MVC Preseason Poll & Awards
ST. LOUIS - UNI, which returns all five starters and nine of 10 players from last year’s regular-season co-champ and State Farm MVC Tournament winner, has been picked to earn the Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball title in 2009-10.
The Panthers are hoping the pollsters are correct, although recent history could suggest otherwise, as only once in the past four years has the pre-season poll correctly picked the regular-season champ (last year Creighton was picked to win and shared the regular-season title with UNI, which was picked to finish sixth.)
The Panthers - also picked to win by The Sporting News College Basketball Preview, Lindy’s College Basketball Preview, and Athlon Sports College Basketball Preview - join a small group of defending Missouri Valley men’s basketball champs to return all five starters.
It marks the second time in league history the Panthers have been pegged as the preseason favorites. UNI was also picked to win the league in 2005-06. UNI finished fifth in the conference race in 2005-06, but earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament.
MVC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
School (First-Place Votes)
Total
1. UNI (38)......................389
2. Creighton
(1).................336
3. Illinois State................299
4. Southern
Illinois.............272
5. Wichita State.................216
6.
Bradley.......................208
7. Indiana State.................173
8.
Drake.........................105
9. Missouri State.................92
10.
Evansville....................55
Poll determined by panel of league sports
information directors, media, and coaches.
2009-10 MVC Preseason All-Conference Team
Name,
School, Pos., Ht., Wt., Year, Hometown, High School
Kwadzo
Ahelegbe, UNI, G, 6-2, 200, Jr., Oakdale (Minn.) Tartan High
Osiris
Eldridge, Illinois State, G, 6-3, 215, Sr., Chicago (Ill.) Phillips
Academy
Tony Freeman, Southern Illinois, G, 6-1, 195, Sr., Maywood (Ill.) St.
Joseph’s/Iowa
Adam
Koch, UNI, F, 6-8, 255, Sr., Ashwaubenon (Wis.) High
P’Allen Stinnett,
Creighton, G, 6-3, 180, Jr., Las Vegas (Nev.) Brewster Academy [N.H.]
Josh
Young, Drake, G, 6-1, 174, Sr., Lawton (Okla.) Lawton Christian
High
Honorable Mention: Kevin Dillard, Southern
Illinois; Clevin Hannah, Wichita State; Jake Kelly, Indiana State; Sam
Maniscalco, Bradley; Harry Marshall, Indiana State; Toure’ Murry, Wichita
State
Preseason Player of the Year - Osiris Eldridge, Illinois State
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