Missouri State tabbed for third in the MVC (photo/Missouri State Athletics)

Missouri State tabbed for third in the MVC (photo/Missouri State Athletics)

Paul Lusk’s Bears were picked third in the 10-team league race, behind preseason favorite Wichita State, which ran the table in The Valley last season at 18-0, and Northern Iowa which returns all five starters from a 16-15 club.

MSU has four starters back, including 2013 MVC Freshman of the Year Marcus Marshall, from a team that finished 20-13 a year ago and finished fourth in the conference race. Marshall was chosen as an honorable mention pick on the 2014 Preseason All-MVC squad, which was headlined by Fred Van Vleet of Wichita State who earned the Larry Bird Player of the Year Award in 2014.

In recent years, Missouri State was picked second in 2010-11 before making a run to its first-ever MVC regular season title. The Bears were also tabbed to finish third for the 2007-08 campaign, but tied for seventh.

Rounding out the poll were Evansville in fourth place, followed by Illinois State, Indiana State, Southern Illinois, Bradley, Drake and Loyola. Wichita State picked up 45 of 46 first-place votes with Illinois State getting a solitary first-place nod. The poll was voted on by conference head coaches, athletics communications directors and media representatives.

The MVC Preseason Team consists of Van Vleet, Shocker teammates Ron Baker and Tekele Cotton, UNI senior Seth Tuttle and Evansville junior D.J. Balentine. Van Vleet also was named preseason player of the year. Joining MSU’s Marshall with preseason honorable mention distinction are Loyola’s Milton Doyle, SIU’s Anthony Beane and Evansville’s Egidijus Mockevicius.

MVC Preseason Poll:

1.     Wichita State (45) ——– 459

2.     UNI ————————— 411

3.     Missouri State ————- 338

4.     Evansville ——————- 300

5.     Illinois State (1) ———— 287

6.     Indiana State ————— 219

7.     Southern Illinois ———– 191

8.     Bradley ———————- 140

9.     Drake ————————  92

10.  Loyola Chicago ———–  91