Posted: Oct 27, 2021
Men's Basketball Picked As AMC Champions In Preseason Coaches Poll
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The reigning tournament champion Central Baptist Mustangs were selected to finish first in the American Midwest Conference according to the Preseason Coaches' Poll, with Missouri Baptist and Columbia College expected to make a strong push for a spot in the top three.
1. Central Baptist College (53 points)
The Mustangs earned the second seed in the tournament last year after going 11-3 in AMC play. They proceeded to take down UHSP in the quarterfinals, Missouri Baptist in the semifinals, and won the championship in blowout fashion over Columbia. All-American Honorable Mention Kelvin Robinson (14.2 PPG) returns to lead CBC, with new Texas Tech transfer Deshawn Corprew looking to make waves on his new squad. Departures include First Team All-Conference recipient Tedrick Wolfe and Second Team All-Conference recipient Zach Hudson. Despite the big names off the roster, new Head Coach Sam Kohnke still inherits a team filled with five former NCAA Division I players as the Mustangs look to repeat as champions.
2. Missouri Baptist University (49 points)
Nearly everyone from last year's Spartan team returns for another run at the crown this winter. Missouri Baptist went 10-4 in AMC play in 2020-21 before dropping their semifinal matchup with Central Baptist in the tournament. The only key departure from 2020-21's squad is Aumonie Armond, as All-Conference recipients John Yaeger, Brendon Hardy, Jadis White, and River Reed all return to St. Louis looking to take it to the next level. The Spartans also added several vital pieces in Culver-Stockton transfer Ray Adams, Missouri Southern State transfer Kyle Young Jr., and Nebraska-Kearney transfer RJ Pair.
3. Columbia College (45 points)
The 2020-21 AMC Player of the Year and NAIA All-American, Tony Burks (18.1 PPG), returns to the Cougars again after leading them to the conference championship game last year. Joining Burks is all-conference honorable mention Carson Parker (10.3 PPG, 5.5 RPG), Cole Gerken (7.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG), and Cameron Vanleer (5.7 PPG). Harrison Vickers and Jack Fritsche depart from the roster, but they will be replaced by McPherson College transfer Kemryn Jenkins (16.2 PPG) who was a member of the all-conference second team in the KCAC, and Missouri S&T transfer Chima Oduocha (4.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG). After falling just short of the title last season, Tomas Brock's squad is in a position to compete for it once again in 2021-22.
4. William Woods University (36 points)
William Woods is expected to have a tremendous rebound season in 2021-22 after rolling into the AMC tournament as the eighth seed last year. The Owls return Second Team All-Conference forward Makenzie Fessler (13.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG), two-time AMC Defensive Player of the Year Darius Yohe (33 blocks, 8.8 PPG), all-conference honorable mention Jared Crutcher (30 blocks, 8.2 PPG), and 6-5 guard Spencer Yoggerst. Despite losing four seniors, William Woods returns 90 percent of their team leaders in minutes and all their All-AMC recipients while adding North Arkansas College transfer Nathan Schwartze.
5. Williams Baptist University (30 points)
Leading scorers Shackeel Butters (14.6 PPG, 11.6 RPG) and Cortez King (12.7 PPG, 6.1 RPG) are expected to return to the Eagles squad that went 6-6 in conference play in 2020-21. After losing to second-seeded Columbia in the quarterfinals, Williams Baptist looks to continue building their program to get over .500 and into the deeper rounds of the playoffs.
6. Lyon College (28 points)
The poll's outlook on the Scots is grim after earning the AMC regular-season title last season. Sophomore guard Grant Patterson (5.6 PPG) is the only key returner from the 2020-21 squad that went 11-5 overall and 8-2 in the AMC. Lyon does, however, lose a pair of All-Conference recipients in Steven Anderson (10.6 PPG) and Ray Price (10.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG). A 6-3 freshman forward, John Paul Morgan is a crucial addition to the Scots team looking to continue its winning ways while proving the preseason poll wrong.
T-7. Hannibal-LaGrange University (21 points)
Tied for seventh in the poll are the Trojans of Hannibal-LaGrange University. All-Conference Honorable Mention Grant Peters (12.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG) and Michael Hood (10.2 PPG) make their way back to Hannibal while leading scorer Logan Dorethy (13.1 PPG) departs from the team. Newcomers Khalib Becton (St. Louis Community College), freshman Joseph McBride, and freshman Kaden Eirhart look to fill the holes in the lineup in a big way. The Trojans will need their returners to lead with strong support from their additions if they want to make noise in the conference this season.
T-7. University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (21 points)
The Eutectics return their top-three performers from last year's team in RJ Wright (16.3 PPG), Darius Dorsey (10.8 PPG), and Jason Udolisa (10.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG). Despite going winless in the conference in 2020-21, a consistent core group of players has things looking up for a UHSP squad looking for their first conference victory since taking down Columbia on February 20, 2020.
9. Harris-Stowe State University (12 points)
New Hornets Head Coach Derek Thompson takes over a squad that went winless in 2020-21, hoping to right the ship in a hurry. Harris-Stowe State has a ton of veteran know-how on a team that is just two seasons removed from an AMC Tournament Championship.
1. Central Baptist College (53 points)
The Mustangs earned the second seed in the tournament last year after going 11-3 in AMC play. They proceeded to take down UHSP in the quarterfinals, Missouri Baptist in the semifinals, and won the championship in blowout fashion over Columbia. All-American Honorable Mention Kelvin Robinson (14.2 PPG) returns to lead CBC, with new Texas Tech transfer Deshawn Corprew looking to make waves on his new squad. Departures include First Team All-Conference recipient Tedrick Wolfe and Second Team All-Conference recipient Zach Hudson. Despite the big names off the roster, new Head Coach Sam Kohnke still inherits a team filled with five former NCAA Division I players as the Mustangs look to repeat as champions.
2. Missouri Baptist University (49 points)
Nearly everyone from last year's Spartan team returns for another run at the crown this winter. Missouri Baptist went 10-4 in AMC play in 2020-21 before dropping their semifinal matchup with Central Baptist in the tournament. The only key departure from 2020-21's squad is Aumonie Armond, as All-Conference recipients John Yaeger, Brendon Hardy, Jadis White, and River Reed all return to St. Louis looking to take it to the next level. The Spartans also added several vital pieces in Culver-Stockton transfer Ray Adams, Missouri Southern State transfer Kyle Young Jr., and Nebraska-Kearney transfer RJ Pair.
3. Columbia College (45 points)
The 2020-21 AMC Player of the Year and NAIA All-American, Tony Burks (18.1 PPG), returns to the Cougars again after leading them to the conference championship game last year. Joining Burks is all-conference honorable mention Carson Parker (10.3 PPG, 5.5 RPG), Cole Gerken (7.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG), and Cameron Vanleer (5.7 PPG). Harrison Vickers and Jack Fritsche depart from the roster, but they will be replaced by McPherson College transfer Kemryn Jenkins (16.2 PPG) who was a member of the all-conference second team in the KCAC, and Missouri S&T transfer Chima Oduocha (4.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG). After falling just short of the title last season, Tomas Brock's squad is in a position to compete for it once again in 2021-22.
4. William Woods University (36 points)
William Woods is expected to have a tremendous rebound season in 2021-22 after rolling into the AMC tournament as the eighth seed last year. The Owls return Second Team All-Conference forward Makenzie Fessler (13.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG), two-time AMC Defensive Player of the Year Darius Yohe (33 blocks, 8.8 PPG), all-conference honorable mention Jared Crutcher (30 blocks, 8.2 PPG), and 6-5 guard Spencer Yoggerst. Despite losing four seniors, William Woods returns 90 percent of their team leaders in minutes and all their All-AMC recipients while adding North Arkansas College transfer Nathan Schwartze.
5. Williams Baptist University (30 points)
Leading scorers Shackeel Butters (14.6 PPG, 11.6 RPG) and Cortez King (12.7 PPG, 6.1 RPG) are expected to return to the Eagles squad that went 6-6 in conference play in 2020-21. After losing to second-seeded Columbia in the quarterfinals, Williams Baptist looks to continue building their program to get over .500 and into the deeper rounds of the playoffs.
6. Lyon College (28 points)
The poll's outlook on the Scots is grim after earning the AMC regular-season title last season. Sophomore guard Grant Patterson (5.6 PPG) is the only key returner from the 2020-21 squad that went 11-5 overall and 8-2 in the AMC. Lyon does, however, lose a pair of All-Conference recipients in Steven Anderson (10.6 PPG) and Ray Price (10.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG). A 6-3 freshman forward, John Paul Morgan is a crucial addition to the Scots team looking to continue its winning ways while proving the preseason poll wrong.
T-7. Hannibal-LaGrange University (21 points)
Tied for seventh in the poll are the Trojans of Hannibal-LaGrange University. All-Conference Honorable Mention Grant Peters (12.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG) and Michael Hood (10.2 PPG) make their way back to Hannibal while leading scorer Logan Dorethy (13.1 PPG) departs from the team. Newcomers Khalib Becton (St. Louis Community College), freshman Joseph McBride, and freshman Kaden Eirhart look to fill the holes in the lineup in a big way. The Trojans will need their returners to lead with strong support from their additions if they want to make noise in the conference this season.
T-7. University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (21 points)
The Eutectics return their top-three performers from last year's team in RJ Wright (16.3 PPG), Darius Dorsey (10.8 PPG), and Jason Udolisa (10.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG). Despite going winless in the conference in 2020-21, a consistent core group of players has things looking up for a UHSP squad looking for their first conference victory since taking down Columbia on February 20, 2020.
9. Harris-Stowe State University (12 points)
New Hornets Head Coach Derek Thompson takes over a squad that went winless in 2020-21, hoping to right the ship in a hurry. Harris-Stowe State has a ton of veteran know-how on a team that is just two seasons removed from an AMC Tournament Championship.
| AMC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll | ||
| School | PTS | |
| 1 | Central Baptist College | 53 |
| 2 | Missouri Baptist University | 49 |
| 3 | Columbia College | 45 |
| 4 | William Woods University | 36 |
| 5 | Williams Baptist University | 30 |
| 6 | Lyon College | 28 |
| T-7 | Hannibal-LaGrange University | 21 |
| T-7 | Health Sciences & Pharmacy | 21 |
| 9 | Harris-Stowe State University | 12 |