A capsule look at the Missouri Valley Conference in predicted order of finish by Pantagraph sportswriter Jim Benson:

1. Northern Iowa

Coach: Ben Jacobson (4th season, 59-38 record)

Marquee nonconference game: Tennessee, Nov. 22 at Virgin Islands

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2009

Outlook: The Panthers have all the pieces in place (returning nine of their top 10 scorers from last season) to become the first team to win back-to-back regular-season titles since Southern Illinois in 2004-05.

FYI: Valley Sixth Man of the Year Lucas O'Rear, a pitcher with a 90 mph fastball, contemplated transferring when UNI dropped baseball before deciding to stay for his junior year.

2. Southern Illinois

Coach: Chris Lowery (6th season, 109-59 record)

Marquee nonconference game: At UNLV, Nov. 21

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2007

Outlook: Iowa transfer Tony Freeman, a fifth-year senior, should lend a veteran presence to a core group of young and athletic players as Salukis try to recover from first losing season in 11 years.

FYI: Forward Ryan Hare, who started 26 games as a freshman, was dismissed from the squad on Oct. 18 for a violation of team rules and policies.

3. Illinois State

Coach: Tim Jankovich (3rd season, 49-20 record)

Marquee nonconference game: At Utah, Dec. 19

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 1998

Outlook: Two-time all-Valley first-team selection Osiris Eldridge said he is driven to take the Redbirds to the NCAA Tournament. Guard Justin Clark and forward Jackie Carmichael could make immediate impacts as freshmen.

FYI: Another knee injury has shelved forward Bobby Hill for the second straight season and will force one of the newcomers to work into the rotation.

4. Creighton

Coach: Dana Altman (16th season, 309-160 record)

Marquee nonconference game: Michigan, Nov. 26 at Orlando, Fla.

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2007

Outlook: The Bluejays need junior center Kenny Lawson Jr. to keep improving and temperamental junior guard P'Allen Stinnett to mature to make up for the loss of Valley Player of the Year Booker Woodfox.

FYI: The Bluejays are one of six teams nationally to win 20 or more games in 11 straight years. The select group also includes Duke, Florida, Gonzaga, Kansas and Syracuse.

5. Indiana State

Coach: Kevin McKenna (3rd season, 26-37 record)

Marquee nonconference game: At LSU, Nov. 16

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2001

Outlook: Indiana State's chances of an upper-division finish were helped when the NCAA granted Iowa transfer Jake Kelly, a junior guard, immediate eligibility. Replacing forward Jay Tunnell won't be easy, though.

FYI: The Sycamores won four Valley road games last year after not having won more than one in the five previous seasons.

6. Bradley

Coach: Jim Les (8th season, 126-105 record)

Marquee nonconference game: Oklahoma State, Nov. 27 at Las Vegas

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2006

Outlook: The Braves have the league's best backcourt depth, including BHS graduate Dodie Dunson, but will need some consistent play up front to contend. Guard Andrew Warren returns after missing last season with foot injury.

FYI: Guard Chris Roberts averaged 18.2 points as the Braves went 4-1 during an August trip to Brazil.

7. Wichita State

Coach: Gregg Marshall (3rd season, 28-37 record)

Marquee nonconference game: Pittsburgh, Nov. 23 at Kansas City, Mo.

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2006

Outlook: Marshall finally has the kind of players to play the pressing style he used with great success at Winthrop. The Shockers will use a lot of bodies.

FYI: Gabe Blair, a 6-8, 233-pound transfer from East Carolina, should add some muscle to the Shockers' front line.

8. Missouri State

Coach: Cuonzo Martin (2nd season, 11-20 record)

Marquee nonconference game: At Arkansas, Dec. 22

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 1999

Outlook: Former Purdue assistant Martin brought a defensive intensity to the Bears last season. How quickly Martin can blend in seven newcomers and two transfers will be the key.

FYI: Six-foot-11 Caleb Patterson (Colorado) and guard Adam Leonard (Eastern Kentucky) are ready to play after sitting out last year as transfers.

9. Drake

Coach: Mark Phelps (2nd season, 17-16)

Marquee nonconference game: Iowa State, Nov. 17

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2008

Outlook: It could be a long season in Des Moines. The Bulldogs field a team with 10 players who haven't played a college basketball game. The Cinderella season of 2007-08 seems like a distant memory.

FYI: Josh Young needs 330 points to become Drake's all-time leading scorer, surpassing Red Murrell (1,657 points from 1955-58).

10. Evansville

Coach: Marty Simmons (3rd season, 26-35 record)

Marquee nonconference game: Butler, Nov. 21

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 1999

Outlook: Good thing Evansville fans like Simmons. When Pieter van Tongeren is the lone returning starter, wins will be far and few between.

FYI: Guard Kaylon Williams, who was a member of the Missouri Valley's All-Freshman Team last season, transferred to a junior college near his home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.