WICHITA, Kan. - The Wichita State men's basketball team has been picked to win the Missouri Valley Conference title in 2010-11, according to the MVC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll released today.

The Shockers, who return four starters from last season's 25-10 team, received 33 of 39 first-place votes and 382 points in the preseason poll of league coaches, media and sports information directors.

Wichita State finished runner-up in the MVC regular season in 2009-10, and played in the championship game of the MVC Tournament for the first time since 1987. The Shockers, under head coach Gregg Marshall, also earned a berth in the Postseason NIT.

Shocker junior guard Toure' Murry represents Wichita State on the 2010-11 MVC Preseason All-Conference Team. Murry, who stands 6-foot-5, is Wichita State's top returning scorer. The guard from Houston, Texas averaged 11.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game last season.

Senior center/forward J.T. Durley, from Pittsburg, Texas, received MVC Preseason All-Conference Honorable Mention for the Shockers. Durley, who stands 6-foot-8, averaged 11.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in 2009-10.

Missouri State, UNI, Creighton and Bradley round out the top-five teams in the MVC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll. Creighton junior center Kenny Lawson was named Preseason Player of the Year.

The Shockers were last picked to win the league in 2003-04 and won their most recent regular-season title in 2006.

Wichita State opens the season with a 7:05 p.m. home exhibition Nov. 10 against Newman University at Charles Koch Arena. The Shockers kick-off the regular season with a 7:05 p.m. game Nov. 16 against Texas Southern at Charles Koch Arena.

MVC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll

School (First-Place Votes) .............. Total
 1. Wichita State (33) ...................... 382
 2. Missouri State (1) ........................ 313
 3. UNI (3) ........................................... 289
 4. Creighton ...................................... 282
 5. Bradley (2) .................................... 264
 6. Illinois State .................................. 165
 7. Indiana State ................................ 136
 8. Drake ............................................. 121
 9. Southern Illinois ........................... 120
10. Evansville .......................................  73

2010-11 MVC Preseason All-Conference Team

Name, School, Pos., Ht., Wt., Year, Hometown, High School
Kwadzo Ahelegbe, UNI, G, 6-2, 213, Sr., Oakdale (Minn.) Tartan High
Kenny Lawson Jr., Creighton, C, 6-9, 250, Sr., Oceanside (Calif.) Vista High
Sam Maniscalco, Bradley, G, 6-0, 175, Sr., Chicago (Ill.) St. Patrick High
Toure' Murry, Wichita State, G, 6-5, 197, Jr., Houston (Texas) Klein Forest High
Kyle Weems, Missouri State, F, 6-6, 232, Jr., Topeka (Kan.) Highland Park High
  Honorable Mention:  Taylor Brown, Bradley; J.T. Durley, Wichita State; Adam Leonard, Missouri State; Colt Ryan, Evansville; Seth VanDeest, Drake; Andrew Warren, Bradley.
  Preseason Player of the Year: Kenny Lawson Jr., Creighton

- Wichita State -