Western Illinois was picked to finish last in the men's Ohio Valley Conference preseason basketball poll and third in the women's poll, the conference announced. Tennessee State was tabbed the preseason men's favorite and Southern Indiana the women's favorite.

The polls reflect a vote of OVC head coaches and communications directors. The league includes nine teams this year playing a 16-game conference schedule.

Men's poll

Tennessee State, the defending OVC Tournament champions, picked up 13 of 18 first-place votes to receive 125 total points, according to the conference. Southeast Missouri received two first-place votes and was second with 107 points.

Morehead State (two first-place votes), SIUE and UT Martin tied for third with 86 points each. Western Illinois was picked ninth with 17 points.

  • 1. Tennessee State (13 first-place votes) — 125 points
  • 2. Southeast Missouri (2) — 107
  • 3t. Morehead State (3) — 86
  • 3t. SIUE — 86
  • 3t. UT Martin — 86
  • 6. Lindenwood — 61
  • 7. Southern Indiana — 44
  • 8. Eastern Illinois — 37
  • 9. Western Illinois — 17

Women's poll

Southern Indiana earned 13 of 18 first-place votes — teams could not vote for themselves — to receive 122 total points. SIUE was second with four first-place votes and 113 points. Western Illinois picked up the final first-place vote and was third with 85 points.

The conference said Southern Indiana finished 21-11, 14-6 in OVC play last year and returns All-OVC selection Chloe Gannon (13.3 points per game). She will be joined by OVC Watch List members Sophia Loden (9.8 points per game) and South Alabama transfer Tamara Ortiz. SIUE returns All-OVC selections Kiyoko Proctor (13.4) and Lauren Miller (12.5), along with Watch List members Ava Gugliuzza and Adriana Blazquez.

  • 1. Southern Indiana (8 first-place votes) — 122 points
  • 2. SIUE (4) — 113
  • 3. Western Illinois (1) — 85
  • 4. UT Martin — 78
  • 5. Lindenwood — 68
  • 6. Southeast Missouri — 62
  • 7. Eastern Illinois — 50
  • 8. Morehead State — 41
  • 9. Tennessee State — 29

Championships

The season will conclude with the 2027 OVC Basketball Championships, set for March 3-6 at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana, for the 10th-straight season. The conference said the championship will be held at the venue through at least 2032.

Source: the original release