The annual Missouri Valley Conference preseason men’s basketball poll was released Monday (Oct. 29), and with little surprise defending Valley champion Creighton was tabbed as the league preseason favorite for 2012-13. Missouri State, which tied for third in the MVC standings last winter, is picked eighth in this year’s poll.

Creighton received 38 of a possible 40 first-place votes and 398 total points from the league’s coaches, media and sports information directors. Illinois State received the other two first-place votes and 327 points, followed by Northern Iowa with 316.

Wichita State (298) was picked fourth, followed by Evansville (240), Drake (184), Indiana State (165), MSU (122), Bradley (84) and Southern Illinois (66).

“We’re a young team, and we have a lot of new faces in terms of college experience,” said MSU head coach Paul Lusk who begins his second year at Missouri State. “This season is a great opportunity for everyone in the program, and I’m excited for the challenges ahead.”

Since joining the league in 1990-91, MSU has been predicted to finish in the MVC’s lower division only five previous times. The Bears finished in fourth place or better in three of those seasons. The 2009-10 club was picked ninth and finished seventh, but ended the year with a 24-12 overall record and won the CIT postseason tournament. Last year’s squad was picked sixth and finished in a tie for third place in the league standings.

Defending MVC Player of the Year Doug McDermott of Creighton is also the league’s preseason player of the year. He is joined on the Preseason All-MVC squad by Colt Ryan of Evansville, Jackie Carmichael of Illinois State, Jake Odum of Indiana State and Ben Simons of Drake.

Coach Lusk’s 2012-13 roster features five returning lettermen and a talented cast of six freshmen. The Bears open their two-game preseason exhibition slate tomorrow at JQH Arena with a 7:05 p.m. start against Missouri Western

— MSU Sports Information —