MVC 2026-2027 predictions

[Da Coach]

There are exactly 60 days until the first official games of the 2026-27 season (Nov. 2 is the start date).
I've revived this old thread from April because 2026-27 conference previews and picks are starting to appear, and they reflect the uncertainty of predicting college basketball in this era of rampant transfers, NIL, a surge in foreign players. Here are a couple I've seen in the last day or two-
College basketball blogger Demario Hutchinson picks Bradley 6th-

https://twitter.com/x/status/2094999561450250399

This one, Shootyhoops.com, is quite extensive and detailed. He picks Bradley 10th, and does not put a single Bradley player on any of the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd All-MVC teams, nor recognize any BU players or coach with any other postseason award-

https://www.shootyhoops.com/conference-preview/mvc/2027

Feel free to comment. And, there will be a lot more profiles and picks in the coming couple months, leading up to the official MVC Preseason poll some time in October. I wonder what kind of cheap, abridged version we'll get this year?
Recall that for the first time in history, the MVC only released the top 5 picks last year. Bradley was picked #4-

2025-26 MVC MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL (Top-Five)
Illinois State [34] ….. 487
UNI [8] …………...… 442
Murray State [4] ...… 385
Bradley …………….. 370
Belmont ……………. 344
Link- https://mvc-sports.com/news/2025/9/29/mvc-mens-basketball-preseason-special-airs-on-field-of-68.aspx

But also recall that Bradley overachieved and finished the 2025-26 season in 2nd place, ahead of every one of the three teams picked higher than the Braves.-

Men's College Basketball Standings - 2025-26 Missouri Valley Conference Standings - ESPN

Visit ESPN for the complete 2025-26 NCAAM season Missouri Valley Conference standings. Includes winning percentage, home and away record, and current streak.

www.espn.com

If anyone sees any other picks, post them here.

 

[yoda]

There are exactly 60 days until the first official games of the 2026-27 season (Nov. 2 is the start date).
I've revived this old thread from April because 2026-27 conference previews and picks are starting to appear, and they reflect the uncertainty of predicting college basketball in this era of rampant transfers, NIL, a surge in foreign players. Here are a couple I've seen in the last day or two-
College basketball blogger Demario Hutchinson picks Bradley 6th-

https://twitter.com/x/status/2094999561450250399

This one, Shootyhoops.com, is quite extensive and detailed. He picks Bradley 10th, and does not put a single Bradley player on any of the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd All-MVC teams, nor recognize any BU players or coach with any other postseason award-

https://www.shootyhoops.com/conference-preview/mvc/2027

Feel free to comment. And, there will be a lot more profiles and picks in the coming couple months, leading up to the official MVC Preseason poll some time in October. I wonder what kind of cheap, abridged version we'll get this year?
Recall that for the first time in history, the MVC only released the top 5 picks last year. Bradley was picked #4-

2025-26 MVC MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL (Top-Five)
Illinois State [34] ….. 487
UNI [8] …………...… 442
Murray State [4] ...… 385
Bradley …………….. 370
Belmont ……………. 344
Link- https://mvc-sports.com/news/2025/9/29/mvc-mens-basketball-preseason-special-airs-on-field-of-68.aspx

But also recall that Bradley overachieved and finished the 2025-26 season in 2nd place, ahead of every one of the three teams picked higher than the Braves.-

Men's College Basketball Standings - 2025-26 Missouri Valley Conference Standings - ESPN

Visit ESPN for the complete 2025-26 NCAAM season Missouri Valley Conference standings. Includes winning percentage, home and away record, and current streak.

www.espn.com

If anyone sees any other picks, post them here.

Shooty also does a viewer poll that shows this result

1 Murray State
2 Illinois State
3 Belmont
4 UIC
5 Valpo
6 Bradley
7 InSU
8 Evansville
9 Drake
10 UNI
11 SIU

 

[Da Coach]

Shooty also does a viewer poll that shows this result

1 Murray State
2 Illinois State
3 Belmont
4 UIC
5 Valpo
6 Bradley
7 InSU
8 Evansville
9 Drake
10 UNI
11 SIU

Yeah, when I saw his article, that "viewer poll" was based one single person's entry.
To be honest, I am not at all bothered by anyone who picks Bradley 10th or 11th. In fact, I'm not surprised because of the mass turnover of talent, and the fact that so few of the new Bradley players have any significant mid-major D1 experience. Add to that, the injury to Georgi who Coach Wardle himself has suggested might have been Bradley's top scorer. Heck, they may be right to pick BU so low. I do think Bradley is better than 9th, 10th, or 11th, but time will tell.