The Missouri Valley Conference chose to only release a Top 5 instead of a full MVC Preseason Poll this season.
https://bradleyfans.com/threads/the-mvc-preseason-poll.529191/
And there were also no Preseason All-Conference teams named by the MVC- only a 39-player “Watch List”-
https://mvc-sports.com/news/2025/10/14/2025-26-mvc-mens-basketball-players-to-watch.aspx
But, Paul Oren, the very good beat writer for Valparaiso, contacted all the beat writers and student sports reporters he could reach for each MVC school and did a poll- 20 people voted. Here is how the 11 MVC teams ranked in his "unofficial" MVC Media Poll (#1 votes in parentheses followed by total votes)
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
Then voters ranked their top 10 players, giving the #1 player 10 points, the #2 player 9 points, etc.
And he compiled a 1st and 2nd All-MVC teams based on the vote totals (similar to how the MVC does it- vote totals in parentheses).
1st team-
Chase Walker ILSU- 168 points
Johnny Kinziger ILSU- 121 points
Tyler Lundblade Belmont- 120
Trey Campbell UNI- 119
Jaquan Johnson Bradley- 81
2nd team-
Connor Turnbull Evansville- 56 points
Fred King Murray State- 52 points
Isaiah Stafford SIU- 33 points
Ahmed Henderson UIC- 22 points
Demarion Burch Bradley- 19 points
A total of 32 different players received votes. Nice job by Paul Oren.
He discusses this with Jeff Bidwell on today's episode (10/29/25) of Morning in the Valley on YouTube-
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEFJBMFZ2X4
The MVC poll discussion and other men's basketball discussion starts at 12:40 and runs until 50:30.
https://bradleyfans.com/threads/the-mvc-preseason-poll.529191/
And there were also no Preseason All-Conference teams named by the MVC- only a 39-player “Watch List”-
https://mvc-sports.com/news/2025/10/14/2025-26-mvc-mens-basketball-players-to-watch.aspx
But, Paul Oren, the very good beat writer for Valparaiso, contacted all the beat writers and student sports reporters he could reach for each MVC school and did a poll- 20 people voted. Here is how the 11 MVC teams ranked in his "unofficial" MVC Media Poll (#1 votes in parentheses followed by total votes)
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
Then voters ranked their top 10 players, giving the #1 player 10 points, the #2 player 9 points, etc.
And he compiled a 1st and 2nd All-MVC teams based on the vote totals (similar to how the MVC does it- vote totals in parentheses).
1st team-
Chase Walker ILSU- 168 points
Johnny Kinziger ILSU- 121 points
Tyler Lundblade Belmont- 120
Trey Campbell UNI- 119
Jaquan Johnson Bradley- 81
2nd team-
Connor Turnbull Evansville- 56 points
Fred King Murray State- 52 points
Isaiah Stafford SIU- 33 points
Ahmed Henderson UIC- 22 points
Demarion Burch Bradley- 19 points
A total of 32 different players received votes. Nice job by Paul Oren.
He discusses this with Jeff Bidwell on today's episode (10/29/25) of Morning in the Valley on YouTube-
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEFJBMFZ2X4
The MVC poll discussion and other men's basketball discussion starts at 12:40 and runs until 50:30.