2020–21 SIU Edwardsville Cougars men's basketball team

The 2020–21 SIU Edwardsville Cougars men's basketball team will represent Southern Illinois University Edwardsville during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cougars, led by second-year head coach Brian Barone, will play their home games in the First Community Arena at Vadalabene Center in Edwardsville, Illinois as members of the Ohio Valley Conference.[1]

2020–21 SIU Edwardsville Cougars men's basketball
Conference	Ohio Valley Conference
2020–21 record	7–10 (5–6 OVC)
Head coach	Brian Barone (2nd season)
Assistant coach	Charles "Bubba" Wells Mike Waldo Troy Pierce Colin Schneider (Director of Basketball Operations) Detae McMurray (Graduate Assistant for Player Development)
Home arena	First Community Arena at Vadalabene Center

2020–21 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Belmont	14	–	0		1.000			20	–	1		.952
Morehead State	12	–	2		.857			15	–	6		.714
Eastern Kentucky	9	–	3		.750			15	–	4		.789
Jacksonville State	8	–	5		.615			12	–	7		.632
Austin Peay	7	–	6		.538			11	–	8		.579
Murray State	6	–	7		.462			9	–	9		.500
SIU Edwardsville	5	–	6		.455			7	–	10		.412
Southeast Missouri State	5	–	8		.385			7	–	12		.368
UT Martin	5	–	9		.357			7	–	11		.389
Eastern Illinois	4	–	10		.286			7	–	14		.333
Tennessee Tech	2	–	11		.154			2	–	18		.100
Tennessee State	2	–	12		.143			3	–	14		.176
† 2021 OVC Tournament winner As of February 8, 2021; Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

The Cougars finished the 2019–20 season 8–23, 5–13 in OVC play to finish in a tie for tenth place. The Cougars failed to qualify for the OVC Tournament.

Preseason

Five players who saw major playing time and a third-year former walk-on return from the 8–23 team of 2019–20. They are joined by one junior who saw considerable action in the 2018-19 season but sat out last season as a medical "redshirt", three freshmen, three junior college transfers, and one transfer from another Division I program. Coach Barone, his assistants, and the Cougars recruited probably the strongest incoming group in the program's history. The recruits included SIUE's first legitimate "blue chip" recruit, Ray'Sean Taylor from nearby Collinsville, who suffered an ACL injury that ended his first Cougars season before it began. A second :"blue chipper" came on board with Sidney Wilson's late transfer from Cinnecticut. Three scholarship players with eligibility remaining did not return; two transferred to other Division I programs,[2][3] and Zeke Moore is playing professionally in Spain.

In a vote of conference coaches and sports information directors, SIUE was picked to finish in 11th place in the OVC.[4]

Regular season

After leading the team with career-highs of 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists in the Cougars' win at Morehead State, Sidney Wilson was named the OVC Newcomer of the Week on December 21. [5]

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic necessitated revision after revision to the Cougars' schedule. The game at Northwestern was cancelled, and eleven (11) OVC games were rescheduled, including reschedules of rescheduled games.

After averaging 18.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 blocks/game while hitting 50 percent (20-of-40) from the field and 73.3 percent (11-of-15) from the free throw line in three road games, Sydney Wilson was again named the OVC Newcomer of the Week on February 1. [6]

Roster

Source = [7]

2020–21 SIU Edwardsville Cougars men's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown F 0 Sidney Wilson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 180 lb (82 kg) So UConn/Brewster Academy The Bronx, NY G 1 Mike Adewunmi 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Sr McLennan CC/Lake Ridge HS Dallas, TX G 2 Desmond Polk 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Fr Link Year Prep/ New Berlin West Milwaukee, WI G 3 Ray'Sean Taylor  6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Fr Collinsville HS Collinsville, IL. G 5 Carlos Curtis 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jr Triton College/ Riverside University HS Milwaukee, WI G 11 Courtney Carter 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jr South Suburban College/East HS Memphis, TN F/C 15 Philip Pepple, Jr 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Jr Casper College/Shorecrest HS Shoreline, WA G 21 Zane Butler † 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Fr Link Year Prep/Greene County Tech Paragould, AR F 22 Michael Matas 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr London Basketball Academy Oakville, ONT, Canada C 23 Elochukwu Eze 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) So Asheville Christian Academy Enugu, Nigeria F 24 Cameron Williams #  6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Hazelwood Central HS St. Louis, MO G 31 Jackson Best (xW) 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Sr Edwardsville HS Edwardsville, IL F 42 Shamar Wright 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Link Year Prep/Murrieta Mesa HS Murrieta, CA G 52 Iziah James 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Sr Indian Hills CC/Cape Henry Collegiate School Chesapeake, VA F 55 Lamar Wright 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Link Year Prep/Murrieta Mesa HS Murrieta, CA	Head coach Brian Barone (Marquette) Assistant coach(es) Bubba Wells (Austin Peay) Mike Waldo (SIUE) Troy Pierce (Emporia State) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt Roster Last update: 21 October 2020

• † = Joined the team at the semester break.
• # = Mid-season injury.

Schedule and results

Date time, TV	Opponent	Result	Record	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Site (attendance) city, state
Non-conference regular season
November 25, 2020* 6:00 pm, ESPN+	at Saint Louis Billiken Classic	L 52–89 [8]	0–1	14 – Wilson	7 – Wilson	3 – Williams	Chaifetz Arena (0) St. Louis, MO
November 26, 2020* 6:00 pm, ESPN+	vs. LSU Billiken Classic	L 81–94[9]	0–2	23 – Adewunmi	10 – Pepple	5 – Carter	Chaifetz Arena (0) St. Louis, MO
November 28, 2020* 7:30 pm, ESPN+	vs. St. Louis Pharmacy Billiken Classic	W 80–45 [10]	1–2	15 – Wilson	7 – Adewunmi, James & Pepple	7 – Carter	Chaifetz Arena (0) St. Louis, MO
December 2, 2020* 6:00 pm, ESPN+	at Northern Illinois	W 73–53 [11]	2–2	22 – Wilson	12 – Adewunmi	7 – Carter	Convocation Center (0) DeKalb, IL
December 5, 2020* 2:00 pm, ESPN+	Omaha	L 65–67 [12]	2–3	13 – Adewunmi	10 – Adewunmi	3 – Carter	First Community Arena (0) Edwardsville, IL
December 9, 2020* 6:00 pm, ESPN3	at Valparaiso	L 58–80 [13]	2–4	16 – Wilson	7 – Team	4 – S. Wright	The ARC (60) Valparaiso, IN
December 13, 2020* 3:00 pm, ESPNU	at Northwestern	Canceled[14]					Welsh–Ryan Arena  Evanston, IL
Ohio Valley Conference regular season
December 18, 2020 5:00 pm, ESPN+	at Morehead State	W 69–65 [15]	3–4 (1–0)	18 – Wilson	9 – Wilson	5 – Wilson	Ellis Johnson Arena (375) Morehead, KY
January 21, 2021 8:00 pm, ESPN+	at Tennessee State	W 67–65	4–4 (2–0)	18 – Adewunmi	9 – S.Wright	3 – Curtis & James	Gentry Complex (202) Nashville, TN
January 23, 2021 4:00 pm, ESPN+	at Belmont	L 62–114	4–5 (2–1)	12 – James	5 – Curtis & S.Wright	3 – Carter	Curb Event Center (—) Nashville, TN
January 26, 2021 7:00 pm, ESPN+	at Eastern Illinois Postponed from 1/5/21	W 87–74	5–5 (3–1)	18 – Curtis	12 – Adewunmi	4 – Curtis	Lantz Arena (—) Charleston, IL
January 28, 2021 8:00 pm, ESPN+	at Southeast Missouri State	L 62–64	5–6 (3–2)	23 – Wilson	8 – Adewunmi & Curtis	6 – Carter	Show Me Center (723) Cape Girardeau, MO
January 30, 2021 4:00 pm, ESPN+	at UT Martin	W 76–60	6–6 (4–2)	20 – Adewunmi	9 – S. Wright	5 – Carter & James	Skyhawk Arena (234) Martin, TN
February 1, 2021 2:00 pm, ESPN+	Austin Peay Postponed from 1/7/21	L 59–76	6–7 (4–3)	16 – Adewunmi	9 – Adewunmi	3 – Carter	First Community Arena (0) Edwardsville, IL
February 2, 2021 4:00 pm, ESPN+	Eastern Illinois Postponed from 12/21/20 & 1/12/21	L 61–70	6–8 (4–4)	13 – S. Wright	7 – Curtis	5 – James	First Community Arena (0) Edwardsville, IL
February 4, 2021 1:00 pm, ESPN+	Tennessee State	W 68–60	7–8 (5–4)	16 – Curtis	11 – S. Wright	5 – Curtis	First Community Arena (0) Edwardsville, IL
February 6, 2021 12:30 pm, ESPN+	Belmont	L 62–94	7–9 (5–5)	20 – Curtis	7 – Curtis	5 – Carter	First Community Arena (59) Edwardsville, IL
February 8, 2021 2:00 pm, ESPN+	Eastern Kentucky Postponed from 1/14/21	L 74–78	7–10 (5–6)	23 – Adewunmi	7 – S. Wright	9 – Curtis	First Community Arena (50) Edwardsville, IL
Fecruary 11, 2021 8:00 pm, ESPN+	at Tennessee Tech						Eblen Center (—) Cookeville, TN
February 13, 2021 4:00 pm, ESPN+	at Jacksonville State						Pete Mathews Coliseum (—) Jacksonville, AL
February 15, 2021 4:00 pm, ESPN+	Murray State Postponed from 1/9/21 & 2/9/21						First Community Arena  Edwardsville, IL
February 15, 2021 6:00 pm, ESPN+	at Jacksonville State † Postponed from 1/2/21; Postponed TBA						Pete Mathews Coliseum (—) Jacksonville, AL
February 18, 2021 7:30 pm, ESPN+	at Austen Peay						Dunn Center (—) Clarksville, TN
February 20, 2021 7:30 pm, ESPN+	at Murray State						CFSB Center (—) Murray, KY
February 22, 2021 5:00 pm, ESPN+	Morehead State Postponed from 1/16/21						First Community Arena (—) Edwardsville, IL
February 25, 2021 5:00 pm, ESPN+	UT Martin						First Community Arena (—) Edwardsville, IL
February 27, 2921 5:00 pm, ESPN+	Southeast Missouri State						First Community Arena (—) Edwardsville, IL
*Non-conference game. ^#Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central Time Source[16].

† = Due to the many schedule changes, it was necessary to move SIUE's home game with Jacksonville State to Jacksonville, AL

References

1. "OVC Member Institutions". Ohio Valley Conference. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
2. "2020-21 Men's Basketball Roster 25 Treavon Martin". University of Illinois at Chicago Athletics. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
3. "2020-21 Men's Basketball Roster 21 Kenyon Duling". North Carolina A&T State University. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
4. "Media Poll Tabs Austin Peay and Murray State Men, UT Martin Women as 2020-21 OVC Basketball Preseason Favorites". Ohio Valley Conference. November 17, 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
5. "OVC Men's Basketball Report - December 21". Ohio Valley Conference. December 21, 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
6. "OVC Men's Basketball Report - - February 1". Ohio Valley Conference. February 1, 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
7. "2020-21 SIUE Men's Basketball Roster". Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
8. "SLU gets fast start with opening win over SIUE". St.Louis Post-Dispatch. November 25, 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
9. "LSU Basketball Starts 2020 Season With 94-81 Win Over SIUE on Turkey Day". FanNation/LSU Country. November 26, 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
10. "MEN'S BASKETBALL: Cougars rout Health Services and Pharmacy". Edwardsville Intelligencer. November 29, 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
11. "Wilson leads SIU Edwardsville past N. Illinois 73-53". wgnradio.com. December 2, 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
12. "Pile's Game-Winning Dunk Lifts Omaha at SIUE, 65-63". University of Nebraska Omaha. December 5, 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
13. "SIUE Men's Basketball Team Falls To Valpariso 80-58". riverbender.com/Intellisoft Development Corporation. December 10, 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
14. "SIUE Men Resume Regular Schedule After Cancellation Of Game At Northwestern On Sunday". riverbender.com/Intellisoft Development Corporation. December 13, 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
15. "Wilson leads SIU-Edwardsville past Morehead St. 69-65". The Telegraph. December 18, 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
16. "2020-21 SIUE Men's Basketball Schedule". Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Retrieved 25 November 2020.