Des Moines — For the first time on record, Drake has been picked as the preseason favorite in the Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball race by a voting panel consisting of coaches, sports information directors and media.
The Bulldogs are coming off three of the most successful seasons in program history and the team’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in 13 years, taking second in the league race last year (26-5, 15-3).
The Bulldogs received 29 first-place votes.
Loyola finished in second, with UNI in third.
Missouri State and Southern Illinois rounded out the top-five.