Get ready for a basketball season that promises to be anything but predictable! With just four weeks until tip-off, the 2025-26 college basketball season is already stirring up excitement and debate. The Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) media day is set for next Tuesday, October 14, in Evansville, Indiana, marking the official countdown to another year of high-stakes hoops. But here's where it gets interesting: Eastern Illinois men's basketball has been picked to finish sixth in the highly anticipated Blue Ribbon Basketball preseason rankings. Is this a fair assessment, or are the Panthers being underestimated? Let’s dive in.
Eastern Illinois, coming off a 12-19 overall record (8-12 in the OVC) last season, is returning a core group of players who could be the key to turning things around. And this is the part most people miss: the Panthers’ roster includes seasoned starters like Kooper Jacobi and Zion Fruster, both of whom averaged double figures in scoring last season. Jacobi, in particular, dominated the boards, leading the OVC with 8.9 rebounds per game to go along with his 11.8 points. Fruster wasn’t far behind, averaging 11.6 points while shooting a respectable 35% from beyond the arc. These two alone could be a dynamic duo to watch.
But the depth doesn’t stop there. Malik Olafioye, a top reserve guard, returns after battling through midseason injuries last year. Despite starting only 12 of 23 games, he contributed 3.8 points and 1.6 assists per game. Sophomore Terry McMorris, who emerged late in the season, also rejoins the squad after averaging 1.7 points and 1.5 rebounds in 20 games. Here’s the controversial question: With this much returning talent, is a sixth-place prediction selling the Panthers short, or is it a realistic reflection of a competitive conference?
The 2025-26 season kicks off on Tuesday, November 4, with a challenging road game at Valparaiso as part of the BBN Classic. The Panthers will then host Nicholls State on November 7 before another tough test at Kentucky on November 14. These early matchups will be a litmus test for Eastern Illinois’ potential to defy preseason expectations.
So, what do you think? Are the Panthers poised for a breakout season, or will they struggle to climb out of the middle of the pack? Let us know in the comments—this is one debate that’s sure to heat up as the season approaches!
