Murray State University Athletics
Wood & Ellington Named to All-MVC Preseason Team – Racers Picked Third
10/2/2024 7:51:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Racers play their third season in the Missouri Valley Conference in 2024-25
Murray State's JaCobi Wood and Nick Ellington were named to the Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball All-MVC Preseason Team as announced from the league's headquarters in St. Louis.
While Wood was getting a nod to the Preseason First Team, Ellington received a spot on the MVC Second Team.
Heading into their third season in The Valley, the Racers were selected third in the preseason poll, behind only Bradley and Northern Iowa. Not only did the Racers move up in the preseason predictions after being selected eighth and seventh in their first two seasons in the MVC, this time they received one first place vote.
Illinois State, Drake, Belmont and Southern Illinois made up the Top-7 teams, with Indiana State, Evansville, Valparaiso, Missouri State and UIC rounding out the picks for the league of 12 teams.
Wood, a senior from Cleveland, Tennessee, scored 12.5 points per game last season and led the team (7th MVC) in assists with 130. Wood had one of the top four-game stretches in MSU history against Middle Tennessee, UIC, Evansville and Missouri State. He hit nearly 70 percent of his shots, including 67 percent from the 3-point line and averaged 17 points per game. He also added 19 rebounds and 20 assists.
A senior, Ellington showed great improvement last season as the native of St. Louis ranked second in the MVC with 91 offensive rebounds as he scored 11.3 points per game and grabbed 6.3 rebounds. Against UIC, he dominated with a career-high 29 points on 13-of-16 from the field with seven rebounds and a pair of steals and blocked shots. His 13 made field goals was tied for sixth all-time in Murray State history.
With the 100th season in program history fast approaching, fans are invited to meet both MSU teams (Oct. 22) at Murray Bank Racer Mania.
The Racers host Bethel (TN) for the season opener (Nov. 4), before playing at Pittsburgh (Nov. 8). There are two MVC games for MSU in December with Evansville visiting the CFSB Center (Dec. 3) and the Racers traveling to Indiana State (Dec. 18). Christmas Week, MSU is set to play in Honolulu at the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic (Dec. 22, 23 & 25). MSU plays Nebraska in their first game and meets either host Hawaii or Charlotte in the second game.
All roads lead to State Fam Arch Madness in St. Louis (March 6-9) as the MVC Tournament is held at the Enterprise Center for a 35th consecutive year.
Visit GoRacers.com for information in tickets, or call the CFSB Center at 270-809-3000.
Follow the Racers on Twitter (@MSURacers), Instagram (@RacersAthletics) and Facebook to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Murray State Athletics. Follow Murray State men's basketball on Twitter and Instagram (@RacersHoops).
2024 Preseason MVC Men's Basketball Poll
1. Bradley (46 first-place votes) -- 597
2. UNI (2) -- 527
3. Murray State (1) -- 473
4. Illinois State -- 397
5. Drake -- 388
6. Belmont -- 373
7. Southern Illinois -- 337
8. Indiana State -- 207
9. Evansville -- 199
10. Valparaiso -- 173
11. Missouri State -- 116
12. UIC -- 110
Preseason MVC Men's Basketball Preseason Teams
FIRST TEAM
Duke Deen, Bradley (Preseason Player of the Year)
Tytan Anderson, UNI
Darius Hannah, Bradley
Johnny Kinziger, Illinois State
Cooper Schwieger, Valparaiso
Jacobi Wood, Murray State
SECOND TEAM
Trey Campbell, UNI
Nick Ellington, Murray State
Jacob Hutson, UNI
Zek Montgomery, Bradley
Malachi Poindexter, Illinois State
THIRD TEAM
Kennard Davis Jr., Southern Illinois
Ali Dibba, Southern Illinois
Cam Manyawu, Drake
Filip Skobalj, UIC
Bennett Stirtz, Drake
While Wood was getting a nod to the Preseason First Team, Ellington received a spot on the MVC Second Team.
Heading into their third season in The Valley, the Racers were selected third in the preseason poll, behind only Bradley and Northern Iowa. Not only did the Racers move up in the preseason predictions after being selected eighth and seventh in their first two seasons in the MVC, this time they received one first place vote.
Illinois State, Drake, Belmont and Southern Illinois made up the Top-7 teams, with Indiana State, Evansville, Valparaiso, Missouri State and UIC rounding out the picks for the league of 12 teams.
Wood, a senior from Cleveland, Tennessee, scored 12.5 points per game last season and led the team (7th MVC) in assists with 130. Wood had one of the top four-game stretches in MSU history against Middle Tennessee, UIC, Evansville and Missouri State. He hit nearly 70 percent of his shots, including 67 percent from the 3-point line and averaged 17 points per game. He also added 19 rebounds and 20 assists.
A senior, Ellington showed great improvement last season as the native of St. Louis ranked second in the MVC with 91 offensive rebounds as he scored 11.3 points per game and grabbed 6.3 rebounds. Against UIC, he dominated with a career-high 29 points on 13-of-16 from the field with seven rebounds and a pair of steals and blocked shots. His 13 made field goals was tied for sixth all-time in Murray State history.
With the 100th season in program history fast approaching, fans are invited to meet both MSU teams (Oct. 22) at Murray Bank Racer Mania.
The Racers host Bethel (TN) for the season opener (Nov. 4), before playing at Pittsburgh (Nov. 8). There are two MVC games for MSU in December with Evansville visiting the CFSB Center (Dec. 3) and the Racers traveling to Indiana State (Dec. 18). Christmas Week, MSU is set to play in Honolulu at the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic (Dec. 22, 23 & 25). MSU plays Nebraska in their first game and meets either host Hawaii or Charlotte in the second game.
All roads lead to State Fam Arch Madness in St. Louis (March 6-9) as the MVC Tournament is held at the Enterprise Center for a 35th consecutive year.
Visit GoRacers.com for information in tickets, or call the CFSB Center at 270-809-3000.
Follow the Racers on Twitter (@MSURacers), Instagram (@RacersAthletics) and Facebook to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Murray State Athletics. Follow Murray State men's basketball on Twitter and Instagram (@RacersHoops).
2024 Preseason MVC Men's Basketball Poll
1. Bradley (46 first-place votes) -- 597
2. UNI (2) -- 527
3. Murray State (1) -- 473
4. Illinois State -- 397
5. Drake -- 388
6. Belmont -- 373
7. Southern Illinois -- 337
8. Indiana State -- 207
9. Evansville -- 199
10. Valparaiso -- 173
11. Missouri State -- 116
12. UIC -- 110
Preseason MVC Men's Basketball Preseason Teams
FIRST TEAM
Duke Deen, Bradley (Preseason Player of the Year)
Tytan Anderson, UNI
Darius Hannah, Bradley
Johnny Kinziger, Illinois State
Cooper Schwieger, Valparaiso
Jacobi Wood, Murray State
SECOND TEAM
Trey Campbell, UNI
Nick Ellington, Murray State
Jacob Hutson, UNI
Zek Montgomery, Bradley
Malachi Poindexter, Illinois State
THIRD TEAM
Kennard Davis Jr., Southern Illinois
Ali Dibba, Southern Illinois
Cam Manyawu, Drake
Filip Skobalj, UIC
Bennett Stirtz, Drake
Players Mentioned
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