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Ohio Valley Conference Basketball: Little Rock Favored, Eastern Illinois Eyes Upset in 2025-26 Season
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The 2025-26 college basketball season is rapidly approaching, and the Ohio Valley conference (OVC) has released its preseason polls and players to watch, signaling the start of a new competitive chapter. Little Rock has emerged as the team to beat, but several programs, including Eastern Illinois, are poised to challenge for the conference title.
Panthers Projected for Tenth in OVC
Eastern Illinois was selected to finish tenth in the OVC preseason poll, with five different schools receiving at least one first-place vote, indicating a highly competitive landscape. The Panthers concluded the 2023-24 season with a 12-19 overall record, going 8-12 within the conference.
Key Returners Lead Eastern Illinois
Despite the preseason ranking, Eastern Illinois boasts a core of returning players expected to drive betterment. Starters Kooper Jacobi and Zion Fruster will be pivotal, alongside key reserve guard Malik Olafioye. Sophomore Terry McMorris, who demonstrated promising play late last season, also returns to the roster. Both Jacobi and Fruster have been recognized as “players to watch” in the OVC this season.
Jacobi and Fruster: Anchors for the Panthers
Kooper Jacobi led the OVC in rebounding last season, averaging an impressive 8.9 rebounds per game to go along with 11.8 points. Zion Fruster also consistently contributed offensively, averaging 11.6 points per game while shooting 35% from beyond the three-point arc.
Olafioye, despite battling midseason injuries, made 12 starts in 23 appearances, contributing 3.8 points and 1.6 assists per game. McMorris, gaining experience in 20 games, averaged 1.7 points and 1.5 rebounds, hinting at potential growth in his sophomore campaign.
Preseason rankings and Schedule Outlook
Beyond the OVC poll, Eastern Illinois was recently picked to finish sixth in the Blue Ribbon Basketball preseason selections. The Panthers will kick off their 2025-26 season on Tuesday, November 4, with a road game against Valparaiso as part of the BBN Classic. The classic also includes a home matchup against Nicholls State on November 7 and a challenging road contest at Kentucky on November 14. Their OVC opener is scheduled for December 6 at home against Lindenwood.
Little Rock secured the top spot in the OVC preseason poll, receiving 12 first-place votes, followed by Southeast Missouri, SIUE, and tennessee State, all of whom also garnered first-place votes. Southern Indiana rounded out the top five.
OVC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll:
- Little Rock (12 first-place votes) – 188 points
- Southeast Missouri (6 votes) – 177 points
- SIUE (1 vote) – 163 points
- Tennessee State (1 vote) – 135 points
- Lindenwood – 100 points
Morehead State – 100 points - Tennessee Tech – 80 points
- UT Martin – 79 points
- Southern Indiana (2 votes) – 67 points
- Eastern Illinois – 63 points
- Western Illinois –
