ST. LOUIS – Defending regular season Missouri Valley Conference champion Illinois State has been picked to finish fourth in the MVC Preseason Poll, announced by the Conference office on Tuesday morning. Additionally, rising junior Phil Fayne was named on the All-MVC Preseason Second Team.
In the poll, which is determined by a panel of league sports information directors, media, and coaches, the Redbirds earned 256 points and one first place vote. Missouri State was picked as the preseason favorite with 381 points and 30 first-place votes. Northern Iowa (337, 8 first place votes) and Loyola (321 points, one first place vote) were picked to finish just ahead of Illinois State.
The six schools picked to finish behind the Redbirds include Southern Illinois (226 points), Valparaiso (214), Bradley (182), Indiana State (116), Evansville (88), and Drake (79).
Last season Fayne averaged 9.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, while making 59 percent of his shots (128-of-217) from the field. He finished second in the MVC in field goal percentage, and seventh in rebounds per game.
This preseason poll marks the third time in the last five seasons that Illinois State has been picked to finish fourth or better in the MVC, and the team has had a better regular season finish than its prediction in each of the last four seasons.
The Redbirds, who set a school record with their 28 wins a season ago, open the season on November 5 with a home exhibition against Lewis on Doug Collins Court at Redbird arena. Four games away from Illinois follow, before Illinois State hosts its regular season home opener on November 22 against Quincy.
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