Jim Connell ranks the Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball teams. The RPI figures are from Jerry Palm at CBSSports.com.
1. Wichita State (10-3, 76 RPI): Shockers may not have a first team All-Valley player, but still look like the best team in the conference. There are no bad losses out of the nonconference slate, but the only marquee victory they can point to is a 35-point rout of LSU. Last: 1
2. Illinois State (8-4, 65 RPI): Redbirds have dodged the inconsistency that hurt them so badly last season. Their only bad loss was at Murray State in the season opener, and they have two victories over top-100 RPI teams.