ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team has been picked sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference's preseason poll, the league office announced Tuesday.

Voting was done by the league's coaches, sports information directors and media.

UNI returns two starters and eight letterwinners from last year's team that won 18 games and advanced to the semifinals of the 2008 State Farm MVC Tournament. The Panthers have four of their top six scorers and three of their top four rebounders back from last year's squad.

Junior center Jordan Eglseder (8.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg), junior forward Adam Koch (8.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and senior guard Travis Brown (6.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg) lead the list of returners.

The Panthers play their first exhibition game Nov. 4, when they play host to the University of Dubuque at 7:05 p.m. in the McLeod Center. UNI opens its regular season Nov. 15 at noon in McLeod when it faces the University of Denver.

School (First-Place Votes) Points

1. Creighton (36) 386

2. Southern Illinois (2) 322

3. Illinois State (1) 309

4. Drake 274

5. Bradley 219

6. UNI 186

7. Indiana State 137

8. Evansville 122

9. Wichita State 105

10. Missouri State 85

2008-09 Preseason All-MVC Team

Jonathan Cox, Sr., Drake

Osiris Eldridge, Jr., Illinois State

Bryan Mullins, Sr., Southern Illinois

P'Allen Stinnett, So., Creighton

Josh Young, Jr., Drake

Preseason Player of the Year: Osiris Eldridge, Illinois State