ST. LOUIS – The Drake University men's basketball team was predicted to finish first in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll and Tucker DeVries was selected as the MVC Preseason Player of the Year, the league announced on Tuesday, Oct. 17.
 
The Bulldogs were selected as the preseason favorite for the 2023-24 season in the MVC for the third consecutive year after receiving 24 first place votes. The voting panel was made up of MVC coaches, sports information directors and media members.
 
Drake finished the 2022-23 MVC regular season standings in second place with a 15-5 conference record before winning the 2023 State Farm MVC Tournament for an NCAA Tournament berth.
 
2022-23 Larry Bird Trophy winner Tucker DeVries was predicted to repeat the honor, being named MVC Preseason Player of the Year for the second straight season. DeVries averaged a team-high 18.6 points per game a season ago.
 
Darnell Brodie earned a place on the Preseason All-MVC Second Team. The graduate student forward from Newark N.J., had a resurgence last year averaging a career-high 9.1 points and team-best 7.3 rebounds.
 
The Bulldogs also received a vote in the AP Preseason Top 25 Poll.
 
Drake will play host to Truman State Nov. 2 at the Knapp Center in its lone exhibition contest before welcoming Lipscomb on Nov. 8 for the 2023-24 season opener. Tickets (including group and mini-plans) are available at draketix.com/mbb.
 
Fans can get a sneak peek at the 2023-24 Drake men's basketball team when it hosts the Blue & White Scrimmage on Friday, Oct. 20 inside the Knapp Center at 5 p.m. with free admission.
 
Pl.                     Points
1. Drake (24) .. 558
2. UNI (19) .. 524
3. Bradley (3) .. 487
4. Indiana State .. 402
5. Belmont .. 400
6. Missouri State (1) .. 386
7. Murray State.. 292
8. Illinois State .. 237
9. Southern Illinois .. 218
10. UIC .. 157
11. Evansville .. 95
12. Valparaiso .. 66
 
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Tucker DeVries, Drake
 
FIRST TEAM
Tucker DeVries, Drake
Bowen Born, UNI
Donovan Clay, Missouri State
Malevy Leons, Bradley
Cade Tyson, Belmont
 
SECOND TEAM
Darnell Brodie, Drake
Tytan Anderson, UNI 
Robbie Avila, Indiana State
Julian Larry, Indiana State
Rob Perry, Murray State
Kenny Strawbridge, Evansville
 
THIRD TEAM
Darius Burford, Illinois State
Duke Deen, Bradley
Xavier Johnson, Southern Illinois
Chance Moore, Missouri State
Toby Okani, UIC
Isaiah Swope, Indiana State