Busting Brackets
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Missouri Valley Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2018-19

By TJ Miller

SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 31: Loyola Ramblers fans cheer before the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four Semifinal against the Michigan Wolverines at the Alamodome on March 31, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 31: Loyola Ramblers fans cheer before the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four Semifinal against the Michigan Wolverines at the Alamodome on March 31, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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ST. LOUIS, MO – MARCH 4: Members of the Loyola Ramblers hold the Missouri Valley Conference Champions trophy after beating the Illinois State Redbirds during the Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Tournament Championship at the Scottrade Center on March 4, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – MARCH 4: Members of the Loyola Ramblers hold the Missouri Valley Conference Champions trophy after beating the Illinois State Redbirds during the Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Tournament Championship at the Scottrade Center on March 4, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

Missouri Valley Basketball should be hotly contested for 2018-19. Loyola-Chicago might be the safest bet to return as champions, but can they fight off the rest of the pack?

Some thought the quality of the Missouri Valley would diminish with Wichita State’s decision to bolt for the American a year ago. So much for that. Loyola-Chicago’s Final Four run this past season delivered a decisive message that this league is clearly still relevant.

As much drama as the Ramblers gave this March, they certainly didn’t seem to sweat much during MVC play. They finished with a four-game cushion at 15-3, clinching the regular season title several weeks in advance. Eight teams finished behind them with records between 11-7 and 7-11, and 6-12 Valparaiso was just a game off from the pack.

Loyola-Chicago will have far more competition this year as the MVC will have plenty of teams returning high-level talent while also featuring a few teams looking for new directions.

This league has earned multiple bids to the NCAA tournament certain years and will look to do just that this season. It’ll be an entertaining year in the Valley. Here is how the teams stack up.