The University of Illinois Springfield men’s basketball team was voted in a preseason coaches poll to finish sixth out of eight teams in the East Division of the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
The Prairie Stars had an 8-19 overall record, posted a 6-12 conference mark and finished sixth in the East Division last season.
Bellarmine, an NCAA Division II Elite Eight qualifier, was voted to win the division with nine first-place votes. Nos. 2-4, Southern Indiana, Indianapolis and Lewis, also received first-place votes. Wisconsin-Parkside was voted fifth followed by UIS, Saint Joseph’s and McKendree.
Defending national champion Drury is at the top of the West Division poll with 10 first-place votes. Maryville was voted second in the West and received six first-place votes. Next were Missouri-St. Louis, Quincy, Truman State, William Jewell, Missouri S&T and Rockhurst.
The story was featured by The State Journal-Register on October 25, 2013.
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