Here is a team-by-team look at men's college basketball in the Missouri Valley Conference in their predicted order of finish:

Creighton
Coach: Dana Altman, 15th year
Last year's record: 22-11, 10-8 conference
Returning starters: 3
Outlook: It looks to be a big year for the Bluejays and coach Dana Altman, whose name always seems to pop up for higher-profile openings each off-season but who seems content leading one of the most recognizable mid-majors. Altman's squad returns 73 percent of its scoring, 69 percent of the rebounding and 81 percent of the assists from last season. Look for star potential from sophomore guard P'Allen Stinnett, who won both freshman and newcomer of the year honors last season while averaging 12.6 points and 3.4 rebounds. Junior point guard Cavel Witter is a talented playmaker.

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Southern Illinois
Coach: Chris Lowery, fifth year
Last year's record: 18-15, 11-7
Returning starters: 3
Outlook: Over the past several seasons, the MVC race always seems to boil down to a late-season matchup between the Salukis and Creighton, and they could be on a collision course again. Southern Illinois returns three starters but lost a few key starters to graduation. They also struggled to close out games last year, an unusual trait in the Lowery era. But returning point guard Bryan Mullins is one of the conference's better players, and if the Salukis get rounded contributions from their experienced players, they should be right back in the mix for the conference title.

Illinois State
Coach: Tim Jankovich, second year
Last year's record: 25-10, 13-5
Returning starters: 1
Outlook: The Redbirds were a surprise success in Jankovich's debut season, and they might be hard pressed to match it. Even so, it's already been proven that it's a bad idea to bet against him. His team returns just one starter, but he is perhaps the conference's best player, Osiris Eldridge. The 6-foot-3 junior went for 15.8 points per game last year which, in this low-scoring league, is akin to averaging 25 in another conference. Illinois State's half-court defense was among the nation's best (59.3 points per game allowed, 11th), and if they can build on that foundation and mix in some talent around Eldridge, this team could be here to stay as a contender.

Bradley
Coach: Jim Les, eighth year
Last year's record: 21-17, 9-9
Returning starters: 3
Outlook: The Braves made it to the championship round of the Collegiate Basketball Invitational last year - losing to Tulsa in three games -- a tournament that is sort of a poor man's NIT. Really poor, in fact … it is a pay-to-play tournament. Coach Jim Les is hoping the experience pays off this season as his club returns most of its key players. Andrew Warren is the conference's fourth-leading returning scorer at 13.2 points per game and seven-footer David Collins should make an impact.

Drake
Coach: Mark Phelps, first year
Last year's record: 28-5, 15-3
Returning starters: 2
Outlook: Mark Phelps will try to keep the momentum going at Drake, which won its first conference title last year and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1971. The season earned former coach Keno Davis all kinds of accolades and, predictably, other job offers. He bolted for Providence. Phelps inherits a team that lost three starters to graduation but the remaining two are among the league's best players. Junior guard Josh Young averaged 16 points and forward Jonathan Cox put up 12.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per contest.

Indiana State
Coach: Kevin McKenna, second year
Last year's record: 15-16, 8-10
Returning starters: 3
Outlook: McKenna led the team to its most wins since 2001, but the Sycamores were a dreadful 2-13 on the road. Returning guards Harry Marshall and Marico Stinson provide a nice one-two punch in the backcourt.

Northern Iowa
Coach: Ben Jacobson, third year
Last year's record: 18-14, 9-9
Returning starters: 2
Outlook: The Panthers lost a good chunk of their production to graduation, namely forward Eric Coleman, who led the team in every major statistical category. Coleman was the only Division I player to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, assists, blocked shots and field-goal percentage. Junior Adam Koch, who averaged 8.7 points and 5.8 rebounds, will be asked to shoulder much of the load.

Wichita State
Coach: Gregg Marshall, second year
Last year's record: 11-20, 4-14
Returning starters: 1
Outlook: Greg Marshall's first year was beset by a myriad of injuries and other problems, including the death of a recruit during a pick-up game. The Shockers never got any momentum going, then lost four starters to graduation. Returning forward Ramon Clemente is the top experienced player.

Evansville
Coach: Marty Simmons, second year
Last year's record: 9-21, 3-15
Returning starters: 5
Outlook: Despite returning his entire starting lineup, coach Marty Simmons, an Evansville alum, still has one of the league's youngest roster based on the recruiting class he brought in last year. Even so, seniors Shy Ely and Jason Holisnger are two of the conference's most experienced players and add valuable leadership.

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Missouri State
Coach: Cuonzo Martin, first year
Last year's record: 17-16, 8-10
Returning starters: 2
Outlook: It looks to be a tough first year for coach Cuonzo Martin, who replaces longtime coach Barry Hinson. Although Hinson averaged 19 wins per year and reached the NIT four times, he was heavily criticized for failing to reach the NCAA Tournament and underachieving with his strong teams. Don't expect Martin to turn this trend around quickly. He inherits a club that lost most of its production from last year; Justin Fuehrmeyer, who averaged 7.2 points, is the top returnee.