Oct. 27, 2007

For the first time in school history, Southern Illinois is ranked in the men's basketball preseason Top 25. The Salukis, who return three starters from last year's Sweet 16 team, will begin the season #23 in the ESPN/USAToday Coaches poll.

SIU won 29 games last season and ended the year ranked #11 in the country in the Coaches Poll.The previous earliest date Southern Illinois enjoyed a national ranking came on Nov. 30, 1976. The Salukis defeated Missouri to open the season and entered the Associated Press poll at #17 the following week. SIU went on to win the Missouri Valley Conference that year and advance to the Sweet 16.

Southern opens its exhibition season next Saturday against King College at 2:05 p.m. at SIU Arena.

ESPN/USA Today Poll
1. North Carolina (10) 0-0 739
2. UCLA (12) 0-0 734
3. Memphis (8) 0-0 731
4. Kansas (1) 0-0 669
5. Georgetown 0-0 625
6. Louisville 0-0 620
7. Tennessee 0-0 598
8. Michigan State 0-0 503
9. Indiana 0-0 479
10. Washington State 0-0 464
11. Duke 0-0 390
12. Marquette 0-0 381
13. Oregon 0-0 360
14. Gonzaga 0-0 252
14. Texas A&M 0-0 252
16. Texas 0-0 216
17. Arizona 0-0 205
18. USC 0-0 189
19. Arkansas 0-0 173
20. Pittsburgh 0-0 160
21. Stanford 0-0 158
22. Kentucky 0-0 155
23. Southern Illinois 0-0 137
24. North Carolina State 0-0 119
25. Villanova 0-0 111

Others Recieving Votes
Kansas State 94, Syracuse 69, Ohio State 65, Clemson 56, Connecticut 55, Butler 42, Davidson 39, Xavier 38, Alabama 31, Mississippi State 30, Florida 26, Wisconsin 21, Illinois 16, Washington 12, Brigham Young 12, Nevada 8, Bradley 7, Virginia 7, Virginia Commonwealth 5, Utah 4, Baylor 3, Old Dominion 3, Saint Joseph's 3, Fresno State 2, George Mason 2, Utah State 2, Notre Dame 1, California 1, Maryland 1.