Murray State’s men’s basketball team was picked to finish third in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll, as announced at MVC Media Day on Oct. 2.

The Racers enter their third year in the MVC and the third-place rank in the preseason poll is the highest they’ve been ranked in their time in the conference. In 2022, they were picked eighth and in 2023, they were picked seventh.

The Bradley Braves were picked first followed by the Northern Iowa Panthers in second. Illinois State was picked fourth behind Murray State with Drake and Belmont behind them. Southern Illinois was picked seventh followed by last year’s regular season champions, the Indiana State Sycamores picked eighth. Evansville, Valparaiso, Missouri State and UIC fill out spots 9-12.

The conference also announced the preseason All-MVC teams and preseason Player of the Year.

Murray State senior guard Jacobi Wood was named to the preseason All-MVC first team, along with preseason Player of the Year Duke Deen and Darius Hannah from Bradley. UNI’s Tytan Anderson, Illinois State’s Johhny Kinziger and Valpo’s Cooper Schweiger were also named to the first team.

The Racers also had a player named to the All-MVC second team. Senior Nick Ellington was named alongside UNI’s Trey Campbell and Jacob Hutson, Bradley’s Zek Montgomery and Illinois State’s Malachi Poindexter.

Head coach Steve Prohm talked highly of his returning seniors.

“The areas you really want to be good at, if you want to be good for the long haul, are at the point and up front,” Pohm said. “I think Nick Ellington has a chance to be one of the top, if not the top, post player returning in the league. And then Jacobi Wood, who’s going to be a three-year starter here at the point guard position. [He] brings a ton of experience, knowledge and scoring at that point guard position.”

Prohm mentioned how the community of Murray had to step in to help keep those guys but is proud to have them back to help lead the charge going into the 2024-25 season.

“Those guys are our two bookends and it’s great to have them back,” Prohm said.

The men’s basketball season starts on Nov. 4 when the Racers host Bethel in an exhibition game at the CFSB Center.