Racers picked 4th in Blue Ribbon MVC poll

MBB: Illinois State is the publication's pick to win the Missouri Valley

Fred King and Mason Miller warm up before one of Murray State’s practices in The Bahamas last month. (Photo: Murray State Athletics)

The annual Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook is out, and they have listed Murray State 4th in their preseason Missouri Valley Conference poll.

Illinois State is the Blue Ribbon’s pick to win The Valley, as the Redbirds return four starters off of last year’s CBI championship team, including All-Valley performers Chase Walker and Johnny Kinziger. Walker is the Blue Ribbon’s pick for Preseason Player of the Year.

Murray State’s Layne Taylor, the sophomore transfer from Central Arkansas, is the Blue Ribbon’s choice to be The Valley’s Newcomer of the Year. Taylor averaged 17.4 points per game for the Bears last season in 20 games before he was forced to have season-ending shoulder surgery. Taylor earned a spot on the ASun’s All-Freshman team in 2025-26.

The Blue Ribbon listed the conference’s top frontcourts and backcourts. Illinois State was listed as having the best backcourt and frontcourt this season, while Northern Iowa was #3 in both categories. Belmont came in with the #2 backcourt, while Murray State was touted with the second-best frontcourt in The Valley.

Here’s how The Blue Ribbon sees the Missouri Valley’s preseason poll looking:

1. Illinois State

2. Northern Iowa

3. Belmont

4. Murray State

5. Bradley

6. Southern Illinois

7. Drake

8. Evansville

9. UIC

10. Valparaiso

11. Indiana State

Here are the five players on the Blue Ribbon’s Preseason All-Conference Team:

• Chase Walker — Illinois State

• Tyler Lundblade — Belmont

• Isaiah Stafford — Southern Illinois

• Trey Campbell — Northern Iowa

• Johnny Kinziger — Illinois State