TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Indiana State Basketball was picked to finish sixth this season in the Missouri Valley Conference race while a pair of Sycamores picked up preseason honors according to a release from the league office. The MVC Preseason Poll was selected by the league head coaches, communications directors and a media panel.

Tyreke Key, who led the MVC in scoring last season, was named to the MVC Preseason First Team. Last season he was named to the All-MVC Second Team and was elected the team captain of the MVC Most Improved Team while also earning a spot on the NABC All-District Second Team . He led the team and Missouri Valley Conference in scoring with a 17.4 ppg average. Key enjoyed a career game at Valparaiso as he scored a career-best 32 points and hit 8-of-16 from the field as well as 15-of-17 from the free throw line while adding six steals, four assists and three rebounds. In the regular season finale. he paced the Sycamores with 20 points as he hit 9-of-13 shots from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers against Northern Iowa.

Jordan Barnes, who ranks tied for third at ISU with 215 career 3-pointers made, was named to the MVC Preseason Second Team. He hit 30 free throws made in a row --  a new school record during the MVC era and 20th-best in the history of the MVC during last season. He has scored 1,180 career points to become the 39th member of the Indiana State Basketball Club in just 77 games played. Led the team to a 72-67 victory over Colorado by hitting five 3-pointers and tallying 19 points in Diamond Head Classic opener and then led all scorers with 28 points as he hit 11-of-15 from the field, including a huge late 3-pointer in the win over UNLV. 

Joining Key on the first team were Preseason Player of the Year Cameron Krutwig (Loyola), Darrell Brown, Jr. (Bradley), Tulio Da Silva (Missouri State) and AJ Green (UNI). Joining Barnes on the second team were Elijah Childs (Bradley), Keandre Cook (Missouri State), Ryan Fazekas (Valparaiso) and Javon Freeman-Liberty (Valparaiso).

Overall, the Sycamores were picked to finish in sixth place in the league race by securing 210 points. Indiana State edges out Illinois State (193), Evansville (132), Valparaiso (98) and Southern Illinois (83). Missouri State was picked to win the league with 29 first place votes and 410 points. Bradley was picked to finish second with five first place votes and 368 points. UNI is third with a trio of first place votes and 343 points. Loyola Chicago comes in fourth with six first place votes and 340 points. Drake was picked just ahead of the Sycamores in fifth with 243 points.

The Sycamores are scheduled to open the season on Saturday, November 9 when they travel to Dayton to take on the Flyers. Tip-off is set for 7 pm (ET).