Preseason polls are typically worth less than the paper they’re written on, but this year’s Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll, released Tuesday, should prove less valuable than normal for most Bears fans.
For the first time in their 19-year term in the league, the Missouri State men were picked dead last in the 10-team conference. The Bears return three starters and six lettermen from a 17-16 team a year ago. Since joining the league in 1990-91, the Bears have been picked in the league’s upper division 16 times in the previous 18 preseason polls.
“I guess that’s what’s expected with a new coach, a new system and so many new players," said first-year head coach Cuonzo Martin. "We’re excited to go out and perform. Hopefully our players will use this as a motivation to compete.”
The only previous lower division predictions for the Bears in the Valley preseason poll were in 1995-96 and 2002-03 when Missouri State was picked eighth. In 1995-96, MSU finished 16-12 overall and 11-7 in the league, tying for fourth place. In 2002-03, the Bears completed a 17-12 season and tied for third (12-6) in the MVC.
Creighton claimed 36 of the 39 first-place votes and was tabbed first with 386 points, followed by SIU (322), Illinois State (309), Drake (274), Bradley (219), UNI (186), Indiana State (137), Evansville (122), Wichita State (105), Missouri State (85). Likewise, no Bears were named to the preseason all-conference team.
The Bears open their 2008-09 exhibition slate on Monday, November 3 against Quincy University at 7 p.m. at Hammons Student Center and will open their new home -- JQH Arena -- on November 22 against Arkansas.
Courtesy: MSU Photo Services
