At the Missouri Valley Conference media days in St. Louis, the pre-season basketball picks were released and the Missouri St. men have been picked to finish fourth in 2005-2006. Northern Iowa, which received 23-of-40 first place votes, was picked to finish first, Creighton was picked to finish second and Southern Illinois third. Below MSU were: Wichita St. Bradley, Drake, Indiana St (which received one first place vote), Evansville and Illinois St.

The predictions are better for the Missouri St. Lady Bears, which are slated to finish second in the league this season. MSU received a total of three first-place votes. Indiana St, however, is the run-away pre-season favorite, receiving 34 first-place votes. Creighton, which received three first-place votes is picked third. Drake, Northern Iowa, Evansville, Illinois St, Bradley, Wichita St. and Southern Illinois round out the pre-season picks.

The MSU men open their season at home on November 19 against Northern Illinois and the women open up on the road at Arkansas St. on November 22—their home opener is on November 27 at Tulsa.