ST. LOUIS – The Northern Iowa men and the Creighton women start 2009-10 as the preseason favorites in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Voting by coaches, media and sports information directors make the Panthers the men’s favorite for the first time since 2005-06. The Creighton women are picked first for the first time since 2002-03.
Wichita State’s men were picked fifth. The Shocker women are ninth.
Men’s poll
Team (First-place votes) Total
1. Northern Iowa (38) 389
2. Creighton (1) 336
3. Illinois State 299
4. Southern Illinois 272
5. Wichita State 216
6. Bradley 208
7. Indiana State 173
8. Drake 105
9. Missouri State 92
10 Evansville 55
Preseason all-conference
Kwadzo Ahelegbe, G, Northern Iowa
Osiris Eldridge, G, Illinois State
Tony Freeman, G, Southern Illinois
Adam Koch, F, Northern Iowa
P’Allen Stinnett, G, Creighton
Josh Young, G, Drake
Honorable mention: Kevin Dillard, G, Southern Illinois; Clevin Hannah, G, Wichita State; Jake Kelly, G, Indiana State; Sam Maniscalco, G, Bradley, Toure Murry, G, Wichita State
Women’s poll
Team (first-place votes) Total
1. Creighton (34) 393
2. Illinois State (6) 340
3. Drake 296
4. Northern Iowa 253
5. Indiana State 250
6. Bradley 214
7. Missouri State 188
8. Evansville 108
9. Wichita State 97
10. Southern Illinois 61