MID-AMERICAN: Defending champion Kentucky is the preseason favorite to win both the regular-season title and the tournament championship. The Wildcats, who have eight returning starters, have an eight-game MAC tournament winning streak and an 11-game MAC winning streak overall. The preseason poll: 1. Kentucky, 2. Akron, 3. Marshall, 4. Bowling Green, 5. Western Michigan, 6. Northern Illinois, 7. Buffalo.
MID-CONTINENT: UMKC, which won its first-ever Mid-Con Tournament title in 2001, is the team to beat in 2002. Coach Rick Benben returns nine starters from last year's team, including Mid-Con tournament MVP Beau Williams. The preseason poll: 1. UMKC, 2. Oakland, 3. Western Illinois, 4. Oral Roberts, 5. IUPUI, 6. Valparaiso.
MISSOURI VALLEY: With eight of 10 first-place votes, SMU is picked to win the Valley title. SMU had a 21-game winning streak last season before falling in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals. With the league's top returning scorer in Mike Tranchilla, Creighton was picked to finish second. The preseason poll: 1. SMU, 2. Creighton, 3. Southwest Missouri State, 4. Bradley, 5. Tulsa, 6. Evansville, 7. Drake, 8. Western Kentucky, 9. Vanderbilt, 10. Eastern Illinois.
PAC-10: Stanford, winner of the 2001 Pac-10 title, is picked to repeat by conference coaches. The Cardinal edged UCLA by three votes. Washington and California, which also reached the 2001 NCAA tournament, are picked to finish third and fourth, respectively. Oregon State and newcomer Fresno State round out the field.