The 2025-26 college basketball season is just four weeks away with the Ohio Valley Conference basketball media day set for next Tuesday, October 14 in Evansville, Indiana.
 
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.
 
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 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.
 
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.