Oct. 28, 2003

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Two-time defending regular-season champ Southern Illinois has three starters back, but it's the two starters who are missing that caused the media to project the Salukis will finish fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference this season.

"There's some very good teams in our league, and you don't want to take anything away from those who are picked ahead of you," Painter said at the annual media day in St. Louis. "We lost 3,500 points between two guys (Kent Williams and Jermaine Dearman). There's a lot of uncertainty who will step into those roles. Will they be as good, especially at crunch time? Who will make the big-time plays when you need them?"

It's been 15 years since the last time it's happened, but the Wichita State Shockers are picked to win the Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball title.

The Shockers have a formidable starting lineup returning, which includes co-Preseason Player of the Year Jamar Howard. Rob Kampman, Paul Miller and Randy Burns join Howard as returning starters. Meanwhile, point guard Fridge Holman, who was injured most of 2003, had 61 assists in 13 games last year.

Coach Mark Turgeon has nine, 15, and 18 wins (plus an NIT berth last year) and is looking to become the first Shocker coach to improve in the win column in each of his first four years.

The Shockers received 24 of a possible 30 first-place tallies and 290 total points in the poll, conducted by league media and sports information directors.

Creighton, meanwhile is looking to become only the second Valley member (Cincinnati, 1958-63) to make the NCAA Tournament in six-straight seasons. The Bluejays return three starters from last year's 29-5 team and are picked second in this year's preseason poll with 254 points and four first-place votes.

Bradley is picked third in the poll, and the Braves return four starters, including co-Preseason Player of the Year Phillip Gilbert. The Braves expect a boost from Marcellus Sommerville, who is tabbed by many as the league's preseason Newcomer of the Year.

Southwest Missouri State enjoyed perhaps its best recruiting class, and the Bears are looking to improve on last year's third-place tie. SMS is picked fourth in the poll and returns four starters.

UNI hasn't had a winning season since the 1996-97 campaign, but five returning starters, including pre-season pick David Gruber, hope to lift the Panthers to an upper-division finish. UNI is picked sixth.

Illinois State and first-year coach Porter Moser is picked seventh, narrowly edging Evansville, which is coming off a year which saw the Aces tie for fifth.

Drake's Tom Davis takes over for the Bulldogs as head coach, while Indiana State winds out the poll with 55 points.

2003-04 MVC Preseason All-Conference Team
Name, School, Pos., Ht., Wt., Year, Hometown (High School)
Clint Cuffle, Evansville, G/F, 6-6, 216, Sr., Riverton (Ill.) High
Phillip Gilbert, Bradley, G, 6-3, 205, Sr., East St. Louis (Ill.) High
David Gruber, UNI, F/C, 6-6, 230, Sr., Solon (Iowa) High
Jamar Howard, Wichita State, F, 6-5, 206, Jr., Shawnee Mission (Kan.) Bishop Miege
Luke McDonald, Drake, G, 6-5, 215, Sr., Lubbock (Texas) Frenship High

Co-Players of the Year -- Phillip Gilbert, Bradley & Jamar Howard, Wichita State

Preseason Poll
School (First-Place Votes) Total
1. Wichita State (24) 290
2. Creighton (4) 254
3. Bradley 224
4. SMS (1) 210
5. Southern Illinois 200
6. UNI (1) 135
7. Illinois State 99
8. Evansville 96
9. Drake 87
10. Indiana State 55

Preseason poll determined by league media and sports information directors