ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Indiana State was selected fourth overall as the Missouri Valley Conference released the preseason men's basketball poll as voted on by the league's head coaches, media members, and SIDs. Guards Julian Larry and Isaiah Swope, and center Robbie Avila were named to the MVC Preseason All-Conference team.
 
The Sycamores garnered 402 total points in the poll to finish behind preseason favorites Drake (558 points, 24 first-place votes), Northern Iowa (524 points, 19 first-place votes), and Bradley (487 points, three first-place votes. The top-five was rounded out by Belmont (400 points).
 
Avila earns Second Team recognition following a MVC All-Freshman campaign in 2022-23 that saw him finish second on the team with a .540 field goal percentage, while finishing fourth on the team with 10.7 points per game.
 
The Oak Forest, Ill. native appeared in 34 games as a true freshman, starting 29 of the last 30 contests with his lone non-start coming on Indiana State's Senior Day. Highlighting his season included scoring a career-high 22 points at Drake in late January to pace 19 games where he scored double-figures.
 
Larry earns Second Team recognition after a strong 2022-23 campaign that saw the Frisco, Texas native show flashes of brilliance on both ends of the court. The lone Sycamore to play in all 36 games, Larry earned MVC Player of the Week honors in mid-January after a game that featured the guard shooting 8-for-8 from the field and 3-for-3 from the three-point line to finish with a career-high 21 points.
 
He improved in every offensive statistical category including leading the team in field goal percentage at .592 in the 2022-23 season, but made his mark on the defensive end earning MVC All-Defensive Team honors. He finished second on the team overall in steals (45) and second overall in assists (119).
 
Swope earns Third Team recognition heading into his first season in the Sycamore Blue & White. The Southern Indiana transfer was a First Team All-OVC and Second Team NABC All-District selection after leading the Eagles with 15.6 points and 3.5 assists per game last season.
 
Swope played in all 33 games earning 31 starts as a sophomore at USI. He scored a career-high 28 points in the Screaming Eagles' win over ISU last season in Evansville connecting on eight three-pointers. He notched double-figure scoring in 25 of those contests. He led USI with 15.6 points and 3.5 assists per game while averaging 20.4 points per game in his last 10 outings.
 
In March 2024, The Valley will conduct its 34th St. Louis-based postseason men's basketball championship. With 34-straight years at the same neutral site, Arch Madness is the second-longest neutral site tenured collegiate tourney in the nation (following only the Big East in New York City).
 
Pollsters have accurately predicted the league's regular-season champ only six of the past 11 years, and only 18 times out of 38 total polls (beginning with the 1985-86 preseason picks). A total of 32 of those 38 predicted champs have gone on to post-season play, with 22 of those 32 playing in the NCAAs.
 
Get Indiana State Men's Basketball Season Tickets Now
Season tickets for the 2023-24 Indiana State men's basketball team is on sale now. The Sycamores will host 10 conference games to go along with the nonconference slate.
 
The full schedule for the season will be announced in the coming weeks. The pricing list for the 2023-24 men's basketball season tickets with court diagram can be found at GoSycamores.com.
 
2023-24 Men's Basketball Season Ticket Prices

• Courtside - $399
• Floor - $299
• Lower Level I - $199
• Lower Level II - $199
• Flex 5 - $120
• Upper Level - $99

Indiana State will employ mobile ticketing as the default option for all home games during the 2023-24 men's basketball season, enabling contactless entry into athletics venues. Offering greater convenience and safety, fans can access their ticket online and transfer to family and friends. Fans will also have the option to get their tickets printed for an additional $5 charge.
 
For more information on single game and season tickets, fans can contact Assistant Manager of Athletic Ticketing Austin Bishop by phone at 812-237-8972 or via email at Austin.Bishop@indstate.edu. Fans can also call 877-ISU-TIXS or email ISU-Tickets@indstate.edu. Fans have the opportunity to also buy or renew season tickets online by clicking HERE.
 
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on the Sycamore Men's Basketball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from both the App Store and the Google Play Store.