ST. LOUIS – Southern Illinois men’s basketball has been picked to finish seventh in the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll, the League office announced Wednesday. Bradley has been tabbed the preseason favorite in the MVC, securing 46 first-place votes.
Two Salukis earned All-MVC Preseason honors as Kennard Davis Jr. and Ali Dibba were named to the Third Team.
Kennard Davis Jr. Synopsis
Saw action in 32 games, including 10 starts as a true freshman … Averaged 21.3 minutes and scored 4.2 points per game … Made his mark on the defensive end tasked with defending the opponents’ best players … Recorded 22 steals and pulled down 96 rebounds … Went 48-115 (41.7%) from the field and 21-70 (30%) from behind the arc … Scored a season-high 12 points against Indiana State and New Mexico State … Recorded a season-high four 3-pointers in the Cancun Challenge against New Mexico State … Had three steals against Indiana State and Queens while recording multiple steals in six games.
Ali Dibba Prior to SIU
Started his career at Chicago State in 2021-22 and played five games for the Cougars, averaging 13.4 points in 26 minutes per game … Dibba transferred to Abilene Christian in 2022-23 and spent two seasons with the Wildcats. In 2023-24 Dibba led the team in scoring with 15.5 points per game to go along with 4.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.2 assists per game … He shot 47.7 percent from the field and 34.7 percent from behind the arc … Dibba scored in double-figures in 27 games and 20 or more points in seven games for the Wildcats, including a 10-straight stretch to end the season … Posted a season-high 25 points on the road at Western Kentucky … Recorded two double-doubles with points and rebounds against WKU and Texas-Rio Grande Valley … Dibba made two starts and appeared in five games for the Cougars his freshman season, missing most of the nonconference slate due to a travel restriction from his native Sweden … Missed the final 12 games of the season due to a hand injury … Made his collegiate debut at Grand Canyon where he led the team with 21 points to go with seven rebounds … Scored in double-digits in three of the five games he played.
The Braves collected 46 first-place votes while UNI picked up two, and Murray State had one first-place vote. UNI, Murray State, Illinois State and Drake rounded out the top five teams. Belmont was picked sixth just ahead of SIU. Indiana State, Evansville, Valpo, Missouri State and UIC rounded out the poll.
Guard Duke Dean of Bradley was picked as the MVC Preseason Player of the Year.
PRESEASON MVC MEN’S BASKETBALL POLL
1. Bradley (46 first-place votes) — 597
2. UNI (2) — 527
3. Murray State (1) — 473
4. Illinois State — 397
5. Drake — 388
6. Belmont — 373
7. Southern Illinois — 337
8. Indiana State — 207
9. Evansville — 199
10. Valparaiso — 173
11. Missouri State — 116
12. UIC — 110
FIRST TEAM
Duke Deen, Bradley (Preseason Player of the Year)
Tytan Anderson, UNI
Darius Hannah, Bradley
Johnny Kinziger, Illinois State
Cooper Schwieger, Valparaiso
Jacobi Wood, Murray State
SECOND TEAM
Trey Campbell, UNI
Nick Ellington, Murray State
Jacob Hutson, UNI
Zek Montgomery, Bradley
Malachi Poindexter, Illinois State
THIRD TEAM
Kennard Davis Jr., Southern Illinois
Ali Dibba, Southern Illinois
Cam Manyawu, Drake
Filip Skobalj, UIC
Bennett Stirtz, Drake