Defending Missouri Valley Conference Champions, the Indiana State University Men's Basketball team, were picked to finish third in the upcoming 2011-12 season.

The pick is the highest Indiana State has been since the 2001-02 preseason poll when the team was also picked to finish third.

Conference head coaches, sports information and media representatives vote the annual preseason poll on.

The Creighton University Bluejays were selected as the favorites for the with 29 first place votes and 389 points.  Wichita State University was second with seven first place votes and 350 points ahead of the Sycamores at 331 with four first place votes.  Conference runner-ups Missouri State University Bears were selected to finish sixth.

Sophomore Jake Odum joined four other players selected for the 2011-2012 Missouri Valley Conference Preseason All-Conference Team.  

The Indiana State Sycamores defeated the Missouri State Bears 60-56 in  front of a crowd of 10,171.  The victory not only earned the Sycamores the MVC Championship Title but the team also earned a spot in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournanment.

The team went up against a tough opponent in the first round in Syraccuse University.  The Sycamore loss 60-77 against the larger opponent coming within four (35-42) at one point.

The Sycamores continue to prepare and will open the season with an exhibition contest on November 5 when they host Truman State at noon.