EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Following the program's first-ever Ohio Valley Conference Championship and March Madness appearances, SIUE men's basketball has been picked for a third-place finish in 2025-26.

The Cougars earned a first-place vote and picked up 163 points in the preseason poll voted on by OVC Head Coaches and communication personnel and released Tuesday at the league's annual media day in Evansville.

"Ultimately you have to go out there and play," SIUE Head Coach Brian Barone said. "What you see is there is usually a team that is drastically different than their ranking. What it speaks to is our program being considered consistently. We are recognized as a team that can compete towards the top of the league and that is something that I am very proud. It shows where this program has grown to over the last couple of years."

Little Rock earned 12 first-place votes and 188 total points as the preseason favorite while SEMO was chosen second with 177 points and six first-place votes. Tennessee State (135 points) and
Lindenwood and Morehead State (100 points each) rounded out the top five.

Seniors Ring Malith and Arnas Sakenis were chosen as SIUE's Players to Watch.

Malith will play his second season at SIUE after finishing third in scoring with 11.1 points per game. He led the team in rebounding at 7.0 per game, which ranked fourth in the OVC. Malith was an All-Tournament team selection after averaging 10 points and 5.5 rebounds during SIUE's championship run.

"Ring is multifaceted and can affect the game defensively and offensively," Barone said. "He had a heck of an Ohio Valley Conference season last year. When you have that level of versatility and you can rely on different parts of your game to make a difference that should be recognized."

Sakenis is playing his fourth season with the Cougars after appearing in 26 games while making a career-high 16 starts in 2024-25. He led the league in total blocks with 48 and an average of 1.85 blocks per game.

"Arnie has impacted the league more and more each year defensively," Barone said. "A guy with that size, who plays with that effort every game is someone who definitely deserves to be on the watchlist."

SIUE will take the floor for the first time Sun., Oct. 26 in a 1 p.m. exhibition game against Missouri Baptist. The Cougars will present two banners, celebrating the OVC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance prior to the game.

Season tickets and single-game tickets are available now and can be purchased online at SIUECougars.com/tickets.

 
Men's Preseason Poll
1. Little Rock (12 first-place) 188
2. Southeast Missouri (6) 177
3. SIUE (1) 163
4. Tennessee State (1) 135
t5. Lindenwood 100
t5. Morehead State 100
7. Tennessee Tech 80
8. UT Martin 79
9. Southern Indiana (2) 67
10. Eastern Illinois 63
11. Western Illinois 57