By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

Drake’s Tucker DeVries was named the Missouri Valley Conference’s preseason player of the year in the men’s basketball poll released Tuesday.

The Bulldogs were picked the preseason favorite, getting 24 of a possible 47 first-place votes. Northern Iowa was selected second.

Drake finished second in the Valley last season, but won the conference tournament to earn the league’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

DeVries was the conference’s player of the year last season, after averaging 18.6 points per game.

DeVries was joined on the first team by UNI’s Bowen Born, Missouri State’s Donovan Clay, Bradley’s Malevy Leons and Belmont’s Cade Tyson.

The second team was Drake’s Darnell Brodie, UNI’s Tytan Anderson, Indiana State’s Robbie Avila and Julian Larry, Rob Perry of Murray State and Kenny Strawbridge of Evansville.

The third team consisted of Illinois State’s Darius Burford, Bradley’s Duke Deen, Southern Illinois’ Xavier Johnson, Chance Moore of Missouri State, UIC’s Toby Okani and Indiana State’s Isaiah Swope.

UNI received 19 first-place votes. Bradley, picked to finish third, had three first-place votes. Indiana State was selected fourth, and Belmont was picked fifth.

Missouri State, which received one first-place vote, was sixth. Murray State was seventh, followed by Illinois State, Southern Illinois, UIC, Evansville and Valparaiso.

Photo: Drake’s Tucker DeVries was named the Missouri Valley Conference’s men’s basketball preseason player of the year on Tuesday. (Keith Gillett/Icon SportsWire)