ST. LOUIS, Mo. (WMBD/WYZZ) -- Illinois State is picked second in both the men's and women's preseason basketball polls released by the Missouri Valley Conference on Tuesday.
Murray State is the MVC favorite in both the men's and women's polls. The Racers captured 32 first-place votes and 517 total points to outdistance Illinois State (seven first-place tallies and 471 points) and UIC (six first-place votes and 466 points) in the men's poll, in a vote conducted by league coaches, communications directors and media.
It's the first time Murray State has been tabbed to win the MVC men's basketball crown. Bradley, which earned one first place vote, was picked sixth fourth-place Belmont and fifth-place Valparaiso.
Two-time defending league champ Murray State grabbed 41 of 44 first-place votes in earning league favorite status in the women’s poll. Illinois State, which played in the WNIT title game last spring, was picked to finish second.
Belmont was projected to finish third, Northern Iowa fourth, Drake fifth and UIC sixth. Bradley was not selected in the top six of the women's poll.
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