SLIAC Coaches Vote Eureka Fifth in Preseason Men’s Basketball Poll

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – A preseason poll conducted by St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's basketball head coaches has tabbed Eureka fifth in the league in 2018-19. Greenville, the three-time defending regular-season champion and 2018 SLIAC Tournament winner, was picked to repeat as conference champion.

Five of the 10 first-place votes went to the Panthers, who edged runner-up Westminster. The Blue Jays received three first-place votes. Third-place Webster and fourth-place Blackburn also earned a first-place vote. Eureka was fifth.

Spalding, Principia, Fontbonne, MacMurray and Iowa Wesleyan round out the bottom half of the ballot.

Eureka returns three starters and 10 letterwinners overall from last season's 18-win team, including All-SLIAC choice Hank Thomas (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods H.S.).

2018-19 Preseason SLIAC Men's Basketball Coaches Poll (First-place votes)

#1- Greenville - 75 (5)

#2 - Westminster - 74 (3)

#3 - Webster - 62 (1)

#4 - Blackburn - 51 (1)

#5 - Eureka - 45

#6 - Spalding - 41

#7 - Principia - 37

#8 - Fontbonne - 28

#9 - MacMurray - 22

#10 - Iowa Wesleyan - 15