Andrew Pace
The SIU Edwardsville Cougars men's basketball team represents Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) in the NCAA Division I basketball tournament. The Cougars play their home games at the Sam M. Vadalabene Center, located on the SIUE core campus in Edwardsville, Illinois. The team first entered competition in 1967 under Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach Harry Gallatin. In 2025, the Cougars won the OVC Tournament championship and made their first NCAA tournament appearance as a Division I school. The Cougars have appeared in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament once, with a combined record of 0-1. They have appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament five times.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Division | I |
| Conference | Ohio Valley |
| Nickname | Cougars |
| Colours | Red and White |
| Home Games Arena | First Community Arena in Edwardsville, Illinois |
| Head Coach | Brian Barone |
| 2024-25 Season Outcome | Loss in the first round of the NCAA Division I Championships |
| 2025 Season Outcome | Loss in the first round of the NCAA tournament |
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What You'll Learn
SIUE Cougars men's basketball team
The SIUE Cougars men's basketball team represents Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) in the NCAA Division I basketball tournament. The Cougars play their home games at the Sam M. Vadalabene Center, located on the SIUE core campus in Edwardsville, Illinois. The team's official colours are red and white.
The SIUE basketball program first entered competition on November 23, 1967, under the leadership of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach Harry Gallatin. Despite the program's early challenges, including limited resources and inadequate facilities, the Cougars have come a long way since their early days of playing at the Shurtleff College gymnasium with small crowds in attendance.
Over the years, the Cougars have had several notable coaches who have contributed to the team's success. Larry Graham, for instance, resurrected the program in 1984 and led the team to three NCAA Division II tournament appearances during his eight seasons as head coach. Marty Simmons also brought success during his five-year tenure, with his teams going 88–59 and making the NCAA Division II tournament in both 2005 and 2006.
In recent years, the Cougars have continued to improve under the leadership of head coach Brian Barone. During the 2019–20 season, they posted eight wins, followed by nine wins in 2020–21, and eleven wins in 2021–22. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the latter two seasons, causing multiple game cancellations and postponements. Despite these challenges, the Cougars qualified for the OVC Tournament in both seasons.
In 2024–25, the Cougars achieved a significant milestone by winning the OVC Tournament championship and advancing to their first NCAA Division I Tournament as a #16 seed. Although they fell to Houston in the first round, it marked a historic step for the program. The Cougars' success continued into the 2025 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, where they secured their first OVC title and advanced to their first Division I championship.
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Cougars' history in Division II
The SIU Edwardsville Cougars men's basketball team has had a long history in Division II sports. The Cougars basketball program first entered competition on November 23, 1967, under the leadership of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach Harry Gallatin. Despite the program's early challenges, including limited resources and inadequate facilities, the Cougars persevered and went on to achieve notable success in Division II.
One of the most prominent figures in the Cougars' Division II history is Larry Graham, who served as the head coach for eight seasons starting in 1984. Graham led the team to three NCAA Division II tournament appearances during his tenure, solidifying his place as the winningest coach in SIUE men's basketball history with a record of 147-84. The Cougars appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament a total of five times, and two players were honored as NCAA Division II All-Americans.
In addition to basketball, the Cougars have excelled in other Division II sports. The wrestling team, in particular, has a rich history with three NCAA Division II team national championships and nine other top-four finishes. They also boast 19 NCAA Division II individual national champions and numerous Division II All-Americans.
Over time, the Cougars have transitioned from Division II to Division I in various sports. The men's basketball team began this transition during Lennox Forrester's tenure as head coach, and they are now competing in Division I as members of the Ohio Valley Conference. Despite initial struggles, the Cougars have steadily improved, showcasing their resilience and determination to succeed at the highest level.
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Transition to Division I
The SIU Edwardsville Cougars men's basketball team represents Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) in the NCAA Division I basketball tournament. The Cougars play their home games at the Sam M. Vadalabene Center, located in the SIUE core campus in Edwardsville, Illinois.
The transition from Division II to Division I began following the tenure of head coach Lennox Forrester. During his first five seasons, Forrester's teams finished 50-92, but the Cougars became more competitive with each season. The 2012-13 season was the first in which they were eligible to play in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.
On June 10, 2008, SIUE joined the 12-team Ohio Valley Conference in all sports except wrestling and men's soccer. The Vadalabene Center, home to the men's and women's basketball teams, underwent renovations in 2008. The Cougars women's basketball program gave the university its first-ever NCAA Division I national postseason event by qualifying for the Women's Basketball Invitational.
During the transition period, SIUE student-athletes achieved notable academic success, surpassing a 3.0 departmental grade point average for 12 consecutive semesters and posting their best annual grade point average (3.181) in department history during the 2011-12 academic year.
In the 2024-25 season, the Cougars, led by sixth-year head coach Brian Barone, won the OVC Tournament championship and made their first appearance in the NCAA Division I tournament as a Division I school. They were defeated in the first round by the Houston Cougars.
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Home games
The SIUE Cougars men's basketball team represents Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) in the NCAA Division I basketball. The Cougars play their home games at the First Community Arena, located on the SIUE campus in Edwardsville, Illinois.
The arena, which opened in 2017, is a state-of-the-art facility that offers a unique game-day experience for both players and fans. It features a centre-hung video board, a modern sound system, and comfortable seating for up to 4,000 spectators. The arena also includes luxury suites, a club lounge, and a variety of concession options, ensuring that fans have a memorable and enjoyable experience at each home game.
The Cougars typically play around 15 to 20 home games during a regular season, which usually runs from October to March. These home games are a great opportunity for students, alumni, and local community members to come together and show their support for the team. The arena often features promotions and giveaways during these games, such as discounted tickets for students, theme nights, and opportunities to meet the players and coaching staff.
The atmosphere at the Cougars' home games is always electric, with enthusiastic fans cheering on their team. The student section, in particular, is known for its lively spirit and creative chants. The band and cheerleading squad also add to the excitement, performing during halftimes and time-outs to keep the energy high.
In addition to the regular season home games, the Cougars also occasionally host preseason exhibitions and postseason tournaments at the First Community Arena. These events provide even more opportunities for fans to witness high-level basketball and show their support for the team in pursuit of championship glory.
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The team's coaches
The SIU Edwardsville Cougars men's basketball team represents Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) in the NCAA Division I basketball tournament. The Cougars play their home games at the Sam M. Vadalabene Center, located on the SIUE core campus in Edwardsville, Illinois.
The SIUE Cougars basketball program began on November 23, 1967, under the leadership of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach Harry Gallatin. Despite the challenges of limited resources and inadequate facilities, Gallatin laid the foundation for the team's future success.
Following Gallatin's departure as head coach after three years, the team saw a succession of coaches, each bringing their own contributions and facing unique circumstances. Dudley, the second coach, had home games moved to the nearby Edwardsville High School gymnasium (now Lincoln Middle School). Tom Pugliese took over from Dudley but faced NCAA sanctions, leading to the program's suspension for the 1983-84 season.
Larry Graham resurrected the program in 1984, moving it to its new home in the Sam M. Vadalabene Center on campus. Graham is considered the most successful coach in the Cougars' history, with a remarkable record of 147-84 and three NCAA Division II tournament appearances in his eight seasons.
After Graham's successful tenure, Jack Margenthaler took over but achieved limited success over ten years, with a record of 112-150. The Cougars then experienced a resurgence under Marty Simmons, who led the team for five years. Following Simmons' departure, long-time Missouri Valley Conference assistant coach Lennox Forrester was named the seventh head coach of the program. During Forrester's tenure, the Cougars began their transition from Division II to Division I and membership in the Ohio Valley Conference. While his first seasons were challenging, the team's competitiveness improved steadily.
More recently, Brian Barone has served as the head coach of the SIUE Cougars men's basketball team. In his sixth season, Barone led the team to a breakthrough, delivering back-to-back winning seasons and improving the team's performance year over year, even amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Barone's tenure has seen the Cougars consistently qualify for the OVC Tournament, showcasing the team's resilience and growth.
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Frequently asked questions
SIUE basketball currently competes in NCAA Division I.
SIUE basketball is in the Ohio Valley Conference.
SIUE basketball began transitioning from Division II to Division I in 2008.
SIUE basketball has appeared in the NCAA Division I tournament once in 2025.
