ST. LOUIS, Mo. – For the first time since 2000-01, the Illinois State men's basketball team has been picked as the Missouri Valley Conference preseason favorite, in a poll of Conference head coaches, media members, and school communication professionals, announced on Monday afternoon.
The Redbirds earned 34 of 46 first-place votes in the poll, for 487 total points, out-distancing Northern Iowa (442 with eight first-place votes), Murray State (385 points and four first-place votes), Bradley (370 points), and Belmont (344 points).
The first-place prediction is the first for ISU since the 2001-02 preseason poll, and the fifth time that the Redbirds had been picked to win the title since 1985-86.