ST. LOUIS (AP) - Creighton, which has four starters back from a team that made it to the third round of the NCAA tournament, was a near-unanimous choice to win the Missouri Valley championship.

Preseason All-American Doug McDermott leads the way for the Bluejays, who received 398 of a possible 400 points in a poll of league coaches, sports information directors and media released Monday. McDermott was conference player of the year last season after shooting 63 percent overall and 48.6 percent from 3-point range.

Illinois State was picked to finish second, followed by Northern Iowa, defending champion Wichita State and Evansville. Drake was sixth, followed by Indiana State, Missouri State, Bradley and Southern Illinois.

Joining McDermott on the preseason all-conference team were Colt Ryan of Evansville, Jackie Carmichael of Illinois State, Jake Odum of Indiana State and Ben Simons of Drake.

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