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Missouri Valley Conference Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2024-25

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No. 7 – Southern Illinois Salukis

After a tremendous career at South Dakota State and Wright State, proven mid-major winning head coach Scott Nagy comes to the Missouri Valley Conference. His previous teams have been known for great defense and fast-paced offense. Things shouldn’t be any different in Carbondale, Illinois. 

As with the other new MVC hires, roster make-over was massive for Nagy. Jarrett Hensley and Kennard Davis are the only two players with significant playing time returning. Davis was named to the Valley’s pre-season, all-conference third team. 

Nagy says Davis has been the team’s best defender and best overall player since workouts began. The 6’6 guard is an athletic and dogged defender. He won four straight high school state championships at St. Louis’ Vashon High School. 

Hensley does a little bit of everything and is a valuable ‘glue-guy’. 

Newcomers abound, including two with Missouri Valley Conference experience. Guards Damien Mayo and Tyler Bey have joined Nagy from Missouri State. Though not a true point guard, Mayo can fill that role and is a team leader. Nagy says Bey could become the team’s best offensive player, but has to develop consistency. 

Another MVC third-teamer, Ali Dibba, was a second-team performer in the Western Athletic Conference. The 6’4 guard has what Nagy describes as an ‘explosive first step”. He averaged over 15 points-per-game for Abilene Christian and recorded 43 steals. 

Elijah Elliott is another double-digit scoring Division 1 transfer. His 16.6 scoring average is the third best of any Valley player. Only Valparaiso’s Isaiah Stafford and Murray State’s Kylen Milton had better offensive scoring numbers last season. 

Transfers Davion Sykes (Texas State) and Drew Steffe (Texas Tech) are talented wings. 

This team has so much potential talent that it could take the league by storm. 

Nagy says the Saluki defense is ahead of its offense right now, but with three double-digit scorers transferring in and the emergence of Davis and Bey, SIU could become a Valley menace. His Wright State team finished fourth in the nation in scoring offense last season and was second in effective field goal percentage.