The Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team has landed at No. 20 in the preseason NABC NCAA Div. II Top 25 Poll.

Northwest is one of three MIAA teams in the preseason top 25. Washburn checked in at No. 10 and Fort Hays State is ranked No. 16. Minnesota State received 10 first-place votes and is ranked No. 1 in the nation to begin the 2024-25 season.

Northwest has been ranked in the NABC Top 25 poll 243 times in the history of its program, which ranks as the fourth-most of any NCAA Div. II team in history trailing only Kentucky Wesleyan (358), Southern Indiana (277) and Florida Southern (247). Northwest holds the mark for the most times (53) ranked No. 1 in Div. II history.

The Bearcats will be under the direction of new head coach Matt Keeley in 2024-25. Keeley, a native of Great Bend, Kan.,  served as the head coach at Ottawa University Arizona for the past seven seasons. He has posted a head coaching mark of 113-89. He was named the 2023 NCCAA National Coach of the Year. He guided the Spirit to three consecutive national tournament appearances including a national runner-up finish in 2021 and a spot in the 2023 Fab Four. Keeley secured back-to-back GSAC tournament championships during his time in Surprise, Ariz.

Northwest is the only NCAA men's basketball program to have won 25 or more games in each of the last 10 seasons. Northwest is averaging 30.5 wins per season over the last 10 years. In its last 10 seasons, Northwest is 305-34 overall and 184-21 in MIAA action. Houston and Drake hold the NCAA Div. I active streak with four consecutive 25-plus win seasons.

Northwest has won 20 or more games in 13 consecutive seasons. It is the longest active 20-win season streak among NCAA Division II programs. The University of Kansas holds the longest active streak among NCAA Div. I teams at 35 in a row. Gonzaga University has an active streak of 27 consecutive 20-win seasons.

Northwest returns nine players from last year's roster. Keeley welcomed six newcomers to the 2024-25 Bearcat roster.

The Bearcats will open the 2024-25 season Nov. 8 against Augustana at the Hillyard Tipoff Classic at the MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph, Mo.