Ohio Valley Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2020-21 season

DAYTON, OHIO - MARCH 19: Kevin McClain #11 of the Belmont Bruins celebrates with teammates during the second half against the Temple Owls in the First Four of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 19, 2019 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

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MURRAY, KY – FEBRUARY 09: Tyresse Williford #5 of the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

9. SIU-Edwardsville Cougars

2019-20 record: 8-23 (5-13 in OVC)

Since joining the Ohio Valley in 2011 SIU-Edwardsville has won 10 or more games in a season just three times and hasn’t cracked that plateau since 2014-15. Brian Barone went 8-23 in his first season at the helm of the Cougars and only six of those wins came against Division I opponents.

Like many of the teams in the Valley, the Cougars have been hit hard by defection, especially having leading scorer Zeke Moore pursue pro opportunities in Spain. The Cougars return three of their top eight scorers. Two of the returners are the guard combo of Cam Williams and Mike Adewunmi and 6-7 forward Shamar Wright returns for his sophomore season after averaging 6.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists as a freshman.

Carlos Curtis is a 6’2 guard who could come in right away and be a playmaker for the Cougars averaging over 12 points and 4.5 assists for Triton College last season. The program also welcomes Philip Pepple, Jr. from Casper College where the 6’10 230lb. was sixth in the country’s junior college ranks with 2.9 blocks per game, while scoring 12 points and grabbing 8.4 rebounds per game.

The gem of the Cougars’ recruiting class is the Junior College Division II Player of the Year, Courtney Carter from South Suburban College where the 6’1 Carter stuffed the stat sheet to the max with 15.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and a nations best 5.5 steals per game.

Also joining the JuCo transfers will be 6’7 forward Stanley Wilson, formerly of UConn. If the newcomers can make an impact, the double-digit threshold should finally be crossed again at SIU-Edwardsville.