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USI MBB predicted 8th in OVC in 2024-25

10/17/2024

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball team is predicted to place eighth in the Ohio Valley Conference, as voted by the league’s 11 head coaches and athletic communications directors in a poll released today. The Screaming Eagles, who had 79 points in the OVC poll, also have been picked ninth by Blue Ribbon Magazine.

The Eagles are entering their third season as an NCAA Division I program after posting an 8-24 overall record and 5-13 in the OVC. USI also advanced to the OVC post-season for the second-straight year.

University of Arkansas at Little Rock is predicted to win the conference, earning 200 points and 20 first-place votes. Western Illinois followed with 172 points, while Southern Illinois University Edwardsville rounded out the top three with 151 points and two first-place votes.

New Screaming Eagles – junior guard Jayland Randall and sophomore forward Stephen Olowoniyi – were named OVC Players to watch for this season.

Randall arrives at USI after playing the last two seasons at Alabama A&M University. The 6-foot-5 guard played in 50 games over two seasons for Alabama A&M, averaging 5.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per contest.

Last season, Randall posted a two-year career-high with 7.0 points and 2.7 rebounds per outing in 33 games, making three starts. He recorded a career-high 17 points on the road versus Bethune-Cookman University and seven rebounds in a home game against the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff.

During his freshman season in 2022-23, Randall recorded 3.1 points and 1.0 rebounds per game. He scored a season-high 12 points at Alcorn State University and grabbed a season-best four rebounds versus Rust College.

Olowoniyi comes to USI after playing last season at the Virginia Military Institute in 2023-24. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 7.7 points, 5.3 rebounds per game and blocked 25 shots in 32 appearances last season. He dropped in a season-high 16 points versus Samford University and grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds three times as a freshman.

USI starts the 2024-25 regular season November 4 when the Eagles visit DePaul University and opens the home schedule November 7 when they host Bucknell University.

2024-25 OVC Men’s Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
(Selected by OVC Head Basketball Coaches and Communication Directors)
Order of Finish (1^st Place Vote) Points

Little Rock (20 first-place votes) 200 points
Western Illinois 172
SIUE (2) 151
Tennessee State 134
Morehead Statement 131
Eastern Illinois 87
Southeast Missouri 86
Southern Indiana 79
Lindenwood 67
UT Martin 52
Tennessee Tech 51

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