On the heels of its 10th consecutive regular season conference crown, the Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team was able to sweep the MIAA's four individual awards.
 
Senior Diego Bernard captured the MIAA Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards along with being a First-Team All-MIAA pick. Freshman Bennett Stirtz was named the MIAA Freshman of the Year and to the MIAA Second Team. Junior Wes Dreamer tallied Second-Team All-MIAA status. Head coach Ben McCollum earned his eighth MIAA Coach of the Year accolade.
 
For the fifth time in league history the MIAA Player of the Year was also named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year. Bernard, who becomes the eighth consecutive Bearcat to be awarded the MIAA Player of the Year, gained both of the league's top honors as he leads the Bearcats in scoring (16.5 ppg), assists (97), steals (61), field goals made (169) and free throws made (105). He ranks third in the MIAA in field goal percentage (55.4%). He ranks No. 13 in the nation in total steals (61). In MIAA games only, Bernard ranked second in the league in scoring (17.4 ppg). Bernard was a second-team all-MIAA pick in 2021 and 2022. He was a third-team all-league selection in 2020, following an honorable mention season as a freshman in 2019.
 
MIAA Player/Defensive Player of the Year (same year)
2003-04, Kelvin Parker, G, Northwest Missouri State
2005-06, Sheldon Pace, G, Southwest Baptist
2008-09, Matthew Rogers, C, Southwest Baptist
2010-11, Skyler Bowlin, G, Missouri Southern
2022-23, Diego Bernard, G, Northwest Missouri State
 
Northwest's MIAA Players of the Year
1970-71, Carl Jenkins
1997-98, Shakey Harrington
2003-04, Kelvin Parker
2006-07, Hunter Henry
2013-14, DeShaun Cooper
2015-16, Justin Pitts
2016-17, Justin Pitts
2017-18, Justin Pitts
2018-19, Joey Witthus
2019-20, Trevor Hudgins
2020-21, Trevor Hudgins
2021-22, Trevor Hudgins
2022-23, Diego Bernard
 
It marks the second MIAA Defensive Player of the Year honor for Bernard along with the fifth time he has earned a spot on the MIAA All-Defensive team. Bernard is the first MIAA player to be named a five-time all-defensive member.
 
Northwest's MIAA Defensive Players of the Year
2003-04 Kelvin Parker, G
2014-15, Matt Wallace, G
2018-19, Ryan Hawkins, F
2019-20, Ryan Hawkins, F
2020-21, Diego Bernard, G
2022-23, Diego Bernard, G
 
Stirtz, a Second-Team All-MIAA pick, is the seventh Northwest player to earn MIAA Freshman of the Year status. Stirtz ranks second on the team in scoring (12.6 ppg). He has played in all 29 games with 22 starts. Stirtz leads the Bearcats in minutes per game (33.8). Stirtz leads the MIAA in field goal percentage (58.9%) and in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.09). Stirtz has the fifth-best assist-to-turnover ratio among NCAA Div. II freshmen. Stirtz has dished out 92 assists against 44 turnovers this season. He ranks No. 16 in the nation in total steals (57). Stirtz has the most steals by any NCAA Div. II freshmen this season.
 
Northwest's MIAA Freshmen of the Year
1995-96, Matt Redd, F
2006-07, Lance Sullivan, G
2009-10, DeShaun Cooper, G
2013-14, Zach Schneider, G/F
2014-15, Justin Pitts, G
2018-19, Trevor Hudgins, G
2022-23, Bennett Stirtz, G
 
Junior Wes Dreamer earned a spot on the MIAA Second Team. Dreamer ranks No. 2 in the MIAA in three-pointers made per game (2.7) and No. 5 in the league in three-pointers made (68). He leads the team in rebounds (5.2 rpg) and third on the team in scoring (12.0 ppg). Dreamer has reached double-figure scoring 14 times this season.
 
McCollum collected his eighth MIAA Coach of the Year honor after guiding Northwest to its ninth consecutive 25-plus win season. McCollum led Northwest to the program's 23rd overall MIAA title and 11th of his coaching tenure in Maryville. The Bearcats lead the nation in scoring defense (56.1 ppg) and field goal percentage shooting (52.4%) this season. In MIAA games only, Northwest allowed an impressive 54.9 points per game as the Bearcats went 20-2 in league play. Northwest limited 15 of its MIAA opponents to 59 points or less. Northwest is tied for the nation's lead with 27 wins.
 
Northwest's MIAA Coach of Year Awards
1988-89, Steve Tappmeyer
1997-98, Steve Tappmeyer
2000-01, Steve Tappmeyer
2006-07, Steve Tappmeyer
2011-12, Ben McCollum
2014-15, Ben McCollum
2015-16, Ben McCollum
2016-17, Ben McCollum
2018-19, Ben McCollum
2019-20, Ben McCollum
2020-21, Ben McCollum
2022-23, Ben McCollum
 
The Bearcats are the No. 1 seed in the MIAA Tournament and will take on the winner of the Missouri Western/Washburn winner on Thursday at Noon at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.  
2023 MIAA Postseason Awards
Player of the Year – Diego Bernard – Northwest Missouri State, Senior
Defensive Player of the Year – Diego Bernard – Northwest Missouri State, Senior
Freshman of the Year – Bennett Stirtz – Northwest Missouri State
Coach of the Year – Ben McCollum – Northwest Missouri State
 
2023 MIAA All-Defensive Team
Curtis Haywood – Central Oklahoma, Senior
Peyton Rogers-Schmidt – Emporia State, Sophomore
Bjarni Jonsson – Fort Hays State, Junior
Kevin Kone – Lincoln, Senior
Diego Bernard – Northwest Missouri State, Senior
 
2023 All-MIAA First Team
Jaden Wells – Central Oklahoma, Sophomore
Owen Long – Emporia State, Junior
Kaleb Hammeke – Fort Hays State, Sophomore
Artese Stapleton – Lincoln, Senior
Diego Bernard – Northwest Missouri State, Senior
 
2023 All-MIAA Second Team
Curtis Haywood – Central Oklahoma, Senior
Camryn Givens – Central Oklahoma, Senior
Kevin Kone – Lincoln, Senior 
Bennett Stirtz – Northwest Missouri State, Freshman 
Wes Dreamer – Northwest Missouri State, Junior
 
2023 All-MIAA Third Team
Alijah Comithier – Emporia State, Junior
Christian Cook – Northeastern State, Sophomore
Chris Whitaker – Rogers State, Senior 
Joey Saracco – Rogers State, Senior 
Andrew Orr – Washburn, Sophomore
 
2023 All-MIAA Honorable Mention
Central Missouri: Gaven Pinkley, Senior  
Emporia State: Kaden Evans, Sophomore 
Fort Hays State: Elijah Nnanabu, Sophomore – Bjarni Jonsson, Junior
Lincoln: Sevon Witt, Senior
Missouri Southern: Vinson Sigmon Jr., Junior – Winston Dessesow, Junior – Avery Taggart, Sophomore – Christian Bundy, Senior 
Missouri Western: Will Eames, Senior – Julius Dixon, Sophomore – Taye Fields, Sophomore
Nebraska Kearney: Darrian Nebeker, Senior
Newman: Stevie Strong, Sophomore 
Northeastern State: Dillon Bailey, Sophomore – Rashad Perkins, Senior 
Pittsburg State: Deshaun English II, Junior 
Rogers State: Sherwyn Devonish-Prince, Senior