Bradley tabbed MVC favorite, ISU fourth in preseason poll

ST. LOUIS (WMBD/WYZZ) — Bradley was voted the favorite to win the Missouri Valley Conference 2024-25 men’s basketball title in the league’s preseason poll, the league announced Wednesday.

Bradley received 46 first-place votes and 597 total points to outdistance UNI, which received two first-place tallies and 527 total points.  Murray State received the remaining first-place vote and 473 total points to finish third in the preseason poll.

Illinois State (4th, 397), defending Arch Madness champion Drake (5th, 388), and Belmont (6th, 373) were tightly bunched for the next three positions.

The preseason poll and teams were voted on by Valley head coaches, communications directors and a media panel. Southern Illinois, defending regular-season champion and NIT runner-up Indiana State, Evansville, Valparaiso, Missouri State and UIC round out the preseason poll.

The Braves finished third in the MVC regular-season race last year and were last picked to win the MVC in 1999.  Since the MVC has been announcing a preseason poll prior to the 1985-86 campaign, Bradley has been picked as the league favorite four previous times (1986, 1988, 1996, and 2000).

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