Newman University’s men’s and women’s basketball teams will enter the 2026-27 season with different challenges but a similar goal: continuing to build within the MIAA.
During Tuesday's 2026 MIAA Basketball Media Day at the College Basketball Experience in Kansas City, Missouri, Newman women’s coach Amy Briggs and men’s coach R.J. Allen discussed their teams’ returning players, new additions and expectations for the upcoming season.
Briggs and Allen were among the basketball coaches from the conference’s 14 member schools who answered questions in a press-conference style format as part of the event. The coach interviews were streamed online, and several players from the conference’s schools also attended the event. From Newman, basketball players Majok Majouk, Mike Quick Jr., Delainey Wylie, Dani Williams, Jaeden McMillin and Carli Carlson attended the event.
Last season, the Newman women finished 8-20 overall and 2-17 in MIAA play, while the men finished 5-23 overall and 1-18 in conference play.
The women’s program enters the season with a core group that has remained together throughout Briggs’ four years as head coach. Wylie, McMillin, Williams and Carlson have each been with the program for four years.
Briggs said that continuity has helped the returning players understand what the program expects and prepare the team’s newcomers.
“They’ve been great so far with our practices and really teaching our new players kind of what we want to do, and they really understand the conference and what it takes,” Briggs said.
The Jets have also added transfers and freshmen to fill areas the coaching staff felt were lacking. Briggs said the combination of returning players and newcomers has given her confidence in the team heading into the season.
“We feel like this is probably our best team that we’ve been able to put together at Newman so far,” Briggs said.
One of the team’s returning leaders is McMillin, who Briggs said has increased her scoring each season. McMillin earned All MIAA Honorable Mention a season ago.
Briggs said McMillan has continued to develop other areas of her game, including her defense and leadership.
“She’s a three-level scorer, and she just continues to have a counter to anything the defense throws at her,” Briggs said.
The women’s team also plans to rely on its ability to shoot from outside. Briggs said the Jets have built a lineup where all five players on the court can shoot, creating more space offensively.
For Allen and the Newman men’s program, the focus has been on rebuilding after last season. As The Vantage reported earlier this semester, Allen dismissed four players from the team midseason: senior Brandon Wilson, sophomore Jayden Schoen, junior redshirt Devin Walker and junior Trae Clayton. Nearly every other member of last year’s team either left Newman, entered the transfer portal or graduated.
Allen said the program used the offseason to find players who fit its style and system. The Jets added transfers as well as high school players to a roster that will need to develop chemistry throughout the season.
“When you bring in as many new guys as we have, I think it starts with just your foundation, your core values, your beliefs and really getting those guys to buy into that. . ..”
Several players have already stood out during practices, including Quick, Majouk and Tory Homan, all of whom have MIAA experience. Freshman KaeVon Bonner of Topeka has also made an early impression.
Allen said the new group has continued to make progress, although there is still work to do before the start of the season.
The men’s team will also have an opportunity to showcase its program to a larger audience during the season. Newman is scheduled to host Central Oklahoma at 1 p.m. Jan. 23 at Fugate Gymnasium as part of the MIAA Game of the Week, which will air on Kansas City television station 38 –The Spot.
Allen said the broadcast will provide an opportunity to highlight more than just the basketball program.
“It’s phenomenal, not just for our program but for our entire university,” Allen said.
While both teams are working toward improvement on the court, Allen said the men’s program is also emphasizing growth away from basketball.
“Our morals, our values will always come first in our program,” Allen said. “And there’s not one person bigger than the program.”
The Newman men will open their home schedule Nov. 13 against Southwestern Oklahoma State at Fugate Gymnasium, while the women will open their home schedule Nov. 9 against Rockhurst. Both teams begin MIAA play Dec. 3 at Pittsburg State.
As the season approaches, both coaches said their teams have developed strong personalities within their respective groups.
Briggs described the women as energetic and enthusiastic, while Allen said the men have brought a variety of personalities and a positive attitude to the program.
“I tell those guys every day, when we step on the floor, it's the best part of my day,” Allen said. “They are always smiling. They are positive. They are enjoying life.”
PHOTO: Courtesy, Newman Athletics
