FHSU Athletics
The Fort Hays State women's basketball team enters the 2022-23 season ranked in the top 10 in both national polls, released Tuesday by both the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and the NCAA Division II Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA). The Tigers will open the new year ranked third in the coaches poll and ninth in the media poll.
This is the highest FHSU has ever been ranked in the preseason DII coaches poll. It is the fifth time the Tigers have opened the year in the top five, including four of the last five seasons (2015 - 10th, 2018 - 12th, 2019 - 7th, 2021 - 4th, 2022 - 3rd). The Tigers have also been listed in the preseason D2SIDA poll five times in the nine-year history of the poll (2015 - 10th, 2018 - 22nd, 2019 - 3rd, 2021 - 7th, 2022 - 9th).
Fort Hays State is the top-ranked MIAA team in the preseason poll, with Missouri Southern coming into the season ranked 19th. Missouri Western and Nebraska-Kearney are also listed in the receiving votes category. Minnesota State, FHSU's opponent for the 2022 home opener on November 18 (6 p.m.), is the only other regional opponent in the preseason top 25, sitting in a tie for 15th. Three other teams from the Central Region are receiving votes, including Minnesota Duluth, Southwestern Oklahoma State and Harding.
The Tigers are one of two MIAA teams in the top 10 in the media poll, with Missouri Southern three spots higher in sixth. Three regional opponents are recognized in the poll, including Minnesota State in 19th and Harding and Minnesota Duluth receiving votes.
Fort Hays State is 141-35 all-time when ranked in the WBCA top 25, including a 17-3 record when ranked third and 109-20 when ranked in the top 10. FHSU has played 20 games when ranked third in the country, tied for second-most out of any spot in the top 25. Most recently, the Tigers came in third in the coaches poll in the middle of last season (1/4/22), going 2-0 with home wins against Central Missouri and Lincoln. This is the 10th poll in which the Tigers have been slotted third in the nation.
The Tigers are scheduled to play four games against teams ranked in the preseason top 25 and four more against teams receiving votes. FHSU will open the season with a big test against No. 6 West Texas A&M Saturday afternoon (Nov. 5) beginning at 1:30 p.m. inside historic Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. as a part of the 2022 D2CCA Tip-Off Classic.
2022-23 WBCA DII Preseason Coaches Poll
Rk. - School (1st) - W-L - Pts. - Last
1 - Grand Valley State (9) - 31-3 - 538 - 3
2 - Western Washington (7) - 25-6 - 510 - 2
3 - Fort Hays State - 30-4 - 468 - 7
4 - Union (Tenn.) - 28-3 - 461 - 5
5 - Ashland - 29-3 - 440 - 9
6 - West Texas A&M (1) - 26-11 - 438 - 11
7 - California (Pa.) (1) - 25-6 - 390 - NR
8 - Glenville State (5) - 35-1 - 356 - 1
9 - Carson-Newman - 27-6 - 351 - RV
10 - Drury - 32-5 - 344 - 8
11 - Eckerd - 21-5 - 292 - 24
12 - Cal State San Marcos - 22-4 - 256 - RV
13 - Bentley - 19-9 - 254 - NR
14 - Georgia Southwestern - 23-7 - 243 - RV
15t - Charleston (W.V.) - 23-9 - 211 - RV
15t - Minnesota State - 21-7 - 211 - NR
17 - Tampa - 29-6 - 195 - 21
18 - North Georgia - 29-4 - 194 - 4
19 - Missouri Southern State - 24-7 - 180 - RV
20 - Colorado Mines - 25-5 - 158 - RV
21 - Azusa Pacific - 25-4 - 139 - 14
22 - Pace - 24-8 - 124 - 15
23 - Lubbock Christian - 28-7 - 115 - 19
24 - Lee (Tenn.) - 25-8 - 66 - RV
25 - Savannah State - 27-3 - 57 - 25
(2021-22 final record listed)
2022-23 D2SIDA Preseason Media Poll
Rk. - School (1st) - W-L - Pts. - Last
1 - Western Washington (1) - 25-6 - 379 - 2
T2 - Glenville State (11) - 35-1 - 374 - 1
T2 - Grand Valley State (4) - 31-3 - 374 - 3
4 - North Georgia - 29-4 - 333 - 4
5 - Union (Tenn.) - 28-3 - 320 - 8
6 - Missouri Southern State - 24-7 - 306 - RV
7 - West Texas A&M - 26-11 - 300 - 6
8 - Ashland - 29-3 - 282 - 13
9 - Fort Hays State - 30-4 - 263 - 9
10 - Lander - 24-5 - 222 - 12
11 - Drury - 32-5 - 214 - 17
12 - Bentley - 19-9 - 209 - NR
13 - Lubbock Christian - 28-7 - 199 - 11
14 - Azusa Pacific - 25-4 - 198 - 25
15 - Colorado School of Mines - 25-5 - 197 - RV
16 - Eckerd - 21-5 - 195 - RV
17 - California (Pa.) - 35-6 - 159 - RV
18 - Cal State San Marcos - 22-4 - 102 - RV
19 - Minnesota State - 21-7 - 98 - RV
20 - Lee - 25-8 - 92 - RV
21 - Wingate - 24-6 - 62 - NR
22 - Valdosta State - 26-6 - 50 - 5
23 - Kutztown - 26-7 - 48 - NR
24 - Ferris State - 22-10 - 42 - NR
25 - Chestnut Hill - 24-7 - 40 - NR
(2021-22 final record listed)