If you’re looking at the SIUE men's basketball schedule right now, you’re probably feeling a weird mix of "Wait, we're actually good?" and "Oh no, not the injury bug." Honestly, being a Cougars fan in 2026 is a wild ride. Following that historic NCAA Tournament run last year, everyone expected Brian Barone’s squad to just steamroll the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). But as any basketball junkie knows, the schedule is a beast that doesn't care about your past trophies.
The Cougars are currently sitting at 10-7 overall and 3-3 in the OVC. That’s not bad, but it's definitely a "hang on to your seats" kind of season. They just came off a tough three-point loss to Little Rock (70-73) on January 8th, and the road ahead is looking kinda spicy.
The Mid-Season Reality Check
Let’s get the elephant out of the room first. The biggest news hitting the SIUE men's basketball schedule lately isn't a game result—it's the roster. Head Coach Brian Barone just announced that Ring Malith and Myles Thompson are out for the rest of the season.
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That is huge. Malith was basically the engine, leading the team with 17 points a game. Losing two OVC All-Tournament players in one swoop? That's the kind of thing that makes a schedule look a lot more daunting than it did in November.
Breaking Down the Remaining SIUE Men's Basketball Schedule
If you're planning your weekends, here is what the upcoming stretch looks like. It's heavy on road trips, which is where championships are actually won or lost.
The Immediate Road Test
The Cougars are heading out for a two-game swing that starts tomorrow, January 15th. They’re visiting UT Martin at 7:30 PM. Let's be real: UT Martin is a nightmare at home right now. They haven't lost at the Elam Center all season (7-0). Then, SIUE hops over to Cape Girardeau to face Southeast Missouri on Saturday the 17th.
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Coming Home to Edwardsville
After that road gauntlet, the Cougars return to First Community Arena. If you haven't been to a game this year, the atmosphere has actually been pretty electric.
- January 22: Tennessee State (7:30 PM)
- January 24: Tennessee Tech (4:00 PM)
The Late Winter Grind
The end of January and early February is basically one long bus ride. They go to Morehead State (Jan 29), Southern Indiana (Jan 31), and Lindenwood (Feb 3). The Lindenwood game is always a "bitter rival" situation, and even though SIUE has dominated that series historically, playing in St. Charles is never a cakewalk.
Who is Stepping Up?
With Malith out, the weight falls on guys like Jack Campion. He’s currently leading the OVC in assists (4.76 per game) and basically has to be the floor general now more than ever. Then there’s Arnas Sakenis, who is essentially a human eraser in the paint. He’s averaging 2.0 blocks a game, which tops the conference.
We’re also seeing more of Jordan Pickett. He put up 10 points against Little Rock and is going to have to find his shooting stroke consistently if the Cougars want to stay in the top half of the standings.
SIUE Men's Basketball Schedule: Why the OVC is Different This Year
Most people get wrong that the OVC is a "one-bid league" where the regular season doesn't matter. Not true. Seeding in the OVC Tournament is everything because of the "ladder" format. If you finish in the top two, you get a double-bye straight to the semifinals.
Last year, SIUE used that momentum to grab their first-ever OVC title. This year, they’re currently 8th in the standings. That sounds bad, but the gap between 2nd and 8th is only a couple of games. The schedule is back-loaded with home games in late February (Western Illinois and Eastern Illinois), which might be their saving grace.
Strategy and Coaching Nuance
Brian Barone is in his seventh year, and he’s earned a reputation for "grind-it-out" basketball. His teams usually rank high in defensive efficiency. In fact, they’re holding opponents to about 65 points per game. But without Malith’s 17 points, the offense is looking a bit lean. You’ll notice in the upcoming games they might slow the pace down even more. It’s not always pretty, but it’s effective.
Survival Tips for Fans
If you're following the SIUE men's basketball schedule, here are a few things to keep in mind:
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- Watch the Free Throw Line: The Cougars are shooting about 68% as a team. In close OVC games, that's the difference between a win and a heartbreak.
- The "Vadalabene" Factor: The home court (now First Community Arena) has been a fortress. They are 5-4 at home, but three of those losses were by four points or less.
- Check the Tip-off Times: OVC doubleheaders usually mean the men play after the women. If the women’s game goes to overtime, that 7:30 PM tip is easily pushing 8:00 PM.
Actionable Steps for the Rest of the Season
- Grab tickets early for the February 14th game: It’s a Saturday afternoon against UT Martin. This will likely be a "revenge" game and the arena will be packed.
- Download the ESPN+ app: Almost all the away games in the SIUE men's basketball schedule are streamed there. If you aren't traveling to Morehead or Evansville, it’s your only way to see the action.
- Keep an eye on the "Net Rating": If you’re a bracketology nerd, SIUE needs to stay within the top 150 to even think about a large-scale postseason invite if they don't win the conference tournament.
- Follow the OVC Standings Weekly: Because the conference is so tightly packed this year, one Saturday of results can jump SIUE from 8th to 4th.
The Cougars are in a transition phase right now, shifting from "defending champs" to "underdogs with an injury problem." It’s a tough spot, but with Barone’s defensive schemes and a few home-court wins, the March Madness dream isn't dead—it just got a lot harder.