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We are a few weeks away from when the preseason polls start coming out. But below I will list what my guess is for this year's MVC Preseason poll by the coaches and media. Please feel free to comment or criticize, and add your own projection. Again, this is asking what your you think the official MVC poll will be when it comes out, but you can post your own ranking if you want.
There are a lot of unknowns, since we haven't gotten much info on all the new incoming players, transfers, and sit-out/returning players for every team.
My guess-
1) UNI- I think they will get the most votes because they return their top 3 players from the regular season winners last year (Green, Berhow, and Phyfe) and they will have the preseason POY in Green
2) Loyola- it will be very close, and maybe Loyola will get the #1, because they finished a close 2nd last season and return their entire starting 5
3) Bradley- Bradley lost 3 starters in top scorer Darrell Brown, best shooter in Nate Kennell, and center Koch Bar. But they have maybe the best incoming group of new players. So there will probably be some voters who aren't convinced Bradley can repeat at 3rd place. But I don't think the other teams have quite enough to pass them.
4) Missouri State- they lost a lot from last season's underachieving team, but they still have a lot of talent. I think the voters will give them the edge over Indiana State and Valpo
5) Indiana State- InSU tied Bradley for 3rd place last year, and they have 4 starters returning in leading scorer Tyreke Key, Jake LaRavia, Cooper Neese, and Tre Williams, but depth is questionable.
6) Valparaiso- They finished tied for 6th last season, but made the run to the MVC Tournament championship game. Their only 2 significant losses are perimeter big men Ryan Fazekas (2nd leading scorer) and John Kizer, which will hurt them. (note: Javon Freeman-Liberty transferred to DePaul)
7) Drake- the bottom 4 picks seem pretty clear- all are in major rebuild modes- Losing Liam Robbins really hurts Drake, but the voters believe De Vries is a good enough coach and they have enough returning talent to stay out of the bottom 3 of the league.
8 ) Illinois State- Finished 9th last year and were one-and-done in the MVC Tournament. They lost their top scorer Zach Copeland, and their #4 scorer Jaycee Hillsman, but otherwise return the bulk of their rotation, plus some jucos, transfers and freshman. They could surprise, but preseason poll voters will probably not be expecting much.
9) SIU- After overachieving last year (finished 5th), it will be a bit harder this season after graduating Eric McGill, Barret Benson, Ronnie Suggs, and losing most of the rest of their roster to transfer. The only returning players who averaged more than 3 ppg are Marcus Domask and Lance Jones, but they did add some decent incoming talent and have redshirt shooter Ben Harvey available this season.
10) Evansville- Todd Lickliter will have a tough task to stay out of the bottom of the MVC. Evansville returns only 1 player who scored more than 6 ppg last year, Sam Cunliffe, and he has not shown himself to be a very effective perimeter player (31% from three). He will get more defensive attention, and Evansville's lack of big men won't help him. And, I don't see any impact players among their incoming new guys.
There are a lot of unknowns, since we haven't gotten much info on all the new incoming players, transfers, and sit-out/returning players for every team.
My guess-
1) UNI- I think they will get the most votes because they return their top 3 players from the regular season winners last year (Green, Berhow, and Phyfe) and they will have the preseason POY in Green
2) Loyola- it will be very close, and maybe Loyola will get the #1, because they finished a close 2nd last season and return their entire starting 5
3) Bradley- Bradley lost 3 starters in top scorer Darrell Brown, best shooter in Nate Kennell, and center Koch Bar. But they have maybe the best incoming group of new players. So there will probably be some voters who aren't convinced Bradley can repeat at 3rd place. But I don't think the other teams have quite enough to pass them.
4) Missouri State- they lost a lot from last season's underachieving team, but they still have a lot of talent. I think the voters will give them the edge over Indiana State and Valpo
5) Indiana State- InSU tied Bradley for 3rd place last year, and they have 4 starters returning in leading scorer Tyreke Key, Jake LaRavia, Cooper Neese, and Tre Williams, but depth is questionable.
6) Valparaiso- They finished tied for 6th last season, but made the run to the MVC Tournament championship game. Their only 2 significant losses are perimeter big men Ryan Fazekas (2nd leading scorer) and John Kizer, which will hurt them. (note: Javon Freeman-Liberty transferred to DePaul)
7) Drake- the bottom 4 picks seem pretty clear- all are in major rebuild modes- Losing Liam Robbins really hurts Drake, but the voters believe De Vries is a good enough coach and they have enough returning talent to stay out of the bottom 3 of the league.
8 ) Illinois State- Finished 9th last year and were one-and-done in the MVC Tournament. They lost their top scorer Zach Copeland, and their #4 scorer Jaycee Hillsman, but otherwise return the bulk of their rotation, plus some jucos, transfers and freshman. They could surprise, but preseason poll voters will probably not be expecting much.
9) SIU- After overachieving last year (finished 5th), it will be a bit harder this season after graduating Eric McGill, Barret Benson, Ronnie Suggs, and losing most of the rest of their roster to transfer. The only returning players who averaged more than 3 ppg are Marcus Domask and Lance Jones, but they did add some decent incoming talent and have redshirt shooter Ben Harvey available this season.
10) Evansville- Todd Lickliter will have a tough task to stay out of the bottom of the MVC. Evansville returns only 1 player who scored more than 6 ppg last year, Sam Cunliffe, and he has not shown himself to be a very effective perimeter player (31% from three). He will get more defensive attention, and Evansville's lack of big men won't help him. And, I don't see any impact players among their incoming new guys.
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