ST. LOUIS – Fresh off a MVC Tournament crown, Illinois State has been tabbed as the league favorite in the annual coaches’ preseason poll, receiving 134 points and five first-place votes. The Redbirds edged second-place pick Evansville (121 points, two 1st place votes) and UIC (108 points, three 1st place votes).

Bradley (99 points) finished fourth in the poll, while Valparaiso (95 points, one 1st place vote), UNI (94 points, one 1st place vote), Missouri State (80 points), Indiana State (71 points), Drake (49 points), Murray State (43 points), Belmont (26 points) and Southern Illinois (16 points) round out the poll.