MVC media releases preseason All-Valley teams

MBB: Fred King was named to the Missouri Valley's Preseason 2nd Team

Fred King surveys the Northern State defense during Sunday’s exhibition game. (Photo: Jesse Ordunez)

This season, the Missouri Valley Conference opted to only release the Top 5 teams in the preseason poll, as voted on by conference media, coaches and sports information directors. The Valley also did not announce any preseason All-Conference teams, instead only releasing a 39-player ‘watch list’.

Paul Oren, who covers Valparaiso Athletics for TheVictoryBell.com, wanted to get a more complete snapshot of the league as we roll toward the opening day of the season on November 3rd.

Here’s Oren’s methodology for the poll:

“The Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Media Poll was voted on by a group of journalists covering the league on a variety of platforms including professional and student media publications. Every effort was made to include at least two journalists representing every school.

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“The following are the members that comprise the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Media Poll: Michael Admire (Drake Radio), Jeff Bidwell (RacerBasketball.com), Jaden Cohn (The Vidette), Dave Eminian (Peoria Journal Star), Laney Evans (Murray State News), Derek Harper (Tribune Star), Jonathan Hood (UIC Radio), Eli Hoover (Daily Egyptian), Cohen Kamus (Northern Iowan), Reece Leddy (Belmont Vision), Latif Love (The Bradley Scout), Luke Martin (SIU Radio), Paul Oren (The Victory Bell), Randy Reinhart (The Pantagraph), Vance Sawyer (March to the Arch), Harry Schroeder (Valley Hoops Insider), Kyle Sokeland (The Courier & Press), Joe Sullivan (Main Street Nashville), Serena Thiede (Times Delphic), Mara Thomas (The Torch).”

Here are where all 11 teams stand in the preseason poll, with first place votes in parentheses, followed by the All-Conference teams:

1. Illinois State (14) — 210

2. Northern Iowa (1) — 181

3. Bradley (2) — 167

4. Murray State (2) — 164

5. Belmont — 148

6. Drake (1) — 129

7. Southern Illinois — 89

8. UIC — 80

9. Indiana State — 66

10. Valparaiso — 44

11. Evansville — 41

Preseason First Team

• Chase Walker — Illinois State (Preseason Player of the Year)

• Johnny Kinzinger — Illinois State

• Tyler Lundblade — Belmont

• Trey Campbell — Northern Iowa

• Jaquan Johnson — Bradley

Preseason Second Team

• Connor Turnbull — Evansville

• Fred King — Murray State

• Isaiah Stafford — Southern Illinois

• Ahmad Henderson — UIC

• Demarion Burch — Bradley