The 2025-26 college basketball season is just weeks away as the Ohio Valley Conference unveiled its preseason polls and players to watch for the upcoming season on Tuesday (Oct. 14).
Eastern Illinois was picked to finish tenth in the preseason poll that had five different schools collect at least one first place vote in rankings.
 
The Panthers went 12-19 overall last season, 8-12 in the OVC.  
 
EIU returns four players from last year's roster with starters Kooper Jacobi and Zion Fruster along with top reserve guard Malik Olafioye.    Sophomore Terry McMorris, who came on late in the season, also returns from last season's roster.

Jacobi and Fruster were both named players to watch in the OVC this season for the Panthers.
 
Jacobi averaged 11.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game last season leading the OVC in rebounding.
 
Fruster also averaged in double figures at 11.6 points per game knocking down 35 percent from 3-point range.
 
Olafioye made 12 starts last season appearing in 23 games after battling through some midseason injuries.  He averaged 3.8 points and 1.6 assists per game
 
McMorris played most of his 20 games in the latter portion of the season averaging 1.7 points and 1.5 rebounds per game.
Eastern Illinois men's basketball was recently selected to finish sixth in the Blue Ribbon Basketball preseason selections which were released prior to the start of the college season.
 
EIU opens the 2025-26 season on Tuesday, November 4 at Valparaiso as part of the BBN Classic which also features a home game on Nov. 7 against Nicholls State and a road game on Nov. 14 at Kentucky.  EIU's OVC opener will be at home on Dec. 6 hosting Lindenwood.

Little Rock was the preseason league favorite followed by Southeast Missouri, SIUE and Tennessee State.  Those four teams along with Southern Indiana had first place preseason votes.

MBB Poll
1.  Little Rock (12 first-place)                 188
2.  Southeast Missouri (6)                      177
3.  SIUE (1)                                          163
4.  Tennessee State (1)                         135
5.  Lindenwood                                      100
     Morehead State                                100
7.  Tennessee Tech                               80
8.  UT Martin                                         79
9.  Southern Indiana (2)                         67
10. Eastern Illinois                                63
11. Western Illinois                                57