2015–16 SIU Edwardsville Cougars men's basketball team

2015–16 SIU Edwardsville Cougars men's basketball
ConferenceOhio Valley Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record6–22 (3–13 OVC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaVadalabene Center
Seasons
2015–16 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
East
Belmont 12 4   .750 20 12   .625
Tennessee State 11 5   .688 20 11   .645
Tennessee Tech 11 5   .688 19 12   .613
Morehead State 11 5   .688 23 14   .622
Eastern Kentucky 6 10   .375 15 16   .484
Jacksonville State 4 12   .250 8 23   .258
West
UT Martin 10 6   .625 20 15   .571
Murray State 10 6   .625 17 14   .548
Eastern Illinois 9 7   .563 13 17   .433
Austin Peay 7 9   .438 18 18   .500
SIU Edwardsville 3 13   .188 6 22   .214
Southeast Missouri St. 2 14   .125 5 24   .172
2016 OVC tournament winner

The 2015–16 SIU Edwardsville Cougars men's basketball team represented Southern Illinois University Edwardsville during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cougars, led by first year head coach Jon Harris, played their home games at the Vadalabene Center as members of the West Division of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC).[1] They finished the season 6–22, 3–13 in OVC play to finish in fifth place in the west division. They failed to qualify for the OVC tournament.

Off-season

A nationwide search for a new head coach began in March, 2015, and on April 3, Edwardsville native Jon Harris, an assistant coach for the California Golden Bears was introduced as the new Cougars head coach.[2] Harris announced the addition of assistant coaches Kent Williams and Tarrence Crump on April 24.[3] On May 28, Charles "Bubba" Wells was also added to the staff.[4]

Preseason

Six players, all of whom saw major playing time, return from the 12–16 team of 2014–15.[5][6] One recruit from high school signed by previous coach Lennox Forrester joined the team in addition to others recruited by new coach Harris and his staff,[7] including three transfers from Southern Illinois junior colleges (one from local Lewis & Clark), a transferring graduate student with remaining eligibility, and a transfer who will be eligible after the semester break.[8][9] Missing from the mix is Donovine Stewart, last season's leader in minutes played, assists, and steals and #2 in scoring and rebounding, who graduated with a year of eligibility remaining and was said to have been contacted about transferring by Illinois, Minnesota, USC, and others, with Illinois having requested his transcripts;[10] Stewart eventually transferred to Portland State but sat out the PSU @ SIUE game on December 12.[11]

Season

The 2015–16 season will begin in mid-November, 2015.

Although the final schedule was not released until August 2, SIUE's non-conference opponents for the upcoming campaign were announced in May. The Cougars will host Saint Louis (11–21 in 2014-15), Portland State (15–14), Campbell (10–22), and Grand Canyon (17–15) at the Vadalabene Center. They will take road trips to play at USC (12–20), Butler (23–11), Northwestern (15–17), SIU Carbondale (12–21), Milwaukee (14–16), and IPFW (16–15).[12]

Most games will be streamed online. Fox Sports Midwest will carry a package of SIUE games for the fourth consecutive season. Fox's broadcast/cablecasts of Cougars games began with five games in the 2012-2013 season, increasing to eight games in 2013-14 and nine games last season.[13] The OVC is also has conference cablecast packages with American Sports Network and CBS Sports Network that will include Cougar games.

Postseason

The Ohio Valley Conference men's and women's basketball tournaments will again return to Nashville, Tennessee and the Nashville Municipal Auditorium on March 2–5, 2016.[14]

The 2016 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament is scheduled to begin on March 15, 2016, and will conclude with the championship game on April 4 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.[15]

Roster

2015–16 SIU Edwardsville Cougars men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
F 0 Mike Chandler 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Sr Hill College/Grovetown Augusta, GA
G 1 Burak Eslik 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jr Lewis and Clark/Fayetteville Christian Istanbul, Turkey
F 2 Devin Thornton 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Jr Shawnee/Germantown Memphis, TN
G 3 Tre Harris Current redshirt 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) So Kansas State/Edwardsville Edwardsville, IL
G 4 CJ Carr 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) 145 lb (66 kg) So Rock Island Rock Island, IL
F/C 5 Grant Fiorentinos 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) RS Sr Tulane/The Hunn School Cape Town, South Africa
G 10 Carlos Anderson 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Fr Alton Alton, IL
C 11 Glen Pierre, Jr. Current redshirt 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Jr College of Charleston/Oldsmar Christian Orlando, FL
C 12 Yemi Makanjuola 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) GS UNC Wilmington/Tennessee/Word of God Lagos, Nigeria
F 13 Jake Newton 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Sr Lincoln Trail/Terre Haute North Terre Haute, IN
G 15 Josh White † 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) RS Jr South Dakota State/Edwardsville Edwardsville, IL
G 23 Connor Wheeler 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) RS Sr John A. Logan/Du Quoin Carbondale, IL
F 24 Jalen Henry 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) So Southeast Springfield, IL
F 45 Keenan Simmons 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Michigan City Michigan City, IN
†=Redshirted Fall semester;
Joined team mid-season
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: 01/15/2017

Schedule

Source: [16]

Date
time, TV
Opponent Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
11/09/2015*
7:00 pm, OVC Digital Network
Fontbonne W 80–48 
 14  Eslik   11  Anderson   4  Carr  Vadalabene Center 
Edwardsville, IL
Regular season
11/13/2015*
8:00 pm, Fox Sports Midwest
Arkansas State W 79–70  1–0
 18  Henry   9  Henry   4  Eslik  Vadalabene Center (1,592)
Edwardsville, IL
11/17/2015*
7:00 pm, Fox Sports Midwest
Saint Louis L 60–70  1–1
 15  Eslik   8  Henry   5  Anderson  Vadalabene Center (3,931)
Edwardsville, IL
11/21/2015*
1:30 pm, Mastodon All-Access
at IPFW L 67–87  1–2
 21  Fiorentinos   7  Eslik   2  Henry & Wheeler  Memorial Coliseum (1,388)
Fort Wayne, IN
11/24/2015*
7:00 pm, OVC Digital Network
Campbell L 74–77  1–3
 14  Carr   11  Makanjoula   4  Carr  Vadalabene Center (1,073)
Edwardsville, IL
11/28/2015*
4:00 pm, FS2
at Butler L 73–89  1–4
 17  Fiorentinos   6  Anderson & Fiorentinos   3  Anderson  Hinkle Fieldhouse (7,026)
Indianapolis, IN
11/30/2015*
7:00 pm, Fox Sports Midwest
OVC Digital Network
Green Bay L 69–87  1–5
 18  Fiorentinos   8  Makanjoula   4  Eslik  Vadalabene Center (1,027)
Edwardsville, IL
12/03/2015*
6:00 pm, ESPN3
at Milwaukee L 51–64  1–6
 10  Anderson   8  Anderson & Simmons   2  Anderson & Eslik  UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena (2,028)
Milwaukee, WI
12/05/2015*
2:00 pm, BTN Plus
at Northwestern L 56–81  1–7
 13  Eslik   7  Simmons   6  Carr  Welsh-Ryan Arena (6,318)
Evanston, IL
12/09/2015*
7:05 pm, ESPN3
at Southern Illinois W 76–74  2–7
 23  Eslik   5  Team   6  Anderson  SIU Arena (4,817)
Carbondale, IL
12/12/2015*
7:00 pm, Fox Sports Midwest
OVC Digital Network
Portland State W 74 –64  3–7
 20  Makanjoula   9  Makanjoula   5  Carr  Vadalabene Center (1,268)
Edwardsville, IL
12/21/2015*
10:00 pm, Pac-12 Network
at USC L 51–70  3–8
 10  Anderson & Henry   10  Fiorentinos   3  Wheeler  Galen Center (3,409)
Los Angeles, CA
12/28/2015*
7:00 pm, Fox Sports Midwest
OVC Digital Network
Grand Canyon L 75–86  3–9
 17  Eslik   6  Carr   6  Carr  Vadalabene Center (1,402)
Edwardsville, IL
12/31/2015
4:30 pm, OVC Digital Network
at Jacksonville State L 67–72  3–10
(0–1)
 21  Makanjuola   10  Simmons   3  Carr  Pete Mathews Coliseum (724)
Jacksonville, AL
01/02/2016
7:30 pm, OVC Digital Network
at Tennessee Tech L 63–86  3–11
(0–2)
 15  Anderson   7  Anderson   4  Carr  Eblen Center (1,581)
Cookeville, TN
01/06/2016
8:00 pm, ASN
Belmont L 77-85  3–12
(0–3)
 21  Simmons   7  Makanjoula & Simmons   9  Carr  Vadalabene Center (1,007)
Edwardsville, IL
01/09/2016
7:30 pm, OVC Digital Network
at Tennessee State L 60–63  3–13
(0–4)
 23  Eslik   10  Makanjoula   4  Carr  Gentry Complex (1,368)
Nashville, TN
01/14/2016
8:00 pm, OVC Digital Network
Morehead State L 67–70 OT 3–14
(0–5)
 40  Eslik   7  Makanjoula   8  Carr  Vadalabene Center (1,547)
Edwardsville, IL
01/16/2016
1:00 pm, Fox Sports Midwest
OVC Digital Network
Eastern Kentucky W 67–66  4–14
(1–5)
 21  Eslik   9  Anderson   6  Carr  Vadalabene Center (1,650)
Edwardsville, IL
01/21/2016
7:00 pm, OVC Digital Network
at Austin Peay L 86–90  4–15
(1–6)
 22  Eslik & Newton   13  Makanjuola   4  Carr  Dunn Center (1,365)
Clarksville, TN
01/23/2016
7:00 pm, OVC Digital Network
at Murray State L 54–70  4–16
(1–7)
 8  Anderson, Carr, Fiorentinos, Simmons   4  Anderson, Makanjoula, Simmons   2  Wheeler  CFSB Center (3,011)
Murray, KY
01/28/2016
8:00 pm, CBSN
OVC Digital Network
Southeast Missouri State L 51–58  4–17
(1–8)
 16  Eslik   6  Team   2  Anderson, Newton, White  Vadalabene Center (1,775)
Edwardsville, IL
01/30/2016
5:00 pm, Fox Sports Midwest
OVC Digital Network
Eastern Illinois L 40–55  4–18
(1–9)
 10  Anderson, White   11  Anderson   2  Anderson, Chandler  Vadalabene Center (2,008)
Edwardsville, IL
02/06/2016
5:00 pm, OVC Digital Network
UT–Martin W 79–62  4–19
(1–10)
 15  Newton   4  Eslik, Makanjoula, Simmons   6  Anderson  Vadalabene Center (1,362)
Edwardsville, IL
02/11/2015
7:00 pm, Fox Sports Midwest
OVC Digital Network
Murray State L 64–70  4–20
(1–11)
 13  Carr   4  Carr   4  Anderson  Vadalabene Center (2,007)
Edwardsville, IL
02/13/2016
7:00 pm, OVC Digital Network
at Eastern Illinois W 72–64  5–20
(2–11)
 29  Eslik   8  Chandler   2  Carr, Chandler  Lantz Arena (1,469)
Charleston, IL
02/18/2016
7:00 pm, OVC Digital Network
at Southeast Missouri W 72–69  6–20
(3–11)
 24  Eslik   5  Makanjoula   7  Carr  Show Me Center (1,705)
Cape Girardeau, MO
02/20/2016
6:00 pm, OVC Digital Network
at UT–Martin L 51–68  6–21
(3–12)
 17  Anderson   6  Chandler   5  Anderson  Skyhawk Arena (2,471)
Martin, TN
02/25/2016
7:00 pm, OVC Digital Network
Austin Peay L 75–80  6–22
(3–13)
 17  Newton   10  Simmons   5  Carr  Vadalabene Center (1,647)
Edwardsville, IL
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

References

  1. ^ "OVC Member Institutions". Ohio Valley Conference. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  2. ^ "SIU-Edwardsville hires Cal assistant Jon Harris to be new head coach". NBCSports.com. April 4, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  3. ^ "SIUE roundup: Harris begins filling coaching staff". Edwardsville Intelligencer. April 24, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  4. ^ "Wells Joins Coaching Staff at SIUE". Clarksville Now. May 28, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  5. ^ "2015-16 SIUE Men's Basketball Roster". SIUE Cougars. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  6. ^ "2014-2015 SIUE Men's Basketball Statistics". SIUE Cougars. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  7. ^ "Men's basketball introduces new head coach". The Alestle. April 9, 2015. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  8. ^ "Men's Basketball Adds Two". SIUE Cougars. April 22, 2015. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  9. ^ "Tre Harris transferring from K-State to SIU-Edwardsville". Topeka Capital-Journal. May 7, 2015. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  10. ^ "Illinois Basketball pursing [sic] 5th year transfers to fill void at point guard". Vox Media, Inc./SB Nation/The Champaign Room. August 2, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  11. ^ "Viking Basketball Adds Transfer Donivine Stewart". Portland State Vikings. August 5, 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  12. ^ "Men's Basketball Reveals Nonconference Opponents". SIUE Cougars. May 12, 2015. Archived from the original on May 15, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  13. ^ "SIUE Basketball Announces FOX Sports Midwest Schedule". SIUE Cougars. December 1, 2014. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  14. ^ "OVC to Hold Basketball Championship at Nashville Municipal Auditorium Through 2017". Ohio Valley Conference. November 13, 2014. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  15. ^ "NCAA announces all men's tourney sites for 2016, 2017, 2018". CBS Sports.com. November 17, 2014. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  16. ^ "2015–16 SIUE Men's Basketball Schedule". SIUE Cougars. Retrieved August 4, 2015.[permanent dead link]