Going up?: SIUE men's hoops picked third in Ohio Valley preseason poll
If things go according to plan, it could be a season of ascendance for the Southern Illinois Edwardsville men's basketball program.
The Cougars, fresh off their first two Division I winning seasons, were picked to finish third in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll, which was released Wednesday.
SIUE, which is still seeking its first winning conference season in Division I, even picked up a pair of first-place votes.
Little Rock was picked to win the league with 20 of the 22 possible first-place votes. Western Illinois was second.
In addition to that team ascendance, Collinsville native Ray'Sean Taylor is also climbing. Taylor was named as a preseason player to watch (two were selected for each team instead of traditional all-conference teams).
Entering his fourth season, the graduate student Taylor ranks fifth all-time in scoring at SIUE and third among Division I players with 1,314 points. Second place on the career scoring list is within reasonable striking distance for Taylor.
He is also second all-time in three-pointers made with 206 and needs just 17 to become the school's all-time leader.
Desmond Polk was SIUE's other player to watch. The fifth-year player ranks 12th in games played with 110.
Lindenwood, picked to finish ninth as it continues its transition to Division I, is also climbing, earning its highest preseason ranking since joining the OVC two seasons ago.
Jeremiah Talton, a 6-foot-6 swingman, and Milwaukee transfer Markeith Browning II, a guard, were tabbed as Lindenwood's players to watch.
The new-look Lions have 10 newcomers including five transfers and five freshmen.
Another St. Louis-area native was named a player to watch. SEMO's Rob Martin (CBC) averaged 11.9 points per game last year as the Redhawks' starting point guard.
SEMO was picked to finish seventh.
SIUE hosts Division III Westminster on Nov. 4 to start the season before traveling to face Big Ten schools Indiana and Illinois later that week.
Lindenwood begins its season Nov. 4 at Oklahoma.
On the women's side, Southern Indiana, also still transitioning to Division I, was picked to win the league with Lindenwood seventh and SIUE eighth.
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