• Preseason Releases: Men, Women | Media Day Recap | ESPN+ Broadcast

The SIUE men’s team was picked second while the women’s teams was tabbed seventh in the 2023-24 OVC Preseason Poll voted on by league head coaches and communications directors.

The SIUE men’s team is coming off its best season at the Division I level, winning 19 games and advancing to the second round of the OVC tournament. The team placed three guards Ray’Sean Taylor, Damarco Minor and Shamar Wright named to the 12-member All-OVC Preseason Team.

KK Rodriguez was one of 13 student-athletes named to the Preseason All-OVC team. She ranked fourth on the Cougars’ 2022-23 squad averaging 8.1 points per game while leading SIUE in total assists (73) and steals (50) during her first season in Edwardsville. Her steals per game (1.9) ranked fifth in the OVC while her assists per game (2.8) were good for 10th. Last year SIUE returned to the OVC Tournament, marking the eighth time the Cougars had made the postseason in the Division I era.

The SIUE teams will look to be one of eight teams in each gender to qualify for the 2024 OVC Basketball Championships, which will be played March 6-9 at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. For more information on the championship, click here.

BELOW VIDEOS
Head Men’s Coach Brian Barone
Junior Guard Ray’Sean Taylor
Head Women’s Coach Samantha Quigley Smith
Graduate Guard KK Rodriguez