2014–15 SIU Edwardsville Cougars men's basketball team
American college basketball season
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 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
^ "OVC Member Institutions" . Ohio Valley Conference. Retrieved September 24, 2014 .
^ "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 .
^ a b "2014-15 SIUE Men's Basketball Roster" . SIUE Cougare. Retrieved September 24, 2014 .
^ "2013-14 Statistics" . SIUE Cougare. Retrieved September 24, 2014 .
^ "2014-15 Men's Basketball Signees" . Ohio Valley Conference. Retrieved September 23, 2014 .
^ "2014-15 SIUE Men's Basketball Preview" . SIUE Cougars. October 28, 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2015 .
^ "2014-15 Game Day Notes" (PDF) . SIUE Cougars. Retrieved November 10, 2014 .
^ "Cougars Announce Men's Basketball Schedule..." SIUE Cougars. September 4, 2014. Retrieved September 23, 2014 .
^ "Murray State Named 2014-15 OVC Men's Basketball Favorites..." Ohio Valley Conference. October 21, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2014 .
^ "MEN'S BASKETBALL: Search for next SIUE coach is under way" . The Intelligencer. March 11, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2015 .
^ "2014-15 SIUE Men's Basketball Schedule" . SIUE Cougars. Retrieved April 16, 2015 .