For the first time since the 1997-98 season, Illinois State is the preseason favorite to win the Missouri Valley Conference mens basketball regular season crown, according to a vote of the conferences sports information directors, beatwriters and radio play-by-play broadcasters.
The Redbirds claimed 26 of the possible 30 first-place votes and topped the 10 Valley schools with 293 points.
Tarise Bryson,the nations returning leading scorer, was also named the Valley preseason Player of the Year and topped the preseason all-conference team.
Illinois State returns four starters from last seasons 21-9 team, including Bryson, the 2001 Player of the Year, Shawn Jeppson, an honorable mention all-conference choice, Randy Rice, and 2001 All-Newcomer Team selection Shedrick Ford.
Besides Bryson, the remainder of the 2001-02 Valley Preseason All-Conference Team includes: Kyle Korver, a 6-7 junior forward at Creighton, Kent Williams, a 6-2 junior guard at Southern Illinois, Kelyn Block, a 6-2 senior guard at Indiana State and Luke McDonald, a sophomore 6-5 guard at Drake.
The Redbirds open their exhibition season on Thursday, November 1, at 7:05 p.m. with a game at Redbird Arena against St. Xavier.
2001-02 Missouri Valley Conference
Mens Basketball Preseason Poll
School Pts.
Illinois State (26) 293
Creighton (1) 232
Indiana State (1) 224
Southern Illinois (1) 212
Southwest Missouri State (1) 184
Bradley 155
Evansville 122
Drake 117
Wichita State 70
Northern Iowa 41
Number in parentheses indicates number of first-place votes.
