ST. LOUIS – Drake has been tabbed the preseason favorite in the Missouri Valley Conference, the League office announced Tuesday morning ahead of its annual media day in St. Louis. The Salukis were picked to finish ninth in the preseason poll which is voted on by coaches, sports information directors and media.
Graduate Xavier Johnson was named to the preseason Third Team. The guard returns for his second season in maroon & white after starting in 31 games a year ago and scoring seven points per outing. Johnson was named to the MVC All-Defensive Team following last season and was second on the team and sixth in the MVC with 50 steals. To go along with his scoring output Johnson averaged 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
He had a breakout game on the road at Saint Louis, scoring a season-high 23 points while also posting a career-high six steals against the Billikens – going 6-for-8 from behind the arc against SLU. The Germantown, Maryland product scored in double-figures in nine games and finished the year shooting 48.7 percent from the field and 42.7 percent (35-82) from behind the arc.
The Bulldogs collected just over half of the available first-place votes while UNI picked up 19 of the votes to be picked second. Bradley was picked third followed by Indiana State, Belmont, Missouri State, Murray State and Illinois State. UIC, Evansville and Valparaiso round out the poll.
Forward Tucker DeVries of Drake was picked as the MVC Preseason Player of the Year.
PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Drake (24) .. 558
2. UNI (19) .. 524
3. Bradley (3) .. 487
4. Indiana State .. 402
5. Belmont .. 400
6. Missouri State (1) .. 386
7. Murray State .. 292
8. Illinois State .. 237
9. Southern Illinois .. 218
10. UIC .. 157
11. Evansville .. 95
12. Valparaiso .. 66
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Tucker DeVries, Drake
FIRST TEAM
Bowen Born, UNI
Donovan Clay, Missouri State
Tucker DeVries, Drake
Malevy Leons, Bradley
Cade Tyson, Belmont
SECOND TEAM
Tytan Anderson, UNI
Robbie Avila, Indiana State
Darnell Brodie, Drake
Julian Larry, Indiana State
Rob Perry, Murray State
Kenny Strawbridge Jr., Evansville
THIRD TEAM
Darius Burford, Illinois State
Duke Deen, Bradley
Xavier Johnson, Southern Illinois
Chance Moore, Missouri State
Toby Okani, UIC
Isaiah Swope, Indiana State
The Salukis open the year on November 6 inside Banterra Center as the team plays host to Kentucky State.
