Illinois State second, Bradley sixth in MVC preseason basketball polls

Illinois State has been ranked second in both the men’s and women’s preseason basketball polls by the Missouri Valley Conference. The announcements were made during a release on October 13, 2026. Murray State is the favorite in both polls, having received 32 first-place votes and 517 total points in the men’s rankings. Illinois State secured seven first-place votes and 471 points, while Bradley was positioned sixth with one first-place vote. In the women’s poll, Murray State captured 41 of 44 first-place votes, followed by Illinois State, which played in the WNIT title game last spring and finished second. These rankings reflect the coaches', communications directors', and media’s perceptions ahead of the season.

• 4:41 AMYahoo Sports — ISU picked second, Bradley sixth in MVC preseason poll