 University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball team is predicted to win the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division, as voted by the league’s 16 coaches this week and in a poll released today. The Screaming Eagles are picked to win the division for the first time since the 2008-09 season.
The Eagles, who received 70 points and 14 first-place votes in the preseason poll, enter the season looking to build upon a 22-8 record (13-7 GLVC) and a fourth-place regular season finish in the league in 20219-20. USI also advanced to the GLVC Tournament semifinals and received an at-large bid to the NCAA II Midwest Regional before the post-season was cut short due to COVID-19.
USI was followed in the East Division by the University of Indianapolis, the University of Illinois Springfield, McKendree University and Lewis University. The University of Missouri-St. Louis is predicted to win the Central Division, while Drury University is slated to win the West Division.
Basketball Times preseason All-America senior forward Emmanuel Little leads the Eagles into a fresh season after posting a team-high 16.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game last year. The 2019-20 first team All-GLVC performer, who had 10 double-doubles a year ago, starts the season ranked 13th all-time at USI in scoring (1,169 points) and fifth all-time in rebounds (715).
USI senior forward Josh Price followed Little in the scoring column and on the boards last year with 12.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per contest a year ago, while second-team All-GLVC senior guard Mateo Rivera reached double-digits in scoring with 10.3 points per outing.
The Eagles also are tipping off 2020-21 campaign under new leadership as Head Coach Stan Gouard takes the reins. The 2019-20 NCAA II Midwest Region Coach of the Year comes back to the program after 12 years at UIndy where he compiled a .648 winning percentage with the Greyhounds (204-111), including seven NCAA II Tournament appearances.
USI Men’s Basketball opens the 2020-21 GLVC-only season on November 27 when it hosts Rockhurst University for a 3:15 p.m. game.
The complete 2020 GLVC Coaches’ Preseason Poll (first-place votes):
2020-21 MEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
East Division
SCHOOL               VOTES (1st Place)        Â
1.  Southern Indiana          70 (14)
2.  Indianapolis                   40
3.  Illinois Springfield       38
4.  McKendree                  37 (1)
5.  Lewis                              35
Central Division
SCHOOL               VOTES (1st Place)
1.  Missouri-St. Louis        67 (12)
2.  Truman State              56 (2)
3.  Lindenwood                44 (1)
4.  Quincy                          33
5.  Maryville                       20
West Division
SCHOOL             VOTES (1st Place)
1.  Drury                           67 (11)
2.  Rockhurst                   55 (3)
3.  Southwest Baptist    47 (1)
4.  William Jewell           30
5.  Missouri S&T               21
