ST. LOUIS — For the first time since joining the league (2013-14), Loyola Chicago has been tabbed the favorite to win the Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball title.
The Ramblers return three starters from last year’s record-setting 32-win team that swept the MVC regular-season and tournament titles and reached the NCAA Final Four. Clayton Custer earned the Larry Bird Trophy in his junior year last season and has been selected as the pre-season MVC Player of the Year for 2018-19.
2018-19 MVC Preseason Team
FIRST TEAM
Jordan Barnes, Indiana State G 5-11 Jr. St. Louis (Mo.) Christian Brothers High
Clayton Custer, Loyola G 6-1 Sr. Overland Park (Kan.) Blue Valley NW
Phil Fayne, Illinois State F 6-8 Sr. Elk Grove (Calif.) Franklin High
Armon Fletcher, SIU G 6-5 Sr. Edwardsville (Ill.) High
Milik Yarbrough, Illinois State G 6-6 Sr. Zion (Ill.) Zion-Benton Township
SECOND TEAM
Darrell Brown, Bradley G 5-10 Jr. Memphis (Tenn.) Germantown
Keyshawn Evans, Illinois State G 6-0 Sr. Plantation (Fla.) The Sagemount School
Cameron Krutwig, Loyola C 6-9 So. Algonquin (Ill.) Jacobs
Kavion Pippen, SIU C 6-10 Sr. Hamburg (Ark.) Three Rivers CC
Marques Townes, Loyola G 6-4 Sr. Edison (N.J.) St. Joseph
Preseason Player of the Year: Clayton Custer, Loyola
2018-19 MVC Preseason Poll
School (First-Place Votes) Total
1. Loyola (29) 410
2. Illinois State (10) 374
3. Southern Illinois (4) 362
4. Bradley 305
5. UNI 248
6. Indiana State 210
7. Valparaiso 173
8. Missouri State 125
9. Drake 92
10. Evansville 66
Poll/team determined by panel of league sports information directors, media, and coaches.
