Wichita State, which returns four starters from a team that won 25 games last year, has been picked to win the Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball title in 2010-11. The Missouri State Bears, who enter the season under head coach Cuonzo Martin’s third season is coming off winning a post-season tournament.
The Bears won seven of their last nine games including four straight in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament in which the Bears played all home games. Kyle Weems who averaged 13.6 points and 6 rebounds in almost 29 minutes per game was named to the All-Preseason team and Adam Leonard received honorable mention who averaged 13 points a game.
MVC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll School
1. Wichita State
2. Missouri State
3. UNI
4. Creighton
5. Bradley
6. Illinois State
7. Indiana State
8. Drake
9. Southern Illinois
10. Evansville
2010-11 MVC Preseason All-Conference Team
Kwadzo Ahelegbe, UNI, G, 6-2, 213, Sr., Oakdale (Minn.) Tartan High
Kenny Lawson Jr., Creighton, C, 6-9, 250, Sr., Oceanside (Calif.) Vista High
Sam Maniscalco, Bradley, G, 6-0, 175, Sr., Chicago (Ill.) St. Patrick High
Toure’ Murry, Wichita State, G, 6-5, 197, Jr., Houston (Texas) Klein Forest High
Kyle Weems, Missouri State, F, 6-6, 232, Jr., Topeka (Kan.) Highland Park High
Honorable Mention: Taylor Brown, Bradley; J.T. Durley, Wichita State; Adam Leonard, Missouri State; Colt Ryan, Evansville; Seth VanDeest, Drake; Andrew Warren, Bradley.
Preseason Player of the Year — Kenny Lawson Jr., Creighton
For the first time in six seasons, the Missouri State women’s basketball team has been voted the Missouri Valley Conference’s preseason favorite. Fourth-year head coach Nyla Milleson will bring back 10 letterwinners and four starters back from last year’s 22-11 team that saw the Lady Bears finish tied for third in the Valley and return to the postseason for the first time in four seasons.