners for Central is the all-conference honorable mention pair of guard Kyle McDermed and center Rijn Hartman.
Voting for the polls was calculated with a first-place vote earning 13 points, a second-place vote earning 12 points, and so on in descending order. Coaches did not include their own team on their respective ballots.
The Eagles will begin the 2020-21 season with a matchup against Avila on Friday, Oct. 30 at 4:00 p.m. inside Puckett Fieldhouse.
To view the complete preseason poll, please see below.
2020-21 Heart Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
| Place | Team (1st Place Votes) | Points |
| 1 | William Penn (13) | 169 |
| 2 | Park (1) | 139 |
| 3 | Benedictine | 137 |
| 3 | Clarke | 137 |
| 5 | MNU | 132 |
| 6 | Peru State | 100 |
| 7 | Central Methodist | 91 |
| 7 | Evangel | 91 |
| 9 | Baker | 72 |
| 10 | Missouri Valley | 70 |
| 11 | Mount Mercy | 57 |
| 12 | Graceland | 31 |
| 13 | Grand View | 31 |
| 14 | Culver-Stockton | 17 |
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