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Men's basketball picked No. 1

SIU men's basketball has won the Missouri Valley Conference one way or another the last three years, but for the first time this century, the Salukis are expected to take the Valley.

SIU edged out Wichita State to sit atop the preseason poll, giving it the inside track to a fourth consecutive MVC crown.

As just about any No.1 team says this time of year, the Salukis swear they do not care about the accolade, although they do have reason to believe preseason polls do not matter. After being chosen fifth last year, SIU took the conference by storm and tallied a 17-1 record.

"It's an honor to be ranked No. 1," said senior guard Darren Brooks. "But you never know what to expect. Coming here last year we didn't expect to be ranked fifth and we were."

New head coach Chris Lowery, taking part in his first MVC media day, said the only thing No. 1 rankings are good for is recruiting. It means nothing, he said, at this time.

"Our biggest focus is on the end," Lowery said.

SIU picked up 23 first-place votes to Wichita State's 13. The Shockers were picked last year and have not lost anyone significant going into the 2004-2005 season.

Creighton and Northern Iowa, which won last year's conference tournament, are tied for third and received one first-place vote each.

Southwest Missouri State rounded out the top five, and did not receive any first-place votes despite taking Northern Iowa to double overtime in last year's conference tournament.

Drake was picked sixth, followed by Bradley, Evansville, Indiana State and Illinois State.

In addition to being the only SIU player in St. Louis Tuesday, Brooks was the only Saluki player named to the preseason first team. He was also named the preseason player of the year.

Brooks and the Salukis, for the first time in a long time, will not be able to use a feeling of disrespect for motivation.

The real motivation for SIU, Brooks said, will be getting out of the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Salukis have lost in the first round the last two years, each time by a single point.

"I think getting out of the first round of the NCAA tournament is our motivation," Brooks said.