MVC MBB Preseason Poll (PDF)

ST. LOUIS -- For the second time in three seasons, Missouri State has been tabbed by a voting panel consisting of coaches, sports information directors and media as the team to beat in the Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball race.

The Bears received 29 of a possible 44 first-place votes in this year's poll to earn 410 total points. Bradley, which won Arch Madness and represented the league in the NCAA Tournament, received five-first place votes and 368 total points to finish second in the poll. UNI had 343 points (and three first-place tallies), while regular-season co-champ Loyola earned 340 points (and six first-place votes) in a close vote for third-place in the rankings.