2014–15 SIU Edwardsville Cougars men's basketball team

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]

2014–15 SIU Edwardsville Cougars men's basketball
ConferenceOhio Valley Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record12–16 (8–8 OVC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Matt Laur
  • Deryl Cunningham
  • Ben Wierzba
Home arenaVadalabene Center
2014–15 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
East
Belmont †11–5 .68822–11  .667
Eastern Kentucky11–5 .68821–12  .636
Morehead State10–6 .62517–17  .500
Jacksonville State5–11 .31312–19  .387
Tennessee Tech4–12 .25012–18  .400
Tennessee State2–14 .1255–26  .161
West
Murray State16–0 1.00029–6  .829
UT Martin10–6 .62521–13  .618
Eastern Illinois9–7 .56318–15  .545
SIU Edwardsville8–8 .50012–16  .429
Southeast Missouri St.7–9 .43813–17  .433
Austin Peay3–13 .1888–22  .267
† 2015 OVC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

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 to 2014.

# 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, Illinois
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, Illinois
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, Illinois
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, Oregon
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, Oregon
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, Illinois
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, Michigan
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, Missouri
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, North Carolina
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, Illinois
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, Illinois
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, Illinois
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, Illinois
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, Illinois
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, Tennessee
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, Illinois
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, Kentucky
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, Kentucky
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, Illinois
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, Illinois
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, Missouri
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, Illinois
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, Tennessee
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, Kentucky
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, Illinois
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, Illinois
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, Tennessee
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, Tennessee
*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. Archived from the original on April 16, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  3. "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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