ST. LOUIS – Fresh off a MVC regular season and tournament crown, UNI has been tabbed as the league favorite in the annual coaches’ preseason poll, receiving 135 points and seven first-place votes. The Panthers edged second-place pick Drake (133 points, three 1st place votes) and UIC (122 points, one 1st place vote).

Southern Illinois (103 points) finished fourth in the poll, while Evansville (99 points), Valparaiso (73 points), Illinois State (71 points, one first place vote), Bradley (56 points), Missouri State (52 points), Murray State (47 points), Belmont (31 points) and Indiana State (14 points) round out the poll.

The 2023 regular season campaign begins the weekend of August 25-27, with all 12 teams in non-conference tournament action.