2014–15 SIU Edwardsville Cougars men's basketball team

2014–15 SIU Edwardsville Cougars men's basketball
Conference Ohio Valley Conference
West Division
2014–15 record 12–16 (8–8 OVC)
Head coach Lennox Forrester (8th year)
Assistant coach Matt Laur
Assistant coach Deryl Cunningham
Assistant coach Ben Wierzba
Home arena Vadalabene Center
2014–15 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT
East
Belmont 11 5   .688     22 11   .667
Eastern Kentucky 11 5   .688     21 12   .636
Morehead State 10 6   .625     17 17   .500
Jacksonville State 5 11   .313     12 19   .387
Tennessee Tech 4 12   .250     12 18   .400
Tennessee State 2 14   .125     5 26   .161
West
Murray State 16 0   1.000     29 6   .829
Tennessee–Martin 10 6   .625     21 13   .618
Eastern Illinois 9 7   .563     18 15   .545
SIU Edwardsville 8 8   .500     12 16   .429
Southeast Missouri St. 7 9   .438     13 17   .433
Austin Peay 3 13   .188     8 22   .267
2015 OVC tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2014–15 SIU Edwardsville Cougars men's basketball team represented Southern Illinois University Edwardsville during the 2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cougars, led by eighth year head coach Lennox Forrester, played their home games at the Vadalabene Center as members of the West Division of the Ohio Valley Conference.[1] They finished the season 12–16, 8–8 in OVC play to finish in fourth place in the West Division. They lost in the first round of the OVC Tournament to Eastern Illinois.[2]

Preseason

Seven players, all of whom saw major playing time, returned from the 11–20 team of 2013–14.[3][4] They were joined by two highly regarded junior college transfers and three freshmen. Two of the freshmen were honorable mention All-State players in Illinois and Indiana, and one of the juco transfers was one of the NJCAA statistical leaders in both rebounds and blocked shots.[5][6]

After being one of only six Division I teams with no freshmen in 2013–14, this year's Cougars had three freshmen, four juniors, and five seniors. The other five schools with no freshmen last season--- UAB, Ohio, Portland State, Savannah State, and Valparaiso.[7]

In putting the schedule together, coach Forrester attempted to get as many games as possible near the hometowns of his players, resulting in road games in Oregon, Michigan, and Indiana.[8]

In the preseason poll of OVC coaches and sports information directors, SIUE was picked to finish third in the West Division. No Cougars were picked for the preseason All-OVC team.[9]

For the third season in a row, the Cougars begin with a preseason exhibition game versus the Division III Greenville College Panthers. In place of a second exhibition game, the Cougars and the UMKC Kangaroos played a closed scrimmage at the VC.

Season

Almost all home and Ohio Valley Conference games were streamed live on the OVC Digital Network. Other games were broadcast or cablecast and are included on the schedule, below, including nine games FOX Sports carried on its Midwest network.

The Cougars were dominant at the Vadalabene Center, building a home record of 11–3. Going on the road was another story, as they managed only one win in 13 away games. Overall, one result was a record of 8–8 in the OVC, earning the #7 seed in the conference tournament.

No Cougars were named to the OVC All-OVC or All-Newcomer teams.

Postseason

Six days after the first round loss in the Ohio Valley Tournament, it was announced that head coach Lennox Forrester and his entire staff would not be retained.[10]

Roster

Source= [3]

Pink background indicates players returning from 2013–14.

# Name Position Height Weight Year Hometown High school Transfer from
0 Michael Chandler Guard 6–8 205 Junior Columbus, Georgia Grovetown High School Hill College (JC)
1 Kris Davis Guard 6–2 190 Senior Detroit, Michigan Cass Technical High School
2 Maurice Wiltz Guard 6–2 190 Senior Houston, Texas Stafford High School Colorado State
3 Keaton Jackson Forward 6–10 220 Senior Vancouver, Washington Prairie High School Missouri State-West Plains (JC)
4 C.J. Carr Guard 5–7 145 Freshman Rock Island, Illinois Rock Island High School
5 Grant Fiorentinos Forward/Center 6–10 225 Junior Cape Town, West Cape, South Africa Hun School of Princeton (NJ) Tulane
13 Jake Newton Guard 6–6 200 Junior Terre Haute, Indiana Terre Haute North Vigo High School Lincoln Trail College (JC)
23 Rozell Nunn Guard/Forward 6–4 205 Senior Kansas City, Kansas F. L. Schlagle High School Coffeyville Community College (JC)
24 Jalen Henry Forward 6–8 220 Freshman Springfield, Illinois Springfield Southeast High School
30 Michael Messer Guard 6–6 215 Senior Wildwood, Missouri Lafayette High School
32 Donivine Stewart Guard 6–0 195 Junior Peoria, Illinois Bartonville Limestone Community High School Bradley
45 Keenan Simmons Guard 6–6 185 Freshman Michigan City, Indiana Michigan City High School

Schedule

Source: [11]

Date
Time, TV
Opponent Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (Attendance)
City, State
Exhibition
11/06/2014*
7:00 PM, OVC Digital Network
Greenville W 90–52 
 — – —  — – —  — – —  Vadalabene Center (1,307)
Edwardsville, IL
Regular season
11/14/2014*
7:00 PM, OVC Digital Network
Harris–Stowe W 104–56  1–0
 20 – Stewart  8 – Stewart  10 – Stewart  Vadalabene Center (1,255)
Edwardsville, IL
11/17/2014*
7:00 PM, OVC Digital Network
IPFW L 71–74  1–1
 24 – Stewart  8 – Messer  5 – Stewart  Vadalabene Center (1,216)
Edwardsville, IL
11/22/2014*
9:00 PM, Stretch Internet
at Portland L 53–75  1–2
 13 – Jackson  6 – Jackson  5 – Carr  Chiles Center (1,828)
Portland, OR
11/24/2014*
9:00 PM, Big Sky Access
at Portland State L 87–90 OT 1–3
 25 – Davis  6 – Davis & Jackson  6 – Carr & Stewart  Stott Center (582)
Portland, OR
12/03/2014*
7:00 PM, FOX Sports Midwest
OVC Digital Network
Southern Illinois L 67–79  1–4
 18 – Davis  5 – Stewart  4 – Jackson  Vadalabene Center (3,508)
Edwardsville, IL
12/06/2014*
12 Noon
at Central Michigan L 61–94  1–5
 21 – Davis  5 – Jackson  5 – Stewart  McGuirk Arena (1,789)
Mount Pleasant, MI
12/13/2014*
6:00 PM, FOX Sports Midwest
at Saint Louis L 61–67  1–6
 18 – Davis  7 – Jackson  7 – Stewart  Chaifetz Arena (6,032)
St. Louis, MO
12/17/2014*
6:00 PM, Big South Sports Net
at Campbell L 65–70  1–7
 16 – Davis  5 – Stewart  6 – Stewart  Gore Arena (983)
Buies Creek, NC
12/20/2014*
6:30 PM, FOX Sports Midwest
OVC Digital Network
Milwaukee W 61–56  2–7
 13 – Davis & Wiltz  6 – Wiltz  6 – Stewart  Vadalabene Center (918)
Edwardsville, IL
12/22/2014*
7:00 PM, FOX Sports Midwest
OVC Digital Network
Chicago State W 63–38  3–7
 16 – Davis  6 – Davis & Jackson  7 – Stewart  Vadalabene Center (641)
Edwardsville, IL
12/28/2014*
2:00 PM, OVC Digital Network
Robert Morris–Springfield W 104–56  4–7
 22 – Stewart  7 – Henry & Stewart  7 – Newton  Vadalabene Center (1,185)
Edwardsville, IL
01/01/2015
1:00 PM, OVC Digital Network
Jacksonville State W 73–57  5–7 (1–0)
 16 – Nunn  8 – Jackson  3 – Carr, Davis
& Nunn 
Vadalabene Center (1,674)
Edwardsville, IL
01/03/2015
6:30 PM, FOX Sports Midwest
OVC Digital Network
Tennessee Tech W 85–62  6–7 (2–0)
 18 – Nunn  9 – Jackson  7 – Stewart  Vadalabene Center (1,162)
Edwardsville, IL
01/07/2015
8:00 PM, CBS Sports Network
at Belmont L 69–73  6–8 (2–1)
 15 – Nunn  11 – Jackson  4 – Stewart  Curb Event Center (1,696)
Nashville, TN
01/10/2015
6:30 PM, OVC Digital Network
Tennessee State W 45–38  7–8 (3–1)
 10 – Nunn  8 – Jackson  3 – Nunn  Vadalabene Center (1,702)
Edwardsville, IL
01/15/2015
6:30 PM, OVC Digital Network
at Morehead State L 63–91  7–9 (3–2)
 11 – Davis  6 – Messer  2 – Jackson, Stewart
& Wiltz 
Ellis Johnson Arena (2,021)
Morehead, KY
01/17/2015
6:00 PM, OVC Digital Network
at Eastern Kentucky L 62–78  7–10 (3–3)
 15 – Davis  13 – Jackson  5 – Messer  Alumni Coliseum (2,800)
Richmond, KY
01/22/2015
7:00 PM, FOX Sports Midwest
OVC Digital Network
Austin Peay W 69–65  8–10 (4–3)
 18 – Davis  7 – Jackson & Nunn  4 – Carr & Wiltz  Vadalabene Center (1,305)
Edwardsville, IL
01/24/2015
7:00 PM, FOX Sports Midwest
OVC Digital Network
Murray State L 54–60  8–11 (4–4)
 10 – Davis  6 – Nunn  3 – Nunn  Vadalabene Center (3,145)
Edwardsville, IL
01/29/2015
7:00 PM, OVC Digital Network
at Southeast Missouri State W 75–61  9–11 (5–4)
 23 – Davis  7 – Chandler & Nunn  2 – Stewart  Show Me Center (2,095)
Cape Girardeau, MO
01/31/2015
3:15 PM, OVC Digital Network
at Eastern Illinois L 54–57  9–12 (5–5)
 19 – Stewart  15 – Jackson  6 – Stewart  Lantz Arena (2,295)
Charleston, IL
02/07/2015
6:00 PM, OVC Digital Network
at UT Martin L 59–64  9–13 (5–6)
 18 – Davis  6 – Jackson & Nunn  2 – Carr, Davis,
Firentinos & Nunn 
Skyhawk Arena (2,417)
Martin, TN
02/12/2015
7:00 PM, OVC Digital Network
at Murray State L 46–78  9–14 (5–7)
 14 – Nunn  6 – Nunn  2 – Carr, Nunn,
Stewart & Wiltz 
CFSB Center (5,914)
Murray, KY
02/14/2015
7:00 PM, FOX Sports Midwest
OVC Digital Network
Eastern Illinois W 80–63  10–14 (6–7)
 23 – Messer  7 – Davis & Jackson  9 – Stewart  Vadalabene Center (1,434)
Edwardsville, IL
02/19/2015
7:00 PM, FOX Sports Midwest
OVC Digital Network
Southeast Missouri State W 75–72  11–14 (7–7)
 15 – Davis  5 – Jackson & Stewart  4 – Stewart  Vadalabene Center (1,221)
Edwardsaville, Il
02/21/2015
7:00 PM, OVC Digital Network
UT Martin W 76–68  12–14 (8–7)
 21 – Carr  8 – Stewart  7 – Stewart  Vadalabene Center (1,810)
Edwardsville, IL
02/26/2015
7:00 PM, American Sports Network
OVC Digital Network
at Austin Peay L 61–64  12–15 (8–8)
 18 – Davis  8 – Jackson  5 – Carr  Dunn Center (1,375)
Clarksville, TN
Ohio Valley Conference Tournament
03/04/2015
8:00 PM, OVC Digital Network
vs. Eastern Illinois
First round
L 66–78  12–16
 15 – Carr  5 – Davis  3 – Stewart  Nashville Municipal Auditorium (723)
Nashville, TN
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

References

  1. "OVC Member Institutions". Ohio Valley Conference. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  2. "COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL: Eastern Illinois knocks SIUE out of OVC Tourney". The Telegraph. March 5, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "2014-15 SIUE Men's Basketball Roster". SIUE Cougare. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  4. "2013-14 Statistics". SIUE Cougare. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  5. "2014-15 Men's Basketball Signees". Ohio Valley Conference. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
  6. "2014-15 SIUE Men’s Basketball Preview". SIUE Cougars. October 28, 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  7. "2014-15 Game Day Notes" (PDF). SIUE Cougars. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  8. "Cougars Announce Men’s Basketball Schedule...". SIUE Cougars. September 4, 2014. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
  9. "Murray State Named 2014-15 OVC Men's Basketball Favorites...". Ohio Valley Conference. October 21, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  10. "MEN'S BASKETBALL: Search for next SIUE coach is under way". The Intelligencer. March 11, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  11. "2014-15 SIUE Men's Basketball Schedule". SIUE Cougars. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
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